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