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