November 10, 2006 7:15 AM
Ben
See Ben!
Click here to hear Ben sing!
Ben seldom shows off his talents when home, so I was blessed when he sent me this clip of his chamber choir. I had to listen several times before I could believe that was my son singing solo and sounding like a grownup man.
Here are the words:
Don't you let nobody 'turn you 'round,
Keep the straight and the narrow way
The interesting thing to me on the original file he sent me was that the applause actually lasted longer than the song!
Now mothers of little ones, heads up! People often ask me how we produced so many kids with exceptional voices. I do not have a musical background, but somehow as a mother I've always known that with little children the world is wide open. If you introduce them to a lot of different things, you will begin to see where their gifts lie - and they will be so much the better because of the early exposure.
When I began homeschooling in 1990, we woke up every morning and sang hymns and praise choruses before reading from the Bible. I do not play piano and haven't had voice instruction, but I can carry a tune if it's something I've heard before. That was really all I had to offer - plus a passion for the words of the hymns, which would often be the basis of my daily sermon ("Where one or two are gathered, there Mom will give a sermon." Florence Littauer)
I also played classical music. Though I'd grown up without it, I instinctively understood that it was an important part of our cultural heritage and I didn't want my children to grow up missing out on anything it was in my power to give them.
So from the time Ben was a little toddler, there was music in the house - and trips to San Francisco for the Lollipop Concerts, where the symphony played music that would appeal or tell a story to kids.
When Ben was eight, I bought tickets for us to see The Magic Flute by Mozart. Looking back, I think it must have been a God thing. Operas have a lot of visual spectacle and of course, some amazing vocal moments, but they are very long and run late into the night.
Ben was so rapt in the production, it was almost as though he were part of it. At intermission, people commented on his absorption. It wasn't just that he was well-behaved, it was that he loved what he was seeing and hearing.
Today, he is on his way to being an opera singer. He studies at Liberty University - yes, home of Jerry Falwell and the butt of liberal scorn, but a place I highly recommend for a truly holistic (as in educating the whole person) education. He went in with this gift and passion to sing, thinking he could maybe be a music teacher or choir director, but because of his voice, his teachers have encouraged him to dream bigger dreams. So he is currently working toward becoming an opera singer.
In addition to being a great singer, Ben is a really nice guy with an easy-going temperament and a wonderful sense of humor. He could have been many different things - including a veterenarian (animals love him), an artist, or a stand-up comedian. When he had to choose between art and music, he chose music because he decided art was more solitary and music was more social. On the Myers-Briggs test, his personality is defined as the Entertainer like his little sister Maddy, though his personality is a little more reserved than the profile sounds.
When girls were throwing themselves at him in high school, Ben stood aloof and never picked up on their often not-so-subtle invitations. Late in his senior year he began a relationship with a young woman he'd known for over a year, but at a distance. She was beautiful, intelligent, modest, and refined - way different than the other girls. It really said a lot to me about Ben that he would look for that kind of quality at such a young age. They share the same spiritual foundation and a lot of the same cultural background (in fact, her mom recently became a Montessori teacher).
I've been amazed at how these two - over the past two-and-a-half years - have kept their priorities in order. She goes to another college so they don't see each other that often. They are close but not obsessive. And she seems to understand and respect that Ben has another part of his life that requires his time: all his manly activities like airsoft wars and rugby games. In a world where girls tend to completely take over the men in their lives, I admire her self-assurance and confidence in their relationship.
I think that's what makes me really happy. This relationship seems to bring out the best in them. It is on solid spiritual ground - they often do Bible studies together and God is very much part of everything they do.
I'm very blessed that she likes me enough to call me Mama C. I guess this is like adoption in a way - when your child brings someone into your life that loves you because they love the child you raised. While this relationship can sometimes be a troubled one, when it works it is a true blessing.
Well, that's the story of my son Ben. I only meant to share his beautiful singing, but ended up reflecting on so many other things about him. Those of you who've read my books know that Ben is a prominent character - the toddler who emptied the fireplace of shovelfuls of ashes only to dump them on the floor, as well as the one who brought the garden hose in to water our carpet. He is also the originator of the Curtis slogan, "The Nicest People inthe World." Browsing through his baby book on his last birthday (20th), I found this, written when he was 2 1/2:
Daddy says someday we will tell "Ben Stories" as you are truly an amusing child.
Ben, you've been so much more than that!
Now, excuse me while I go have a little Mommy-cry remembering all those sweet times!
Posted in Family, Mothering, Music | Permalink
Comments
barbara,
the nicest people in the world story is one of my favorites. I think about that often. You've done a great job. Thanks for sharing your knowledge of what worked and didn't work. It's different for everyone but it is always nice to try new things.
janet
Posted by: janet | November 10, 2006 12:42 PM
Bravo!
Posted by: Marie | November 10, 2006 2:18 PM
Thank you for posting this. As it played, Ben's voice drew my musical son from the far reaches of the house. He wanted to know his age and everything!
Next, I wanna hear Maddy : ))))
Posted by: floorplan | November 10, 2006 4:10 PM
These are great memories of Ben. I loved the singing. My brother is an opera singer; I wrote about him
Best wishes to him and to his beloved.
Posted by: Carol in Oregon | November 10, 2006 5:39 PM
Thank you for sharing that bit. It was nice to hear Ben and yes, I would have never put that voice to the picture of Ben.Wow! What a amazing voice.
I second hearing Maddy sing. I have always wondered how she must sound, especially since reading that she got the part that she wanted in Les Miserables (forgive my spelling!). How long do we have to wait? :-)
Mrs. Garcia
Posted by: Mrs. Garcia | November 10, 2006 5:41 PM
WOW. Thank you so much for sharing!
Posted by: paigeu | November 11, 2006 3:21 AM
beautiful!
Posted by: Heidi | November 11, 2006 6:01 AM
What an amazing voice your son has. Thank you for sharing! It was so fun and encouraging to read this post as well as "Nicest People in the World". What a guy!
Posted by: Keri L | November 11, 2006 3:15 PM
That's funny - my husband calls my mom "Mama C"!
Posted by: miller_schloss | November 13, 2006 7:38 PM
