My parents encouraged me to learn how to play a lot of different instruments over the years. At some point, I picked up a harmonica. This came natural enough that I would play it at churches with my cousin Sammy accompanying me when we performed at churches. Another instrument that I got around this time… Continue reading Fingerpicking
Category: Music Education
Guidance from Don and John
After I started writing a few songs, I had a chance to play some of them for a couple of friends who were professional musicians. Don is a professional piano player who has accompanied many well-known artists. He was also one of my mom’s piano students when he was first getting his start. He suggested… Continue reading Guidance from Don and John
My Son’s First Guitar
I mentioned in an earlier post that my son had a good guitar before I had one. When he got the guitar bug, he wanted an electric guitar. We bought him a Red Squier Stratocaster starter pack with the upgraded amplifier. He had enough natural music talent and drive to be able to learn what… Continue reading My Son’s First Guitar
Mom on Sharps and Flats
Starting in high school and though college, I had more opportunities to play at weddings and other events where I had to play songs on piano where I wasn’t just accompanying myself singing. Sometimes these were instrumentals where I could cheat and play in a more comfortable key. Other times, I was playing for someone… Continue reading Mom on Sharps and Flats
Glenda’s Wedding
Through junior high and high school, I continued to perform in a variety of situations. I would sing with my cousin Sammy, play organ for beauty pageants, and accompany myself on piano at church and occasional talent shows at school. I rarely played anything that challenged me to expand my skills. I was mainly getting… Continue reading Glenda’s Wedding
Piano Lessons
There were several times when I was growing that mom started teaching me piano. I wouldn’t practice as often as I should, and I never made it very far into the lesson books to anything advanced. At some point, mom negotiated with Mrs. Dean Norville to give my sister and I piano lessons and in… Continue reading Piano Lessons
Everything in the Key of F
While I was able to play songs on the organ and accompany myself singing on the piano, there were still limitations to what I was able to play. My dirty secret was that I only knew how to play songs in the key of F. I think part of this was due to the way… Continue reading Everything in the Key of F
Playing Organ Music at the Mall
My mom developed a close relationship with the owners of the music store where she bought sheet music and lesson books for her piano students. At one point, she worked out a deal with them where they placed an electric organ in our house for demonstration purposes. If someone came to our house and ended… Continue reading Playing Organ Music at the Mall
Bass and Chords
As I was growing up, I continued to pick around on the piano. Occasionally, my mom would start giving me lessons, but I never stuck with them for very long. I wasn’t disciplined enough to stick with practicing the easy songs that were necessary to develop skills needed to play more complicated music. When I… Continue reading Bass and Chords
My First Guitars
I don’t know where my first guitar came from. I suspect that my mom got it from the music store where she bought sheet music when she gave piano lessons. I remember getting a Mel Bay guitar instruction book that showed some simple instructions and chords. As with most other instruments, I would teach myself… Continue reading My First Guitars