Princess Pick – An Unstrung Hero
This year, as a way to keep myself from getting sucked into another season of reality TV, I decided I would enhance my own reality if you will. Among these anti-TV attempts, are my vows to play my first (and last probably) real game of golf, donate plasma, learn to surf, bake bread from scratch, and learn to play the guitar.
I started my journey with the last item this past month at the South Bay Guitar Society’s 25th Anniversary Gala. Among the auction items available to bid on were 3 guitar lessons. The bidding was rich, but in the end, my paddle produced the final bid. And so, there I was with an envelope of potential waiting to be unleashed. My guitar is in fact the gift of a friend who, years ago, was cleaning out a storage unit prior to moving to Germany. He had no need for it, and well, I didn’t have NEED of it, but it was a guitar. And free. And yes it only had 3 strings. And, no I had never played on in my life, nor exhibited any real musical talent. But think of all that possibility! And so, with a gimp of an instrument and an instructor for hire, all I was left with was stringing and tuning. Thanks to a bit of Facebook pimping, I discovered that my friends and acquaintances are quite talented. Through photos of stings I had and my lovely guitar, we resolved I needed different strings to accompany my Latin, Classical guitar (who knew) and once those were obtained I’d be ready to be re-strung and tuned. Coordination of schedules is always a trial with these artist types, but I am now set up to do a drop off and pick up next we, as so we get closer. But the impatient virtuoso-to-be in me is left wanting satisfaction NOW.
I may be a few weeks away from my prodigal strum, but I don’t have to be sad. This week very weekend, I can get my fill of guitar and then some at the 2011 Guitar Solo and Ensemble Festival. There, not only will I be entertained, but perhaps inspired, and most certainly humbled by the talents of international guitar names as well as those a year or two into their training! A variety of paid and free concerts and master classes, at a couple of different venues make up this annual event that is full of musical delights! A local treat that will tide you over until I’m ready to give my own concert. Date to be determined…but don’t hold your breath.
