instruments of joy

We high-tailed over to Crane this fine morning, #1 Son and I, for the season's last violin lesson. Bubsie's teacher is a family friend by now, and we wished him well on his upcoming summer travels. He will fly to Prague; we will fly to Spain. In August, #1 Son travels to the Dominican with another team of friends from church. We have many miles to log before we meet each other again in the fall.
The violin travels with us to Spain, and we carved out a plan to maintain a practice schedule in the midst of a packed mission's trip. It never hurts to try, right? We also put our heads together (teacher, mom, and young violinist) to do a bonafide solo recital in October. The program will be a challenge, and it will require a disciplined practice-schedule. Scales, arpeggios, and etudes will be #1 Son's assignment over his summer "vacation". I always tell the music students I work with at the college, "It's alotta work to be a musician!" It truly is, and the work never ends.
Last evening, my two darlings joined with Julsie the world-renowned guitarist to perform some Sephardic folk songs for a crowd. #1 Daughter sang. #1 Son played his violin. When I dared close my eyes, (#1 Daughter requested I play musical traffic-cop at the piano just in case of a mishap) I was transported back in time hundreds of years ago to the Jewish Quarter of Cordoba, Spain. The pleasure that radiated back from the rapt audience meant that they were transported, too. What a privilege to translate mere ink on the page into music that reaches hearts! When self-discipline and hard work generate that kind of joy, all the sweat of the brow seems but a small thing.

On another note, we survived yet another event-packed week. See my flickr for proof of that!