Happy Mother’s Day to my mother, Lisa Lederer!
She was as tough as she was loving and warm. But she made me practice at LEAST an hour a day every day of my childhood!! I resented her and fought her as much as possible but she always won. When it got close to dinner time I would wander into the kitchen to ask her if she needed help preparing the meal. And she would say “ABSOLUTELY NOT! YOU NEED TO GO PRACTICE!” So I would reply by saying that it was important for my future to learn how to cook! And she would just give me that look- you know the look I’m talking about and would say, “You can always learn how to cook but you can’t always be a great violist if you don’t practice every day!” And just to be clear, my ambition as a child (since about 10 years of age) was to be the greatest violist in the world someday! So, looking back- even if I’m only a good enough violist today who had a fantastic quartet and performing career and now a wonderful life coaching chamber music and teaching viola I owe it ALL to my stubborn mother (and super encouraging father- but we’ll get to him next month for Fathers Day). There are not enough words in any language that could possibly express my gratitude. She not only gave me life but gave me one heck of a GREAT life! Happy Mothers Day, mom!!!
