Danny the flautist

My older son Danny (soon to be 9) has been going to musictherapy classes since January. He is not autistic, or dysfunctional or any of the things I've seen musictherapy recommended for. He's just rather high-strung and has had a hard time dealing with his emotions. His MO was to be generally rather explosive and verbally abusive to those around him. Anyway, we have been going to musictherapy sessions and making all kinds of progress. I can't say enough about the people at the school were we have been going. They love music, children and what they do. And they communicate all that to the kids. Danny has had no idea that he was going to "musictherapy," he just thinks that that's what you do at music school.

Anyway, last Thursday the teachers announced that they think Danny is ready to leave off musictherapy and take up an instrument. He was happy and excited to hear this. They asked him to choose between voice, piano or guitar. So, he chose . . . flute! He has a friend who studies flute at this school - he is the only student of flute at this school - but now Danny will be the second one. I was really surprised because Danny loves improvising songs and often sang his songs as part of our musictherapy sessions, so I was sure he would have said voice.

In any case, I don't care what instrument he chooses. The important thing is that he has an idea and wants to go ahead with it. I'll keep you posted on his progress!