Musical Journey

[Nancyf]

Back in the 90s I got lots of invaluable support on my beginner's nervous self-doubt - from either this list or the Comando listserv. I recently wrote about my 20+ year mandolin learning journey, finding ways to circumvent or play over the voices in my head. Some of you might find useful or interesting. https://riversandroadspdx.wordpress....-musical-life/

[MikeZito]

For me - these hit the nail on the head.

- You wouldn’t worry about what people think of you if you knew how seldom they do.
- We are conduits, in service to the song.

At the end, people are just listening for the songs – not for wrong notes, poorly played leads, badly delivered phrases, or forgotten lyrics. We share our music, play from the heart. It makes us feel good and people appreciate it. That’s it.

Thanks for sharing.

[Randi Gormley]

Nicely done. thanks!

[Mike Arakelian]

Thanks...it hits the nail on so many heads.

[Mando Mort]

Very much along the lines of how I have enjoyed my own journey through life with music. Thanks for a well-written, uplifting story.

[Fretfet2]

I love your story. It came at the right time for me as I ask myself why do I keep at this when it seems so hard to get where you want to be. Working for months or years on some aspect of playing , some tune , technique or whatever. Head won’t cooperate , hands , pinkie won’t cooperate. Part of what I call the “becoming”. ( like the man turning into a werewolf in the horror flick). It often feels very ugly. Werewolf does not look so good either . But there he be bold and proud once he gets through the painful evolution. Your music becomes you! And all the folks you meet along the way ... The older players that have helped, the instructors and mentors. The older guys that helped me learn some chords. Bringing me picks and music tuners etc to try. An instructor that had cancer and had to wear an ice pack on his shoulder as he taught but kept at it. We all have stories to tell. Yours is really lovely and still in the works !!!

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[Nancyf]

Thanks for reading! Play on.

[Bertram Henze]

I liked that Get out of your head - sums up everything else. Resembles the Think Not! I normally use.