kudzurunner
2701 posts
Sep 22, 2011
1:05 PM
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A few days ago, somebody emailed me and the story he told in his email was so inspiring that I thought it was worth sharing here. I asked him if I could do that and he said "Sure." So here goes. Hope you enjoy it.
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Dear Mr. Gussow,
I am what Jon Gindick would call a raw beginner. I wanted to write you to tell you what an interesting role harmonica has played for me. Back in April my first child was born, 3 months premature. She spent 97 days in the NICU and we finally brought her home in July. As you can imagine, having kids yourself, my free time for hobbies is rather limited. I was doing dishes and had NPR on the radio and they were interviewing a gentleman whose name I forget, but he was talking about his newest harmonica album and how he taught himself to play using youtube videos posted by a professor from Mississippi. So I thought I would pick up a harp and teach myself, a basic harp is cheap and the videos are free and I can take the harp anywhere. I started watching the videos and got the beginner lessons from your file share site. Sometimes the baby is asleep up stairs so when i practice downstairs Im holding back a little and the notes don't sound right. (Don't worry, Im going somewhere with this, its got a great ending).
Couple weeks ago we had her in the living room and she was really cranky and wasn't sleep anyway, so I figured since she's awake I should take advantage and practice. Again I was holding back, but it didn't seem to phase her. She was still cranky and squirming around, so I kicked it up a notch she couldn't get angrier. Just as I started playing, and hit that first full note she stopped moving and looked right at me. It was a look for shock, as if to say "what the hell was that"? And then her face light up and she started smiling and laughing. The more I played the more she laughed. I suppose its the only time I will enjoy having my playing laughed at! Shes about 5 months old and we sing to her all the time, and play her lullaby music, but the only time she's engaged with the music and smiles and laughs is when I play my harp. They told us since she was so early it would be a while before she started making eye contact and smiling for long periods of time. She is way ahead of their expectations. Im still very much a raw beginer, I cant get the 3 hole draw "scoop" to work right but when I play with her and shes smiling away, I even care. I could play Oh susanna forever and it wouldn't bother me.
I enjoy your lessons very much and thank you for helping me find another way to connect with my daughter in such a hard time
Sincerely
Kyle
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orphan
70 posts
Sep 22, 2011
1:27 PM
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Great story! My "kids" get upset if the don't get a call from Dad to play Happy Birthday on their day. I thought they were getting to old for it. They let me know they will never be that old. Last week, I got to use skype to play the Birthday song for my grandson's 1st B-Day. Things have changed, but music still touches deep.
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toddlgreene
3349 posts
Sep 22, 2011
1:45 PM
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Great story. Similar stories with my little girl as a baby, whether I was singing or playing-I'd get her undivided and quiet attention, no matter what fit of rage she was in. Now she's 8, and has turned into a gifted vocalist with incredible intonation. We sing together all the time now. That's one of my great joys in life. I hope she never outgrows that.
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Todd L. Greene
Last Edited by on Sep 22, 2011 1:46 PM
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nacoran
4654 posts
Sep 22, 2011
3:34 PM
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Wait, what does this mean about BBQ's advice about playing so quietly you don't wake the baby in the next room?
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Nate
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DreadySlim
13 posts
Sep 23, 2011
6:54 AM
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Far out, that's pretty similar to my story.
Our baby was 3 months premature last December. I picked up the harp when she got home to help me work through the whole ordeal. Then stumbled across Adams lessons.
The similarity seems to end when I play to her though. Normally she just looks at me with a really confused expression.
Best wishes to Kyle and his daughter!
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LittleVillage
28 posts
Sep 23, 2011
7:23 AM
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Great stuff and thank you for sharing!
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