In case you haven’t noticed, I love music. I write, and I love it too, but my first wife, I mean, love, is music. I’m one of those kinds of freaks that obsesses over song fragments, drum intros, guitar riffs, and pieces of sonic beauty that normal people ignore while they tap their toe to “just music”. One of the reasons I include a song with accompanying video in each post is to not only share my love with each of you, but also because music inspires every word I post.
In my home of a wife, three daughters (aged 16, 9, and 8), dog, and two cats, there are varied interests that seem to always involve music. My wife is a die-hard New Kids On The Block fan, but I don’t hold against her. She has to have a radio on when we’re in the car. She cleans, plays with the kids, and cooks with music playing or her southern drawled mouth singing something. My sixteen-year-old, Tay, has iPod buds in her ears a lot. She’s a cheerleader so her movements are to the count of 4 or 6 or 8, with music driving them. My eight-year-old, The Goose dances and sings, 24/7. Her sisters are constantly saying, “come on, Goosey! you don’t have to sing what you want for dinner!”
I missed a daughter and there’s a reason. Until this past week, I was the only kinda sorta maybe musician in the family. I’m a really crappy guitar player. But I try. My nine-year-old has musical roots in family members we don’t write about on this blog. She’s been asking to play an instrument for about two years. We ran across a friend’s brother who is a very talented musician. He has his own band and teaches a couple dozen kids in various instruments. His newest student is my middle daughter, Lyla aka “Bug”. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you the next John Bonham or Gina Schock, LylaBug:
It was her first lesson. I’m sure she’ll have a band with a European Tour lined up by Thanksgiving. Be patient. She loved the lesson and can’t wait for more. Her smile was contagious.
****blogger’s notes****
Just watched The Girl With The Dragon tattoo, the Hollywood Daniel Craig version. I give it a B-. It’s very long. The story’s great. They stayed true to Stieg Larsson’s book. But the romance isn’t believable and it should’ve been shortened by 20 or 30 minutes.
Also, thank you for everyone who’s made their way to America’s Next Author http://www.ebookmall.com/author/lance-burson and voted for my short story, Italian Radio. We’re at #6. Top five would probably get me to the next round so continue the support. You can vote again, rate, review, tweet and Facebook share it too. Thank you from the bottom of my robot heart.
Here’s The Go Gos with We Got The Beat and Gina’s memorable drum intro.
Sweeeeet!
Sweeeeeet!
thanks k, have you gone to america’s next author to vote/rate/review, etc. Please and thank you.
Very cool. You are one of the few parents I know who won’t complain about a noisy instrument.
L O L….true…although Bobina will complain when Santy Claus brings drums
Agreed on GWTDT…too long, but still good. I’m so thrilled to know another parent of a drummer! Do you feel the bonding, Lance? When we are ancient and deaf we can yell to each other in the old folks home. I do love it when my little E plays. His teacher is amazing and my son can now learn almost any song within a week. (We’re three years in…fyi, and he’s almost 11) Good luck! Can’t wait until I hear that you and your girl can jam together.
definitely feel the bonding. glad we’re computer friends because I wouldn’t be able to hear you on the phone…lol. thank you. Good luck to E. Maybe L and E can be a band together or rival bands someday and write songs about their dumb parents.
Man, that’s great! We just got a Yamaha keyboard thingy for our 8-year-old because he inherited the music from my side of the family. He’s already worked out a number of TV jingles. LOL It always makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when little ones show an interest in making music.
This is for Lyla – *Ahem* Sweetie, there are going to be times when it’s going to get hard learning an instrument. You’ll feel like you’re not making any progress or that you’re “no good.” The best thing to do is take a break (maybe a day or two) and then pick up the sticks again. If this is something you really want to do, don’t give up and keep smiling! It is, as your Dad said, contagious. Keep rockin’!
awesome comment. Like her dad, she gets frustrated easily. she has natural rhythm and loves the drums. Thank you for the advice.
…well bless her heart.
Go Bug! You HAVE got the beat. And yes, I do think Thanksgiving should be about right for that tour.
Is this why you got the call the other day? Is she being recruited for a GoGo’s reunion tour?
shhhhh….there are things i can’t say
Very cool!! Drums were always my favorite instrument too
Your wife is a NKOTB fan? YOUR wife? I thought I was agnostic but now I think someone has a sense of humor…
@kidfreeliving, …. my sense of humor is my superpower…especially with my wife’s tastes in music
As motivation, tell her when she can do the complete opening drum riff, in time, from Money For Nothing, you’ll get her a cowbell for her drum kit!
Go BUG! I bought the boys a drum set for Christmas last year. They both just blow me away how fast they learn.
she seemed to be learning quickly and was really focused. we’ll see. thank you!
And so it begins. My boy was about that age when he got his first guitar. It was a long and glorious love affair.
awesome, she’s been begging to play drums for a year
I love playing the drums in Rock Band (the video game) I’d love to actually play the drums, that’s so great your girl has taken them up!
Lyla loves rock band drums too. That’s where this started, two eyars ago. she’s excited.
From music lover to another…
I liked Dragon Tattoo Girl…but I have nothing to compare it to. I never read it or saw the original!
cool…you change your name so much RAQUEL….hi