How My 5 yo’s Violin Practice Taught Me About Responsibility

“And a little child shall lead them…” (Isaiah 11:6)

I enrolled my five year in violin classes in 2014 because I wanted him to experience the discipline required when learning an art form. I chose the Suzuki method because it involves a lot of parental input and feedback. Suzuki parents learn along with the child. We can’t drop our child off at the music lesson, grab a latte, and pick them up when the lesson’s finished. We sit through the lessons and observe the teacher in order to implement the skills at home.

This sounded avant garde when I signed up in 2014, but I was flunking in the parental involvement department. Practice sessions were haphazard at best. As a result, his progress was slow. Even more embarrassing, our wonderful violin teacher pulled me aside on more than one occasion and gave me a good talking to on the importance of regular practice.

Sigh…

Despite my halfhearted efforts, I continued paying the tuition and the violin rental fee in the hopes that one day I’d get it together and be a Stellar Suzuki Mom **shifty eyes**

Last week, I reached my one day.

My one day occurred late at night after we finished our bedtime routine. I noticed his violin case next to my laptop, and I had an internal **Aha!** moment. I had to take the reins and practice the violin with my son. I had to lead the effort.

So my son took out his violin and his bow. I took out the week’s practice sheet, and he stumbled through the different tunes. They sounded squeaky, but he hadn’t practiced in a while so we had to overcome our learning curve.

The next night, we did the same thing. Still squeaky noises and messy bow holds. Still learning.

The following night, I almost forgot about practice until three year old Little Miss reminded me that her brother needed to practice.

By the fifth day of practice, my husband commented that our son was getting better. When lesson day arrived, the violin teacher was impressed. The five year old knew all of his Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star variations (something we have been slapdash learning since 2014). She tested him, and he passed with flying colors! He’s now ready to move on to learning the next song.

Interesting what 15-20 minute practices, five days a week can do!

Now back to my **Aha!** moment. When I saw that violin next to my computer, I realized no one would help me.  No one would rescue me. I am responsible.

I am responsible for leading my kids. I am responsible for my home, my finances, my writing, my health, my peace, my joy, my everything.

No one else is responsible. Not even God.

Yes, I believe in an all powerful, sovereign God. I believe that He has set my birth date and my future death date. Yet when God created Adam and placed him in the Garden, He delegated authority over the Garden (and by extension, authority over planet earth) to Adam. He told Adam to “work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15, NIV). God made Adam and Eve responsible. A lot of what we see in the earth is a result of man’s irresponsibility and/or fear in areas where God has given them authority to act.

What does this have to do with Suzuki violin?

Well, the only way to progress in violin is to take responsibility and practice. I can’t control the depth and breadth of my son’s development as a violinist, but I can control whether he practices.

I can’t control how God will use my life to influence others, but I can control whether I “practice.” I can practice love when met with hate. I can practice joy when met with stress. I can practice peace when met with unrest.

I can practice.  And so can you.

God, in His all powerful, sovereignty, rewards those who practice His principles. Like my son this week at violin, those who practice pass their tests with flying colors. If you are going through a test in your life, practice His principles and watch how God rewards you.