And next I'll teach her to say VERTICAL MOVEMENT!

[annathepiper]

kathrynt, llachglin, and casirafics came over to the Murk tonight to play some serious Rock Band 2 with spazzkat and solarbird. Me, I mostly hung out to watch, but I frequently applied myself as well to distracting Lily, kathrynt and llachglin's two-year-old girl.

I would like to categorically state for the record that few things are more charming than a two year old who actually understands that you must have a pick in order to play the guitar. (And for Lily, 'guitar' is apparently a general class of noun that also includes bouzoukis and mandolins.) She is quite ready and willing to help me play by hitting the strings of Rags with the pick while I do chord changes.

Also, since Kathryn had already told me this kid was all over the GBS album Road Rage when her mommy played it for her, I couldn't resist breaking out the Great Big DVD to see if she liked it. I had her attention for about the first five songs, but she also kept coming back to ask for 'more music'. <3 And she was quite attentive as I pointed out Alan, Séan, Bob, and Darrell, and she was particularly attentive to the fact that they had guitars, bouzoukis, and a bodhran, and there were an actual guitar, bouzouki, and bodhran in immediate grabbing distance.

So Lily and I played the bodhran along with "Excursion Around the Bay", in between her frequently grabbing my hands and piping "STAND UP!" and "DANCING!"

This is clearly a child after my own heart. <3

Comments

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

Obviously she is well acculturated! :) AND her parents are making sure it extends well to playing nicely with adults AND other social niceties! Rare combo, that!

[annathepiper]

Kathryn was proudly informing us that although Lily is only two and quite small for her age, she apparently already checks out on several cognitive and developmental benchmarks appropriate for a three and even four year old.

Me, I've just been impressed by her obvious interest in music. Kathryn sings for the Seattle Symphony Chorale, so Lily has already had quite a bit of exposure to different types of instruments. When they got here last night and Dara was playing her mandolin, Lily perked up and demanded, "What's that sound?"

She tried to help the grownups playing Rock Band, too. ;) She was particularly interested in helping Daddy with the drum controller, but that didn't really work, so spazzkat got her his extra set of drum sticks and a pillow to beat on. Hee. <3

[technoshaman.livejournal.com]

hee hee hee.... saw the video. The kid clearly has the inclination.... and you and Meems were encouraging the heck out of it.

Good to see you having fun. :)

[annathepiper]

I fully expect this child to be an orchestra geek by the time she's old enough to handle the hand-eye coordination. It'll just be a question of what she decides to play first.

I also note with great amusement that when I was identifying the various members of Great Big Sea, the only one whose name she repeated back to me was 'Alan!' ;)

[gerimaple.livejournal.com]

the Doyle Effect strikes again! 8*)

[annathepiper]

Clearly, even at her tender age, she is a child of discernment and taste!

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

Blatantly obvious IMnsHO! :)
Also, the Doyle effect is well beyond the usual generational effect and transcends eras too ;)

[annathepiper]

*nods firmly* I have no scientific proof of this as of yet, but I do have me a strong hypothesis that The Doyle remains a figure of myth and legend in the hearts of both Canadian and American schoolchildren of the 22nd century.

When the Doctor finally shows up at my door with the TARDIS, I shall of course have to ask him to take me there. To check!

[brightbeak.livejournal.com]

This can be nothing BUT a benefit to all of humanity :) Better living through DAMN FINE MUSIC (tm) :)