So I was reading and enjoying all of the responses on that thread and I found I could relate to some as well.
Here's the question I pose:
Why? Why do you play?
There's a reason behind everything we do and what leads to our enjoyment of that particular hobby. I want to hear what motivates you.
When I was 18 years old I joined the fire department. I stayed in the fire department until I was 35 eventually working up to paid for a municipality. I took a hiatus for a few years as I started to burn out and got my real estate license which I loved working in. Well, along came the big economy bust and with it my 5 year real estate career. Today I am back in public service still running lights on top just a different uniform and have been in that a few years. I am now 46 and it's amazing how what I learned way back in school is still recalled when learning mandolin (theory, notes, expression styles, etc).
During my younger days I was a PADI certified dive master and worked, as a hobby for a local dive shop. I got heavily into RC cars. I owned and still own Harleys. I got into road cycling. Etc,etc,etc. I have had many varied interests as you can see.
In school I played in marching band, trumpet, for 6 years which gave me a base for theory and reading music notes. I put it down after graduating due to other interests, namely of the female persuasion, and the years clicked by. Marriage happened, kids happened, bills happened and I soon learned there was no strapping a car seat to a Harley no matter what my younger self had thought years before. One day on a whim I suggested guitar to my 10 year old son and before you know it we were in a local small community class that was pretty useless. My son gave up guitar for XBox and I continued trying to teach myself. I always loved bluegrass music and was always curious about mandolin. One day I jumped on a $39 internet deal and bought a Rogue. I tinkered with it and the set up book offered on here and got it sounding pretty decent. The mandolin was amazing, it just kinda clicked. Where I never did very good on the six strings and couldn't play a melody line to save my life, I could pick up my mandolin, sight read tab and stroll right through pretty good. Funny thing, chords came fairly easy one the guitar and melody hard but on the mandolin its completely opposite.
That fueled my desire and before you know it I bought a Kentucky km150. Wow, what a difference! Shortly thereafter MAS kicked in, a deal on a Kentucky km250 presented itself and, long story short, I now own two mandolins. Passing the rogue to someone who wanted to learn.
I want to be good but I know it's a process and I just remind myself I play for my enjoyment and that makes me happy. After a hard day, sitting down and making a sound, unsure if most would call it joyful, makes me forget the hectic world and brings me a lot of satisfaction. This is something I can do at a moment's notice or at soccer practice with my kids unlike all the other hobbies that required traveling to do, gathering a group of folks,etc which makes it ideal with a wife and kids.
I play for me....that my why....what's yours.
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