Teachable Moment?

[ltmurnau]

I haven't been keeping up with the papers Aki mostly hasn't been bringing home from school, and last night I found that he had a test in Music class today. So I went over some of the papers he hadn't done the first time around - they were asking simple questions like, "name two composers", "how many families of instruments are there?" and so forth.

I looked at some of the stuff he had completed - they asked, "what kind of music do you like?" and he answered "horror", by which he meant spooky stuff like Skinny Puppy. He did mention the homemade instruments I play, but could not name them because they have no names. They also asked, "what kind of music would you like to learn more about?" and he wrote "Like Noi Boten", by which he meant Blixa's Boys.

We started talking about how anything could be used to make music. I told him of the Goethe quote, "Das Lied schlaft in der Maschine." and played Neubauten's "NNAAAMMM" off Ende Neu for him. Unfortunately there was no time to play the soundtrack from A Clockwork Orange for him, but I did remind him of some of the Strauss and Rossini and Wagner he had heard from watching Warner Brothers cartoons.

He did wander off in the middle to throw some of those little snapper things out the door, but in the morning he did remember all we discussed, even the quote.

Then we made molasses cookies together. I will bring what remains of them to coffee tonight, if my co-workers don't steal them all during lunch.

Sometimes I think he will grow up OK after all, though there will likely be some strange gaps in his knowledge - just as there will be strange surpluses of information in other areas.

Comments

[emperorkefka.livejournal.com]

You're such an awesome father.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Thanks!

[xplodingsilence.livejournal.com]

I loved "like Noi Boten".
I don't know how old Aki is (I'll bet older then the children I use to work with), but I used to work as a Kindergarten teacher and I always made music on using towels, teapots, my mouth (well, everything you can find makes some-kinds of a noise), and the children loved it. I wasn't allowed to stop unless they could use one of the objects them self to make music. I think it's creative and good for their imagination.
I think you are doing a great job by showing him all the different kinds of "music" there are.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Aki is 10. He's really not that much into music, he never was, but it is good showing him new things and ideas.

[emmabovary.livejournal.com]

You are a good Daddy, Lt.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Yes, but not for much longer. As we discussed before, we take these times as they happen, and enjoy them while they are there.

[emmabovary.livejournal.com]

You'll always be his Daddy. And I know you will find a way to remain present in his life, even when divided by an ocean. You'll probably be better than 50% of the Daddies who live under the same roof as their kids.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Merci, ma amie.
M'amie?
Mammy?

(love tne new icon!)

[emmabovary.livejournal.com]

Mon amie.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

That was my first thought, but then I thought, naw, can't be right.

Why are there gendered languages? How many are there besides German, Russian and everything descended from Latin?

[(Anonymous)]

What d'ya mean, by 'not much longer?' Is your wife taking him back to Japan? I know it's not my business, just curious. Sorry. You know who I am. In case you don't, it's Doro.

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

I will send you an update via separate e-mail.

Update

[(Anonymous)]

Yes, please! We ( also J.C. Palmer) are thinking of you quite a bit!

Soon, Doro

Re: Update

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Okay. I thought JC didn't want to hear from me anymore. Has he been writing to you?

Maybe I should send you a paper letter - it's been a while.

Re: Update

[(Anonymous)]

Yup, J.C. is still writing. He had an accident in late August (I think), and a hip replacement. He is fine now, he can walk without a walker these days. I am sure he would like to hear from you. As for sending me something: e-mail is fine. Whatever is more convenient (doro.packlick@att.net). Hope to hear from you :-)

Doro

Re: Update

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

I sent you a paper letter two days ago. I will write JC too. I am glad he is not mad at me.

Re: Update

[(Anonymous)]

As to your "my friends" link in your profile: it should read: "Freunde of Murnau". I just saw that one :-) or "meine Freunde", which would be a direct translation of "my friends". Sorry, can't help myself, used to be a teacher. - Looking forward to your letter. Still online for a while, in case you want to add something :-)

Doro

Re: Update

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Letter sent a few days ago.
Have just finished long updating one to JC.
Will correct error or think of a better title.

[ilna.livejournal.com]

My unborn daughter wants to marry your son ;)

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

Now that would be something to see!

[ilna.livejournal.com]

Of course, i'd have to hurry a bit, otherwise the age difference could turn into a problem ;)

[ltmurnau.livejournal.com]

I think it would be worth the wait, just to see what would happen.