[Critique Group 2] Leonard's comments on Alice's piece

Fri Jul 24 19:48:50 EDT 2020

WHAT A WONDERFUL TRIBUTE.   

Actually, it’s a tribute to Mr. Rogers andyour nephew.  

I was sorry to hear that he did not playwhen he graduated from college.  

Or did he. 

Did he give up the violyn completely , ordid he continue to play while he did all those other things.  

What is he doing today?  

The piece included all hisaccomplishments. 

Maybe you didn’t have to include all ofthem, 

but I don’t know which ones I would haveleft out.  

Nicely written.

Thank You, Mister Rogers

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

WhenI was in the midst of those years of grading stacks of personal essays,documented essays, term papers and speeches—I procrastinated about somenon-school to-do items.  One of my regrets of that procrastination periodis that I never wrote a thank-you letter to Mister Rogers while he was stillliving.  My family and I certainly owe more than a note of gratitude tothis quiet, mild-mannered man who taught so many children so much. Unbeknownst to Mister Rogers, he gave the gift of music to my younger nephewand, thus, to my family and especially to me.

           At the age of four years, my nephew Eric was watching the television program MisterRogers’ Neighborhood  in March of 1988, when Mister Rogers was tellinghis audience about the wonderful musical instrument—the violin.  On thatprogram, the friend in the Neighborhood was the renowned violinist ItzhakPerlman.  As soon as Eric watched this inspirational segment, he shoutedto his mother (my sister): “Get me a violin!  Get me a violinteacher!  I want to take violin lessons!”  

           One week after Eric’s introduction to the violin—thanks to Mister Rogers—myyounger nephew asked his mother, “Have you found a violin teacher forme?”.  Within one week my sister arranged violin lessons with Hei-LingYeung, who played the violin with the Denver Symphony and the Colorado SpringsSymphony.  At this very young age, Eric had found his instrument; learningby means of the Suzuki method, Eric quickly could play a number of tunes on hissixteenth-size violin.  Since that smallest of violins sounded like a toyto Hei-Ling, Eric promptly advanced to the eighth-size violin.  As Ericgrew and his musical skills progressed rapidly, he moved from the eighth-sizeviolin to one-quarter, one-half, three-quarter, and finally a full-size violinfor the teen-ager who was also playing high school football when he became anEagle Scout.

           Eric’s lessons eventually evolved from the Suzuki method to reading musicalnotation.  In the third grade, Eric played the violin on stage for hiselementary school’s talent show.  From this young age onward, he never hadbutterflies:  he enjoyed being on stage.  Not only was he musicallygifted, Eric played his instrument with expression.  As a result of his playingfor the talent show, a teacher suggested that he try out for the Junior Stringsof the Front Range Youth Symphony (Arvada, Colorado).  From fourthgrade through all of high school, Eric was a member of this outstanding musicalgroup—most years, as first violinist.  During this period of developinghis musical talent, Eric progressed from the Junior Strings to the ChamberStrings, Symphonic Strings, and finally the Front Range Youth Symphony.

 WAS HE IN THAT GROUP FROM THE 4THGRADE?

           While Eric was in the Chamber Strings, he was one of three musicians selectedto join the Front Range Youth Symphony to perform at Disney World’s Magic MusicDays.  Then, the group’s tour continued on a Disney Cruise.  With theFront Range Youth Symphony, Eric, at age 13, performed at the Nassau Town Square,in the Bahamas.

           While Eric was in the eighth grade, his grandpa (my father) very unexpectedlydied at age 84; of course, we all were extraordinarily upset.  AlthoughEric had played his violin so many times for our family, I wondered if weexpected too much of him to perform at the funeral service, under thesecircumstances—when he was at such a vulnerable age and when he had never beforeattended a funeral.  Despite this overwhelming loss—Eric managed to playon his violin two pieces for his beloved grandpa.

           During my nephew’s freshman year, he was chosen concert master of the SymphonicStrings.  Not only did his musical abilities expand, but also he hadopportunities to develop leadership skills.

           The entire family was so proud of Eric when he was selected concert master forthe Front Range Youth Symphony’s 2001 tour of Europe. After playing for a nursing home and an InternationalSchool in Munich,Germany—the Front RangeYouth Symphony performed a magnificent concert in an old church in Heidelberg, Germany. While Eric’s dad was a chaperone for the entire European tour, my sister flewto France for the youthsymphony’s performance in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. After an emotional visit at Normandy Beach, the symphony members gave the finalperformance of this European tour at Mecklin, Belgium—the sister city of Arvada, Colorado. This remarkable experience increased Eric’s leadership skills and instilled inhim a love for travel.

           Shortly after Eric returned to the United States, his grandmother (mymother) passed away on July 3, 2001, at age 87.  Although my mother hadlived her final three years in my sister’s home in Colorado, we were confident that Eric couldplay his violin for his granny’s funeral mass.  Of all the times I haveheard him play his violin, I have never heard him perform more beautifully andexpressively than when he played at SacredHeart Church,in Clinton, Indiana—the “Ashokan Farewell” for mymother.  After the funeral and the dinner at our home parish, we convincedEric to return to the church so that a few of us could hear Eric play the“Ashokan Farewell” once more.  Once was not enough, so I sometimes listento an audio recording of his playing the emotional piece.  

           When Eric turned the tassel on his mortarboard at his high school graduation,he turned away from his dedication to the violin and followed otherpursuits.  Besides being graduated from Colorado Universitywith a degree in history, he was a member of the CU triathlon team. Before joining the Army, he completed two Iron Man events.  During hisfive years in an Army airborne unit, he served eleven months in Iraq, became an Army Ranger, and served threemonths in Afghanistan. Now, he still serves in the National Guard.  “Macho Men” do play theviolin—just not as often as this aunt would like.

           In June of 2013, when my cousin, my guide dog, and I went to Michigan to visitEric, his wife, and their three-day-old baby girl, I was especially pleased totake to his new home both of his violins—his school violin and his concertviolin.  Seven years later, Eric and his wife have two children:  inaddition to Lanie, Caden, who will soon celebrate his fifth birthday, may oneday have the hand that holds the bow--precisely like their daddy did.

           Thank you, Mister Rogers, for 32 years—and counting—of precious music.

Numberof words:  1089

# ##

Thank You, Mister Rogers

by Alice Jane-Marie Massa

WhenI was in the midst of those years of grading stacks of personal essays,documented essays, term papers and speeches—I procrastinated about somenon-school to-do items.  One of my regrets of that procrastination periodis that I never wrote a thank-you letter to Mister Rogers while he was stillliving.  My family and I certainly owe more than a note of gratitude tothis quiet, mild-mannered man who taught so many children so much. Unbeknownst to Mister Rogers, he gave the gift of music to my younger nephewand, thus, to my family and especially to me.

           At the age of four years, my nephew Eric was watching the television program MisterRogers’ Neighborhood  in March of 1988, when Mister Rogers was tellinghis audience about the wonderful musical instrument—the violin.  On thatprogram, the friend in the Neighborhood was the renowned violinist ItzhakPerlman.  As soon as Eric watched this inspirational segment, he shoutedto his mother (my sister): “Get me a violin!  Get me a violinteacher!  I want to take violin lessons!”  

           One week after Eric’s introduction to the violin—thanks to Mister Rogers—myyounger nephew asked his mother, “Have you found a violin teacher forme?”.  Within one week my sister arranged violin lessons with Hei-LingYeung, who played the violin with the Denver Symphony and the Colorado SpringsSymphony.  At this very young age, Eric had found his instrument; learningby means of the Suzuki method, Eric quickly could play a number of tunes on hissixteenth-size violin.  Since that smallest of violins sounded like a toyto Hei-Ling, Eric promptly advanced to the eighth-size violin.  As Ericgrew and his musical skills progressed rapidly, he moved from the eighth-sizeviolin to one-quarter, one-half, three-quarter, and finally a full-size violinfor the teen-ager who was also playing high school football when he became anEagle Scout.

           Eric’s lessons eventually evolved from the Suzuki method to reading musicalnotation.  In the third grade, Eric played the violin on stage for hiselementary school’s talent show.  From this young age onward, he never hadbutterflies:  he enjoyed being on stage.  Not only was he musicallygifted, Eric played his instrument with expression.  As a result of hisplaying for the talent show, a teacher suggested that he try out for the JuniorStrings of the Front Range Youth Symphony (Arvada, Colorado). From fourth grade through all of high school, Eric was a member of thisoutstanding musical group—most years, as first violinist.  During thisperiod of developing his musical talent, Eric progressed from the JuniorStrings to the Chamber Strings, Symphonic Strings, and finally the Front RangeYouth Symphony.

           While Eric was in the Chamber Strings, he was one of three musicians selectedto join the Front Range Youth Symphony to perform at Disney World’s Magic MusicDays.  Then, the group’s tour continued on a Disney Cruise.  With theFront Range Youth Symphony, Eric, at age 13, performed at the Nassau Town Square,in the Bahamas.

           While Eric was in the eighth grade, his grandpa (my father) very unexpectedlydied at age 84; of course, we all were extraordinarily upset.  AlthoughEric had played his violin so many times for our family, I wondered if weexpected too much of him to perform at the funeral service, under thesecircumstances—when he was at such a vulnerable age and when he had never beforeattended a funeral.  Despite this overwhelming loss—Eric managed to playon his violin two pieces for his beloved grandpa.

           During my nephew’s freshman year, he was chosen concert master of the SymphonicStrings.  Not only did his musical abilities expand, but also he hadopportunities to develop leadership skills.

           The entire family was so proud of Eric when he was selected concert master forthe Front Range Youth Symphony’s 2001 tour of Europe. After playing for a nursing home and an InternationalSchool in Munich,Germany—the Front Range YouthSymphony performed a magnificent concert in an old church in Heidelberg, Germany. While Eric’s dad was a chaperone for the entire European tour, my sister flewto France for the youthsymphony’s performance in Luxembourg Gardens in Paris. After an emotional visit at Normandy Beach, the symphony members gave the finalperformance of this European tour at Mecklin, Belgium—the sister city of Arvada, Colorado. This remarkable experience increased Eric’s leadership skills and instilled inhim a love for travel.

           Shortly after Eric returned to the United States, his grandmother (mymother) passed away on July 3, 2001, at age 87.  Although my mother hadlived her final three years in my sister’s home in Colorado, we were confident that Eric couldplay his violin for his granny’s funeral mass.  Of all the times I haveheard him play his violin, I have never heard him perform more beautifully andexpressively than when he played at SacredHeart Church,in Clinton, Indiana—the “Ashokan Farewell” for mymother.  After the funeral and the dinner at our home parish, we convincedEric to return to the church so that a few of us could hear Eric play the“Ashokan Farewell” once more.  Once was not enough, so I sometimes listento an audio recording of his playing the emotional piece.  

           When Eric turned the tassel on his mortarboard at his high school graduation,he turned away from his dedication to the violin and followed otherpursuits.  Besides being graduated from Colorado Universitywith a degree in history, he was a member of the CU triathlon team. Before joining the Army, he completed two Iron Man events.  During hisfive years in an Army airborne unit, he served eleven months in Iraq, became an Army Ranger, and served threemonths in Afghanistan. Now, he still serves in the National Guard.  “Macho Men” do play theviolin—just not as often as this aunt would like.

           In June of 2013, when my cousin, my guide dog, and I went to Michigan to visitEric, his wife, and their three-day-old baby girl, I was especially pleased totake to his new home both of his violins—his school violin and his concertviolin.  Seven years later, Eric and his wife have two children:  inaddition to Lanie, Caden, who will soon celebrate his fifth birthday, may oneday have the hand that holds the bow--precisely like their daddy did.

           Thank you, Mister Rogers, for 32 years—and counting—of precious music.

Numberof words:  1089

# ##

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