Unlock Your Genius Zone

Student Story | How the Cello Changed Sam Tricomo's Life | Ep. 22

• Ine-Wilme Coetzee • Episode 22

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"You changed his life, you really have." That is what Sam's wife said at the end of this interview when we were talking about what Sam was like before, AND after joining Inner Voice Academy! 

Can learning to play a musical instrument later in life transform your perspective? Join us in this inspiring episode as we follow Sam’s journey of picking up the cello at the age of 58. Motivated by an unforgettable TV performance, Sam's story begins with the challenges of finding the right instrument and the struggle of being the oldest student in a local music school. Through Inner Voice Academy, discover how a supportive and adaptive learning environment allowed him to overcome these hurdles and find a sense of belonging and continuous progress.

We delve into the magic of effective practice and the unexpected life benefits of playing the cello. Sam sheds light on the importance of practicing with grace and ease, sharing personal anecdotes about the transformative power of consistent, mindful practice. From improved mood to better stress management, Sam's cello journey serves as a testament to how learning an instrument can enhance not just musical skills but overall well-being. Special attention is given to left-hand exercises, which have significantly improved his coordination and the connection between his hands.

Finally, we explore the unique advantages of online music instruction at Inner Voice Academy. Sam discusses how the online format has fostered a vibrant community where students learn from each other's experiences, benefiting from both one-on-one and group lessons. The humorous mix-up with "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" adds a touch of light-heartedness to the episode, reminding us that patience and joy often come from the simplest mistakes. Listen in to hear how this innovative approach has made a profound impact on Sam's musical and personal growth.

Podcast intro music: J.S. Bach Cello Suites, Suite No. 3 in C major, Prelude 
Musician: Mari Coetzee 

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Ine:

So, sam, why did you start the cello? Tell me your story.

Sam:

Sure. So I'd always wanted to play some kind of a musical instrument. Most of my friends play guitar or something like that. So I'm 58 years old and I had always intended to play music or learn music in some way. But life just gets in the way, which is an excuse for not doing it Right. One day, one evening, um Christmas time a couple of years ago, we're watching a TV show Wednesday and um Wednesday, adams plays paint it Black on the cello in this show and it was pretty incredible and I think an awful lot of people know about that little performance. It wasn't really her, but in any case, that night I really I decided like I'm going to do that because I've always wanted to do that. The song was just so, so intense that I decided I'm going to do that. The song was just so intense that I decided I'm going to do that and I started looking on my phone because I had no idea how one would even get a cello take lessons no idea what was entailed.

Sam:

And I learned that there was a sort of a prominent stringed instrument store near us. It's violins and cellos. It was by appointment only the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, it's their cello shop. It's their violin shop. You have to make an appointment. But then I looked on their website and there was a rent to own sort of a program they had and it was really affordable. So I made that appointment and then I thought, oh, but how do you learn how to use it? And I looked and 10 miles from my house was a was a cello and violin school. So I contacted them the next day and, and pretty soon I was them the next day and and pretty soon I was, I was involved in lessons there, um, and so I just I just did it, unlike scores of times, um, in the past where I had the thought and didn't just do it. So it was like a, like a Christmas present and maybe even a new year's resolution kind of a thing to myself.

Ine:

I love that, sam, and I especially love that you just took action, like you had that thought. You saw the TV show and then immediately you started looking up and that kind of action. You didn't give yourself time to worry about the what if this, what if this, and then you saw the rent to own and you're like, well, let me give this a shot. So that just shows your can do attitude, which I so appreciate having in inner voice Academy. That's what makes you such a joy to teach Sam, you. You just take action and you do the messy action even when it doesn't feel, um, feel like you've got it yet, but you just keep pushing along and that's that's amazing. Uh, tell me more about some of the problems that you faced before joining Inner Voice Academy. So I know that you had started some in-person classes and you had started your child journey like that. So tell me more about that aspect. What was it like in the school that you chose?

Sam:

Sure. So you know, the school was great, and my personal teacher was really great. Young woman had her master's in music theory plays with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, because we're right on the border, so very accomplished, very smart. One of the big things for me was that so this school was, and I'm sure a lot of them are. This school was very focused on teaching children, and I love children, but when you're showing up, you know at 530, when you're showing up, you know at 530 after work, after working a full day, and you haul yourself and your cello into it into a school, and the only other people your age are moms and dads who are dropping their kid off for cello practice, and then the kids in that cello practice are so much better than you. The kids in that cello practice are so much better than you. It's just a little deflating, and so that was difficult.

Sam:

One of the other big things, though, was so cello lessons in person. Mine certainly were, and the other ones that I examined were too. That's a once week proposition, and so once a week, you're going to go to your cello class and you're going to do a half hour of instruction. They're going to send you home with some practice ideas and then the next week you're going to go again and if you practice really hard, maybe you will have overcome some of the things. But that's it right, there's nothing in the middle. If I could just contrast with IVA, we have once a week lessons, but in the middle of that week if I'm having a difficult time with an arrangement or a technique or an anything, you're a text away, and I've done that a number of times and I get an answer right away. It's super helpful. It makes all the difference in the world. The amount of individual attention and thought that goes into the instruction is just I mean, it truly is priceless in this endeavor.

Ine:

Thank you for saying that, sam.

Ine:

It's something that's very close to my heart to give adult students the ability to number one, feel like they belong, and I'm so glad that you do in this program Like you feel like you belong with the people that are also learning the cello side by side with you, the same learning journey, and then also knowing that you really do have like the cello teacher in your back pocket kind of thing that's what I like to call it where you can contact me if you have an issue.

Ine:

Uh, something that I've heard from many of the students is like, let's say, they feel some tension in their neck and let's say that you keep practicing like that for six days because you started feeling it the day after your, for after your last lesson, you may start developing a lot of tension and knots in your neck because you don't have that immediate response, just the ability to ask even one question that I answer with like one minute voice message and then I really get to be there for the students throughout their practicing. So I'm so glad that you're experiencing such a positive practice session, like having such a positive practice experience because of that. That is fantastic and, yeah, absolutely, if you have another thought.

Sam:

I was just going to add to that a little bit. So, like the other thing I find incredibly amazing is the number of music instruction platforms that you have investigated and then integrated into our experience as students. I can't believe and when I say investigated, I get the sense that you have spent some significant time with them, because they're not buggy, they work as intended and you provide us with exactly the direction for, like, here's how you could use this and here's what it'll do for you. And so TomTom Slack the Slack environment that you set up is fantastic and I would have never known about such a thing, and the way we're using it is just fantastic.

Ine:

I'm so glad to hear that, just that the technology, which some people may feel like is a barrier, is actually something that is making your cello playing better. So thank you for mentioning that. I had forgotten to even include aspects of, like the the practical parts of the program in in some of these questions, so that's really good to know. So tell me more about, like, your musical ability. How have you found that that has switched from when you first started the cello versus when you first joined Inner Voice Academy to now? What are some of the things you used to struggle with versus how you are doing now?

Sam:

So, yeah, I have struggled with every single element of beginner stage, right. So, from holding a bow, from posture, from intonation, from everything you can think of, and what I've done. What's really helped me is that IVA has all those lessons on it. I can go to a video, because I do. Sometimes I don't forget how to hold a bow as much anymore, but I've been doing this like a year and a half and I've had to go back to your lesson on holding a bow. There's plenty online, but yours is the one that stuck with me, so I can go back to that. I can go back to um anything about, like, just sticking the landing on um left hand. You know, on left hand work, and I do it a lot, um. So so I've gotten better at some of those like really elemental parts of playing the cello, um, and and I just couldn't do that with online or within personal learning, because I gotta wait till next monday to go over that and then that's gonna take 15 minutes. Now we've only got 15 minutes to cover new ground um, and that's how I found in-person learning, so little things like that.

Sam:

I'll add this too, though you asked us to set a New Year's resolution back in December and my resolution was that I wanted to be able to play or at least understand a classical piece Right. And so, before we got into Bach's Prelude, I started playing Ode to Joy. I considered that classical and, through things I learned at IVA, I got through it. I wouldn't play it in front of anybody, but I understand the song. I think I could almost do the tempo, but beyond that, then we started doing what I think everybody would agree is a very complicated song. We're through it. You've given us the tools and by us I mean the entire class the tools to understand the song, to get through it technically and even emotionally, with the discussion on what's it called. When you Improvisation, I'm sorry, when you improvisation, I'm sorry.

Sam:

Yeah, so you're teaching on improvisation. To understand how to truly play this song was phenomenal, like there's no way I would have ever gotten that somewhere else. So so I can get through. I can get through. I can get to section C. I could get through section C, but I can get to section C in. I could get through section C, but I can get to section C in the way we have the song broken up. I'm super proud of that, because it's only July and that was a 2024 goal, so still got a couple months.

Ine:

That's fantastic and, sam, I really do see this progress in you. You started Inner Voice Academy. What was it last year? October, I think, october 2023.

Ine:

Yeah, yeah, and I remember you playing Oak to Joy for me, I think in November or somewhere around there, and you were quite stiff and tense, your shoulders were up and you didn't seem to enjoy it as much as I thought that you could like with like some small tweaks. And that's where I've seen the most growth in you is you're playing with this freedom, and I remember also in January, when we set your goals, it was the practical part of playing this beautiful classical piece. Everyone calls it that famous cello song, the Bach Prelude in G. So that was one of your practical goals. But then, just from a perspective of playing with freedom I believe you used those words you said something like I want to be able to play with freedom without thinking about it, like having fluidity in my hands and in the way that I'm moving the bow, and I'm seeing that start to happen. There's always going to be a point where, when you learn a new song, that you may experience some of the tension again, but that happens for me too, like the first time I play something that's a little bit too challenging, then there's going to be some stops and starts, of course. That's why I teach how to practice and that's what I've seen in you like a shift in how you practice, because that's where the most of the playing is done.

Ine:

Yes, I do give you answers to questions during the week and, yes, we do have a live class every week, but it's mostly you doing the work. But if you can do the work, knowing the exact right next step and how to actually tangibly reach those goals, that's when you start seeing progress. And that's what I'm so proud of you for is how you've changed with how you practice, and it's really coming through in your playing. That's really exciting to see. And I'm also wondering, just from like a life perspective how does playing the cello influence your day-to-day life? Are you noticing differences in your mood, in the way that you handle stressful situations? You tell me. I would love to hear your wording there.

Sam:

Well, you and I talked I think it was the same goals discussion, right and I mentioned to you that I wanted to. I expected to get some grace, or I wanted to get some grace from cello playing. And you asked me what do you mean by grace? Do you mean grace in the way you play or or some larger thing? And I said both. Um, I said I want to be a more grace, gracious person.

Sam:

And you said something that really stuck with me and and it was cello related, and I thought this was really brilliant you said, um, technically we can. We can work on some things that will make you play with more physical grace, and it'll come through in the sounds you're making. But you said one of the things to work on was giving yourself grace. So don't make practice about beating yourself up for what you're not doing. Sort of give yourself some grace for the things that you are doing. I thought that was so important and was really helpful. So when you give yourself grace, be it in cello or out in the world, I think things go a little better. If you can not beat up on yourself, it's very helpful. So it was a huge little thing that I got from cello and from your instruction I actually got a little choked up thinking about it.

Ine:

Yeah, that's something that I think will resonate so deeply with so many people. We don't give ourselves as much grace as we may give our spouse or our kids or people that we love very much. But if we can learn to be gracious with ourselves in an area that's not as high pressure as, let's say, our work or our marriage or family relationships, then we can start applying that grace to other areas of our life. It's almost like we're cross training using the cello for other areas, and it's funny how something that seems so practical, like giving yourself grace in a practice session, it really does immediately apply. It shows you start, you start showing up differently, like you start showing up as someone who really shows themselves love and grace, and then you have this calmness about you and that's actually something that I remember you wrote you said brings a calmness to life.

Sam:

Yes.

Ine:

Yeah it really does, yeah, go ahead.

Sam:

I was just going to, if you let it, you know if you let it, yes, if you let it, but that's a thing we probably all fight right. Will we let the world be calm right now, or are we?

Speaker 3:

going to be upset, so it's either.

Ine:

We really have a choice uptight you really can um, and sometimes that's a really good emotional release. I know that I have definitely played my cello very angrily, um, but then I feel better afterwards, so it really depends on the emotion you're trying to create. So I just love that. Even at a beginner level and now you're moving more into intermediate levels on the cello, you've been been able to experience this Like you really don't have to be advanced or professional to experience what the cello has to offer for your life.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Ine:

That's so powerful. What is your favorite part of your practice routine? That's something I'm always so curious about yeah.

Sam:

So I really enjoy um, some of the left hand exercise. I I guess all the exercises you you keep um, introducing us to new exercises and and probably very elementary for a lot of people but just the um. So we're doing kind of a switch in position exercise and you have to do it with your eyes closed or just not looking. And I really, really liked that one Um, especially like it when I get it right Um, when you come up and hit the first position string right where you are and then right away you have to go down Um it. It's great because it does build on coordination between the two hands. But I just love all those kinds of exercises.

Sam:

But then you know, in our practice, in the way our practice is constructed, the first part is going to be some exercise. First part is some relaxation, long bows, things like that, and then some exercises and then some scales and then some pieces and then a fun piece Right. So I think it's like really well crafted that it, that it goes from sort of fundamental type things into some more complicated things and then it ends on what do you want to do? So we pick a song, um, and we work on that Um, and that way it's not like one hour of open bows or, you know, one hour of scales. I think it's smart to break it up the way you have Um and and um. I would also say that, uh, anytime our practice has begun, anytime we've become super proficient at elements of our practice, you challenge us to change it and strive harder which which is good.

Ine:

That is so interesting for you to mention just like even the practice routine because that is very core in the Inner Voice Academy model is just having that daily practice routine Because, as I mentioned, like the practicing is where the playing's done.

Ine:

But if you have a way to kind of structure it where you focus on principles, then you focus on getting better at those principles, like applying it, then you focus on your goals.

Ine:

That's almost like how we could structure a day Like you could structure a day with, like doing the fundamentals first thing in the morning exercise, eating a healthy breakfast, drinking some water and coffee, of course and then like doing your work, applying those principles to your work, your day of work and then coming home and then spending time with your kids doing something fun, something that maybe lights you up even more, like playing the cello. But that could be. That's almost like how we structure an ideal day for a lot of people, something with a calmness to it, and our practice routine can really reflect what we want our day to bring. So if you do the practice routine, even first thing in the morning, based on the day you want to have, then you can start feeling those feelings right away. So I love that you bring that up. It's spurring up even more thoughts about how I could make the practice routine even more powerful for all the students by really reflecting their life goals, applying the cello to your life instead of it just being a hobby.

Sam:

Yeah, I think what you just said is the difference between IVA and what I've seen, and I must've looked at seven different online options for learning the cello, but I can't think of a time when you've talked about cello that it wasn't part of some larger life goal. Um, everything, everything that I see in IVA is is really like integrated into life. I'm not sure I'm articulating that quite well.

Speaker 3:

Yeah.

Sam:

It's, uh, it's. It's like a philosophy, a very healthy philosophy that reaches into all kinds of aspects of your life, including the study of how people learn and brain development, and there's just so much brought into it that is not part of other music programs that I've seen.

Ine:

I'm so glad you have been experiencing that, because that's my goal. I'm so glad you have been experiencing that because that's my goal. I want the cello to enhance every part of your life, for it to be something that brings you forward in whatever your goal is for this season. You're in and I'm very intentional with that, and I'm just so grateful that it's coming through, that you are seeing that and that it really is enhancing your life. That makes me so happy. That, and that it really is enhancing your life, that makes me so happy. I'm curious about just from the time that you heard about the program to when you decided to join. What was that timeline like for you?

Sam:

Right. So the time that I heard about it it was, I want to say it was about seven eight o'clock at night Eastern time there, and that was from. Excuse me, Can I start over?

Ine:

Oh yeah, for sure.

Sam:

I was struggling one night with simple things like Bo Hold, and I had watched so many YouTube videos on Bo Hold and they all seemed to me to say the same things but illustrated them differently or vice versa. There was no making sense of it and I was pretty sure that I had seen every bohol video out there. But one night I typed in maybe I use different search parameters typed in a bohol search and found you on YouTube demonstrating bohol. For whatever reason, the way you said it clicked with me and the video also clicked because you showed the bohol in a way that made sense to me. I tried it a little bit.

Sam:

I came back to your video because I wanted to know who is this, and then I saw some of your other videos. I saw some performance videos. I saw you and your sisters perform, and then there was a link to IVA. So I went there and there I saw you know, this sort of offer for online classes. I hadn't thought about it because I just felt so guilty before, um and so that was at like seven, 30, eight o'clock at night, eastern time, and, uh, I sent you a message that night and I thought well, maybe in a couple of days, I'll hear something back from this IVA. I got a response back that evening. You were like like, um, this was like close to the end of of a class cycle, so you were, you know, gearing up to fill another class and, um, you were very welcoming and uh, so so the timeline between the two is very short.

Sam:

i'm'm going to say an hour maybe, and then I was faced with this decision of like joining an online class which I hadn't considered, or joining online instruction, and I had like an hour to think about it, but I actually had more because I didn't make the decision for a day. I'd love to tell you what moved me, though. What moved me in less than 24 hours to do it.

Ine:

Please tell me like I'm sitting on the edge of my seat.

Sam:

Yeah. So I looked at IVA's website and I saw that it was vastly different from any of the other, vastly different from any of the other online instruction that you could find. There was a great explanation of how the courses were going to be laid out. For me that wasn't enough to sell me, but it was close. But there was also your actual credentials, like your bona fides. I couldn't find where a cellist from the week and various platforms with which, to you know, record what I'm doing and some live classes and like a feedback loop. Like I didn't see that anywhere and so I thought I probably better do this before the class fills up, otherwise I'm going to have to go to in-person classes every Monday and I really was starting to not like that.

Ine:

So very interesting. That is so interesting for me to just hear, like the timeline, because you joined the program. I'm like, yes, sam's in, let's go, and I actually never heard the story of how quick it was. I didn't know. You actually found me on YouTube. I know that you were on my email list. I think you downloaded. I had a like a download for rhythm or time signature or some kind of like handout that explained how to read music or some kind of concept. I don't remember which one it was that you downloaded. I can always look back and see, but you were on my email list and I think you replied to the recent newsletter or something along those lines. But I, yeah, it doesn't really matter now.

Sam:

It's more just. I'm just so curious always to know how people find me yeah yeah yeah, exactly super helpful and honestly, like I would probably be one of the biggest skeptics of anything online. Up to that point like if you would have told me the day before that I would do that, I would say there's no way I will do that. But yeah, everything in front of me just pointed to that it was the right thing to do.

Ine:

Very interesting. Yeah, yeah, and here you are, almost a year later Well, nine months or so later, and it was longer than that.

Sam:

That's great.

Ine:

Yeah, that's fantastic and I'm really curious. Just like one final question what would you tell someone who is thinking about joining Inner Voice Academy but they're hesitant? They're hesitant because it's online. It's not in-person, one-on-one, like the standard way of learning the cello. What would you tell them?

Sam:

one-on-one, like the standard way of learning the cello. What would you tell them? Absolutely, I think I can answer that one easily. So I think we go to in-person classes for a couple of reasons that we feel that the immediate in-person connection is something that's really going to be super helpful in cello instruction and in us learning this new skill, and I think that's true.

Sam:

I think a close connection with whomever is teaching you is important for this really difficult thing. I would say that, just because we're doing this online, that close connection is still there, and it's there from very constant communication. If I have a problem, it seems like you're right there and you are right there because I'll get an answer. You know, as quick as I need to get an answer. I mean, nothing's on fire. So I think that's important.

Sam:

But I think the thing that that your particular way of doing instruction has over in person is that we have a community. So when I'm in a lesson, there are like four other people of varying degrees of accomplishment, right, there's some people who are right there with me, there's a couple who are, you know, a little more intermediate, there's beginners, and we're all there together and you don't. I didn't see that in in-person learning because it's just me and the teacher in the room and I don't think I would have liked to have four other people in the room. But the way we do it, you know we're, we're together and we're kind of encouraging one another. Encouraging one another, and also you're able to see a struggle someone else had and I see in real time the fix that you provide for them, and then I can try that too.

Sam:

So I get more than my lesson out of a lesson. I get like five other lessons, and sometimes it's a lesson on something that's more advanced than where I am, which is an extra bonus. Sometimes it's a lesson in something that I'm already doing. Okay, I can't think of that time, but I'm sure it may have happened. So I think that's huge right. I think for me and I think for a lot of people considering online instruction in this, and Cello would only help you.

Ine:

Thank you for just being a testimony of someone who has experienced both. You've experienced the in-person one-on-one and you've experienced Inner Voice Academy for almost equal amounts of time, so you really can speak to the person who is wondering about that. And I must admit I grew up playing one-on-one lessons. But the thing that changed for me was also very similar to you. I joined a program when I was 16 or 14, somewhere around there and it actually had a group aspect. We had these weekly masterclasses where you got to perform your piece in front of the entire studio, get feedback from your teacher, like a mini public lesson, and being put under that kind of pressure was so good. It's like the pressure that refines you.

Ine:

And, even though it might be a little bit more stressful playing with other people hearing you you actually rise to the occasion and I've noticed you do this Like we have a combination of one-on-one and group in Inner Voice Academy and in our office hours. You have a different mentality, like you're not necessarily anxious to play for me, but you are maybe a little bit more anxious to play for everyone. But I see rising to the occasion, but you are maybe a little bit more anxious to play for everyone. But I see, rising to the occasion, like it's actually really good to see the strengths and weaknesses that come out when I hear you play under pressure and we need to find ways to put ourselves in those uncomfortable situations. As adults, we get into these ruts of life and that's really where the brain development happens is when we are in an uncomfortable situation. That's a safe environment at the same time. But, sam, thank you so so much for doing this with me.

Ine:

We never really get a chance to talk about your journey on the cello. We talk a little bit about it here and there, because it's really integrated in how you play the cello, but a lot of the time we just talk about the practical. So just hearing your brain, hearing what goes on in your brain about the cello and how it has changed you, has been so valuable, like it's priceless, this conversation with you. So thank you so so much.

Sam:

I hope you continue to do it because really I mean it's really important. So as long as you're doing it, I'm going to continue on. I don't want to go back to in person and I don't want to. I'll just tell you there was a period where I thought if I don't do my practice and if I don't start improving, they're going to kick me out. Before the last signup I thought her, her list is going to get so big she's going to have to start weeding out people. So really practice really hard and I thought like I'm not getting on the weed out lead or weed out list. So whatever I got to do to not get weeded out, I get kicked out of school.

Ine:

Well, Sam, I love your heart. So I'm not going to tell you that there's actually a way for the program to continue letting people in and for you to have the same experience. So I'm not going to tell you that because I want you to continue feeling that pressure to practice, Um. So I'm not going to tell you that because I want you to continue feeling that pressure to practice. But all jokes aside, um, is there anything that you want to add? Anything? That I didn't ask you.

Sam:

Thanks for what you do. Um, I mean, I didn't even really. I think I probably left out 40% of what um IVA and you do. I mean you know we didn't talk about how your other work in motivation is woven into this, but maybe the next person can. There's just too much there really is. There's so much to hit on for this. That's why my response was so long last night and that's why my response was so long last night, so you do a lot.

Sam:

It's really. It helps a lot of people and it's unique and it's really rare and I really appreciate it.

Ine:

Thank you, thank you so much.

Sam:

Well, we're going to have to do another interview in a couple of months.

Ine:

Oh, can you say that again?

Sam:

I think Kathy does too, because I think I'm more fun to hear.

Ine:

Yes, I know that, Kathy, you were. You were sitting in on the conversation you had. Did you want to say something? I would just love to hear how you've seen Sam thrive in the program. If you don't mind me asking no, I don't mind.

Speaker 3:

He. He is so different than what he was going to in-person classes he was so crappy.

Sam:

That's not true.

Speaker 3:

So nervous and then he would, and I was surprised he went as long as he did and didn't give up. Oh, I hated it, I give him a lot of credit for that.

Speaker 3:

And I would binge eat afterwards just to make my emotions like there's a little hamburger place on the way home and he would drive through this hamburger place on his way home. It it was really funny. You could always I would forget what day you know it was, but I could tell in person cello was coming because he was so crabby. But it's so different with you and, um, he truly appreciates the way you approach things, because he'll get off and he'll. He'll say, oh, I wish you could describe the way she does things to you because it reminds me of all the things you did in your career in education. He said she just seems to integrate and apply all these things that work for my brain and for me to understand.

Speaker 3:

And then I heard you use terms like next steps. You can, you seem to be able to spot, like any great teacher, exactly what needs to happen next for that student to progress them to the next, the next level, and I don't know. I get a huge kick out of it. But you have changed his life. You really have. Thank you, thank you, no, that's been wonderful.

Ine:

It was so nice to meet you today.

Ine:

Yes, it was so lovely meeting you too, Kathy. You know the family who watches the person, like the student, thrive and change. That's what's just. It touches my heart that you have seen the change in him. A lot of people come to me and they're like my family's going to think I am crazy for wanting to learn this instrument, and the families are just so supportive, Like. This is my favorite meeting of the day because I got to meet you and see how you're supporting Sam in his cello, playing your, your excitement for him and then also seeing seeing how he's thriving. That is just so amazing. Thank you for what you do, Kathy. Thank you, I'm not that supportive.

Speaker 3:

If I did replay Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and swear about it one more time.

Sam:

I'll never play that song. I don't know why, but it's just not good. No, you Well, I was playing the that song. I don't know why?

Speaker 3:

but it's just not good, no, you.

Sam:

Well, I was playing the wrong one.

Speaker 3:

Remember. Yes, you were playing the wrong one.

Ine:

That was so funny and you didn't have to do it for a whole week. I was able to tell you on day two that you were playing the wrong one. That's right, exactly.

Speaker 3:

You really have changed his life. It's really great, thank you.