The Year I Gave Up the Piano

I am finding that as I age, I find myself looking into the past and enjoying some good memories. I have recently been thinking about some things I did during my school years and something I wish I had done. Several of those things involved music. Yes, I possibly could have been a famous musician.

My first attempt at anything musically speaking was being part of the boy’s glee club in elementary school. I could not sing in tune at all, but being part of a large group my voice was easily drowned out. The best part of being part of this was each year we got to go downtown Columbus to a special event sponsored by a particular men’s club. We sang a few songs then went to sit with various members of the club. Each member took one of us and bought our lunch for coming in to sing, and it was a very nice lunch. We also got out of school for this event, that was always a plus.

When it came to musical instruments, my mom had a big influence on me when I was young. If she suggested playing some type of musical instrument, I usually gave it a try. I did this not out of personal interest, but because I wanted to please her.

My mom had a good friend who taught piano, so for the next several years I took piano lessons. My parents even bought me a piano so I could practice at home. Yet, I was never very good because I really did not have any interest and I would not practice. I did play for my Sunday School class and for a choir in junior high school a few times.

Next, my mom asked if I was interested in the violin. Truthfully, I was not interested, but because she played when she was young and since she still had her violin, I said sure, I would give it a try. I took lessons in school for a couple years and ended up playing in the school orchestra for three more years.

After that, I became interested in the drums. This time, mainly because my best friend played drums and wanted me to play. Although it was not my mom’s idea, she was very supportive and said I should give it a try. My parents bought me a snare drum and I received several free lessons to learn how to play. I ended up taking lessons for three years, and again, no real interest and no serious practice. I never played in school, but I did play the drums in church once for a special patriotic service.

During those few years, my drum teacher also taught me to play the marimba and xylophone. I think he got bored with me not improving on the drums and wanted to give me an opportunity with something different, something I found out later he was particularly good at playing. My teacher was Al “Rags” Anderson, and I recently did a search for him and found out he was a well-known Vaudeville musician and percussion teacher who was referred to in local broadcasts and press as the “King of Xylophone players”. He was celebrated for his novelty ragtime solos and dance band music and taught many notable local and touring musicians. Wow, I guess I missed a great opportunity there because I never became a notable or touring musician. I really cannot blame him for trying something to motivate me after watching his student who had no real interest come for lessons every week and not improve.

Again, I never got proficient at any of the instruments I learned how to play. I just never developed a real interest and never put much effort into any of them. Because of this, once I was out of school, I gave up all the instruments I had once played. If felt good to have no lessons to attend and no more guilty feelings for not practicing.

Looking back over my musical history, there is one thing I did not try but always wanted to play, the bass guitar. Not sure why I never tried it. It certainly was an interest I wish I had pursued. I still sometimes daydream about being an exceptionally good bass player in a band but, it just was not meant to be. Other than this, I really never missed music or playing a musical instrument.

Let me say this to the younger people reading this article, there are two points to this story. First, when you are young, you should focus on your goals, interests, and what you want to accomplish in the future. I point out, your goals and interests, not necessarily the goals and interests of someone else. I am glad I tried all the musical instruments over the years, but they were never my interests. Maybe I would have done better if I thought more about what my interests were and followed those.

Second, when you get to be in your 70s, you mainly think about the past. You think about what you wished you had done, and you think about the things you accomplished but are now in the past. That is why it is important to follow your interests and goals when you are young. If something interests you, whether it is playing an instrument or some other goal, follow up on it, do not wait, time passes so quickly. Maybe it will work out, maybe not, but at least you know you gave it a shot and tried something that interested you.

Now, my final thought. I do not believe in reincarnation, but if it is true and I come back, I want to be a naturally talented bass player who brings enjoyment to people by playing good music in a band. Of course, this would only be a side job after restarting my firefighting career again. Who knows, maybe I could even play in the ‘Water on the Fire’ firefighter band. What do you say Brian?