BABYCOUNT

Tuesdy night was slow, there was only one family with 3 small children who stopped to listen,2 in strollers. The oldest was standing and looked about 2 years old. Last night there were no babys but I managed to play Yonatan 4 times for todlers. I love watching the faces of the children listening to me, to see their eyes light up. For those that don't know, Yonathan Hakatan (Little Jonathan)is the most popular children's song in Israel. It is about a little boy going to gan(kindergarten) and he climbs a tree and gets a big hole in his pants. I have had more requests for that song than any other, and not by little kids but by kids of all ages. I usually don't play it right off but save it for the right time and watch the faces to see who recognizes it first, the parent or the child. It never fails to bring smiles to their faces.

Many of the babies I play for only get concerts of a few seconds as their parent is rushing past pushing their stroller, totally unaware of the hunger on their childs face to hear more music and the child straining to see me as he slowly passes by. But on the other hand I have other parents who often bring their child out just to see me. One little boy came almost nightly. I watched him grow from a little baby into a little boy. I'm sure he will be a musician. O, I don't mean as a profession. Maybe yes, maybe no. That's up to him. But everyone should have musical training and be a musician of sorts, if just for his own amusement. Musical training is one of the best ways to develop the brain. 100 years ago in Scotland 85% of the people were musicians. When families got together they played music. I want to encourage every one to listen to music and play music. It's never too late. My oldest violin student had her first lesson when she was 87 (her story later) and I just started a lady of 77 years on the harp.