Let the music play!

Waiting for me under the Christmas tree when I was in second grade was a guitar – not from Santa, but from my grandfather. A musician in a band called Society 400 (500?), Philip Tagliaferro played the guitar and banjo. His “stage name” was Phil Terrace. I don’t know much about his musical career other than he played frequently at home and wore frilly shirts out on gigs. I regret not knowing more. I have a photo of him with his band in my living room. He taught me how to read notes from sheet music. The only song he taught me was “You are my Sunshine” and some sort of 50’s song I can play but can’t identify. I remember trying to mimic the songs that were played at church.

I never had formal lessons on how to play. I never learned how to tune a guitar. I don’t even think I hold the guitar correctly. I remember begging my parents to purchase me a Roy Clark guitar book that I had seen on the TV. (remember those commercials?) It had stickers that you would paste onto the guitar so you would know where to put your fingers. These were in addition to the flower stickers that I stuck all over the side of the guitar (I was a flower child even then!)

My memory is fuzzy as to why I never continued playing. It would have been helpful to have more encouragement, but I can’t blame anyone but myself… Maybe I lost interest in the exciting world of adolescence, or maybe it was just poor timing. I think I was self conscious about my voice and playing publicly…not sure…one thing is true, I totally regret not playing more.

A few of the guys played at college, and I picked up a few more chords, and purchased myself a new guitar. Dave, Chip and Matt played at college. Dave taught me the blues scale. My neighbor also played and he had a stack of 60‘s sheet music that I copied. We played together once in my back yard and the neighborhood children and parents gathered around for a sing-a-long. This was my only “public” performance. I have never liked my voice. After college, I couldn’t afford lessons, and gave my cousin my guitar. I probably haven’t picked up a guitar in over 10-15 years. Listening to live guitar music has always been my favorite pastime.

With Alan’s interest in the guitar, sparked by James Taylor’s steam roller (See I've Got a Bad Case of Steamroller Blues blog posting....), I have a renewed interest in playing. (I don’t think it ever really went away)….Sheet music I have briefly looked out seems pretty easy – chords that I know. I just need someone to show me how to hold the guitar correctly, and most importantly – how to tune it! I will muster up enough confidence to start with easy children’s songs….and we’ll see what happens. So I am in the market for a new guitar (an early birthday present!). I will be researching ones that are easy to learn on….I am looking forward to sing-a-longs with the neighborhood children!