You get two kinds of guitars - electric and ?

You get two kinds of guitars - electric and ?

14 March 2024

I absolutely adore kids. And not just my own.

 

There is just something so completely and utterly magical about little people, that I cannot help but be drawn to them and love them. In addition, I’m not selective of their ages. Babies, toddlers, small kids, bigger kids, and even those grumpy and attitude-filled teenagers. I simply always find a way to connect with them, draw them in and have a conversation with them. I think it’s about gaging where they’re at in their growing-up journey, tapping into that and embracing what’s currently happening to them. I can chat to even the most off-the-wall hyperactive kid, shy little dreamers, as well as sully teenagers. They would of course never admit it, but they actually like to be heard and to feel as though their opinion counts. It’s easy to draw them out. Especially if you use their lingo (but not overly so, nothing more cringe than an adult trying to say sick things, like sick), appear to be indifferent and don’t make too much eye contact. That’s with the teenagers of course. Little kids want your full on attention focused on them.

 

But without a doubt, one of the greatest gifts of children (spanning the whole variety of ages), is their take on life. The way they see and perceive the world around them. Their interpretation of so much that we take for granted is disarmingly refreshing. As adults we can become so jaded and often words, sayings and experiences lose their impact. We become numb to it. It’s just part of life. Been there, done that, seen so much. In addition, as adults we don’t questions as many things as we probably should. We just accept. Like why does your nose run, when it can’t do so at all. Its doesn’t have feet. And speaking of feet, how come we have fingertips but not toe tips?

 

Now with little people, everything is a marvel. And the world is a giant place filled with endless opportunities and experiences. Just waiting to be discovered. Just imagine how incredibly exciting that must be? Just close your eyes and ears and imagine discovering something for the first time. It must be incredible!

 

A major upside of little kids and their perception of the world, is the apt way they have of describing things or summarising something that’s happened. Extremely refreshing and usually very funny too. Truly unique.

 

My brother used to live in Joburg for many years, yet he always travelled as a musician. And when he came to the Cape, he used to stay with us. We loved it. He never wanted one of the kids’ rooms. Instead he always opted for the couch as he was a night owl and would enjoy falling asleep with the TV on. So he was always at the centre of our family life.

 

Albert recalls visiting one time, when Amber was about six or seven years old. A touring musician is invariably packing a lot of instruments at any given time. And any visit from Al was no exception. This time, Amber showed particular interest in his numerous guitar cases and asked him to show her what was inside them. He dutifully started off with some of his electric guitars. She appropriately oohed and aahed. Full of knowledge of what they would be used for. After all, she’d seen him performing countless times.

 

And then he opened up and revealed an acoustic guitar. And she bubbled with excitement, eager to show off her knowledge. “Ooooohhh! I know that one. You use it to make Afrikaans music.”

 

Albert was floored and no doubt tickled pink, bursting out with laughter. Funny enough he only told me the story last week and I guffawed too. Such an entertaining description of what acoustic guitars are exclusively used for.

 

I rest my case. Kids are highly entertaining. In addition, I do understand where she was coming from. Her logic was rather appropriate. Though the Afrikaans music genre has grown in leaps and bounds, there is still a large portion of it, which is performed with a, shall we say, “softer” hand.