tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post954818116171575825..comments2024-03-21T05:12:38.116-06:00Comments on Five Kids in Five Years: The Eyre Family Orchestra (or lack thereof)Sarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00649282789502496298noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-38000820496484680342014-10-10T09:39:18.553-06:002014-10-10T09:39:18.553-06:00Saren - We were in the same class in 6th grade and...Saren - We were in the same class in 6th grade and I remember your family came to play for us. It was lovely.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10953671581184642135noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-18784971664547893992013-03-15T16:35:38.571-06:002013-03-15T16:35:38.571-06:00I think it's really important to have music cl...I think it's really important to have music classes - mostly because of my own experiences. I hated the piano, but I'm still glad I got the chance to play it, the deal was to pass my certificate of merit advanced level and then I could be done. I haven't looked back since I got my advanced certificate when I was 17.... but at least I learned a lot from those classes. A lot about discipline, about doing something that you might not always enjoy (like how working or even household chores or not so fun motherhood stuff) but making the most of it and being good at it. I also think of all the kids who never got to play, never got forced, or who's parents gave up, and there isn't one who says - yeah, I'm glad it happened that way. Everyone wishes their parents had pushed 'em harder, so that they could have that skill - even if they don't care for it like me. HAHAHA. My husband also played the piano his whole life, but he loved it and is so good at it and taught himself other instruments as well.. and I just think - you know what - even if our kids get my blasted non-talented music hating genes, at least I know it won't matter - they can still learn and be good at it... I dunno, give 'em the wings and then see if they want to fly. I have sunk - my husband has flied - but I'm glad we both had the experience because even the kids who love playing - don't always necessarily love those one hour daily practices, but hey - you learn to make time for priorities - and that's what life is about now. So .. I'm all for it!!SupaFlowaPowahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04701501052968627423noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-66560719901326298242013-03-15T05:09:46.859-06:002013-03-15T05:09:46.859-06:00Loved this post Saren as I share a love for music ...Loved this post Saren as I share a love for music and the growth it gives both our spirits and our minds!<br /><br />I've always said that music and swimming are the essentials for our kids and everything else is optional :) (when we had to choose between the two for financial reasons, we stuck with piano, and dropped swimming :)!!<br /><br />My oldest son who is 11 has been playing the piano for 6 years and he loves it, which absolutely thrills me :) My second son who is 8, practices, but definitely doesn't love it as much as his brother!<br /><br />I've told my children that they 'get to' start music lessons on the piano, but after a certain amount of time, they can change instruments if they want to. I don't think my boys will, but my husband loves the violin and wants our daughters to play that :) we will see!!!<br /><br />I think it's wonderful if we can give our children musical opportunities, but it is NOT easy :) haha! I don't know how your mum did it with all those children practicing!! I remind my kids if/when they complain, that all they have to do is 30 minutes practice a day! 30 minutes out of 24 hours is not a long time to develop a wonderful talent (I know some people practice for hours a day, but I don't think we're raising concert pianist - I just want music to be a part of their lives!<br /><br />Music brings such joy into the home and I love seeing my children explore and enjoy it as they grow!<br /><br />Thanks for the great post! xoFelicityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12296785277458115433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-1022041516313757422013-03-15T05:07:47.647-06:002013-03-15T05:07:47.647-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Felicityhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12296785277458115433noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-4446703059920105892013-03-14T15:26:53.908-06:002013-03-14T15:26:53.908-06:00Saren, thank you for sharing your experiences in t...Saren, thank you for sharing your experiences in this post. It gives me an opportunity to mention something I've been meaning to! I've started a piano studio for very young children (ages 4 and up) over the past couple of years, and I feel like I've sort of stumbled onto some ways of teaching that are SO DIFFERENT and SO EASY compared to how most of us learned music--it's like the Dr. Seuss of piano. I was thinking just a couple of weeks ago that I would really love to get together with anyone from your family that might be interested some time this summer (we're planning to be in the west for most of July). <br /><br />I teach children piano in groups of 6, and they generally spend about 15 minutes at the piano each day enjoying music--I'd call it practicing, but really they're learning to read and speak music the way they learn to read and speak language. It has changed so much of what I think about music education and I'm eager to share it with more people. <br /><br />Anyway, if you could file this away in your brain and let me know if any in your family are interested, I'd love to share some of my thoughts with you! As always, I'm awed by all you do. xobrittanimaehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08747618026210897689noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-18925169636461067552013-03-14T15:24:12.022-06:002013-03-14T15:24:12.022-06:00This comment has been removed by the author.Lolahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16635244393105440663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-47588025499329870382013-03-13T13:42:01.726-06:002013-03-13T13:42:01.726-06:00My two oldest are in piano (my 3rd will start this...My two oldest are in piano (my 3rd will start this summer)and have been taking on and off for several years. It's been on and off because of financial problems and piano has to go sometimes unfortunately. They will never be concert pianist, but hopefully they can learn to play the hymns and serve in the church because of that skill. I think music lessons are so vitally important and help make a well rounded person. I have told them they need to take until high school and then it's their choice. My oldest goes to high school next year! Yikes!chercardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13314841357351024070noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-64258096993477741932013-03-13T11:05:11.867-06:002013-03-13T11:05:11.867-06:00Hi Saren! I've been a big fan of your family ...Hi Saren! I've been a big fan of your family for a long time. I'm young mom (28) with 2 small kids (ages 4 and 2) and a resident of Ogden also. I've been feeling lonely lately because I seem to lack good female friends in the same stage of life that I'm in...other young moms trying to instill great values in their kids and keep up with everything going on. Do you know any young moms in our area like this who would be up for friendship and playdates, etc.? My e-mail is heather.irvine22@gmail.com. I would sure love to hear anything you could offer me! Thanks for all the amazing things you do. You're awesome! Heatherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17805065777246195611noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-67983074534053515232013-03-12T21:14:24.326-06:002013-03-12T21:14:24.326-06:00Thanks so much for taking the time to write this p...Thanks so much for taking the time to write this post Saren! It puts things into perspective and I'm so glad that even though there was a "lack therof" of a serious family orchestra, there are lots of good memories of playing together on those early mornings and at Bear Lake...especially playing the Bach double with you! In the end, I'm so glad you're doing what you're doing and not a concert violinist! But thanks for loving music! Lindahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00082310018885505399noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-82825748585712930122013-03-12T17:36:16.738-06:002013-03-12T17:36:16.738-06:00Saren, I enjoy your writing. I play the piano and...Saren, I enjoy your writing. I play the piano and have had my kids in piano lessons with good teachers, but now I'm the piano "teacher" for my kids and it is working for us. I think it's okay for kids to be in music lessons if they and their parents want them to be, but I think it is also good for music lessons to not ruin relationships between parents and kids. I hope all kids are exposed to lots of good music and to chances to do things that bring them joy, whether that is music lessons or not.Heidihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02672084174515190096noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22760611.post-52916716700469298152013-03-12T12:03:37.562-06:002013-03-12T12:03:37.562-06:00This is such a great post! I enjoy reading your bl...This is such a great post! I enjoy reading your blog so much. As far as music goes, I think it is so wise to pass along a love of music to our children and help them to see how powerful music can be to our spirits (both the good and the not so good :0), and to teach them to really have an appreciation for it. I also think it's so wise that you are letting your children develop their own talents and interests that they really enjoy. Don't get me wrong, as a parent I really believe in giving our children those "character building" experiences that they sometimes don't like or appreciate at the time, but it's so neat to see them develop a passion about something that they really love and want to do. And, interests change over time and can develop really fast. When I was in high school, there was a girl who had only played the cello for a couple of years and she was amazing! Also, if you have a child that expresses some interest in playing an instrument, I say give it a try! We've experienced this very thing with our 11-year-old son who has developed a great love for learning to play the piano. He often tells me how much he enjoys it and one day he even told me how much he loves the "challenge" he gets from learning to play. Rima Familyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00149227986242732261noreply@blogger.com