Epiphone makes an acoustic bass guitar they call 'El Capitan.' I know because El Capitan calls me from my guest room even now, 'Senor Rick, come and play.'
Anyway, we shall see how it goes. I have started to contact some recommended teachers as well as finding some cool bass tutorial web sites.
It is like tennis to me, only later. I was (am) an intellectual-type (read: dork or geek, if you prefer), so I never really gravitated to 'activities', per se. I picked up tennis in junior high despite lack of training, and, eventually, came to enjoy it. Now it is a skill I assume as part of my personality. It is part of who I am.
Can bass become the same? My concern is that it is late in life to start something as complex and... well, as big as playing a musical instrument. But singing bass for years has tuned me to hear bass. I hear the lines under every tune. I remember where I was when I first heard Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know' where Flea kicks in. [Bass geeks know what I am talking about.] I bought Best of Parliament to listen to Bootsy. Seriously.
But, do I have time? This is the concern. Quakers (e.g. Thomas Kelly) have a more nuanced definition of the term 'concern' - something like a calling from God to ponder and skillfully act. Playing the bass is NOT a concern like that, but becoming overloaded with numerous good activities could be. I have experienced ebbs and flows of involvement in the past, first too much and then too little. Back and forth. Adding bass around the same time as I have joined the Board of the local theatre group, contemplated writing a 3-4 person play, and offered to teach church classes again... this all sounds like a recipe for overcommitment and burnout. Ebb and flow.
So, my current strategy is to try to use my time more efficiently and pay attention to my stress levels. When danger is detected, then I will have to start throwing ballast overboard rather than rearranging the deck chairs.
Gotta go. El Capitan and snow shoveling call (not necessarily in that order).
Anyway, we shall see how it goes. I have started to contact some recommended teachers as well as finding some cool bass tutorial web sites.
It is like tennis to me, only later. I was (am) an intellectual-type (read: dork or geek, if you prefer), so I never really gravitated to 'activities', per se. I picked up tennis in junior high despite lack of training, and, eventually, came to enjoy it. Now it is a skill I assume as part of my personality. It is part of who I am.
Can bass become the same? My concern is that it is late in life to start something as complex and... well, as big as playing a musical instrument. But singing bass for years has tuned me to hear bass. I hear the lines under every tune. I remember where I was when I first heard Alanis Morissette's 'You Oughta Know' where Flea kicks in. [Bass geeks know what I am talking about.] I bought Best of Parliament to listen to Bootsy. Seriously.
But, do I have time? This is the concern. Quakers (e.g. Thomas Kelly) have a more nuanced definition of the term 'concern' - something like a calling from God to ponder and skillfully act. Playing the bass is NOT a concern like that, but becoming overloaded with numerous good activities could be. I have experienced ebbs and flows of involvement in the past, first too much and then too little. Back and forth. Adding bass around the same time as I have joined the Board of the local theatre group, contemplated writing a 3-4 person play, and offered to teach church classes again... this all sounds like a recipe for overcommitment and burnout. Ebb and flow.
So, my current strategy is to try to use my time more efficiently and pay attention to my stress levels. When danger is detected, then I will have to start throwing ballast overboard rather than rearranging the deck chairs.
Gotta go. El Capitan and snow shoveling call (not necessarily in that order).
2 comments:
Balance is the key, Rick old man, balance! Five minutes with the bass every day is better than no minutes I say. I'm speaking from experience, mind you. I have hundreds of students, a family, church obligations, the delusion I can write fiction, and a loving relationship with a family of native american flutes, and yet I am waiting with barely disguised patience for my new Irish whistle. Can't wait to learn it. In my mind, doing what you love makes the world a happier place. But I take your point on overcommitment. I suffer from that, too. Still, follow your bliss.
The world could always use some more groove. Play on, my friend, play on.
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