Roadway to Rock

Rocking with Dad and his cousin on drums.

I have a healthy son who knows who he is.  He left school today burning to learn more.  Something he doesn't already know.  He has been extremely disappointed with his after-school talented and gifted program, saying that he has not learned anything, that he is not excited by it, that he expected much more from the program.  Science.  More science.  That's what he wants. 
    "But if you go too far ahead, then won't you be bored again when you get to high school science?" I said as I signaled left, pausing with the minivan at the school stop sign until the crossing guard gave the go sign.
    "I don't mind if I learn too much.  At least I'll get into honors science," he said.
    I guess I'll take that as a pat on the back.  I've raised a son who values learning and embraces the unknown.
    "Well, you know you can go ahead and learn all kinds of new material on your own anytime.  You don't need a teacher or a textbook to do that," I continued.
    "What do you mean?"
    "This morning you said you want to learn how to write a song.  You like writing poetry.  Poetry can become lyrics.  I can help you with the creative writing process if you want.  Just don't expect it to come to you all at once.  I've learned that you have to start with thinking about what excites you or saddens you or upsets you.  Think about what you have to say to the world about that topic.  I know a song has an intro, a beginning, middle and end.  But you really should speak to your Dad about songwriting.  He's been writing songs since he was your age."
    This conversation was enough to extinguish his state of frustration and ignite his desire to do new things.
    "Okay, Mom.  After homework today, I'll practice more of that song from yesterday.  I'll work on some MathCounts problems to get ready for the competition and then I'll teach Connor a song."
    After dinner, he jumped from his seat as if he got bitten by another bug.
    "Mom, is it okay if I practice guitar before I do my homework?  I have all this energy and I need to get it out!"
    "Sure!  That's one of the best ways to release energy.  One of my favorites.  Go ahead.  Have fun."  And with that, he ran up the stairs and started strumming on his father's portable guitar. 
    I was really very impressed with him yesterday at his first official rock band practice with two of his best friends.  All of his closest friends play some kind of instrument; some of them more than one.  They were on a mission to learn a rock song, preferably a simple one with only three chords.
    He buzzed around the basement, on the side which is known to family and friends as Dad's dungeon, turning switches on the mother board and amps.  He checked to make sure his friends' rhythm and bass guitars were patched into the right amps.  I helped him set up the keyboard.  He tested all the connections.  Then he released a burst of energy at the electronic drum kit, displaying his coordinated pitter patter on the snare, bass drum and cymbals.  He then announced the name of the first song their band was to learn.  He tracked down the guitar tabs on the Internet as his father suggested and began helping his friends find their way around the chords.  Whether it was the rhythm guitar, bass guitar or the keyboard, he knew enough how to show them what chords and notes to play for the melody.  He is not proficient at any of these instruments, including the drums, but he knew enough to make some semblance of the song. 
    I marveled at how the boys worked together trying to find their way.  Classically trained through the school's orchestra and band, none of these boys had ever had to find their own way through a tune by ear, much less work together to play something that sounds like a few measures of a real song!  Over two hours went by and these boys kept at it.  They only stopped to munch on hot curly fries, banana chips and iced tea that I brought down as a snack.  And then they were back in practice mode.
    I was pleased not only to see that they could engage in an activity other than playing X-Box for this amount of time.  I was very happy when they agreed to play whatever they learned for me and my Blackberry's voice recorder.  I recognized the tune immediately.  They were synchronized.  I shared in their brief moments of musical connection.  I was a very proud mother and witness to twelve-year-old male bonding through the art of music.