January 6, 2007
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This month’s Featured Grown-up’s topic looks fun. We’re to tell something about ourselves that nobody here knows. The first example was “Are you an amazing musician?” I’m neither amazing nor am I a musician but when I was 10 or 11 my dad brought home some recorders and we all learned to play. You know, those wooden flutes? Pretty soon my parents had joined the American Recorder Society and strangers were coming to our house bringing instruments I’d never heard of like viola de gambas. I was the oldest and come to think of it the only kid who learned to play. Eventually I switched to flute and my younger sister took up the cello but once a month people would come to our house and often I would get to sit in with the grown-ups.
When I went off to college there was a group of professors who got together one afternoon a week in the music department, and when I discovered they played Elizabethan music I asked if I could sit in the next week. School was only two hours from home so I retrieved my old recorder and for a brief period spent some more time being the only kid in the group.
I’ve been going to church on Sundays and last month there was a baroque concert. Sure enough, there were two recorder players. The reason I went was because the week before I’d been listening to Christmas music on the classical station and all of a sudden I recognized a piece we used to play. I missed that music. Those times in the living room with my parents and the beautiful music were precious to me. Normally, being at my house wasn’t so great.
Last Sunday I was at the church coffee, and I ended up meeting a woman my mother’s age who plays recorder with a group who meet Monday mornings at 10:00. It was obviously time for me to play again so I came home and did a search on Google. Turns out there is a couple who teach at the college here and they were the ones performing at my church. They live ten minutes from my house and teach classes on Wed night. I don’t know if I’ll need a class as I found a music store, a recorder, and the original book my father bought me. I’ve been having such fun playing again but the dog and cat run for the garage.
Comments (22)
Let the animals flee and YOU enjoy the music. I’m always amazed the dog doesn’t leave the room when I play fiddle, or howl, or something. But she just looks at me, cocks her head once or twice, and then seems to sigh as if “here we go again” and she lays down where she can watch me. I’m thrilled to read you are making music. I could never dance, but I love playing music. I’m sitting here listening to a fiddle player my teacher just recommended I listen to, Martin Hayes. Man, it’s sweet. I just learned one of his songs, in a really odd key for fiddle. Good to have you back. And really, I think the recorder and the dancing and stocks and the food/medicine bit–it’s all adding up to a neat spot for you.
I always love hearing from you. You always have a zeal for things new. Although not new….I see that enthusiasm. So glad that you’re back. Lana
one of the things i love about you is that i never know what to expect. you continually pull thngs out of your sleeves just like magicians. “Look at this!” and then we all ohhhh and ahhhh. love it….
Sweet! Creating music is a gift. (Not sure how to get animals to understand that though.)If you have a sound recorder on your computer you can play a sample. Oh now, that was just me being a kid. You’ve put all sorts of notes into my head. Now I feel I must put some into the air myself. Only I’ll let the CD player do it for me. Sadly, so far I think if I have a musical gift it has gone unwrapped and possibly slipped down behind an unmovable piece of furniture.
my son Obi started playing the harmonica… and now I can even figure out what tunes he’s attempting.
baby steps.
I think it’s great that you want to play the recorder… and before too long I predict you’ll be impressing people with your talents in THAT direction.
Dear Prudence,
I’m visiting from the Featured Grownups site. How neat. I love to go to Renaissance Faires. They always have a stand or two selling recorders. Good luck in getting a small group together to play this music. I plan on making another Renaissance Faire video this year, and I’m always looking for “original” musicians for my pieces. If you get toghether with anyone to make some music, make a recording and post it on your Xanga “audio blog”.
Michael F. Nyiri, poet, philosopher, fool
How fun! I want to learn to play the recorder!
I don’t think I’ve ever heard anyone really play the recorder – nice post
All I ever played was the flutophone at church. I don’t even really know what that is! With three sisters before me my Dad was music lessoned out when I came along, none of the others ever stuck to it so why waste his money on me?
Your previous post makes me wonder if you’ve been posting all along and I was mislead cause “STOCK BUDDY” always came up?? You saying you were posting below that?? Can’t be.
I took recorder lessons when I was 8 or so. I remember it being very boring, and I didn’t like it much at all. I think I did it because a friend was doing it. *sigh* Peer pressure.
You are better than most people who could not play any musical instruments at all. I wonder how it sounds by itself and in a group with other instruments.
I don’t know that I can even picture a Recorder, now I’ll go google so I can see what you are talking about. I’m with several others here, I’ve missed your posts, you are always talking about something interesting and write with such depth that I always feel as if I’m a part of it. Thanks for making the come back..marilyn
I seem to remember my daughter having one of those!
You are posting!!! cheers,
That’s cool — I play flute, or did, haven’t in years…you may have inspired me to dig it out and give it blow or two!
that’s cool!
American Recorder Society! That is hardcore. I had one of those once. Loved it, in fact. Glad you’re having a good time with it again.
ryc: Nope, Gemini.
ryc: thank you, Pru! I need always to remember to display the love despite my horror, and your reminder was appreciated.
You are so multi-faceted, multi-talented that I’m not surprised you have this beautiful sound that issues forth when you bring the recorder to your lips…
i love the sound of the recorder and am not the least bit surprised that you play one. glad to see you back again!
sounds like it was meant to be.