Lifelong Learning

(This is the first in a series of posts by 4-Way members about their early chamber music experiences, by cellist Nat Chaitkin)

The above photo is from a “family and friends” performance at the home of one of my best friends, with his son and father, who is 93 years old, and still plays quartets every week! I hope to be still playing chamber music at his age, too.

At the age of 12, having played the cello for one year, I walked into New York’s School for Strings, for my first quartet rehearsal. In a room with three other young people and our coach, Mrs. MacGregor, we began working on David Stone ’s Second Miniature Quartet (I can still hear the opening notes in my head). As we began, I quickly realized two things. First - I had no idea what I was doing. The second - I felt completely at home.

That first feeling has gotten better over the years (though when 4-Way starts a new piece, it comes back a little!). And the second has only gotten stronger - the rest of the world disappears while we’re rehearsing, and I’m always disappointed when it’s time to stop.

Like all young string players, I would play in several student groups. Many of the people I played with remain close friends to this day, and even the ones who have disappeared are still clearly fixed in my memory - I can tell you who they are, what we played, and what they were like to work with, even 30-plus years later. 

4-Way is already planning this year’s chamber groups for our students, and we bet they will have the same kind of experience that I did - a little overwhelming at first, but also something they look forward to, and want to continue for as long as possible. We are only able to give them that experience because of your generous support - please make a donation to our fall fund drive today!