No More Peanuts, That's Just Silly!

Last Friday, we spent some time talking with Hildegard about the bow and the final rhythm the Maestro needs to show. She has some ideas of things to try, and also when to try them. The final rhythm, which we call “Peanuts and Popcorn” is Pea-nuts, and Pop-corn, are stuck in, my f-holes, etc. So, 1,2- rest -1,2,3- rest -1,2,3- rest etc. I guess that should start with 2,3, not 1,2. Anyway, he hasn’t been getting it.

The crew had a lesson on Wednesday, and I think it must have gone better, but no one wanted to tell me about it. Riley took the kids to Nearby Competing University (NCU) to visit some friends for the week-end. They got home Tuesday afternoon, and were pretty tired from the trip and the lesson by the time I got home from work Wednesday.

One interesting thing about the Maestro is that his best ground-breaking work comes when he isn’t at a lesson. He bowed to Hildegard for the first time in a drop-by visit at her apartment, and sang for her for the first time at her office on campus. Yesterday, she came to play in the afternoon. She also brought a new song:

“I’m Sil-ly.” “What?” “I’m Sil-ly.” “What?” This is in conversation-form, with the Maestro being silly, and her asking “What?” It follows the same 1,2,3 pattern as Peanuts and Popcorn, and the place of the rest is taken by the “What?”, so the person singing does rest, while the other person says their part.

Once they could sing it, he could show it on his Tuck-a bow. As a reward, Riley and Hildegard could grab him by the hands and feet and swing him in rhythm. Presto, the fourth rhythm was done.