Musically Inclined  (1) Gibson thought, at least, that it could have been worse. His parents could have named him Fender, given him the middle name Les Paul, or worse yet, Stratocaster. This was a small comfort to him as he reminded himself that he really never had a chance. It was not he who chose the music. He was born into it, and even named after one of the most famous guitars. It was like the music had found him. (2) Gibson could not remember a time when he did not know how to play music. His mother was a singer when she was younger, and his father played the lead guitar in the band... Show more

Musically Inclined 

(1) Gibson thought, at least, that it could have been worse. His parents could have named him Fender, given him the middle name Les Paul, or worse yet, Stratocaster. This was a small comfort to him as he reminded himself that he really never had a chance. It was not he who chose the music. He was born into it, and even named after one of the most famous guitars. It was like the music had found him. (2) Gibson could not remember a time when he did not know how to play music. His mother was a singer when she was younger, and his father played the lead guitar in the band Mookie Harper. Growing up, he learned to read music at the same time he learned to read words. Music felt as natural to him as walking and was a big part of his life. (3) There were many instruments in Gibson's house, and over the years, he had learned how to play most of them. He started with a piano when he was very young, moved to the harmonica and drums when he was a bit older, and had just begun learning how to play the violin. But Gibson's favorite instrument was the one he had been playing the longest: his father's Gibson Les Paul guitar. (4) At school, Gibson felt lonely most days. His family had just moved from Seattle, and the other kids at school thought it was weird that he carried a violin case to school for his fourth period music class. At his old school, he was in the school band, and had a lot of friends who enjoyed playing music with him. (5) 'Why would you play the violin?' Joe asked as he snickered in his chair. 'Only girls play that. I bet it was the only thing you could learn,' he laughed. The rest of the class laughed behind him. (6) Gibson sat in his chair and rolled his eyes. He thought that this kid obviously didn't know anything about music, because the violin was one of the most challenging instruments to learn. He left the case on the floor by his chair and waited for his second period history class to begin. (7) The teacher walked into the classroom pushing a cart. Gibson immediately sat up in his chair. He knew exactly what was in the cases and smiled. (8) 'I was able to borrow these from the music section of the museum to show you today,' Ms. Conway said. 'Can anyone tell me what these are?' she asked. (9) 'They are guitars, Ms. Conway. Duh,' Joe, a boy in the back of the room, said. The class laughed. (10) Ms. Conway squinted her eyes at Joe. 'He is half right,' she said. 'These are in fact guitars. But can anyone tell me what kind of guitars they are?' She looked around the room. Everyone sat still. (11) 'The one on the right is a 1958 Gibson Les Paul,' Gibson said out of the silence. 'And the one of the left is a vintage Fender Stratocaster from 1954. Oh, and they are electric guitars,' he said. (12) The class looked at Gibson and stared in silence. Ms. Conway clapped her hands together. 'Wow! You're right, Gibson. Great job!' (13) 'How'd you know that?' a girl asked behind him. (14) 'My dad has both of them,' he said. 'And I've been playing them since I was little.' (15) 'You can play the guitar?' Joe laughed. 'Yeah right! You play the violin!' He looked around, but no one else was laughing. (16) 'Would you like to play something?' Ms. Conway asked. Gibson looked down at his feet. He didn't know what to say. He just wanted to stay in his seat and have no one look at him. (17) But then he thought of his dad and smiled. 'I'll play the Les Paul,' he said. 'It's my favorite.' (18) He walked toward the front of the class and picked up the guitar. He played the opening notes of 'Gone into the Sun.' It was his favorite Mookie Harper song. All of the children sat in awe as they watched him play, and when he was done, they all started clapping and cheering. (19) 'Maybe I'll start playing the violin,' the boy next to him said. 'If it will get me to play a guitar like that!'    

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