Today, I played my violin for my daughter's preschool class. I impressed the kids with cow and mouse sounds in Old McDonald Had a Farm. I also played Wheels on the Bus. Following a rendition of the Orange Blossom Special, one little girl shouted out, “That sounds like the Polar Express!” It was great having such an attentive little audience. A couple of them didn't seem all that interested, and one girl told me after I played the theme song to Bluey that her parents don't let her watch that show because they don't like it. Kids reveal everything. (I'm still trying to figure that opinion out, as it's probably my favorite recent kids' show! Maybe they think it has too much heartwarming idealism? Shrug.)

There were some cute moments in my presentation for me, personally, and some sad ones. It was nice that the students recognized "Rain, Rain, Go Away" (played in honor of Tooele's weather today) and they actually requested "Little Bunny Foo-Foo." It was great having my husband in the audience. It seemed fleeting, though very rewarding, that my daughter, with clear pride in her voice, excitedly told her friends before I began, “That's my mom!” (I'm already anticipating the teenage years when it won't be as popular to claim me.)

But the sad moment came--and I anticipated this would be the case--when it was clear that the kids had no recognition for the theme song to Sesame Street. (“Sunny day, sweeping the clouds away . . . .”) But that didn't stop me from educating them! I played it primarily for my benefit and the benefit of the teacher, who is, thankfully, even more in that generation to appreciate the iconic TV show than I am. The kids' lack of recognition was a sign of how much time has passed in my life thus far and how disconnected I will always be, in a sense, from my daughter's friends. We will never have that same childhood experience in common.

I loved Sesame Street. It's telling that Grover and Kermit and Bert from the show are probably my favorites. Maybe that says more about me, as a passionate and dramatic "worrier" myself. Hey, at least they're entertaining! In the best sense, too. No crudeness or irreverence, which has become all too common in today's "entertainment!"

Overall, this performance was a rewarding experience. I did feel bad these students had to crane their necks in order to look way up to watch me from their little chairs . . . . I really do care about benefiting my community and serving my fellow man with my music! After all, three- and four-year olds are citizens, too. I'm glad I got to educate some tiny, but important, listeners today.