Making time for culture. . .

I've noted in this space several times the importance that "the arts" has in our lives, and therefore in our approach to homeschooling. Belle started piano this year and also sings in our local childrens chorale. We go out of our way to take all three to concerts, plays, puppet shows, etc. Some of these are intended for young audiences, but often we take them to programs primarily intended for adults (not to be confused with the "adult programming" on your hotel-room TV).

The response we get when we arrive at the "grown-up" programs varies. Walk into Atlanta's Symphony Hall on a Friday evening with three kids under 10 in tow and you too will garner some attention. Some patrons prefer to look the other way and pretend they didn't see you. Other's go out of their way to congratulate you on introducing your offspring to the wonders of the arts at such a young age. That latter comment is much more likely to be heard during intermission if the three young-un's in question remain on their best behavior throughout the first half. Then you just hope they can make it through the second with similar results.

A few observations:

• symphony orchestra concerts are far more interesting to a 4-year old than a choral concert by his cousin's college choir. Choirs just stand there and sing. No cool instruments; no loud timpani or cymbals. No harps or stringed basses. Fortunately, the concert in question was at a church with a nursery; Tink and The Boy were much happier there for the second half!
• plays typically work out well. It's dark (always good for hiding wiggles and such) and there is usually LOT'S to watch on stage.
• ditto for puppet shows.

Tonight we went to a wonderful concert that was local! (new readers should know that we live at least 30 minutes from anywhere anyone has heard of; longer if it's rush-hour). To attend a good concert at a small church in the mountains of North Georgia just 15 minutes from home was too good to pass up.

First half: an extremely talented, 16 year old cellist from Atlanta. He played beautifully, with both accuracy and passion. He will go far. The kids did well. It helps that a cello looks a lot like a stringed bass (the hit of the afore-mentioned ASO trip).

Second half: a wonderful soprano soloist who also has a regular program interviewing artists on the Atlanta public radio station. Her repertoire ranged from Handel and Mozart to Chinese folk-songs to French cabaret tunes to spirituals. Amazing! Unfortunately, it was late and the kids were largely unimpressed. Plus, the sanctuary was small and well-lit. Nowhere to run to; nowhere to hide.

We live, we learn, we go on to mercilessly expose our children to "culture" again another day (perhaps in another way). Meanwhile, the adults in the family will definitely return. Did I mention that it was local? And it was free? Both, in the same night!!!!