Some time around 5th grade the music bug bit me, and
I asked my mom and dad for a guitar. We found one at the Army/Navy
store, and my dad knew a lady who taught music on the side. As the day
of my first lesson approached, I began strumming the strings imagining
I’d make music one day like Elvis or the Beatles.
I plucked at the strings and memorized which string made which note. I also fingered the strings at the top of the neck to increase the pitch. Pretty soon I could play notes to some favorite songs. I was on my way!
Ms. Onie Potts was my music teacher. My dad took me to her small house filled with musical instruments. She was an older lady, and inwardly I wondered whether she knew any of the popular songs of the day. We talked a little bit to get to know each other, and I told her I could already play a couple of songs. She asked me to play them for her.
After listening to my playing, she praised me for learning how to play those songs. Then she said, “Let me show you how to tune your guitar….” One had “to tune” a guitar??? Who knew?
That afternoon Ms. Potts showed me how to tune the guitar (Every Boy Goes Dating After Eating), how to make chords with fingers on different strings, and how to play a song with just two chords! I was on my way!
Then, she taught me how to play, “Nothing but the Blood of Jesus!” Ms. Potts was a religious woman, and she took her faith seriously. The hymn goes like this: “What can wash…” Change chords. “Away…” Change back to the original chord, “my sins? Nothing but the blood of ….” Change back to the second chord, “Je….” Change back to original chord, “sus.” It’s a little tricky to change chords in the middle of a word, especially when the word is Jesus.
That night I practiced playing that song for an hour or so. Having attended our Baptist church for ten or so years, I already knew all the words of all the stanzas. Through junior high and high school I learned to play many songs mainly for our youth group at church. I also learned how to play Elvis’ song, “Heartbreak Hotel,” but I didn’t play it at youth group.
Life is a lot like learning to play a guitar. Anybody can play a tune on a guitar even if it’s not tuned. When one learns to tune a guitar and make some chords, he or she can move up from playing simple tunes to making music.
While I was in college I went with a friend to a Baptist revival in a very small church. My friend could play the lights out of a piano. The evangelist also sang some songs, but not very well. Let’s just say he was still learning to tune his voice. On our way back to the dorm my friend expressed extreme frustration about the singer’s ruining his piano playing.
I wondered out loud how the
best music on earth compared with angel music in heaven. Playing and
singing music comes from the heart. God tunes believers’ hearts to make
joyful noises.
6 comments:
Donna Ladd referred to you as a gadfly and she never lied.
What does "Every Boy Goes Dating After Eating" mean"?
Was D.L. dating Ms. Potts? Maybe D.L. is Ms. Potts?
A gadfly is a person who interferes with the status quo of a society or community by posing novel, potentially upsetting questions, usually directed at authorities. The term is originally associated with the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates in his defense when on trial for his life.
As Art Bell mused, Music degenerated into white noise after 1980. No beat, no rhythm, no art.
@10:25 AM
Art Bell sure played a lot of Enya and Cusco!
DL is William Faulkner when compared to Bill Crawford.
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