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Learn to Play an Instrument to Save Your Life

Growing up, I always loved music,few years later, I bought a proper
admired musicians, and still do. When Ikeyboard with all the great features
entered college, a friend in myallowing me to play many instrumental
freshman dorm played the harmonica. Isounds.
was fascinated and envious. I hadWith my new toy, I decided to expand my
always wanted to play an instrument buthorizons and began collecting sheet
we could never afford lessons, letmusic 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 boughtI got a guitar for Christmas and am
it for two dollars, my heart leapt. Evendetermined to learn to play my third
I could afford that paltry sum. So Iinstrument. I actually played in the
immediately ran down to the localchurch band for a few years and really
department store and bought my own. Itenjoyed the experience. So why am I
wasn't until I got back to my room Itelling you this? Because it saved my
realized I couldn't play a note. Itlife. No, I wasn't dying of a rare
drove my roommate crazy and so I haddisease where music controlled the
to resort to playing in the bathroom orcancer or anything like that. Instead,
stairwell. I shouldn't use the termit allowed me to close out the rest of
"playing" at this juncture. It wasthe crazy, stress-filled world and play
making noise on a very irritatingthe melodies and harmonies that could
level at best. But every spare minutesoothe my muddled mind. It could
between classes and studying, Itransport me back in time to my
tackled "Mary Had a Little Lamb," andcollege days of the Jefferson Airplane
other classics.when "White Rabbit" ruled the airwaves
About three months later, I could playor to "Tommy, the rock opera." I could
four or five nursery rhymes. Hey, it's aescape the rigors of social or economic
start. With this major accomplishmentissues 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 showyourself 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 whatregenerating and energizing. I figure
I knew. Later, I would try out thethat if a forty year old can teach
Beatles and the Stones. By my seniorhimself to play, then anyone can. I
year, I could play by ear. If I couldstarted with the harmonica. But
hear it, I could play it. Playing thediscovered that it was one of the harder
harmonica was very therapeutic andinstruments 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 withplay by ear. You can get a cheap
a piano, they suggested that perhaps mykeyboard and tap out a tune in
ear training could translate to theminutes. There are dozens of lessons on
piano. I explained that I couldn'tthe Internet and keyboards that are
afford a piano and they told me toself-teaching using lights and
consider a cheap electric organ, whichtechnology.
still used the same keyboard.The point is, it's one of the least
I found a used table-top organ in theexpensive ways to enjoy yourself and can
newspaper for about twenty dollars andbe enriching and rewarding. You don't
was excited. It was small with onlyhave to become a concert pianist to
three octaves, but it played wellenjoy yourself. You can plug in some
enough. Within a few weeks, I was ableearphones 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 andelectricity. I guarantee, whatever age
continued with the organ for severalyou are, you can learn to play and
years. Finally I traded it in for awill be grateful when you have mastered
larger floor model and learned to playeven a few simple songs. It's fun,
just about anything. There was only oneentertaining, and will give you endless
problem: I couldn't read music or playhours of pleasure. If you have never
any chords. So I got a few pieces ofconsidered learning to play, make it a
sheet music for Broadway shows andpriority 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 readmusic. 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. Alife from boredom.



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