A Conversation Overheard: There's No Money In Gamba

Three people are seated in a comfortable living room, drinking wine, discussing the musical training of a child. The child in question is all of maybe one month old.

"I think she should take Suzuki bass," says the father, a double bass player.

"Sure, that's good," says the father's friend, a trombone player. "But you should probably start with piano. Start with the basics."

"Bassoon, maybe?" ponders the father. The mother rolls her eyes and has a sip of her drink. The baby is asleep.

There follows a diverting discussion regarding the social clout of different musical instruments -- flute players: are they as hot as violinists? This passes a few minutes, and then the father of the newborn veers back toward his daughter's future musical instruction. "The thing is," he says, "She may not have any musical talent."

The trombonist scoffs, "Sure she will; her parents are musical. She may not become a professional musician --" [which the trombonist is: Julliard trained, he has always made a living from performing or teaching music] "but she's very likely to be somewhat talented. She doesn't have to make a living at it, she should just, you know, learn it to enjoy it at first."

The mother speaks. "We could sign her up for lessons on the viola da gamba."

The trombonist has a sip of his drink, shakes his head. "No," he says, "There's no money in gamba."