The muse in the young

Ah, my daughter the performer - she is quite interesting to talk to about her dance and singing. She mentioned last night when I was bringing her home from ballet that some kids in school were unwilling to sing aloud in class, and she couldn't imagine how they could think that way. She always notes how the other kids in choir fail to really belt-out their singing, so that she ends up being the one leading them. The same thing happens in band - she is the only flute that really plays loud, and the others are so lacking in confidence they play softly and she finds herself having to play softer so as not to stand out horribly (it is supposed to be an ensemble, after all). This, in itself, causes a problem since she plays with a type of flute (open holed) that requires more volume of air, so she can't hit some of the notes when she's trying to be quiet! And now, tonight, she will be singing in the public performance of the talent show. Her act, during the audition, moved one of the judges to tears and has brought tons of applause during rehearsals, so I'm told.

And I'm torn - I don't want to be a "show biz parent" for whom their child's performance success is much about their own unsatisfied wish for stardom that causes them to drive their child into the biz (like, say McAulay Caulkin's family), but I also think she is terribly talented and I wonder if I don't push her a bit, will she someday look back and wonder if she wouldn't have succeeded in a life of performing if we hadn't been more demonstrative toward her BEING a performer and stretching her to work at it.

I also know that she dreams of being a dancer foremost - but honestly, I think she has more of a chance of being a singer with her amazing and completely natural voice. If only there was a way to tell how to proceed.

Perhaps a magic 8 ball is the trick, eh?