Friday, May 17, 2013

Take 2 – May Secret Subject Swap

Welcome to another Secret Subject Swap. This week, 11 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.


Secret Subject Swap | www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics

Here are the links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts. Sit back, grab a cup and check them all out. See you there.

Baking In A Tornado
The Insomniac's Dream
Dinosaur Superhero Mommy
The Pursuit of Normal
The Momisodes
Searching for Sanity
Black Sheep Mom
Moore Organized Mayhem
Daily Dose of Damn
Tiny Steps Mommy
Mom Rants and Comfy Pants

My subject is Do you play an instrument? If so what kind and how often? OR have you ever played? It was submitted  by: Moore Organized Mayhem.

Here goes:
When I was in Middle School, I learned to play the guitar. Well, barely. My Mom bought me a guitar and had a friend teach me to play. I couldn’t read music, but I learned chords and I could strum my way through a song or two. Aerosmith, Boston, J. Geils, none of them came calling. I never got over it.

So I decided that my kids would at least try playing an instrument, and while they were young. I wanted them to learn to read music and have some basic knowledge. So the first time that the public schools offered lessons, I took advantage of it. In third grade, the school offered Orchestra. Wouldn’t have been my choice of a place to start, but we went with it. I told my older son that I wanted him to give it a try for one year, then he could make his own decision.

I was really excited when the school called to say they had an instrument for us to rent. The rules were that the instrument went to school twice a week for lesson day, then came home in between for practice. Practice had to be at least 20 minutes a day and I had to sign off on each day. Cool. We could do that.

The Instrument? A String Bass. That thing was as tall as I am. And heavy. So twice a week I sent my kids out the front door and waved to them as they walked to school with the rest of the neighborhood kids. And then I got in the car to drive the Bass to school. OK, there is something seriously wrong with this picture.


String Bass | Graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics



Then later in the day, after lessons were over, I had to go back to the school and pick it up and drive it home so it would be there for practice. OMG, practice. That turned into a moral dilemma. Do I teach my young kids to cheat and lie? Or, as I’m in the kitchen making dinner, am I really going to listen to 2 notes played over and over for 20 minutes? Daily.


Homemade Marinara | www.BakingInATornado.com | #recipe

Homemade Marinara

The next year, when my other son was in third grade, the orchestra teacher called me. She wanted to let me know that she had gotten me a second String Bass so both boys could play and we could leave one at the school for classes and keep one at home for practice. Perfect. Good things come to those who wait, right?

Hell, no. I had promised my older son that he only had to play for one year and he made it clear that he was done. I ended up driving it again. ANOTHER whole year of waving to the kids, having to get fully dressed (cause you don’t just drive a String Bass to school and leave it in the parking lot). In the snow, the rain. . .

So the extent of the musical ability my family has is on nights where I serve Baked Beans with dinner and the boys treat me to this chant:
Beans, beans, the musical fruit. The more you eat, the more you toot.”

I think we’re going to have to chalk this one up to a Mom fail.

Baking In A Tornado signature | Graphic designed by and property of www.BakingInATornado.com | #MyGraphics





Homemade Marinara
                                      ©www.BakingInATornado.com
Ingredients:
2 Cans Stewed Tomatoes (must be stewed)
1 (6 oz) can tomato paste
3 TBSP olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tsp dried oregano 
1 TBSP dried parsley
1 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 cup frozen chopped onion
1/2 cup dry white wine
2 tsp brown sugar
Directions:
 *Process stewed tomatoes, tomato paste, olive oil, garlic, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper and onion in a food processor until almost smooth.
*Move to a large pan and add the white wine and brown sugar.
*Bring just to a boil on medium heat, then reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
                                   

34 comments:

  1. LoL! Did you ever have a stern talking to with the bass? We are a musical family. My Dad is a drummer, I'm a classically trained pianist, my son wants to learn the play drums, my daughter wants to learn guitar and we all love to sing. I've recently introduced my kids to classical music and my son LOVED it.

    And don't feel bad. I can read music, but I can't read it while I play, so I write the notes above it. lol

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    1. My older Son is now into making his own mixes and I'm thrilled to see that he loves all kinds of music. So maybe not a complete fail after all?

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  2. My son plays the drums...THE DRUMS! I'm seriously considering getting him his own apartment at the tender age of 12. Too young? I so feel ya!

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    1. The drums. Now that would be interesting to try to get to school and back . . .

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  3. Ha! The things we so for our kids, right? My 5 year old wants to take violin lessons - my ears hurt just thinking about it!!

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    1. Ouch, violin, now that would be painful. But at least it's easier to transport, so there's that.

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  4. Gasp! Another post with a "furt" mention? Ha, ha!! I never knew how to play an instrument and it bothered me that I had missed out on that. Our 4th grade music teacher practically begged me to talk Mason into playing the saxophone because he tested so well. Unfortunately, my husband made the remark, "I want him to be on the football team, not in the marching band". I was Sooooo mad at him for that (still am) because I have heard so much about how music helps kids learn in other subjects as well. Oh well...Mason never did learn an instrument. But guess what? He doesn't want to play football either. Guess the joke is on my husband!! BTW, can't wait to try your marinara sauce since I am kitchen challenged. It really only takes that long to make??? I'm in!!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. My younger son went on to try the Clarinet and the music teacher begged him to continue saying he was the best the teacher had heard in a long time. But no, couldn't convince him. Sometimes I think it's best NOT to let them know what we want them to do.

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  5. OMG...you had to drive it back and forth...I can't imagine...LOL...

    I have no musical ability at all...NONE...I can't sing and I certainly could never play an instrument. Son loves to sing and remembers songs all the, I wonder if he'll be a good singer?

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    1. When my older son was a baby, he was the easiest baby in the world. Pretty much the only time he'd cry was when I would sing.

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  6. Lol. My son has a violin. I need to get him lessons. I dobhavec some musical ability but strings are just different. Needless to say, he doesn't play often.

    Thanks was looking for a homemade marinara recipe! No joke.

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    1. You do need to get him lessons if he already has the instrument. Then you need to get yourself ear plugs. Take it from someone who knows!

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  7. My dad used to sing that all the time too ... thankfully he was musical as well so that wasn't all it was for us but still!

    ¤´¨)
    ¸.•*´
    (¸¤ Lanaya | xoxo
    www.raising-reagan.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. I used to sing it when I was little too. Funny the things that keep getting passed down through the generations, LOL.

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  8. They couldn't offer up the flute. A nice piccolo maybe? A string bass?! You are a good mama. Although I've got to be honest- in played the flute and hated it;) I think singing is the only musical practice any kid needs;) Just kidding. My youngest has been taking piano for about 8 months but wants to know when he can switch to drums. I told him as soon as Travis Barker moves in next door, complete with his sound proof studio and electronic kit. I have a feeling I will be buying a lot of ear plugs in the next year;)
    This was awesome!
    Vicky
    www.thepursuitofnormal.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
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    1. What a funny coincidence, I heard Travis Barker was looking at the house next door to you . . .

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  9. Well, beans are the musical fruit!

    I never played an instrument as I was too involved with be a jock in school. You know, those dasy when kids actually played outside rather than sitting in fron of a computer all day!

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    1. I remember those days. We actually have a neighborhood FULL of kids all the same age. The rule was, no matter what my kids were doing, if someone rang the doorbell (which happened constantly) they had to go out. I'm pretty sure they tried more than once to disconnect the doorbell . . .

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  10. Hardly a fail. You drove it back and forth. You win Motherhood.

    On a side note, I can't read music either and I'm tone deaf. But I can memorize keys on a piano and play anything I'm taught.

    -The Insomniacs Dream

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    Replies
    1. I think that's amazing that you can play just from what you're taught. I'd take that.

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  11. That's a dedicated mom right there, to haul that ginormous instrument back and forth! Don't tell anyone, but when my son was 10 and decided to try playing the trumpet, I made him practice outside...

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  12. Ha... The Musical Fruit Song!!! Love it. I have this visual of you lugging that thing in & out each day. Enjoyed... Have a great weekend, Slu

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    1. Funny, I'm trying to FORGET the memories of dragging that thing around!

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  13. I am laughing at the image of you hauling that thing to and from school. That's dedication, my friend! As far as having to LISTEN to them practice--my oldest son took up saxophone--Eeoww! And the youngest boy plays drums ( my ears are now shot). I love it when you write about your boys--so funny. The ending was perfect--musical fruit!

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    1. You're welcome to laugh now, but I wasn't laughing for those 2 long, long, long years!

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  14. ROFLOL!!!!! OMGosh!!! I can't imagine having to drive that thing to and from school... YILES!! But it could have been a tuba! ;)

    Thankfully(?) my kids have never shown much interest in learning to play anything.

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    1. Yeah, my kids showed no interest in playing instruments AFTER I lugged that Bass around for 2 years!

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  15. Don't feel too bad, my mum and dad bought us an upright piano when I was a kid hoping that we'd all become musical maestros or something. They ended up selling it because we never ever practised and they were tired of wasting their money. Some people want to learn an instrument, some just don't. I can still play actually, but these days the farthest I get is a quick rendition of chopsticks or something equally as quick and easy.

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    1. I think sometimes kids don't want to do something just cause we want them to. But I had to at least give it a try. Ultimately, like with you, the choice had to be theirs.

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  16. This made me laugh so hard. Mark played the cello. Enough said. When it came time for our children, they stuck with the portable clarinet. If I had to return the bass to school like you each day, I'd have to do so in an 80's movie-like fashion. You know, where you drive toward the school super fast in a station wagon. You slam on the breaks until your car does a 180, the back door opens up and the bass slides out to the front of the band room. No getting dressed, no stopping for small talk. Wha? Just me?
    It's raining today. Pasta with marinara sounds fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Oh, if only I could have. And although I would have loved for my kids to have continued with an instrument, I can't say as I was unhappy to put those Bass days behind us!

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  17. Musical instruments sound so nice when they are played properly. It's just the part of 'learning how to play it' that drives me mad. I quiver every time I hear our neighbours child play the violin :( I just wish she could hurry up and learn the right notes LOL.
    You were very good to keep driving that massive thing around for so long. The kids owe you, big time :)

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    1. I'm not sure we ever got past that learning part, unfortunately. And I think 2 years is way past my patience limit!

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