I'm proud in many ways to be (at least) the third generation of academic musician Chenettes. However, I don't always like it when people hear I'm going into music and they say, "Well, I guess it's in your genes!" I'm not entirely sure why. I suppose it wouldn't be the same if people saw me as following in Mom's shoes. After all, I think it's clear to most people that instrumentalists and singers are very individual. However, I think that to the eyes of the world, and even to the eyes of other musicians, academic musicians might as well all be the same, or at least interchangeable. But that's okay - I do feel I'm doing things that are individual, and fascinating. I think it's a large part, also, of why I love the piano so much: I don't fit simply into the "academic" side of things. (On top of the fact that it's so enjoyable, both kinetically and aurally!)

In any case, it's going to be hard to get away from this "legacy" this summer! The professor I'm working with in teaching was active with Dad on the Iowa Composers' Forum board, and currently teaches at Butler, where Grandpa used to teach (and administrate). Actually, he didn't just have contact with my relatives, but also with me: he's pretty sure he saw me at an ICF competition, playing one of my own pieces, however many long years ago!

Meanwhile, I was going into my morning class and walked past the teacher coming out from the previous class. She paused and said, "You must be Tim Chenette." I agreed. She said that I'm in her afternoon class. I said it was good to meet her. She mentioned that she knows Dad (I forget how: her name's Mary Paquett-Abt, I believe, and she's a musicologist - Dad, any ideas?) and that she just recently met Grandpa, I think at AMS. She also mentioned that I look just like Dad.

Well, I guess no one should be ashamed of their heritage. And of course I have absolutely no reason to be! But sometimes I wish my relatives were a little less famous (just kidding, Dad!).