You have a song in your heart.
When left on your own to play or read, you often hum a tune or sing a hook out loud. Your song choices are show jingles like PJMasks and Paw Patrol or the newest Taylor Swift song. Sometimes you get into a rock mood and will sing the few mumbled words you know from the Bruce Springsteen songs your Mom plays in the kitchen. This all started months ago when you’d lay in bed at night and try dinnertime prayers or other phrases you heard throughout the day aloud.
I’m amazed at your natural inclination to recite and repeat as a way of learning. It really works for you.
We always know when you’re in the music zone. EIther you don’t understand how loud you are or don’t care because you sing like no one’s watching, even when you know they are. I can’t say you have any sense of pitch because your voice is monotone, the equvalent of a toddler barotone, and focused more on the timing and words, less the melody. I never got past that stage myself.
I hesitate to say you come from a musical family. I played in garage bands, not singing, and your Mom can definitely hold a tune but never played an instrument. We have some cousins who have had real talent and aspirations. Maybe you’ll have the generational breakthrough.
You’re also working on your stage performance. Eliza loves to dance and really shakes it out. You follow her lead and more recently have been willing to dance on your own. You have a “macho” approach to dance, scruffing your face with clenched fists like you’re going to pick a fight but twisting and wriggling to the music. You’ll break out the air guitar, which you compact like an air violin, when you hear the guitar solos. It’s very Wayne’s World and you’ll understand that dated SNL reference many years from now.
Keep that song in your heart. Music has helped me process good and tough times. Music has helped me and connect with people, when I’ve been on stage and in the crowd. People are always looking to follow the music. It just takes someone to drop the beat to get the party started. It’s your turn.
Love, Dad