Our Guitar Playing Son

Nolan, who turned 15 in December, is an avid guitar player, both acoustic and electric. 

He is self-taught on the guitar and does know how to read music thanks to a year of violin lessons when he was much younger.

He also enjoys woodworking and has been working on what else, but an electric guitar model.

He practices about  2 - 3 hours each day, all on his own initiative.  I much prefer when he practices the acoustic because the electric guitar is loud and on its own not very soothing to listen to. 

While there is some Christian rock being played  and both Thomas and Nolan play for their youth group worship music time, they also like symphonic metal - such as Nightwish -  and bands like Switch Foot and Three Days Grace.

Nolan admires the electric guitar playing abilities of Slash from Guns and Roses, so Mike and I have  flashbacks from time to time when we hear Welcome to the Jungle echoing throughout the house.  (Oh we have come so far from our college days with dear husband cranking a Guns and Roses cassette in his old Buick Skylark.)

still a work in progress, the wood came from Nolan using a hatchet on some of our firewood, a piece of cherry for the neck and maple for the rest

However, finding a balance as a parent has meant letting go of my wants at times, and learning to compromise   in order to nurture the children's interests, gifts, and dreams.  In this case I look past his use of electricity  in order to play because while I may not choose this path, he has.  It is so different than our family's decision not to have a toaster, microwave, central heating, or a dryer.  

 We have also chosen to be open to alternative  music as long as there are few if any profanities and the content is not too alarming.  It has given us opportunities for discussion to talk about what is uplifting and what would glorify God or not.

There is give and take along our journey.

Warm wishes, Tonya