Enough with the snow!
We're just beginning to finally thaw out around here. Winter '11 is surely one we won't soon forget. Winter '11 will also be unforgettable for me for another reason: It will go down in my personal history book as the season I started a new hobby. Yes, last week, I took my first cello lesson. What fun it was to, at the ripe age of 47 (note the absence of the word, “old”), try something completely new - and completely out of my musical comfort zone. My primary instrument has always been the flute, and as a flutist, I've not only been used to having the top line or melody, but I'm also used to using my wind (some would say, “hot air”) to produce a vibrant sound. Not so with the cello. Now, I'm learning that a powerful sound comes not only from the quality of the instrument you're using, but from keeping the bow arm relaxed. Not as easy as it may sound given the fact that I had first-lesson nerves that caused a severe case of stiff-arm, not unlike standing on the first tee in April. Thankfully, my teacher was extremely patient, and after I jiggled my arms a few times, I was able to get a nice big sound out of the instrument. The best part was that with every bow, the instrument’s body vibrated throughout my body. I was, literally, tingling at the end of the lesson.
I really loved it. I learned the “Ants Song,”
Ants, Ants, Ants…digging in the
Dirt, Dirt, Dirt…going under
Ground, Ground, Ground…carrying their
Cellos, Cellos, Cellos…
And, I learned all about the “mouse house” and the “fox nose.” These are all little secrets even the best cellists know, so I’m not at liberty to go into great detail here. Knowing about these things makes me feel like I’ve joined a secret society, and I highly recommend you take a cello lesson so you can join the secret society, too. In fact, all of you adults out there who have said (or thought), “I’ve always wanted to play the _____” (fill in the blank) come in and take a FREE lesson on me! I bet you’ll be tingling at the end, too!