Ben Thinks Glissandi Are Cool
One of the top questions that a Rochester resident will receive from non-Rochestarians is some variation of “Why would you ever want to live there?” This curiosity is to be expected what with the snow, the decline of our local industry (Kodak, Xerox, and Bausch and Lomb), the snow, and our inferiority complex w/r/t downstate and our more well-known neighbor to the west. Also, there is the snow.
One of the most frequent responses—aside from the clichéd blather about change of seasons—is the high quality and concentration of cultural institutions in Rochester. This is no idle claim and it is perhaps a indication of the plenitude of our cultural resources that Kari and I have only just recently gotten around to attending any of the offerings of the Hochstein School of Music & Dance.
Yesterday, Hochstein hosted their winter carnival, Musical Feast, an event designed to introduce children to music and was no doubt also aimed at acquainting parents to the Hochstein curriculum. After a brief introductory concert by the Youth Orchestra, we took Ben through the instrument petting zoo, where kids get the chance to play the instruments themselves (under very close supervision).
Ben enjoyed the percussion room of course, but his attentions were otherwise split between the strings and the brass instruments, particularly the violin and trombone (the trombone slide was more fun than the trumpet valves). He couldn't have cared less for the woodwind instruments, though. Any dreams of raising the next John Coltrane took a serious hit with Ben's total lack of interest in the saxophone.
We left with a handful of brochures and thoughts of enrolling Ben in a Suzuki Program. Hochstein really puts together an impressive package. The opening program by the Youth Orchestra was enchanting, with some serious talent represented. It's pretty intimidating, though. Ben seems interested in learning an instrument, but his attention span is still that of, well, of a five-year-old.