By Laurie Niles: If you make music in your home, it affects everyone, including any pets. So first, do you have a pet or pets? And if so, how does your pet(s) seem to like your music-making? ![piano dog boy]()
Sometimes it's easy to tell that a pet is enjoying the music - the pet wants to come a little closer, or howl along with the music. Conversely, if the pet runs away and hides, or growls like it's an intruder - this could be an indication the pet doesn't like the music, or at least it doesn't like all the attention the instrument is getting!
One of my students, who takes Zoom lessons, has a dog who will wail and bark along with her violin-playing, if she is playing within earshot. The student's family interprets this as showing enthusiasm for the music - not barking to make it stop. I guess you have to know the pet, to interpret the reaction properly!
Personally, I do have a pet - a tree frog named Alice. As a female frog, she actually makes no noise at all! Would she croak merrily while I played my fiddle, if she could? I like to think so. But as it is, she doesn't not seem either like or dislike all the music.
How does your pet like your music-making? Please choose the closest reaction from the selections below, then tell us all about it. If you have more than one pet, pick the most interesting reaction. What kind of pet(s) do you have? What is the strangest reaction you've had from a pet? Is your pet content to listen to you practice, or do you have to practice in another room or out of earshot.
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