Strewn Out Musical Instruments and a Shady Record Deal

A Screaming Goat Wins Four Grammy Awards (3/3)

I am hyperaware of those things now with my daughters, especially with my oldest. I am complimentary of anything she does because I truly believe that kids (and adults) need less feedback and more encouragement.

If you pursue any craft long enough, love will come, appreciation for where your art stands will come, the skills to imperfectly fix that will come, acceptance for the maddening nature of art making will come.

So if it is just a matter of coming back to keep trying our hand at our art, then what you don't need is a list of all the things you suck at but a list of the things you strive at.

After I shower her with support, I figure out what kind of tools she can have so she can get excited.

One time, I was walking downtown with my five-year-old, Jovie, and she looked at a girl who was probably two or three years older than her.

She was busking in front of Central Market with an electric guitar, a mic and an amplifier.

My daughter looked at that and, in one second, decided, "I want to do that!"

I said, "Great!!! Let's go home and make a plan."

When we got home, we put together the plan.

I told her, "If you learn five of your favorite songs, I'll get you all the equipment you need. You don't even need to learn them on guitar; I'll learn to play them on the ukulele for you."

And that's how she got an exclusive deal with... okay, that's not what happened.

She still has not learned the songs.

The offer is still on the table for whenever she decides to take me up on it.

But I learned that she thinks playing live music is interesting.

So, I connected with all of my musician friends. I took them to visit one of my friends who likes collecting weird instruments; we have all sorts of instruments strewn out around the house, so they can play with what they want; any time one of my friends plays a live show, I'm in the front row with them, and when the rhythm takes us, I get up and dance with them.

I am getting myself in the middle of the game with them.

And that's how I ended up being part of the group that is producing her school's music festival.

I want to make sure that regardless of what environment we are living in, my daughter always has options available to her. She can see the love musicians have for their craft; she can see on stage people who she knows, or people who look like her, embody the magic of musical performances.

I don't know where my daughter's love for music will lead her. It doesn't have to go anywhere. All I want her to know is that whatever she decides to do, I'm here to support her.

Of course, you know Shakira now, despite what that teacher said.

What you might not know is that Shakira was encouraged by her father to write poetry at a very young age. Then, both of her parents created an environment where she could learn dance, music, and poetry.

So whether she sings like a goat or dances like one, she is living her dream. 

If you are in Petaluma on May 17th, come to The Phoenix Theater for an afternoon of local music. Rock for River: A Fundraiser to Enrich River Montessori Charter School's Music Programs.