I was born a writer with music in my heart.
Won my first fiction award in 1st grade.
The Path of the Creative Soul
Ginsu Moment
In 4th grade we were given a piccolo, taught scales. Not long after a woman came to ask if any of us were interested in playing an instrument.
Was music in our soul?
Ah music.
As a kid I watched my dad play drums while marching in Detroit in a St. Patrick’s Day parade, held the trophy he earned for excellence in piano, listened to the album of him singing and dancing on the Dany Kaye show.
I wanted to play drums.
The beat of my heart.
We were too poor to afford even renting so he got a practice pad and two drumsticks – plopped it on the sofa back and began teaching me.
Eventually we were able to rent a snare which came in a black plastic case that weighed as much as I did. Given I lived a haul from school carrying this along with all my heavy textbooks – I wasn’t in a good space.
Nuns on Broomsticks
Need I say more? Really? Okay…
I asked the principal (nun on a broomstick) if I could keep my drum in the office so I didn’t have to haul it back and forth every day.
Given the hyena response you’d think she was in the audience of an SNL live opening.
“Girls have no business playing drums.”
Tell that to Cindy Lauper.
I did NOT want to give up drums. The beat was in my heart, my soul.
My younger brother tried carrying it for me but it was too much.
Thanks for trying. Thanks for seeing the music in me as I see the music in you.
I begged my dad to drive it back and forth but his job didn’t allow for it and we only had one working vehicle.
Two months later he handed a small black case to me.
Music is Music
It was a rented b-flat clarinet.
“Dad, I don’t want to play clarinet. I want to play drums.”
He put a finger to ribs behind which a heart was beating. “You want to play music.”
I played clarinet for 13 years including a wonderful stint in orchestra.
I also played piano and tenor sax.
The Dream Breaks to be Born?
Is this what creativity is about?
Elizabeth Maxim 
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