NESP Forum

This is my conversation with a 5 year old in the car:

Me: How would you like to go to the Tae Kwon Do place with me sometime to watch a class and see if it's something you'd like to try?

Blake: I don't really want to. I want to take harmonica lessons.

Me: Well, I don't think I could find anyone who teaches harmonica...you might have to teach yourself. If you want to learn the guitar when you are a little bigger, we can find you lessons.

Blake: I've been practicing and when I'm older I'm going to ask Taylor if I can play in his band!

Me: That would be awesome!

Blake: I don't know if the people will hear me though.

Me: Well they won't hear you unless you have a microphone. Then everyone can hear you play nice and loud. That's what Taylor does....he holds both the harmonica and the microphone in his hands.

Blake: I think I should play the keyboard in the band too. I would play that when Taylor is playing his harmonica so we aren't playing them at the same time.

Me: Mommy would love that!


There it is! Blake will tour with Taylor in 15 years and I will get front row seats at every show!

That's one cool little 5-year-old! Have you bought the harmonica yet?

Bless his little heart! That's so cute!

So, does he have a harmonica yet? You'd better get onto that one!

That's one precious conversation! Thanks for sharing it with us!

Here he is at the Big E playing along in the second row:



Here is what he witnessed for the first time:




Blake's harmonica is not exactly "real" and not quite a "toy"....it's kind of in between but it sounds pretty good!
I intend to get him a real one (Hohner?) someday!

SH, he is absolutely adorable.....and that other guy isn't bad either.

Awwwww I hope Taylor happens to read this little story if he
ever stops by. Too cute!!

SH: That is a wonderful story. Do you have any keyboards in the house?

I first started to learn piano when I was not much older than Blake. I had a toy piano with color coded keys, music books that matched the colors and the notes. Now that there are electronic keyboards, you can get an inexpensive "starter" to see if he can either pick out songs by ear, or learn one finger melodies. Between that and the harmonica, he can make quite the music.

Blake got a colorful light up kid's keyboard for his 4th birthday. It came with a small plastic stool and a working microphone. At the time he said it was his favorite present!
He does not use it much anymore but it's up in the third floor playroom and every so often I hear him go at it....playing and singing....it's too funny.

When I was pregnant with him I went to a Styx and REO Speedwagon concert and I am not exaggerating when I say he kicked and squirmed and bopped around the entire show. No doubt he felt the vibrations and "danced".

I will encourage him 100% if and when he wants to take up music in the months and years to come. We can purchase a basic model or a slightly used keyboard or guitar.

Seger,
my grandson that was behind your son at the Big E has a harp from B. Dalton's that is a little step up from a toy. If there is one - or it's parent Barnes & Noble - near you they are usually on a rack with other fun kits near the register area.
He plays around with the family shared keyboard too - -
but his real love is playing bass with mom on drums & dad on lead guitar / vocals in the Rock Band game.
That is such a cool game - - great for families to do together. My 3 yr old granddaughter is too young for the game but she got a bongo drum for Christmas and does pretty well playing along on that.