My son is taking piano lessons. He’s getting good – very fast. It seems like he’s taking much less time to move much farther along the musical “talent” scale than I did when I was his age. It almost seems like it comes more naturally to him and with less effort.

Old Wooden Metronome

Perhaps that’s true. Or maybe that’s just my perception. I have a lot of memories of my childhood lessons. I spent many years behind the piano listening to that old metronome go “click… clock… click… clock” while trying to play slow enough to keep time with it. All the while wondering when that timer in the kitchen would chirp signaling that my practice time was over. Practicing was hard. The benefits (as a child) are few and far between.

Having grown up and now seeing my son sit there, playing through some of the same songs I learned as a child, I have a better understanding of why all that time and money had to be invested in the process. It’s an investment. Investments aren’t made for their immediate rewards. Investments are for the future.

Music was a tool, a skill, given to me by my parents. A tool that has proven to be very valuable in my life as an adult. And I am passing that tool on to my children.

The difference? When I was a child, I couldn’t see past the plastic black and white keys in front of me. Computers weren’t in every home yet. Keyboards were astronomical in price. And it was just too difficult to overcome those hurdles. My son however, even before starting lessons had already entered the realm of digital music and production. He knows about sampling and looping sounds to make cool rhythms. He knows about non-destructive editing. In fact, he can’t imagine a time when you had to get the song correct all the way through on a recording because you couldn’t go back and edit. This is a new generation. And I expect much bigger and greater things from my children than was even thought of in my generation.

Recently my wife inherited the old wooden metronome she grew up playing with. The pendulum swings back and forth to whatever speed you position the weight to.  To be honest, I am somewhat surprised to see my son’s interest in this old technology. We have available electronic metronomes, CD Metronomes, Progressive Metronomes, computer metronomes,  iPhone click tracks, Windows Mobile metronomes, and that’s just the start. But he is content, and I think even enjoys, reaching up to start that simple machine clicking away. Then he starts in playing and I’m amazed every time.

Funny the things we enjoy.