The thing is, I want to play well I really do. And I'm sure if I kept at it long enough and made it pretty much my sole hobby (which means tossing out watching House, American Idol, and Mythbusters) I could teach myself. But I just don't have that kind of perseverance. So today I took the initiative and walked myself down to Dusty Strings in Fremont to sign up for some lessons.
To those in the area who have never ventured into Dusty Strings, I say wait no longer! It's an acoustic music-lover's paradise! All sorts of stringed, fluted, and drummable-instruments to play with, books, accessories, CDs, you name it. They have lutes for Chrissakes, LUTES! And nice ones, too!
They've set up a reference station for would-be musicians in search of lessons. I thumbed through the guitar section but gravitated immediately to the flier for a man who was working the front counter. As another staffperson walked by, he confirmed my thoughts with a recommendation and introduced us. I talked to him for a while and signed up for my first lesson, next Thursday after work.
I admit that he was cooler and somehow less friendly and more teacherly than I expected. I suppose this makes sense, as he's taking me on as a student, but it wasn't helped by the fact that I'm flat-out terrified! I've always loved learning by taking classes but at some point along the line I must've developed a deep-seated fear of music lessons. Oy. I suppose I can thank my parents for forcing piano recitals upon me and thank myself for pretty awful vocal lessons when I was trying to force my alto voice into a soprano range. Oh yeah, and let's not forget one MISERABLY failed clarinet solo in middle school. Ugh.
But despite all that, I do love music and I desperately want to get back into it. I'll have to kick my old phobia in the butt and grow a new appreciation for music teachers now that I'm taking the initiative to use my own time and my own money to learn. It's very different for me to decide that I want to learn guitar from some dude in Ballard than for my parents to ship me off to my piano teacher's house every week, kicking and screaming. Like I said, though, it gets my heart racing just thinking about it! Eep! Time to practice!
(See? I'm motivated already.)
Posted on January 25, 2007 @ 2:58 PM | 6 comments
Comments:
Heh, I remember that clarinet solo...sorry sorry ;)
Way to take the initiative kat! I've been mulling over the thought about signing up for violin lessons again. But I myself have a fear of music lessons, especially for violin. And then I'd have to settle with the fact that my youngest sister will probably always be better than me...
By 
, at
4:39 PM, January 25, 2007
I have to say that is the first blog I have ever read that professed any excitement about lutes.
By 
running42k, at
1:06 PM, January 26, 2007
What is it that you fear about the music lessons?
By Rachel, at
2:13 PM, January 28, 2007
Nothing like motivation through crippling fear!!
By Lazy Lightning, at
6:49 AM, January 29, 2007
Allie- Justin and I attended Eleanor's recital this weekend. She is really good!
Running42k- Dude, lutes are RAD! What can I say, I grew up around baroque music and renaissance faires. :)
Rachel- I think it's the one-on-one time with a stranger listening to me struggle with music. It's a struggle that's really personal to me and I always find it strange to share it with someone I don't know, even if they're there to help. Most of the fear is a lingering childhood embarrassment though. ;)
LL- Yeehaw!
By Kat, at
9:50 AM, January 29, 2007
Dusty Strings is indeed great.
Trading Musician (just N. of the U-Distr) has a great "acoustic instr." room. AMAZING collection of (mostly used!) collectible and quirky electric guitars, at very reasonable prices, as well.
Avoid Lark in the Morning (near Pike Place Market) -- waaay dissapointing. Bought a Chinese Moon Lute (a ''Yuet-Chin'') there a few years ago. Neither store clerk knew anything about it, but tried to B.S. me (which a quick Google search later disproved), and the build quality of most of their instruments is for wall decoration, not actually playing.
--GG
By Gye Greene, at
9:26 PM, February 04, 2007
