I don’t think that day will be anytime soon. I can’t imagine John, Elizabeth, Farley or the neighbors will thank him anytime soon either. My kids have learned the violin and the piano. The piano is nice to listen too, but the violin was nowhere near as bad as a trumpet.
I have had 3 grandsons play the trumpet, only one of them actutally stuck with it, but two families and neighborhoods had to deal with months and months of practice. OUCH.
It drove me crazy when people would give my kids a noisy toy but learning to play an instrument is a very nice skill to have. If I were Ellie I would take Michael over there a few days a week to practice. As a matter of fact, Michael could leave it at Phil’s.
My husband decided one year that he was going to give drums to our grandson who lives up north. Took the wind out of his sails when he found out the other grandma already did that. Also, our sil was already planning on teaching him to play.
I think Phil is a good uncle for giving a real instrument that the kid can learn on. I understand the aggravation of the noise, but seriously, learning to play an instrument is a wonderful thing.
jpirad, it’s not that we’re music haters, it’s just we remember the practicing all to well. Please lighten up… one of the great things about hindsight is the ability to laugh about experiences later in life.
YAY! Good for Uncle Phil :) I play trumpet as my Dad did. Still playing even as an adult. Music teaches discipline, teamwork, builds character and all kinds of life skills and it it fun!
obviously a lot of music HATERS here. IT takes time to learn the skills to play an instrument. It takes patience and support from your parents and family to get GOOD at it. Apparently that is TOO much of most of you. Ironically, if your kids had professional success you’d all be stage mothers.
Learning how to play a musical instrument of ANY kind is all well and good but you’re completely missing the point here. It’s NOT that anyone here is necessarily a music hater. It’s just that a trumpet for Michael wasn’t a decision that John, Elly and Michael were able to sit down, discuss, and then come to an agreement on as a FAMILY. Judging by the expression on Elly’s face, this was obviously a spur-of-the-moment decision made by a clueless (although well-meaning, I’m sure) Phil all on his own without talking to his sister first, and that just isn’t right.
The noise created by that trumpet isn’t going to just affect the home’s inhabitants — it’s also going to affect the neighbors too. And what if Phil doesn’t want, or have the time, to give Michael lessons? Then Elly and John are going to have to come up with the extra money needed to hire someone to give Michael private lessons for however long it takes for him to either become good — or quit (whichever one comes first). And what if Michael doesn’t want lessons at all . . . and just wants to go around simply blowing it and pretending he’s actually playing it? YIKES!
All these reasons and more is why something like this should have been discussed in advance with everyone involved BEFORE this purchase took place rather than the unpleasant surprise birthday gift it turned out to be afterwards (for the parents, that is!).
@ lightenup – Having raised one kid who became a professional violinist I can recall another parent who once said of the violin, either you learn to play it well or don’t play it at all. He kid was friends with our daughter. Out kid learned to play it well, hers didn’t.
barbara chaffin Premium Member almost 11 years ago
wow!
Odd Dog Premium Member almost 11 years ago
If look’s could kill Phil’s a goner
legaleagle48 almost 11 years ago
I love the death glare! :D
legaleagle48 almost 11 years ago
And Phil won’t be so enthusiastic when it comes to teaching Michael how to play the thing, either!
lightenup Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I don’t think that day will be anytime soon. I can’t imagine John, Elizabeth, Farley or the neighbors will thank him anytime soon either. My kids have learned the violin and the piano. The piano is nice to listen too, but the violin was nowhere near as bad as a trumpet.
jeanie5448 almost 11 years ago
I have had 3 grandsons play the trumpet, only one of them actutally stuck with it, but two families and neighborhoods had to deal with months and months of practice. OUCH.
urfelats almost 11 years ago
Could have been worse. Could have been bagpipes!!
Beleck3 almost 11 years ago
lol, obviously Phil hates his sister, and enjoys torturing her, must be American after all.
QuietStorm27 almost 11 years ago
It drove me crazy when people would give my kids a noisy toy but learning to play an instrument is a very nice skill to have. If I were Ellie I would take Michael over there a few days a week to practice. As a matter of fact, Michael could leave it at Phil’s.
lovecats Premium Member almost 11 years ago
My husband decided one year that he was going to give drums to our grandson who lives up north. Took the wind out of his sails when he found out the other grandma already did that. Also, our sil was already planning on teaching him to play.
prrdh almost 11 years ago
“Someday” will be when Michael plays “Taps” at Phil’s funeral.
alondra almost 11 years ago
Looks like Elly’s going to need a pair of noiseless headphones.
kab2rb almost 11 years ago
I do not blame Elly for the evil look.
Pipe Tobacco Premium Member almost 11 years ago
I think Phil is a good uncle for giving a real instrument that the kid can learn on. I understand the aggravation of the noise, but seriously, learning to play an instrument is a wonderful thing.
sameyers almost 11 years ago
jpirad, it’s not that we’re music haters, it’s just we remember the practicing all to well. Please lighten up… one of the great things about hindsight is the ability to laugh about experiences later in life.
Mickeylacey almost 11 years ago
that’s why we save eggs cartons for the basement music room!! great sound buffer ….win win!!!
RuthTunes almost 11 years ago
YAY! Good for Uncle Phil :) I play trumpet as my Dad did. Still playing even as an adult. Music teaches discipline, teamwork, builds character and all kinds of life skills and it it fun!
BRI-NO-MITE!! Premium Member almost 11 years ago
Phil should have included a mute.
Gretchen's Mom almost 11 years ago
obviously a lot of music HATERS here. IT takes time to learn the skills to play an instrument. It takes patience and support from your parents and family to get GOOD at it. Apparently that is TOO much of most of you. Ironically, if your kids had professional success you’d all be stage mothers.
Learning how to play a musical instrument of ANY kind is all well and good but you’re completely missing the point here. It’s NOT that anyone here is necessarily a music hater. It’s just that a trumpet for Michael wasn’t a decision that John, Elly and Michael were able to sit down, discuss, and then come to an agreement on as a FAMILY. Judging by the expression on Elly’s face, this was obviously a spur-of-the-moment decision made by a clueless (although well-meaning, I’m sure) Phil all on his own without talking to his sister first, and that just isn’t right.
The noise created by that trumpet isn’t going to just affect the home’s inhabitants — it’s also going to affect the neighbors too. And what if Phil doesn’t want, or have the time, to give Michael lessons? Then Elly and John are going to have to come up with the extra money needed to hire someone to give Michael private lessons for however long it takes for him to either become good — or quit (whichever one comes first). And what if Michael doesn’t want lessons at all . . . and just wants to go around simply blowing it and pretending he’s actually playing it? YIKES!
All these reasons and more is why something like this should have been discussed in advance with everyone involved BEFORE this purchase took place rather than the unpleasant surprise birthday gift it turned out to be afterwards (for the parents, that is!).
Hawthorne almost 11 years ago
The worst thing about music is that you have to play it so badly for so long in order to play it well.
loves raising duncan almost 11 years ago
Could have been worse, it could be drums!
rugratz2222 almost 11 years ago
why isn’t there such a thing as a musical pillow?
westny77 almost 11 years ago
I don’t thionk so u idiot. Ur sister is not pleased.
ronpolimeni almost 11 years ago
@ lightenup – Having raised one kid who became a professional violinist I can recall another parent who once said of the violin, either you learn to play it well or don’t play it at all. He kid was friends with our daughter. Out kid learned to play it well, hers didn’t.
callak over 6 years ago
Didn’t Elly’s parents give Michael a trumpet for Christmas earlier though? Might have been a few years ago.