Cello Notes: On Music and the Urgency of Time

When Mavis Himes, a psychoanalyst with an established practice of over forty years, began to contemplate retirement, she decided to learn to play the cello.

From meeting her teacher in an overcrowded café, through the demanding task of cello practice with its persistent strains and stresses on the body, Himes found a growing appreciation of music’s power on her own well-being. An unfortunate bicycle accident resulting in serious injuries to her left arm threw her musical world upside down, forcing her to discontinue lessons. No longer certain if she’d be able to continue playing, Himes bounced back with persistence and physiotherapy. However, the setback from an unhealed fracture placed her progress once again in jeopardy.

Cello Notes: On Music and the Urgency of Time is a musical journey later in life that demonstrates the importance of dreaming big and following one’s desires at any age. It is

also a testament to the natural rhythm of healing, both physically and mentally, and the lessons to be discovered in the face of obstacles.