The Everyday Musician

Have you ever noticed how music just seems to soothe the tensions of the day away? Especially if you’re playing with friends?

A couple of years ago we had a house fire. We all got out fine, but the ensuing mess not only stunk, but took a long time to get cleaned up, assess the damage, list all the items that were lost or damaged (inventory your storage areas now!) and replace them. All of those tasks coupled with the constant supervision of the rebuilding process, along with my usual duties (Notation Software work, church obligations, routine house/home chores/maintenance, and homeschooling our four kids) added up to more stress than I typically have to deal with. It could have turned nasty.

This also happened to be the “birth” year of a band that I play in called ZP (for zao psephos, or “living stones”). We were just coming together that summer, but I can’t imagine now how I would have mentally survived the summer if I hadn’t had the outlet of music to help work off some of the adrenaline energy and frustration of those days. I found that playing alone during that time was not the same as “jamming” with the band. I was blessed with just the right solution for releasing the accumulated tensions on a regular basis. There’s nothing quite like taking a 1200 watt electric bass rig outside with a really good drummer and a couple of very capable guys on guitar, and cranking it up loud enough to rattle the gutters on the neighbor’s place a mile away (BTW, “Hearos” ear plugs are great, and save those ears during gut-rattling sessions. I also used to work in hearing research )

My kids have been asking me lately to re-tell stories of some of my college-days antics when I sang in the women’s chorale at North Carolina State University. I haven’t sung in a choir setting for nearly 20 years, but I can still recall the thrill of uniting my voice with 60+ others either in the chorale at college, or with the church choir in Ann Arbor where I went to graduate school. Joyous….

There is something very special about playing or singing with others that doesn’t happen when you play or sing alone. Times that I play with the band, or our church worship team or at home with my kids are really special times. I hope you get to play with others, too If you haven’t, give it a try. It will take your music making experience to a whole new level.

ttfn,

Sherry