Rearing a Folk-Singer

Subject: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 09:56 AM

So, we're in 7-11 the other day, and Willie finds some American flags, and asked if he could buy one. I said we have enough flags, at which point Timmie says Yeah, and besides, and then launches into Your Flag Decal Won't Get You Into Heaven Any More. Age 7, and is already using music and lyrics to communicate important social messages! I was so proud. Anybody else?

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Hecate
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 11:21 AM

Mine, not having emerged into the world yet, just kicks along if anything resembles an accoridan - a morris dancer in the making perhaps?

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: C-flat
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 12:23 PM

Mine has a new tendency to make her own songs up while she tells us about her day. Pretty tuneless but she does attempt to make the lines scan which, at 5yrs-old, isn't bad I think.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Sorcha
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 12:28 PM

Nevermake him sing. Let him sing what he wants to. Ask for permission to join in. Don't force him to sing in public--ask if he wants to and respect his descion.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 12:41 PM

throw away your television set, sing often and easy, and at appropriate rites of passage sing certain songs simply, keep a bunch of instruments around the house and encourage participation

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Deda
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 12:44 PM

My 23-year-old son is a full-blown folkie, plays guitars very well, and a little mandolin and penny whistle, and has recently joined the 'cat under the name "Bull Am". I don't really know exactly how it happened, given that he always lived with his Dad but has a very strong sense of attachment to my side of the family -- whom he rarely gets or ever got to see, but they've had a huge influence with him anyway. It thrills and amazes me. I feel as though he spring up full-armed, or fully-instrumented, like the goddess born from Zeus' forehead.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 12:56 PM

My moms best (and only) piece of child rearing advice...

"Eat 'em when the bones are soft"

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Bee-dubya-ell
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 12:59 PM

Your Timmie is a braver man than I! I was offered a five dollar tip to play "Flag Decal" not long ago. I turned it down because I knew the offer was just bait to get the guy's buddies (military types) pissed off.

Unfortunately, sometimes, in the not-too-far-post-9/11 world self-censorship = self-preservation. May it be different by the time Timmie's ready to start gigging.

Bruce

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 01:27 PM

Self censorship is always an act of self preservation, regardless of the current political climate. If people had felt that way about civil rights, do you suppose women and ethnic minorities and African Americans ever would have gotten their civil right to vote recognized (just to cite one example)?

The point is, you are supposed to move beyond the self preservationist's complacency, and stand up for your beliefs. Pick and choose the battles wisely, but don't base the decision on whether or not people will disagree/dislike you for simply speaking your mind. No one will respect you as a musician or as a human being if you can't stand up for what you believe in.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Mrrzy
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 01:36 PM

...women and ethnic minorities and African Americans... just to cite one example? Definitely a folkie!

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 05:45 PM

The kicking along to accordions whilst pregnant doesn't necessarily suggest morris dancing as a choice... Before birth, Bratling would bounce around a lot during sessions and watching her now, I know why... she was trying to get her fingers in her ears!

She does however, show signs of wanting to sing and sing in public (possible honorable mention as the youngest participant in the recent World Record Singaround at Leigh), and has expressed a desire to learn several of the songs I do.... although 16 stones doesn't have the same effect when done by a 6 yr old!

Gentle encouragement, do not force. Hard bones can be boiled to make a good sustaining broth and the remains can become interesting jewellery, paperweights, ancient artefacts.

LTS

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Dorrie
Date: 11 Jul 02 - 06:26 PM

when i was little i wouldnt go to sleep at night until me and my sister and my dad had sung at least 3 songs!usually spencer the rover repeated three times

dorrie x

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Nancy King
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 01:37 PM

As one whose two kids (Ken and Dan Schatz) have both grown up to be folksingers -- and good ones at that! -- I would add that giving your kids plenty of opportunities to be surrounded by people having fun with folk music is one of the best ways to encourage them. The don't-force-it advice above is vital, but gentle encouragement is also important. If they see good people enjoying themselves with this music, they're likely to join in eventually. My boys went to every FSGW Getaway from the time they were toddlers till they went away to college, and they still come back whenever they can. Lots of folks remember Dan as the skinny little kid who always used to sign up to be first on the Saturday evening concerts. Ken bided his time, then suddenly burst on the scene as a fine singer of shanties and work songs. They are a great joy to me.

Cheers, Nancy

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Mrrzy
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 01:42 PM

Timothy also makes up his own songs, and sings to his animals and toys and brother. Quite tuneful and wordful, he is. He also rewrites songs and makes up lyrics if he doesn't know them. DEFINITELY a folkie. Wonder what key he's in - if it's G, then we have confirmation, right?

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Midchuck
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 01:54 PM

Hard bones can be boiled to make a good sustaining broth and the remains can become interesting jewellery, paperweights, ancient artefacts.

Or guitar nuts and saddles. If I ever need a hip replacement, I'm gonna make sure they give me the removed parts, and I'll have a good (non-squeamish) luthier use them to upgrade a couple of my instruments.

Then I'll wander off, singing, "I'm Back in the Saddle Again..."

Peter.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 02:05 PM

mine, like Nancy's, has been surrounded by folk music and been to 18 Getaways in his 20 years....but always disdained it in favor of 'pop'...until...*grin*...Ren Faires and ersatz 'Shanty' groups, and now he is slooooowwwwly moving into it all...and just got elected 'member-at-large' in FSGW!.....his tastes are still FAR more eclectic than mine, but I'll bequeath him 700-800 folk albums, tapes and CDs and he'll absorb a lot of it...

you can't 'push', but you can show...

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Willie-O
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 03:23 PM

Well, my eldest, the inscrutable Emily...when she was about 9 I brought home a couple of CD's, two Toms:

• Waits "Rain Dogs" for me
• Paxton, one of his kids albums, for her.

Guess which one she took to playing all day long? Guess which Tom her high school locker contained a shrine to this year?
(hint: not Paxton)

She's muttering about taking up the guitar again. I leave the little O-18 sitting around (properly protected, of course) as bait.

W-O

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: EBarnacle1
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 04:17 PM

All kids like to show off. Give him or her or it the chance to learn something the people he is going to be in front of would appreciate and turn the kid loose.

Do not demand that the kid participate. At the same time do not leave just cause the kid is bored. Kids get bored easily.

Make a contract with the kid. Give them the opportunity to just be quietly present. They can do quiet, non-disruptive things. This gives the kid the opportunity to see that they can tolerate things not directly interesting to them today. It's amazine how often a kid will decide to participate on his own if it seems to be his ideas.

At the same time, take the kid's needs into account. There is no rule that says you have to stay for the whole time. Respect works. It's part of turning an animal into a human.

Sing a lot. If what the kid hears is familiar, it increases the likelihood of participation. Often the kid will decide that something you have sung is something he would like to try out on his own in public. Encourage the tendency. The greater the irreverence factor, the more the kid will like it.

By the way, I agree that Ken Schatz has grown up quite well.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: MMario
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 04:30 PM

Don' you go knocking ren-faires now Bill!

Okay - a lot of the music isn't anywhere CLOSE to traditional; but some is - or tries to be; and heck, if it gets more people interested...

and occasionally you even get to here an authentic, period number.

Subject: RE: Rearing a Folk-Singer
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Jul 02 - 09:03 PM

not knocking 'em, Mario..just noting that stuff that happens there DOES attract attention and can draw a young one into the whirlpool!...it's not important that everything he does is fully trad & 'authentic', just that he has SOME idea of the difference!