Learn to Play an Instrument to Save Your Life

Growing up, I always loved music, admired musicians,few years later, I bought a proper keyboard with all the
and still do. When I entered college, a friend in mygreat features allowing me to play many instrumental
freshman dorm played the harmonica. I wassounds.
fascinated and envious. I had always wanted to playWith my new toy, I decided to expand my horizons
an instrument but we could never afford lessons, letand began collecting sheet music from every genre
alone the ability to buy an instrument. But, when thisfrom classic rock of the 50's to jazz and blues.
guy told me he bought it for two dollars, my heartRecently, I got a guitar for Christmas and am
leapt. Even I could afford that paltry sum. So Idetermined to learn to play my third instrument. I
immediately ran down to the local department storeactually played in the church band for a few years and
and bought my own. It wasn't until I got back to myreally enjoyed the experience. So why am I telling you
room I realized I couldn't play a note. It drove mythis? Because it saved my life. No, I wasn't dying of a
roommate crazy and so I had to resort to playing inrare disease where music controlled the cancer or
the bathroom or stairwell. I shouldn't use the termanything like that. Instead, it allowed me to close out the
"playing" at this juncture. It was making noise on a veryrest of the crazy, stress-filled world and play the
irritating level at best. But every spare minute betweenmelodies and harmonies that could soothe my muddled
classes and studying, I tackled "Mary Had a Littlemind. It could transport me back in time to my college
Lamb," and other classics.days of the Jefferson Airplane when "White Rabbit"
About three months later, I could play four or fiveruled the airwaves or to "Tommy, the rock opera." I
nursery rhymes. Hey, it's a start. With this majorcould escape the rigors of social or economic issues
accomplishment under my belt, I moved on to showand relax.
tunes. My family always had Broadway show musicI can't think of a better way to lose yourself or push
around like Camelot and Oklahoma, so, naturally Iaway the daily grind. It is more than just therapeutic: it's
gravitated toward what I knew. Later, I would try outregenerating and energizing. I figure that if a forty year
the Beatles and the Stones. By my senior year, I couldold can teach himself to play, then anyone can. I
play by ear. If I could hear it, I could play it. Playing thestarted with the harmonica. But discovered that it was
harmonica was very therapeutic and satisfying. Then aone of the harder instruments to play because you
few years later, when I was at the home of a friendcan't see the holes and, therefore, have to play by ear.
with a piano, they suggested that perhaps my earYou can get a cheap keyboard and tap out a tune in
training could translate to the piano. I explained that Iminutes. There are dozens of lessons on the Internet
couldn't afford a piano and they told me to consider aand keyboards that are self-teaching using lights and
cheap electric organ, which still used the sametechnology.
keyboard.The point is, it's one of the least expensive ways to
I found a used table-top organ in the newspaper forenjoy yourself and can be enriching and rewarding.
about twenty dollars and was excited. It was smallYou don't have to become a concert pianist to enjoy
with only three octaves, but it played well enough.yourself. You can plug in some earphones so you don't
Within a few weeks, I was able to manage myannoy anyone around you and it uses almost no
nursery rhymes, all by ear. I was now in my lateelectricity. I guarantee, whatever age you are, you can
twenties and continued with the organ for severallearn to play and will be grateful when you have
years. Finally I traded it in for a larger floor model andmastered even a few simple songs. It's fun,
learned to play just about anything. There was onlyentertaining, and will give you endless hours of
one problem: I couldn't read music or play any chords.pleasure. If you have never considered learning to play,
So I got a few pieces of sheet music for Broadwaymake it a priority this year. No, I don't work for Baldwin,
shows and gave it a try. By the time I was forty, Ibut I believe in the power of music. It's an idea and a
taught myself chords and how to read music. I boughtgift, from me to you. And it just might save your life
a cheap keyboard, finally graduating from the organ. Afrom boredom.