Music as Heritage

I started playing the violin at 11 years old. It was quite by accident, destiny or fate, however you interpret these sorts of things. We were having a birthday party for my cousin at my paternal grandparents’ house, when Granddaddy got out his violin and started playing the “Happy Birthday Song”. I was intrigued. I was going into the sixth grade that fall, and had chosen to learn the flute to play in the band. But Granddaddy changed my mind with his song, and the rest is history.

I have been playing his blonde violin ever since, which he gifted to me in the 7th grade once I grew into it. It is a family heirloom I cherish to this day. I need to play more often than I do, though. When I get it out to play, I make people happy, just as my granddaddy did. That’s a beautiful heritage.

~Jen Garrison