I can pick out a tune on a bugle, nothing practiced but usually recognizable as a particular tune. My wife gave me a cornet, but I really struggle with the valves just playing the scales. With a harmonica, I can hit the notes with a kind of instinct, though I've never quite mastered a blues sound, just American song book stuff. I can do a reasonably good descant on the slide whistle to go along with string band recordings. I need to struggle some more with the cornet valves, to see if I can get the scale down and play some by ear.
I thought for a while of playing a trombone, based on my ability on a slide whistle, but I think there is more to it than just feeling for the notes with the slide.
My wife's and my birthday salute is to phone family and friends and do a duet, she singing and me on the harmonica. For that purpose, I'm almost musical.
I washed out of piano lessons at six, and struggled in the second violins with a middle school orchestra, so music has always been for fun but not for others' entertainment.
I like the old joke about how people love my harmonica playing and often ask me to play "Far, Far Away."
One time I took a shortcut through where a band was setting up, and I said, "Pardon me; I don't play any instruments." And one of the quick witted musicians said, "Hey, guys, it sounds like we have a new band member."
I thought for a while of playing a trombone, based on my ability on a slide whistle, but I think there is more to it than just feeling for the notes with the slide.
My wife's and my birthday salute is to phone family and friends and do a duet, she singing and me on the harmonica. For that purpose, I'm almost musical.
I washed out of piano lessons at six, and struggled in the second violins with a middle school orchestra, so music has always been for fun but not for others' entertainment.
I like the old joke about how people love my harmonica playing and often ask me to play "Far, Far Away."
One time I took a shortcut through where a band was setting up, and I said, "Pardon me; I don't play any instruments." And one of the quick witted musicians said, "Hey, guys, it sounds like we have a new band member."
