Madeline Performs

When Madeline was really little, she used to love going to the Greenwood Park Mall. It was kind of our hang out and continued to be so until we left Indianapolis in 2007. The mall has a play area, a fountain and a pretzel place. Heaven to a little girl. However, the best part of the mall for Madeline was the piano player at Von Maur. The older ladies who continually played in that store were very gracious in letting my little darling touch their beautiful grand piano and assist her in plucking out "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" each time we visited. The fact is, all children love music and Madeline is no exception. At the age of 3, she started to ask about taking lessons. At 5, she started working with Crys, a wonderful teacher at the The Vaults Music Studio in downtown Lafayette (shameless plug). A couple months ago, Madeline added voice lessons to her musical education and she is loving it.

This past Sunday, Madda had her second (and most successful) piano recital. She practiced her piece without argument in the weeks prior and did a great job performing it in front of a large audience. Not much in the way of stage fright there. I was proud of my beautiful little girl and stood watching, with tears in my eyes as she sat at that huge piano, behaving like a miniature adult. Back straight and head nodding to the beat, she busted out her best "Music Makes Me Glad" and took her applause graciously with a perfect curtsy and a lovely smile.

I am not here to say that my child is a prodigy. This is clearly not the case. After more than a year of lessons, she is still in the very early stages of reading music. She is in the early stages of carrying a tune. She is in the early stages of practicing without argument. Nonetheless, the gift of music is something that cannot be taken from her. Her burgeoning ability to read, play and understand music is part of a package deal that is a value at any cost. The research is there people. Google "music lessons and brain development" and you will be bombarded with studies. Regardless of the cognitive development that is happening, I will continue to encourage and support this love of music that is blossoming within my little Mozart, mostly because it is her choice (and it has my complete approval). It is a skill that will live within her and grow if she chooses to nurture it. Something that could be a coping skill, a career, a passion and a buffer to many of the less than ideal activities children and adolescents often choose.

Above is a picture of my little Sarah McLachlan and on her big day. Did I mention that she is also a bit of a ham for the camera?