“Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise.” Psalm 33:3
School vacation is in full swing except for some music lessons that we are finishing up this week.
Our family is what most call a musical family. We didn’t start most of them in music until they were older but for the past twelve years, we have had our children heavily focused on music.
It started with Pierre learning to play the piano as a young boy. His mother gave him lessons for a year until he passed her by and went on to learn on his own. He patterned his playing after an old-timer in the faith named Rudy Atwood. He plays so much like Rudy you wouldn’t know the difference. Here is Pierre’s YouTube channel. He has also moved on to play brass instruments.
I had one year of piano lessons when I was about 11 and then my family moved away from the town we were in. My dad took a church and they had no piano player. My sister and I had to start right off. I remember I could only play two notes on each hand but I did my best. I also taught myself how to play the clarinet using my sister’s instrument.
Fast forward years into our marriage.
Our girls started being interesting in the cello and the flute. We found people to teach them and we made sure they practiced. Our second son didn’t have a choice. I saw a missionary pull out a pocket trumpet in church one time and I knew I had to have him learn it. He excelled in trumpet from the age of 10 and progressed to other brass instruments. The trumpet remained his best.
Our youngest daughter was born when I was 44 and her siblings all ages 8+ so she heard music from before she arrived in our home. She pretty much has grown up with so much music that her talent far exceeds many of us. She is currently learning the violin and she sings so well.
We gave them this foundation of music and today they are using their skills to serve God in church. Music stays with you. Unlike sports where people get old and limbs wear out; music carries on. I have always told my children go play sports but keep up with your music.
I was richly rewarded in spirit this last week when our son called us.
He is in basic training with the Air Force right now. He had become (shall we say) blasé about playing an instrument as other interests took over. However, when we asked how he was doing, he told us he was put in the marching band, playing his trumpet. He seemed very happy with this, too. It’s quite the honor to be in the band as you march and play for different events on the Air Force base. I was greatly impressed and pleased. His talents were being rewarded.
As you move into the summer and life takes on a different set of daily chores, don’t let your children give up on music. Our two girls still at home were both chosen to represent the music academy they go too in a showcase this weekend. They will be playing their instruments. Sunday, one will have her cello at church (Mellie isn’t quite there yet with her violin to play every song at church). Our oldest daughter took her viola to Canada where she is living and hopes to play in church. I received a video yesterday from my married daughter playing her flute. Music is living on in our homes.
Music is an amazing expression of what God has done for us in our lives. We can glorify Him with our voices, our instruments and our music.