Saying that I come from a musical family may be a bit of an understatement. My extended family on my dad's side is so musical they could make an amateur Glee knockoff without blinking an eye. I look forward, hopefully, to going to a family reunion this summer (schedule permitting) and seeing them break into a seemingly choreographed song and dance number rivaling that of the great Jerome Robbins. I assume that's what happens at family reunions, right? In any case, it goes without saying that I won't be getting a spot in the DCamp Family Band any time soon. That would require, ya know, music talent.
Despite the utter lack of musical talent, background or eventual hope of joining the band, I decided it was time to at least try and learn an instrument. I don't count the year of piano lessons I had at six because, well, like a lot of six-year-olds, I considered it a unique form of torture inflicted on me by my parents. Besides, when I was six, I had my career as the team manager of the school chess club to focus on.
Now that I'm on this project, I decided to give music a chance. Bar karaoke, for the record, does not count as a form of music. I tend to be of the belief that bar karaoke should be counted among the evils unleashed upon the world when Pandora's Box was opened. What does that make hope, you ask? Hope is when the bar closes for the night.
Now, did you know the harmonica has notes? I was not aware. I'm not kidding - when it comes to music, I really am that ignorant. I assumed it was like the rainbow of instruments - I mean, you can see that the colors change, but its not really a hard line. No, in actuality, each little hole is a different note and the notes change at an even finer distinction depending on if you're blowing or sucking in air. There are also things you can do with your tongue to change the tone and pitch of the music. Given the way one creates music with the harmonica, I've decided to declare it nature's naughtiest instrument.
Victory, indeed.
It took a little while to be able to distinguish between the notes and learn the tricks for getting a good sounds out of the harmonica. Additionally, the instruction booklet that it came with was careful to say that you shouldn't go nuts on it the first time you play. They are, apparently, delicate. After a little while, I managed to figure out how to play a couple songs. The notes are off because, well, again, I'm tone deaf.
That being said, without further ado, I present you with another sideways video production extraordinaire of yours truly doing something silly. This is my very beginner attempt at playing "Row Row Row Your Boat". Also known as "the first song anybody learns on any instrument anywhere, ever".
You are already more musical than your Dad and me.
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