Indulge me. Gonna brag on my grandkids a bit.
Granddaughter is the eldest. Will be a Junior this year. She’s brilliant (not just me saying that. Grades support it). She’s talented musically. Plays trombone. As did her dad and her uncle. As did her grandpa (me). She was already better than I ever was two years ago. Her dad played a pretty mean trombone, and has said he’s not worthy to carry her trombone case. They do a private after school thing in Chicago called Peoples School of Music. A non profit. Donation supported. Free tuition. Her low brass instructor there, who also happens to be a professional trombone player, asked this past year if she’s considered music as a profession. Yeah. She’s that good as a 16 year old. Recently, she put together a short song. Lyrics. Sang it…. All three parts, six voices. Played guitar. Multi tracked it into Abelton. She’ll be headed to her second session at a fairly prestigious band camp in a few weeks.
Next up would be the tall young man beside his sister. Equally talented musically. Equally awesome in school. Plays bassoon. As in good enough as an incoming freshman in a huge Chicago public school this next school year….. already been promoted to the highest level band/orchestra. At try outs, they were informed that never happens. Plus…. Been told by everyone. Bassoon = Free College. He’s also kinda a computer geek and has (to me) a rather odd hobby of collecting tennis shoes. Who knew that was a thing. He auditioned for and got accepted to a similar prestigious band camp held in Los Angeles. Sometime later in July.
The short guy is just getting his feet wet. First grader this year. Going to be home schooled next year. Will also be doing the Peoples School of Music like his two older siblings. His first choice instrument. Cello.
Photo - first day of school….. last day of school. Not in photo. Four year old baby sister.

Granddaughter is the eldest. Will be a Junior this year. She’s brilliant (not just me saying that. Grades support it). She’s talented musically. Plays trombone. As did her dad and her uncle. As did her grandpa (me). She was already better than I ever was two years ago. Her dad played a pretty mean trombone, and has said he’s not worthy to carry her trombone case. They do a private after school thing in Chicago called Peoples School of Music. A non profit. Donation supported. Free tuition. Her low brass instructor there, who also happens to be a professional trombone player, asked this past year if she’s considered music as a profession. Yeah. She’s that good as a 16 year old. Recently, she put together a short song. Lyrics. Sang it…. All three parts, six voices. Played guitar. Multi tracked it into Abelton. She’ll be headed to her second session at a fairly prestigious band camp in a few weeks.
Next up would be the tall young man beside his sister. Equally talented musically. Equally awesome in school. Plays bassoon. As in good enough as an incoming freshman in a huge Chicago public school this next school year….. already been promoted to the highest level band/orchestra. At try outs, they were informed that never happens. Plus…. Been told by everyone. Bassoon = Free College. He’s also kinda a computer geek and has (to me) a rather odd hobby of collecting tennis shoes. Who knew that was a thing. He auditioned for and got accepted to a similar prestigious band camp held in Los Angeles. Sometime later in July.
The short guy is just getting his feet wet. First grader this year. Going to be home schooled next year. Will also be doing the Peoples School of Music like his two older siblings. His first choice instrument. Cello.
Photo - first day of school….. last day of school. Not in photo. Four year old baby sister.


