She's better than Jack Benny

My daughter, who'll turn 13 in a couple of weeks, is in her second year of playing violin. She's in the middle school orchestra and she practices diligently (when school is in session.)

One thing I love and look forward to each evening is when she goes upstairs to her room and practices. Something about the violin, perhaps its relationship to the human voice or simply its sound when played legato, I find very comforting and soothing.

We all know the cliche of the screechy out of tune playing of the rank amateur that ranks with nails on a chalkboard on the irritation scale, but my daughter, while no virtuoso by any stretch, has played melodiously from the beginning. Even the pizzicato passages are pleasant.

There is no escaping the sound when she practices unless we leave the house, but I don't mind it at all. I'm proud she is learning about music and how to bring it forth from an instrument. She'll have that forever. And we have her and her music right now. So, I am going to savor it while I can. Did I tell you she's almost 13?