|
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Very nicely said, Bradley. In fact, everyone.
I'm with JW (I'll probably regret that)... just to make music. When I can sit and play for no other reason than to hear the notes that my hands are playing, the melodies that my fingers are weaving of their own accord, there is nothing more relaxing. If someone else happens to hear it and enjoy it as well... all the better!
Originally posted by Slipkid:
It’s a roll of the dice. Both thrilling and frightening at the same time. If all goes well you are rewarded with a heartfelt round of applause. If things don’t go quite so well, you get the muffled courtesy clap. Either way you are rewarded. "What's the chicken wire for?"
Jake Blues
"Yes, Mrs. Castorini, I would LOVE some oatmeal."
Ronny Cammareri: |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2005
Posts: 5332
Location: Bluffton, SC | I'm with bobbo - music, whether I'm listening to it, watching it or playing it is just a pure release for me. It takes me away from everything and allows me time to mentally regroup. 10 minutes or ten hours - it's the one and only thing I could do all day long.
(Side note - does this zen realization from Brad qualify him as the official OFC Dalai Llama?) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2003
Posts: 11039
Location: Earth·SolarSystem·LocalInterstellarCloud·Local Bub | Music is not unlike Language. Humans are wired for it. Babies, regardless of outside influence, will begin to babble at a certain stage (and some continue right into adulthood). The spoken language they learn is a matter of environment, but capacity, grammar and syntax are pre-wired. Even babies born deaf will begin to "babble" with their hands, making conspicuous, repetitive gestures (in Jersey, it's "The FInger").
Ask anyone if they don't appreciate language... It's almost and absurd question.
The same is true for Music... babies will invariably beat the table top rhythmically, dance (you've all seen the "the baby dance") and do that "Waa-waa Waa-waa Doo-whopp Sha-dooby Waa-waa" scream.
Whether, it's tapping our foot along with the beat, or singing in the shower or playing guitar or conducting an orchestra, we are wired to do music...
Ask anyone if they don't appreciate music... It's almost an absurd question. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I don't appreciate rap... Oh, wait. You said music, didn't you.
Ok, I'm with ya. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | I do it because I love doing it.
I play an hour or so each day...often one or more of my daughters will join in and we'll sing some old country songs.
On weekends where my band is playing, its a ton of work: Load up the truck, drive to the gig, load in, set up, sound check...all to play for four hours. If we're lucky we have a two-nighter where we can leave the gear...otherwise its a late night tear down and load out.
But its all worth it. Playing alone is fun, but playing in a band is magic. On nights when things are working its the best thing possible. Its amazing how you get into that zone where there is no such thing as time. We've had shows where things were working so we just played straight through for two or three hours, and yet it seemed like it took no time at all. That is so cool when that happens.
Then on Sunday morning, when I'm still pretty exhausted from the late night and my left hand feels like a balloon and my fingertips are all shredding off and my guitar smells like smoke, my family and I play at church. Those are usually the best times of all. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
August 2004
Posts: 604
Location: Tampa, FL | I'd agree Brad's 'evolution of the guitar player' analysis. I've done the wait for an 'empty' house and play for the dogs (Things aren't going well when the aussie decides to accompany). I've been doing the church thing for a few years now. Initially part of a group, now I do a number solo scenarios. But always in front of a 'home court' crowd. That'll change Saturday. As part of my wife's business, I do a lot of Green markets, one or two every Saturday. I've gotten to know the performers pretty well at each of these. So this Saturday I arranged to play the break(s) at one of our regular markets. I plan to do a thirty minute set and then see how it pans out. Going to be a very mixed audience. The vendors are a pretty tough crowd and the customers have no connection to me. Guess I'll find out how big the pond is.
Chat(tryin' out the deep end of the pool)Man |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 15680
Location: SoCal | This has been a good thread. Reading all the reasons people play is very interesting, yet I'm not certain that I can articulate (honestly for once) why I play. I'm not a great player and I don't have a great voice. Yet I've played for family and friends for years, have played at church for the last 6 years, and in a Friday nite jam for the last 2.
What I've learned is that it can bring joy and comfort to others (my wife, kids and other family members think I'm great even when I'm not -- at church, when I've really been off, people will come up and say how wonderful the band sounded -- and when playing in public, watching people tap their feet, sway their heads, or sing along feels wonderful) and give me a strong sense of satisfaction.
When I play by myself at home, it feels wonderful when I finally master a new tune that started out slow and clumsy. It relaxes me and it allows an escape for a short time from the pressures of the day.
It's given me a whole new family in the OFC. A whole group of people who are my friends and many of whom are family to me and who have taken me in as family.
I'm a decent guitar player and a fair (at best) singer. There are people in this group who can play and sing rings around me. But my music has been an entree into many new worlds. All of them positive in my life.
Going back and reading this, it doesn't seem to cover everything that I wanted it to, but it's as close as I'm going to get. I think I'll leave introspection to Brad in the future and go back to being a smart ass..... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | When I'm not being a wise guy I love playing guitar at church an open mic, or home alone. I just love it, so whether I'm playing, listening, or watching it's all about the guitar.
Pauly
How that for a straight answer :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | For me, its just something I have always done...my first public performance (singing) was when I was 5 years old. I learned piano starting at 8 and guitar at 13. Piano fell by the wayside, but guitar has been my constant companion ever since: I wanted to play one years before i started, but Mother and Dad bought my brother a toy one and bought me a microscope...I think we can all see the provocation behind that move...The Beatles (I Want to Hold Your Hand, and later Beatles 65) changed my life and later I found out the Girls/Women liked guitar players. I was hooked. Now, after 41 years of playing all different types of Music (except Jazz and Rap) I play because the messages in the songs I do now reach people on a positive level. I still enjoy much of the music I always have; I feel like I've just kept moving on...and I'm comfortable with that. I turned 55 years old today, I am a blessed man: my faith, wife and kids, family, friends (including all of you), some great guitars and my love of music; God has been good to old Music Mike! There's a song in there somewhere, lol...
Blessings... |
|
| |
|
Joined:
October 2006
Posts: 5575
Location: big island | there is a song in there, mike...
"happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear mikey, happy birthday to you"
blessings, brother! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2006
Posts: 7307
Location: South of most, North of few | Thats right Randy! Happy birthday Mike!! :D |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2003
Posts: 9301
Location: south east Michigan | Happy Birthday Mike!
I like the observation that stonebobbo made about how guitar playing requires a high level of focus on what you are doing. The by-product being that one is forced to put aside things like work related problems, at least for a little while. I know if I let my mind start to wander while in the middle of a song, there is sure to be trouble ahead. |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Happy Birthday Mike!!!!!!
Pauly |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 5567
Location: Blue Ridge Mountains | :) :rolleyes: Thanks everyone!
Blessings...
(and Randy, your voice sounds really nice...sounds like you're over the crud...lol) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
June 2003
Posts: 1792
Location: Rego Park, NY, | Happy Birthday Mike!! |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | I grew up singing; Mom and Dad both sang well, and music has always just been there. I started playing guitar because one was left at my house for safekeeping and it seemed like the logical thing to do--and when Gertrude came into my life playing became an absolute joy.
Work may be what I do, but guitar allows me to express who I am. And worshipping with my guitar gives me a sense of freedom that I don't experience anywhere else. I play nearly every day--not just for me, but for the Audience of one Who hears my heart.
--Karen
1111-4 (Gertrude); CE868-LX (Jewel); the Viper (Blanca); the Tornado (Jazzey); the Guild acoustic (Gilda); the Guild classical (Jacquita); the Steinberger bass (Sugar); Vega banjo (Twang); Galiano mandolin (Plink); fiddle of uncertain antcedents (Shriek) |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Q "I grew up singing"..."playing became an absolute joy"
Would U rate yourself as ;
A) Guitarist
B) Singer
C) Performer
..Just curious.. :)
Vic |
|
| |
|
Joined:
September 2004
Posts: 1180
Location: Vermont USA | Karen posted "I play nearly every day--not just for me, but for the Audience of one Who hears my heart."
Karen that was awesomely put.
Pauly |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 2491
Location: Copenhagen Denmark | Q "Karen posted "I play nearly every day--not just for me, but for the Audience of one Who hears my heart."
Karen that was awesomely put.
Pauly
.................................................
Yes it Was ,I agree ,Well Put !! :)
Vic |
|
| |
|
Joined:
April 2006
Posts: 1017
Location: Budd Lake, NJ | To answer Vic's question--a worshipper who happens to play guitar.
--Karen |
|
| |
|
Joined:
March 2002
Posts: 1380
Location: Central Oregon | "last evening, i played a three hour gig for a jewish wedding reception at the hilton in waikoloa. sheesh! talk about music being such a cultural element. what a blast!!"
Now you did it lanaki. That post made 'Hava Nagila' start looping in my head. I've been doing a lot of 'Readers Digest Chet style picking' lately so I tried Hava Nagila with a thumb pick. It kinda sounds like Chet Atkins' Bar Mitzvah. Really pretty cool when I can hit it right. Got the basic tune, I'll have to work on this some more.
I play because I can barely remember when I didn't, that, & it's fun to entertain, even if I'm only entertaining myself. I had one rather lengthy guitar-less time during the past 50 years since I started hacking away (at age nine). I sold all my gear shortly after I got married the first time. It was a first wife appeasement effort, bad deal all around. I should have sold her instead. (Reminds me of the old country favorite "If I'da Killed You When I Wanted to I'd Be Out By Now")
Even for the nine or ten years I didn't own a guitar I would pick one up if I found one somewhere & play it a little & I almost always have some tune going in my head, maybe it's an auto-defense against this miserable Tinitis.
At any rate, I play a lot more than I used to. I like being able to say to myself "Wow, I didn't think I'd ever be able to do that!" I might be the only one that enjoys some of the stuff I play when I'm alone, but I'm the only one I have to please so I don't care.
Like several others have mentioned, it feels great to see people dancing or tapping their feet or whatever while I'm playing.
Interesting thread. |
|
| |
Zen and the Art of the Guitar
