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June 26, 2006
Dorkmeier Alert!
Incoming! Dive! Dive!
Once again, I'm just going to get it out in the open. I am taking autoharp lessons.
Yes. Autoharp. That instrument with the strings that your third grade music teacher hauled from classroom to classroom. I am learning to play it. I know. You just push the key with the chord you want and then strum. Hence, the whole dorkmeier alert thing. Seriously, though there can be much more to it.
It all started when I saw the move A Mighty Wind.
See, Cowboy and I are Mitch and Mickey from A Mighty Wind. Except for the fact that I can't sing or play autoharp and that part where we split up and Cowboy goes insane and I marry somebody who sells incontinence supplies.
I started cruising ebay looking for a used autoharp because, believe it or not, those suckers aren't cheap. I'd look at them and then chicken out and not bid on them, but Cowboy was taking note of my obsession. He talked to my mother about it who remembered how much I wanted to learn to play the real harp in high school and how she told me no and has apparently been feeling guilty about it for twenty-five years. Sometimes being Jewish can work in your favor and the two of them went together and bought me an autoharp for my birthday. Last year.
Three books, two instructional CDs and one DVD later, I managed to figure out how to play "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot" and "Amazing Grace."
Clearly, I needed help.
So now every Wednesday at three thirty, everyone is required to clear the living room so my autoharp isntructor and I can pick our way through "Simple Gifts." He is patient. Very, very patient. He also doesn't really read music. He does it all by ear. The only thing I've ever been able to do by ear is to discern whether Things One and Two were crying because they were hungry or because they had dirty diapers.
To put it bluntly, I suck.
Am I giving up? Absolutely not! I'm having a blast. I may never be able to play "A Kiss at the End of the Rainbow" as a duet with Cowboy, but I can figure out "Michael Row the Boat Ashore" and "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and amuse myself for hours. My instructor assures me that my ear will become more discerning the more I try to use it to discern and every week, I hear a little progress.
And one more of my dark and dirty secrets is out in the open.
This blog was brought to you by Adiós to My Old Life, Caridad's rockin' young adult debut about a Latina girl who gets everything she's ever wanted... and then has to figure out what she needs.
Posted by Eileen at 7:44 AM | Comments (8)
Comments
Oh nooo! Now I have to confess. I have an autoharp. It's hiding in a closet and about to see light again because we're moving. I bought it at an auction because at the time I thought, hey, I took piano for ten years, I have an ear for music, I can play that.
Wrong. Lessons are most likely required. (Mine didn't even come with an instruction manual and my dear talented cousin tuned it for me) But now there's hope. Eileen can teach me. Yay!
So Eileen next time we get together lets have a jam session. Except I really don't want to drag my autoharp to Atlanta. Afterall, it's been safe in a closet for five years. I really think the move will traumatize it enough.
Posted by: Cindy at June 26, 2006 10:57 AM
Cindy,
If that whole "those who cannot do, teach" thing were actually true then I would definitely be able to teach you. :-) Sadly, I don't think it works that way. I think those who cannot do, spend hours trying to figure out "Michael Rows the Boat Ashore."
I don't have a case for mine yet so I probably won't be hauling it to Atlanta. Plus, I need room for all those shoes!
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 26, 2006 11:25 AM
I ADORE "A Mighty Wind."
Like a thing that's adored. And if you learn how to play "Kiss/Rainbow" I will sing the vocals for you, love.
Off to go find my soundtrack...
Posted by: Barb at June 26, 2006 11:44 AM
Oh, and you can kiss Cowboy at the end. ;-)
Posted by: Barb at June 26, 2006 11:48 AM
If we ever get married, I think he and I should play that song at the end of the ceremony. I think it would be a hoot. Of course, I also think I should walk down the aisle to "Come On, Eileen."
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at June 26, 2006 11:54 AM
>>Of course, I also think I should walk down the aisle to "Come On, Eileen."
Only if you're wearing overalls instead of a wedding dress.
Posted by: Barb at June 26, 2006 11:57 AM
"Come On, Eileen"--*snort* That's priceless! Guess it's better than the ol' "Highway to Hell"!! And Cowboy is pretty darn cute, by the way! I'd be getting out those overalls...
Posted by: Sheri at June 28, 2006 11:44 PM
He is a cutie although he doesn't like to admit it. I'm starting to like the idea of the overalls for my weddng dress. Do you think they make white ones with lace in my size?
Eileen
Posted by: Eileen at June 29, 2006 11:18 AM
