Recording - 2023 11 19

 

I have started playing music in a very modest, quiet way around Mom's kitchen table.

I grew up in a musical family.

Spontaneity is the key.

All six children were encouraged to play an instrument and the walls of the living room had many instruments at hand.

Some of the songs are new to me but from very old songbooks.

There was a piano, a double bass, clarinet, trumpet, recorders, hand drums, xylephones, and guitars easily within reach.

Some of the songs are new to me and new to the world.

My first music lessons were on the piano and I loved reading the music, hearing the simple tunes, training my hands and fingers to find the right notes.

Some of the songs are well known, well worn, and favourites for everyone to sing along.

At Christmas, Dad, a music teacher, would assemble his family band of children and Mom and we would troup through the neighbourhood playing our renditions of popular holiday songs.

It has always been difficult for me to record my music-making because I thought I did not sound 'professional' enough, it wasn't worth taking the trouble.

I can't remember exactly when we stopped our annual family Christmas parade through the neighbourhood.

We are setting up a minimalist recording system at Mom's kitchen table to capture the songs we are singing.