Did you ever fail out of school?

As an 8 year old child, I was failing out of school. I was unable to read. My Momma, Romayne Leader Frank , Never, Never gave up on me. She tried every type of reading class available, and still …..I was unable to read.

One my passions at 8 years of age, was climbing trees. I was your typical tomboy and I was fearless. For me no tree was too high . The only problem was I’d wind up being rushed to the hospital several times a week for stitches on a regular basis.

The final time I was rushed to the hospital, after my reading class during summer camp, I had climbed a tall tree with nails and a board sticking out of the top of its trunk. As I came down the tree, I was scooped up by a camp counselor and rushed to the hospital. At the time I did not realize it, but blood was dripping down my leg.

One of the camp counselors called my Momma. She drove for over 3 hours to the hospital and by the time she arrived she had decided it was time to "get me out of those trees and on the ground."

My Momma knew I had wanted to study the violin for several years. She and I made a deal at the hospital. I promised to give up climbing all trees and she would arrange for violin lessons. As soon as I began to study the violin, I learned to hold the violin ,to hold the bow, to read the notes on the page, and to play music. I also learned how to take care of my violin and bow and to clean it after playing it.

I really enjoyed playing the violin and by the end of the summer the light bulb had flipped on and I was reading and going to the library. I am proud to say, I have not climbed a tree since I was 8 years old.


Strong lessons learned: My Momma believed in two things, unconditional love for her family and education. She taught us to keep looking and thinking and you will find a way to solve your problems and if you want something bad enough you will study and work hard enough to get it.
Giving up is never an option.


My Momma never gave up on anything and neither should you!

I've come a long way from being an 8 year old tomboy who was falling out of trees , failing out of school, and unable to read. Learning the violin taught me to read and write and most of all how to think. My violin has taken me all the way through a Ph.D. at Walden University, two degrees at the Juilliard School in NYC, and the privilege to work at the Metropolitan Opera, New York City Opera, playing for Frank Sinatra, Lou Rawls, Natalie Cole at Carnegie Hall and Paul Anka, the O’Jays and Eartha Kitt.

For over 25 years I have worked with children and adults to overcome problems in learning and memory through my music. I write a monthly newsletter “Madeline’s Monthly Article & Musical Tips” and a monthly radio show “Madeline’s One Minute Musical Radio Show”.

http://www.madelinefrankviola.com/



Posted by Madeline Frank, Ph.D.