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