music growth

I am a father.



My son is a little over 1 year old. If I need to be more specific, he is 16 months old. I believe that he has hit his terrible 2's early. He has a vocabulary of about 30 words in english, but doesn't often use them. I've been informed that it is not the terrible 2's until the child looks you in your face and says "NO".



He seems interested in music. My wife and I have heard him sing, all in baby-language. He is also extremely interested in the piano. He has to play it evey time he sees it. We have a digital console piano, and he likes to get on my lap while I practice . He always starts to play with his arms straight out, fingers together, immobile wrists, and he bangs swinging his arms straight up and down. BUT, if you ask him "Can you play like daddy?", he relaxes his arms, wrists and hands, and starts to use individual fingers to push and pet at the keys. He looks at me and smiles.



When I practice viola, he comes up to my legs and starts to cling and suck his thumb. He might have been playing with other toys, not paying attention, and I go to get my viola, and he has to have my undivided attention. It's frustrating when I'm supposed to be practicing at least two hours everyday, and he only gives me 20-30 minutes at a shot. I talked to some of my teachers who have children and the best solution so far is to put in a movie that he likes to try and distract him.



I am curious about if he has any outstanding musical talent. One of the techniques that is practiced on the violin/viola/cello is double-stop scales in various intervals. One of the most difficult for most people, including myself is playing scales in thirds. Thirds have to be perfectly in tune. Eli, when I don't play them just quite right, starts to cry. I'm not sure about perfect pitch. I wonder when it shows itself. I imagine you have to have some kind of musical training before it is apparent. For example, I can recognize the color red every time I see it, but I wouldn't know it was called "red" unless someone had told me.



I've thought about if my son became a musician, what if he is better than I am. I know it sound horribly selfish, but what if I'm a thirty year old man and my son is a 7 year old prodigy who looks up at me and says "no daddy, you're doing it wrong." I suppose I will have to get over my competitive-jealousy at some point and I imagine that fatherhood will have bigger obstacles than a silly issue like this to overcome. Of course, I want the best for my son. I will do my best for him.