Music in their blood

One of the many aspects to our Jewel's educational path is the continued discussion about her learning an instrument. We want her to learn piano first because it is the easiest way to form a musical base. She also likes to play a plastic recorder, and she has a miniature guitar of which I play more than she. She has also expressed an interest in learning violin and cello, because here mama and her aunt respectively played those instruments growing up.

I understand that there are many values to be had by learning how to play music. At its core though, music is not merely a math equation or grammatical structure. It is a mixture of sounds that is purposefully designed to evoke an emotional response. Music can make you happy or sad, angry or joyful, despondent or hopeful. Bigger than all of those things though, music is meant to be consumed in a way that makes you want to consume more. A love of music creates an insatiable appetite for more of it.

In the end, this is what I want most in my Jewel - to have a love of music.

So it was the other day I came across this video clip:


I have watched it numerous times, and if you don't know anything else about what you're watching, you would come away with the sense that it is just two teenage kids messing around, playing old Beatles tunes. They are everything you'd expect teenagers to be - slightly awkward, goofy, playful, sharing unspoken jokes with a mere wink and nod. You can listen to those familiar notes and watch them play their stringed instruments and just as easily see two kids either playing guitars, banging on drums, or using just their voices to share a light moment with a favorite song.

But then, if you do a little bit of research, you might find that Nathan Chan and Michael Province are two of the most gifted musical prodigies in the world. They are on their respective courses to great things in the world of professional music. They aren't just kids messing around.

And yet, they are, aren't they? Despite knowing that these two kids will likely perform great pieces of music in their future, applauded by thousands around the world, I cannot escape this inconsequential clip of them playing "Let it Be" on their stringed instruments, simply enjoying the music itself. Which part is more important? Is it the drive to perfect the instrument through education, training, and commitment? Or is it the simple joy that playing a song brings? Which one would make my Jewel most happy?