Playing an instrument


By: Daniel Date: Oct 4, 2006 - 11:07 AM

Eleven months after John Lennon was assassinated, I got my first guitar. Love at first sight. I came home from high school every day and spent an hour in my bedroom attempting to master open chords, barre chords, and power chords. The guitar became my conduit for songwriting and an ever present accompaniment for my voice. I never did master scales or modes, but I learned enough basic theory to communicate with other players. I never have learned how to play lead or competently flatpick a Bluegrass tune.

In college in my late 20s, I learned critical thinkng from the master, Richard Paul, at Sonoma State University. It changed my life in a subtle but powerful way. The critial thinking skills I learned re-channeled my thoughts and emotions; I was no longer forced (or even able) to channel emotions and thoughts into lyrics and melodies. My songwriting pretty much stopped. I still write the occassional song, but it requires a flash of severe inspiration or the wish to try out a particular type of song, like murder ballad, Bluegrass tune, or fiddle tune.

About the time I was finishing up my bachelor's degree I got serious about playing the mandolin. Since my use of music had changed, I needed a new reason to play. I jammed with a lot of other guitar players, so picking up a second instrument seemed like a good idea. Especially since playing music had become a social passtime and stress reliever rather than an emotional outlet.

Mandolin has since become my first instrument, and a conduit into two types of music I never thought I would be able to play: Jazz and Classical. Now, if I can hear the tune in my head, I can play it. I was never like this on guitar (and I'm still not). But all the notes are in the right place on the mandolin; it's more intuitive and more automatic for me than guitar ever was or ever will be.

My enthusiasm for mandolin has reached such heights that I spend almost $1200(US) a year to go the the Mandolin Symposium (http://www.mandolinsymposium.com) and spend a week learning from the undisputed masters of the instrument, people like David Grisman, Mike Compton, Evan Marshall, Chris Thile, Mike Marshall, and Don Stiernberg.

I find this level of musical proficiency a heady thing, very rewarding in its own right, and quite different from the emotional relief of writing a good song. I like it better, in fact. I feel more connected to the world than I did as a singer/songwriter, and I'm proud of myself for being this good at something.

The role music has played in my life has changed dramatically, but its importance has never wavered. From navel-gazing songwriting as therapy to instrumental proficiency I have benefitted from playing music. I'll sing and play music until I die.

Posted: Fri - May 4, 2007 at 10:13 AM          

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