tcepsa | Why I Have A Mountain Dulcimer

judyisis and I had gone to the store while I was in Sedona and she showed me the dulcimers that she had been tempted to get me for Christmas. I was a little dismayed at first, since I had meant a hammered dulcimer, but she talked me into taking a quick lesson from the woman working there. First she walked me through Amazing Grace and then Ode To Joy. By the end of that one I was getting quite a few of the notes before she said them, and once we finished she complimented me on it and asked me what other instruments I played.

I don't play any other instruments.

I've dabbled a little with a few (piano, flute, harmonica, recorder) but I only actually know one song on the flute and harmonica, and one other song on the piano, and that's about it. Oh, and I managed to coax a very scratchy version of Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star that was only a little bit off-key from my brother's viola this past weekend. So I figured she was probably just giving me a line as a salesperson.

Then Judy backed her up.

And it had been fun. And I really do like the way they sound...

So I decided to go for it. It'd be nice to own an instrument that would allow for me to play and breathe normally at the same time. And it's a little quieter and less, um, shrill when I hit a wrong note, so I won't be as worried about the neighbors (recorders get loud when you try to hit those high notes since you have to overblow to get the upper register. That, or I'm just doing it wrong or have a different definition of "loud" than most people ;) There were a few snags in the process; she didn't have any of the ones in stock that I wanted, but she got some in a little less than two weeks ago, and we made the arrangements Friday of the week before last. It got here Friday, but I was in Minnesota by then. Finally, though, this morning I got it (see previous post).

I recognize that there is a big difference between being able to anticipate the next note in a tune that I know and being good at playing an instrument, but it gives me hope that I will be able to get there with time and self-patience.

My new mantra:
I will not get mad at inanimate objects.
I will not get mad at inanimate objects.
I will not get mad at inanimate objects...