Your Own Musical Journey – Giveaway
T-shirt & signed Drum Skin Giveaway!
Hi there!
We’re soon starting another run of drum recordings and gave the good ol’ kit a little make-over today … wiped it clean, tightened the screws and even replaced some of the drum heads (the part of the drum that you hit) to try out different sounding ones.
It’s now all pretty and sparkling again!
In the process we had the idea to give away the snare drum skin to one of you – and we’ll add a T-shirt of your choice, too!
We think drum heads look super decorative, and we know many of you are musicians and even drummers yourself which brings us to the giveaway challenge!
How To Enter:
Leave a comment telling us about your own creative/musical journey.
Do you play an instrument? Have you played one in the past but stopped? Why did you stop and what’s keeping you from picking it up again? Is your shower the only place that gets to hear you sing?
If you’ve never learnt an instrument but always wanted to, perhaps you can find the motivation to finally get into it this year? It’s never too late to follow a passion, try out a new hobby and get drawn into a creative activity.
And if you’ve ever thought “I don’t have the talent” or “I’m too old for that” or any of the other excuses let us be the ones telling you that you’ll never regret giving it another go. 🙂
And if you’re already a seasoned professional – tell us about that! We’d love to hear about your own unique connection to creativity. If it’s not music then perhaps it is something else creative!
You might know that we took music lessons (guitar and drums) throughout our high school years and while those were valuable and extremely fun, we know that with the internet at everyone’s fingertips, physical lessons really aren’t essential anymore for learning new skills. There are literally dozens if not hundreds of great teachers for just about any instrument on YouTube, many of which have put together comprehensive online courses.
If you are thinking of getting started and need help with finding a specific resource or teacher, let us know in the comments and we’ll try our best to help and link to some useful channels, websites, etc.! We are sure many of you can also recommend good learning resources so let’s help each other out here and hopefully motivate a person or two to pick up a pair of drum sticks this week or dust off that old guitar in the corner!
Anyone who leaves a comment will automatically enter the giveaway and we will draw a winner at random in two weeks!
Good luck and we can’t wait to hear your stories!
Stay groovy and rock on,
Mona & Lisa
One of the first memories I have of music and musical instruments is a triangle I got when I was 3 or 4 years old. I had been romping a little roughly and had to get stitches. As a reward for being so brave when they were removed, I could choose a little something – and I wanted a triangle 🙂
In pre-school I started playing the glockenspiel. I didn’t really know how playing certain musical notes worked, so when it was time to play to my class, I just plonked away and made up a story to it in my mind…
My first “real“ instrument was the melodica (see first picture). You press the keys like any key instrument and create the sound by blowing into it.
A year later I started to play the accordion, which is my main instrument. I have the feeling some people consider the accordion a “quirky“ instrument or reduce it to a few musical styles, but I believe it’s a very versatile instrument. I play in a little ensemble of five accordionists and a bass player. Of course, we haven’t been playing together in quite some time… I love to play big, orchestral arrangements of movie soundtracks or musical themes. I like to play the part of the “2nd“, “3rd“ or “4th accordion“, which usually doesn’t play the lead melody, but creates the harmonies or a counterpart to it or carries the rhythm of the song.
In my teens I also learned a little guitar and bass. You can see my first guitar in the last picture I attached – recognize it? 😉 A couple of years ago I also got a ukulele. I am not particularly good at any of these three instruments, but it’s enough to play a couple of songs, sing along and have fun with it!
Some day I would love to learn a wind instrument, maybe the clarinet. But primarily I would like to get better on the instruments I already have, spend more time playing them and truly appreciate the privilege of having them.
Hi Mona and Lisa and thanks so much for doing this. Sorry that This will probably go longer than I intend, though I hope that it will be interesting to you and others reading.
In school, I played drums and percussion and everything from garage rock bands to classical orchestras and concert bands and marching bands and Broadway show orchestras. I also studied music theory and composition, as well as conducting. I had seven years of accordion lessons and played in an accordion band. It was all great fun, especially my rock band, The Deadbeats. This all took place during the mid 1960s to early 1970s. What a great time to be a teenaged rockstar, if only in my own mind!
I should say that I bought my drum kit for $130, complete with cymbals, stands and cases. I got it from the Sears catalog with money I made mowing neighbors’ yards.
Fast forward 50 years. Now retired and partially disabled, I have returned to music in a big way. I bought a keyboard and am teaching myself to sing (“What would you say if I sang out of tune?”). I would appreciate it if anyone can suggest a good online singing tutorial. Later I plan to buy a used electronic drum set and turn my den into a music room. My physical limitations prevent me from playing drums decently but, damn it, I love it so much that I’m going to play anyway. It’s time to fire up all those old Beatles and Mamas and the Papas records.
Thank you so much for being an important part of my musical renaissance. I’ve gone from learning to play drums to Beatles records to learning to sing to MonaLisa Twins on YouTube. Pretty groovy!
Hi Ed!
I’m a fellow accordion player! 🙂
Thank you for sharing your story – I find it really inspiring how you keep on doing what you love!
It’s been a long journey and I’m not exactly sure where I got started, there was always music around the house. My dad played coronet and sang Barbershop. I think I picked up a uke when I was around 6-7 and harmonica around then too (both self taught). Guitar came when I was about 12 (saved up and bought a cheap Stella) and we had a folk group that I played in through high school, along with playing sax (a couple years of lessons here) for another group. Went into the military and put down the instruments through college, although I did sit in on the bass for some friends a couple times. (I can play bass but I’m not a bass player). College is when I picked up sound and lighting and started to DJ some. Spent a couple summers working as a lighting and sound guy (and general roadie) for a couple of national acts. And then went to work as a scientist for my real job, although I did work as a weekend DJ for a album rock FM station (fun gig – free concert tickets and I got to interview some interesting people, including the Rolling Stones). I still had the old Stella that I occasionally played for fun. 2001 is when I started playing seriously, both kids were off at college and I was getting stressed a work. After 40 years the Stella had fallen apart (literally) so I bought nice things( 6 acoustics (2 12 strings), 8 electrics (2 12 strings) and a Gibson bass) and started to play seriously for myself. I occasionally get together with friends and play, mostly acoustic. After playing for 50+ years and had my first real lesson when my wife bought lessons for my 65th birthday. I HIGHLY recommend getting at least a couple in person lessons even if you’ve been playing for years – another person’s insight is always helpful and I did learn something new (tapping). I’m still usually the guy on the board or behind the camera so very few pictures exist (my avatar is me practicing). I will put up 1 pic, a blurry frame capture from a video of my wife and I singing (‘Til There was You) at our wedding in 2012.
It’s so interesting to read everybody’s story, they are wonderful and I love seeing the twists and turns of life itself.
Music has been with me ever since I can remember, started playing (aka making awful noises) at probably 4 years old. I got a guitar (a small step up from a toy) for my birthday and soon my mother let me use her guitar.
Below is a picture of my brother and I giving a “concert” at my grandparents home when we were 8 or 9 yo. It seems we have mastered the A chord with quite some concentration.
During my teenage years I played a lot, was heavily into The Beatles and used it as an escape from the bleak life at home. I wrote many songs that got me into a “cool” band at school. That really helped me through those rough teenage years.
At 18 (1986) I got drafted into the army (in Argentina) and was promptly put in the marching band. All national holidays we were out making a spectacle of ourselves and also visited a lot of military cemeteries that year. That’s me pretending to play the cornet while marching down the street on independence day.
At 19 a friend of mine quit the band he was in, with quality musicians, and I offered to be a replacement, even though it was a bass player they were looking for and I didn’t have a bass nor ever played one. I used my friends bass and got the gig. I guess there was nobody else available. We played all over Buenos Aires and acquired quite the following. If you’ve seen “The Commitments” you know how that story ends. Ego singer and guitarist get in a fight and it’s all over just as a record company was interested in us. I was just the bass player.
A couple years later I move to the US (Los Angeles) and find a passion for film, which combines my photography, music and tech knowledge.
Funny story: a guy (me) walks into a bar and sees a band playing without a bass player. After a couple of drinks, I walk up after the set and offer my services as a bass player. The singer says, “sure, come back next Wednesday and we’ll try you out.” Talk about cold opening. This is early 90’s, no internet, no mp3’s, no YouTube. Over the phone he gives me the titles of popular songs and that is it. I’m recording onto cassettes from the radio and trying to figure out the songs. So next Wednesday, there’s no rehearsal, just plug and play. What song should he lead with? “Moondance” by Van Morrison. A song that is all bass, and I had no clue. I kept my eye on the guitarist’s chords and “walked” all over the place. Somebody must have been smiling on me, as we did 2 full sets and I passed the audition. I’ve been best buddies with that guy ever since.
It was fun to play in many iconic places around LA with different bands (picture attached with cringe alert), but I was pulled more towards the film/video aspect and especially for live events around Hollywood. As a freelancer, I got to meet and work for some big names. Highlight for me was the gig I did for the Beach Boys (sans Brian Wilson), where I had a nice long sit-down chat with Bruce Johnston. BTW, pictures with the “talent” are a big no-no, though I got away with one.
Time goes on and life evolves. I still play every day and record mostly “incidental” music on a regular basis out of my North Carolina hideout. I could not be happier, until MLT showed up and gave me another reason to smile.
Tomás
Hi Tomas, enjoyed reading about your musical experiences and some very nice pictures through your musical journey. I especially like the one with Bruce Johnston. Bruce seems like the nicest of all the Beach Boys, him and Carl Wilson I think.
Hi Mona & Lisa
This topic is a great one as it stirs up so many memories of my 73 years. Our Oakville,ON, Canada home was full of music as I grew up. Neither of my parents played an instrument but my Dad loved classical music and The “Big Bands” (Glen Miller,Tommy Dorsey,Guy Lombardo,etc and both Mom & Dad loved Broadway musicals and Gilbert and Sullivan. So my exposure to music was varied and wonderful. At age 9 my Mom enrolled me in Royal Conservatory of Music learning theory and playing a steel guitar which I did for a number of years. My favorite piece was “Sleep Walk” by Santo & Jonny, which reached #1 on the Billboard pop chart in 1959.
Reaching my teen years, I became interested in playing the acoustic guitar thanks to two friends who were glad to teach me and we played at a few local “Cabaret’s” and school assemblies and I concentrated on a lot of folk music.
Then rock music started to get in my soul and playing the electric guitar. I met some guys who had a band and were looking for a new guitarist, and I was lucky enough to join them. We became known as “The Trolls” (picture attached) and played high school dances, promotional events, dance clubs, etc.
We also played at a Coffee house on Yorkville St. in Toronto,ON called “The Mynabird” where Neil Young (Buffalo Springfield / Crosby, Stills Nash, and Young) got his start.
At dances the last song we played was “Sleep Walk” but I played lead on my “Fender Mustang” with a Fender Twin Reverb amp. We became friends for life but our musical journey together ended after high school. A choice between turning professional or not.
Two of us declined (me being one) and two went on to have some success professionally and one continues today as “The Kings” (one hit wonders – “Beat goes on/Switchin to Glide,1980).
During this period with the Beatles were so popular, my Dad was not impressed with their music and long Hair etc.like a lot of parents so I wanted to try to win him over somehow. I found an album called “Boston Pops plays the Beatles” conducted by the famous, at the time, Arthur Fiedler. I simply put the album on the stereo and sat down with Dad (without telling him what we were going to listen to) and at least amazed him as to their music writing talents.
I still played guitar switching to a “Chet Atkins Gretsch”. I was now working in a bank.
After 4years, I decided to go to University and had to sell my Gretsch, Fender amp. and my car to pay for my first year. I still had an acoustic “Ovation” guitar to take with me.
Fast track to my 65th Birthday, (Dad & Mom had both passed away) and I living in Port Stanley near London, ON, I had on my bucket list the desire to have a “Rock & Roll” party. which I proceeded to arrange and I hired a good 50’s 60’s band and of coarse invited my old band from high school to come and enjoy the party. They all agreed under one condition ——– we reunite the band (now after 40yrs) and play one set. I reluctantly relented and Dave P. from Muskoka,ON our drummer rented drums from a pond shop, I rented a “Stratocaster” and old fender amp..
We travelled to Dave D’s (Base player of the Kings) house in Burlington,ON once a week to practice. for a month. We sent recordings to our other guitarist, Pat H. who was coming from California,USA the day of the party, so he could practice to the songs we had all agreed to play. I had the party and our reunion set videoed and put on DVD’s for all of us.
One of the best moments in my life….that is the joy and power of music!!!!!!
Now I still play both acoustic and electric guitars but not enough for my liking and listen to new country, 50’s on 5 and 60’s on six satellite stations and stream music videos. This leads me to how I found you two doing “My Guitar Gently Weeps” and “WOW” I was more then sold. I have sent that clip on to all kinds of my friends and encourage them to check out your amazing talents.
Thank you for allowing all of us to share our own music tours and memories. It has been fantastic. I look forward to the day that this Covid is over and we can travel again. Maybe we can come to England and meet you. That would be another special wonderful music experience for me.
Cheers, Stay Safe and keep on Rockin’
Tony Rea
Sorry the picture does not seem to attatch
Hi Tony, I have relatives in Oakville and a co6sin and her hubby own a music bar venue downtown Oakville…. Moonshine Cafe, and I have rekatives with the surname Rea…maybe we are distance related…
Hi Jacki, Thanks for the reply. Sorry it took me so long to respond. I am familiar wit the Moonstone Cafe. About 12- 15 yrs ago, i was there when my friend Dave Diamond and “Mr.Zero” of the Kings played there. Maybe your cousin was the owner then?? Our “Rea” ancestry is Irish. I do have a cousin, Ronnie Rea, who still lives in Oakvllle and they have two adult daughters. My other relative “Rea’s”
lived in Toronto, Montreal and Everet, Washington…..but you never know how connected people are. let me know if any of that serves as a thread. Where do you reside?
Cheers and stay Safe
Tony
Hi Tony again, Thankyou forcrepkying gack, my cousin and her hubby are still y0the iwners and are doing things differently at Moonshine Cafe due to stupid Covid… They are friends I believe with the Kings as my coysin has often mentioned about them when I was growing up whenever we’ve visited with them in the summer, and I continued to until my aunt died, the last time I was in Oakville, for her Life Celebration service, and my cousin came down for a couple of family funerals over the recent years… as far as The Rea Family possible connections between you and I, it is likely we are distant related as the Reas are Irish too on my late Mother’s side… it would be cool if we were indeed related, and how we are both MLT fans…how #MLTBuzzLuvGroovified would that be…!? ????????
Like every kid in my school in 1964 I was on the Beatles bandwagon. I wanted to be in a band. I wanted to play a guitar. And I wanted to play those songs. My parents were thrilled. Yeah, it’s that awful rock ‘n roll stuff, but at least the kid is finally showing an interest in something. So they bought me an acoustic guitar (generic label). And they signed me up for lessons. My teacher was a folkie named Blaze. Seriously, that was his name. I expected to be playing ‘Love Me Do’ and ‘Please Please Me’ like a pro by lesson #2….if not earlier. Getting in a band would follow immediately, of course. Such is the optimism of youth. But instead I ran headlong into Mel Bay Guitar Practice Book #1. I found out immediately that becoming another Paul McCartney involved work. Lots of it. And I wasn’t playing ‘I Want To Hold Your Hand’ at our sessions. More like ‘Itsy Bitsy Spider”. Why did it have to be so hard?? After all, I practiced for at least at hour a week (usually the day before my lesson). Blaze was patient with me. But I could tell by his facial expressions that he thought my $10 lesson fee wasn’t enough for making his ears bleed. Eventually we both agreed that on a scale of 1-10, my talent level was a zero, as was my work ethic. At age 13 I was clearly cut out to be a listener, and not a player. But you ladies have re-inspired me. I still have the generic guitar. I wonder if Blaze is still around? He’d be about 100 years old now. Maybe we could get all the way to Mel Bay Guitar Practice Book #2.
I broke my left arm in summer of 1968. The cast went up over my elbow. It was a bad break and so I was not allow to do much outside for the whole summer. As it turned out, the angle that the cast held my forearm at was just about right to play the guitar. So stuck inside, I taught my self to play the guitar. I learned the chords from the book in the image. I still play today for fun and have a Martin Backpacker, Epiphone EA-250, and a Yamaha G64A. Love how you guys play the 60’s and that is from someone that saw the first time Beatles played on Ed Sullivan Live!
Hi Mona and Lisa, my musical experience started when i was about 9 years old with guitar lessons. Acoustic Guitar. First some chords and then learned some classical guitar and a bit flaminco I was not a born talent (certainly not compared to you!), neither disciplined enough to play hours a day. Nevertheless i learned the chords and i was able to play both strum and fingerpicking. At age 14 i quit the lessons as it was too much serious classic. At 15 i joined a church popchoir. That was very modern by then (~1973). In the choir they had the habit to transpose songs in such a way that it was convenient for the singers. As you understand this was not always convenient for the guitar player. Of course i used a capo, but this was also the reason why i learned to play a lot of bar-chords. I kept playing in the church choir for 6-7 yrs. Later i move for work to another part of the country and music was on the background for a while until i joined the band of a popchoir in 1988. The group is called popkoor-Sway. This was not connected to the church choir. I realised that for popmusic i should not play the classic guitar with my nails, but electric guitar with a pick. I bought my first electric guitar and a simple amp. I started to be more and more interested in pop music and in particular also in the Beatles. I play for many years with two friends Beatle and CCR songs, At my 40th birthday i gave myself a US Fender Strat, which is until today my guitar. Some years later i also bought a “western” guitar. Now i am 62 and i am still playing in the band of the popchoir, which is also a friend-club. I also still have the “Beatle-CCR” sessions.
Next to music i am a fanatic photographer. That is why i am really in love with you and your family. You not only make wonderful music, but also great video’s and gorgeous pictures!
I played the violin in 4th and 5th grade and my teacher thought I showed some promise. But I gave it up because I wasn’t motivated, at that time, to put in the time and effort to really be good. As a young adult I tried learning to play the guitar, but my short stubby fingers found most cords to be impossibly difficult, so I gave that up. Now, in my mid 60’s, I’m learning to play the Ukulele. With only four strings, I find I can manage the basic cords like A, C, D, G, and F, so I think I am going to stick with this one. Mona and Lisa have requested that I do a cover of “I Don’t Know Birds That Well”, but when I looked at the cords, I quickly determined that I can’t play the Bb and Bbm chords. I have since found two ways to get around this obstacle. One is easy and one is interesting. Although I’m not entirely clear on what it means to change keys, I noticed that G to G7 to C to C7 sounds a lot like F to F7 to Bb to Bbm. Why C7 sounds better than the expected Cm I don’t know, but it’s a heck of a lot easier to play. So that’s the easy way. Meanwhile, there is the more interesting way. I’ve included a link to give you an idea of what that looks like. Of course, my strumming still needs a lot of work to before I’m ready to try to record a cover of “Birds”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl3hZ9kGWPk
Apparently, even to my son who plays the guitar (and ukulele), it is not very apparent that I’m playing the instrument upside down. In my first attempt at making this video I demonstrated playing the Bb cord. I cut that part out in this one. With the E and G-strings on the bottom instead of the top I can reach them with my middle and ring finger while barring the first fret with my index finger.
Oh, and by the way, I changed my mind about the Cm chord.
I played cornet in school bands but never got too excited about music until Beatlemania appeared on the U.S. news late in 1963. Then, I imagined my tennis racket was a guitar, eventually getting a real guitar and learned some chords and wrote a couple of songs. Years later, I was chief songwriter for the Spuds (formed near a potato field) and I continue playing and writing and recording, mostly just in the living room but with a few songs exposed to the public. I’ve been more active lately, and I don’t understand this, but it’s because of the renewed excitement about music generated by Mona and Lisa. Thank you!
Cheers to all! I’m very happy dancing blissfully to music. I play a mean kazoo, egg shaker and used to play the spoons and a juice harp. A ukulele is still in the case I bought it in at a music fest 10 years ago. I love and support my musician and artist friends. Watercoloring, scultping in clay, drawing, those are my artistic passions. Enjoy your passions.
I listened too a Status Quo album when I was 15-16 and ever since, I have taught myself how to play the guitar. Initially I started with the electric guitar but as I listened to more bands/musicians like the Everly Brothers, I picked up the acoustic and haven’t stopped playing! I love the feeling I get when I finally play a song correctly. Its infectious! And I generally love playing every day. Playing the guitar and listening to music really is my favorite hobby 🙂
Hi Mona and Lisa, my first job after leaving school was in the piano trade and I took a two apprenticeship in piano making, learning to install all the playing parts from an empty shell to a fully playable piano, absolutely loved the job and always wanted to learn to tune and play the instrument but never got round to it with some regrets. That’s my only real involvement in music apart from enjoying listening to it now with renewed incentives since discovering Independent music which is now my favourite choice of music.
I grew up inheriting 45’s and albums from my older siblings. I had my first Beatles album when they were still a group. Music, especially the Beatles were the mainstay of my existence. I got a job in High School at the local Skating Rink and worked as a Disc Jockey.Turned that into weekend gigs doing High School dances and parties. Joined the USAF and music took a back seat for a while. 30 years ago during Desert Shield/Storm, I got together with some other soldiers and they we have nightly jam sessions, as they bought guitars in country and I would ending up singing with them. I actually made the Disney Christmas special singing with that group of guys in 1990. That lit a fire for me to play guitar. Coming back from the war, I ended up in Colorado retraining where I met a duo called “Deuces Wyld” and they were playing small venues doing unplugged cover songs. It was through one of them that I bought my first guitar. I taught myself, and the first song I learned to play was Buddy Holly’s “Oh Boy!”. I just built on that. For quite a few years I was playing with various church groups, but I am not one for being in the spotlight. I just enjoying playing.Probably my favorite songs to play is “(You got to) Hide Your Love Away”; “Here, There, and Everywhere”; and “Maybe, I’m Amazed”. In 2018, a friend of mine introduced me to several of the musicians that have regularly play with the Beach Boys, and got to see them playing with the Beach Boys in 2019. Music is part of my makeup, I don’t think I could exist as a sane person if it was taken away from me. How I found the incredible MonaLisa Twins was I went on YouTube looking at a musician by the name of Mike Pachelli who does these wonderful videos where he break down Beatle songs and the guitar parts. (A recommendation from another friend, and a great source for learning guitar or just about the Beatles.) I stepped away from my laptop and when I came back, I was watching their version of Drive My Car. Haven’t stopped loving you and your music since! I appreciate the fact that you are bringing back what I think music should be, with great melodies and harmonies.
Hey Girls my musical journey started in 1964..age 14… probably sold a bunch of ear plugs at the venues we played which was schools and garages…. yup Little John and the Paragons were a garage band that should’ve stayed in the garage with the door locked and neighbors with weapons threatening to do us harm if we tried to get out…LOL…LOL some more????I was the lead..if you could call what I was playing lead guitar…oh golly I was terrible….John was actually a multi-instrumentalist and Felipe was a decent singer…our bass player and drummer were so impressive I don’t even remember their names….HA ????we wore black pants…white shirt with maroon color tie and maroon button up sweaters….this was without a doubt the only coordinated thing we accomplished…oh boy as I recall some of our play list included songs by The Rolling Stones such as “Can’t Get No Satisfaction”..”Last Time”…”Get Off My Cloud”….”Ruby Tuesday”….we did instrumentals such as the “Batman Theme”…”Wipeout”…”Walk Don’t Run”…”Twilight Zone”…”Pipeline”..”Apache”….”Sleep Walk”….”Out Of Limits”…..we did The McCoys “Sloopy”….The Beach Boys “California Girls”….The Beatles “Day Tripper”…”And I Love Her”…”Help”…”I Should Have Known Better” and many more that I don’t even remember the song titles or artists…..during summertime we would drive to Greenlake State Park east of Syracuse, NY and Felipe and John would start singing…John and I played guitars and the girls would gather round Felipe and John…,they were doing the singing…every now and then I’d catch one of the girls giving me a wink????LOL…..but alas college came along and ended all that…The Beatles…The Stones..The Beach Boys all sighed in relief as their main competition marched off to college…..are you believing all this !!!…..in my adult life I became a Country Music radio DJ and Emcee at a variety of Opry shows in the North Texas area such as the Wylie Opry…Mesquite Opry…Five Star Opry in Decatur…Hillsboro Country Show and others and this all lead me to being the Talent Coordinator for the Metroplex Country Music Association for 7 years with our own radio program…..back in those days my radio name and emcee name was Rick Charles and every now and then during a show I’d pick up a guitar and the Opry house band would fall in as I would do a Trucking song such as “Teddy Bear”…”The Jogger”…”I Am An American Trucker” or any number of others….at age 70 I’m long out of the music business but I still do work…I’m a truck driver by day and deliver newspapers at night.
Thanks for that entertaining read, haha! Your setlist was great, so at the very least you had that going for you! It definitely sounds like a life of many adventures and we thank you for sharing it with us!
As a child I played the obligatory Recorder at Primary school in the 60’s and learnt to read the Treble Clef for that. Once at “Big” school I took up the Cornet and Violin as well as my own instrument in the school and church choir. The first 2 instruments dropped by the wayside and my own instrument (whilst not the best) is still used in amateur musicals to this day (minus the COVID break). I have always been able to one finger a tune on a Piano and have a Keyboard for plonking out songs that I am trying to learn for auditions and shows. At the start of the lockdowns I decided to try and learn some chords on the keyboard and found a useful course online. It is a slow process but so enjoyable. I will never be a wizard at it but that was never the aim.
Hi Mona and Lisa;
I have told the story before about how I received my first drum set. It was Christmas 1965 (I was 12) and the small town I lived in only had one music store. One item on display was a Ludwig Black Pearl set just like Ringo’s on Ed Sullivan. I would go to the store periodically to just stare at the drums. My parents were told prior to Christmas Day that I had been staring at the drums periodically. So, on Christmas Day 1965 my Dad told me I would be receiving only one big gift instead of the several small gifts us kids would normally get. The drums were set up in a different room than where the tree was located which meant I had to enter another room to get my first glimpse of the drums. And I played the drums that day not believing it. I came from a lower middle-class family and I knew how much the drums cost. So, my parents were sacrificing some to get e the drums. From there when I was 14 I joined my high school marching band and orchestra (think symphony orchestra). And, soon thereafter I was in a garage band that would play at open mic nights at a local community center. The center set up Friday nights as “teen night” and gave us a place to go to on Friday that was safe and alcohol-free. But, somehow through some mystery the gathering did not remain alcohol-free. The teen night also allowed many teens to develop as musicians. We also played at other venues…….birthday parties, etc. We covered several bands during the late 1960s/early 1970s, e.g., CCR, Steppenwolf, Guess Who, Badfinger, Grass Roots, and I think that is about all. Then in the early 1970s the singer-songwriters started to make it big and also at that time I was taken from the drums to play rhythm guitar when the band discovered I could sing but not sing over the drums. Also, I have a really hard time of chewing gum and walking at the same time which meant that singing and playing drums is a real challenge to me. So, I was being drawn away from our usual songs and the band had 2 lead singers…..so that did not end well for the group. Having two lead singers sometimes will lead to big disagreements. I eventually inherited an acoustic guitar and found another acoustic guy. He and I formed a duo in the early 1970s…..and for awhile there was an overlap with the garage band, Shortly thereafter I was only in the duo. That ended around 1974/5. And I did not get into another acoustic duo until 1978 and that only lasted for about a year. We covered Dylan and Beatles during the Help through Revolver period. Then in 1980 I got a “real” job because I had completed my grad studies. This was followed by marriage, mortgage and kids…..so the guitar was put away for around 25 years. In 2005 a friend was visiting and noticed my guitar standing up in a corner of the room. He convinced me to pick it up again and start playing in preparation for playing in a group and the group was formed. Since 2005, I caught “guitar fever” and have purchased several guitars along the way. I also bought a few electronic drums and still play them from time to time….and I have bought and taught myself the mandolin. Currently my wife and I play about every weekend and are really enjoying it. She and I have been in several musical groups since 2005. More recently I got another amp and a higher quality mic. I finished about 10 days ago my first recording of an original “song”. The song is really just the rhythm guitar part of a tune (I can almost imagine what the tune sounds like based on what I have written) and at some point I will fill it in with other instruments and, hopefully, lyrics. I sent the recording to several music friends on FB and the feedback has been pretty positive. I have about 15 or so other guitar pieces and plan on recording them and sending them out to these music friends. I apologize for the length of this note. I used to be in academia and I tend to be a bit wordy and my encounter with music has had a few twists and turns. Mike.
My Grandparents gave me in about 1964, a plastic Roy Rogers guitar. It was tunable and I learned some basic chords on it. Kind of the size of a ukulele. Pretty cool. Too bad that when our house burned down in 1968, it went too. In 1969, I bought a Lindell guitar, $25.00 , made in Czechoslovakia…a cheap little guitar, but I learned more chords and music as I went thru High School. I STILL have it by the way. I got a bigger guitar ,about 1972, a Yamaha FG 160…made in Japan…..I had that one up until 1983 when my house got broken into and all my records, and other music was stolen. I then got an Alvarez 5028, HANDMADE in Japan. Maple binding and maple dots on neck. I recently had it adjusted and the music shop compared it to the sound of a Martin…..that’s COOL. I still have it and play often. When I was younger, and in the service, Navy, I used to play at bars and up until the early 90’s, did so locally, just me and my guitar and also harmonica. I play mostly now for Family and Friends. Artists I play songs by include….THE BEATLES….Neil Young, Buffalo Springfield….your cover of “For What it’s Worth” was darn good…..Arlo Guthrie, John Prine, Tom Petty, Johnny Cash, Hank Thompson and LOTS of older Country Music. I guess you could say I’m a “Folkie” ….lol… Like you, if it catches my ear, I want to learn how to play it. Music is what has always been about me. I quote lines from songs to people, when they are happy or sad. As I get older…I’m 65 right now….memory is still good…I love the older music…..yours is the BEST NEW music I have found in a long time. I’m self taught…never learned how to read music…..I play by “ear” I tell people….some have said, ” Well, how do you strum those strings with your ears?” ….Hmmmmm….never thought of it that way…..lol…..that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Thanks for listening….I’d be happy to win, but if I don’t, it’s okay…now you know a little more about me. As always……Peace, Love and Happiness
Ouch, we’re sorry that you very first guitar got burnt in a fire. Thanks for sharing your story! I think being able to figure things out by ear is such a valuable skill.
It’s great that you’ve been able to develop that over the years. Now that we have the internet, it is so easy to find the chords, tabs or some video showing you exactly how to play things online but figuring out chords and solos purely by ear sometimes, really helped us develop a feel and better understanding of the guitar.
Hello Mona and Lisa,
Wow this is a great topic. I started playing drums when I was 10 and took leasons and got into a Drum and Baton Corp. That marched in parades and comptition. The man who taught me was a miltary personal and he was excelllant in teaching the proper technics of drumming and rudaments and reading drum music. From 1968 to 1973 and during that time I wanted to learn how to play drums like Ringo and Charlie Watts. So at that time my parents could not afford private drum leasons so they bought me a knock off set the had a snare drum and bass and a tiny cimbal. So I went down stairs in our basemant and turned on the record player and put albums on and played along with the albums so I basially taught my self and in my opinon the man upstairs gave me this talent. So I have been blessed thru out my life to be in differnent bands and my one great time was when my son was a senior in high school and entered a talent show and asked me to play drums with this band he put together! WOW How cool was that to play with your kid and doing what you love to do!!! Well he won first place and that is a great memory for me and shortly after that the band i was in was asked to play at the community 4th of July celebration and got to play in front of my family and friends and it made me so happy to see everyone having a good time and smiling!
Ohhhh, what a heartwarming story! I’m sure that must have been a special experience for you and your son.
We did a little bit of “marching” style drumming as well when we went to music school and were part of the school’s drum ensemble. I look back at that time so fondly and loved the experience of playing drums and percussion with other people. It’s such a powerful feeling 🙂 It’s great how that, too, led you to playing with bands and making music such a big part of your life. Thanks for sharing!
Lisa, it just occured to me! I can bet Pa Pa felt the same way playing with you and Mona! A feeling that is so awesome to play with your kids is so great and being a part of their lives and sharing is …WOW I Bet if I asked Pa Pa that question I am sure what the answer would be, and to be doing what he does with you and Mona is a dream to me. You both have god given talents and having Pa Pa and Michelle in your corner? Don’t get any better than that in my book. Please stay the course you and Mona are going and we are blessed to come along for the ride!! Thank you !!
Monalisa Twins’s Hello
I am in my 50s living in Hokkaido, north of Japan. When I was in the sixth grade of elementary school, I met the Beatles and was shocked to start playing the guitar. But the key is high and I can’t sing well. I searched for a key song that I could still sing and copied it. However, when I was a high school student, I was frustrated by the guitar and turned to a drummer. From then on he fell into the drum like a fish in the water. Ringo Starr is my master. After absorbing various music, I am currently playing music with the Beatles cover band “The Wonders”. Currently, I’m a three-person group, so I spend my time playing George’s guitar and becoming a drummer. The apple drum is wonderful. Ringo shuffle is the best.
The three of us performed this year in Shiretoko, Hokkaido. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsu5-mBHnCQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EKaDN2EEmNc
It’s amazing how the Beatles had, and continue to have the same effect on people all around the world! Thanks for sharing that video with us. Great job on those harmonies! Both of those songs really aren’t easy. We struggled with “The Night Before” quite a bit when we tried it for the first time 🙂
We wish you many more performances to come!
I was very lucky to grow up in a household that indulged frequently in live music-making. My dad played the guitar, old time fiddle, and banjo. One aunt could play on the piano, usually after too many drinks and often with tears running down her cheeks. Another aunt played guitar, and yet another sang and strummed on the autoharp. My grandpa played fiddle too and liked to stepdance. My whole family played by ear for the joy of making music together. I always loved those family times and vowed that I would learn to make music too.
I started off learning to play the piano. I took lessons, but I also learned to chord along with my dad’s fiddle tunes. Sometimes we played for local dances. Then I began to study the violin in school and later with private lessons. Eventually I studied music in University with the violin as my major instrument. Along the way, I also played the french horn in our school band and the bass viol da gamba, the forerunner of the modern cello.
During my teaching career, I picked up some very basic guitar because I was teaching developmentally disabled students and it was easier to work with them musically face to face rather than with my back to them at the piano. It never ceased to amaze me how powerful music was to reach children who were otherwise quite unreachable. Music unlocked language, stimulated awareness, advanced the development of physical skills, promoted social development, and brought oh so much joy! It was a wonderful career and I felt so grateful to have been able to share music in a way that was meaningful for me and for my students.
My family (father, mother, older brother, older sister and me the baby) all sang in the church choir. My father was the director. My sister got a drum set when she was in high school or thereabouts, but she didn’t really pursue it. I started playing the violin in 6th grade because my aunt had one and we couldn’t afford any instruments. I played through the 9th grade and then quit (I thought it was a sissy instrument). I later regretted that decision and when my daughter started playing in school I tried to play it again, but couldn’t remember anything. I also tried playing the guitar after getting married, but just couldn’t get it. I am impressed with anyone who can play. And I could never play the drums because I can’t get all my extremities to move differently all at once. I loved watching your first concert at 13. Mona’s drum solo was awesome. I guess my musical talent (if it is) would be my singing. I always sang along with the radio and records (like most people). I used to be able to sing along with Paul on Oh Darling and hit all the notes, but at 71 years young I ain’t got it anymore. Anyway, thanks to the whole MLT team for the joy you all bring to us.
I was a student clarinet player in junior high band. Not very good. Didn’t practice enough. Envy those jazz clarinetist now. Today, I would love to play a banjo, but at 66 a little too late to start learning. I play a mean iPhone music selections now.
I started playing drums at age 13 which was awhile ago since I am now 70. My first band would go around the neighborhood playing Beatles songs. I was playing a set of homemade drums. In 1967 my Mom took me into Philadelphia and bought me my first set of real drums, oyster blue pearl Ludwig. This is when things got very serious, I joined the school band were I learned how to read drum music and joined every single band the school had plus played in a band outside of school. My outside band was a little wild in that we would let anybody and everybody who wanted to be a part of it play in the band. After graduation when I got my draft notice I joined the Air Force where after Basic Training I became a member of an Air Force Drum & Bugle Corps which was fun. On weekends we would massive jam sessions, most of us where at this point jazz musicians which I still consider myself today. I have been playing off and on since then. In college I played in a pop band and while working on my BS I played in the University Jazz band. I play every now and then sitting in with a rock band a friend of mine has. I guess in light of music I have been a poet for a good many years starting in college up to today. I plan on gatherings my poems one day and having them published in a book. I also have been working on a book about my life, I wrote it a few years ago for my two children who never got to meet my parents as a way of introducing them to them. After mentioning it to a number of people who said they would like to read it, I started working on it with getting it published some day. I’m still working on it, one day.
As far as music goes it has been such a big part of my life, I always have music playing in my house, I have a rather massive library of music and it covers every kind of music from jazz, rock, classical, even bluegrass and of course the Beatles are a big part as a group and as solo artists. I also love to sing, in college I got involved in theatre appeared in a number of plays as a matter of fact I majored in Theatre Arts lighting design.
My daughter picked up on the music bug and became a very good flute player all through school but it got put to the side when she started college, she is now an eye doctor with a private practice and also works at a VA Hospital. When year for her birthday I gave her The Beatles 1 cd where she too feel in love with the Beatles.
That paragraph alone makes us agree that you should write a book. It sounds like you lived a life full of creative adventures and exploration. Thanks for sharing!
Do you still have that Oyster Blue Pearl Ludwig kit your mum got you in the 60s? What an iconic drum set!
Although many years ago, my musical career started when I was about 9 years old; I heard drums from a house down the street where we lived, certainly things were different in those days, the early ’70’s, I knocked on the door to find out more! The man who lived there invited me in, loaned me his practice pad set and gave me lessons. Unfortunately my parents were not as eager as me where drums were concerned. However they bought me an acoustic guitar and got me private lessons. Pretty much like your journey, the lessons didn’t move as quickly as I wanted or in the genre I liked so I practiced by playing along to the songs I liked. I even persuaded my parents to buy me an electric guitar. My girlfriend at the time had a bass guitar and we quickly realised that this was the instrument I was a natural player of and soon I became much sought after. By the age of 14 I was playing in all the schools’ bands, & in the schools 6th form college bands, with 18 and 19 year old pupils, as well as independent non-school big/swing/concert bands. I jumped between all the instruments I played but although not my natural choice, I was playing electric guitar mainly. Covers of all the best bands music of the time and original songs too. As both a guitarist and bassist I was happy but I liked orchestral classical music too, and started playing double bass to get into the school orchestra. I was greedy for more and after a brief bit of research realised that there were very few bassoon players around, and playing that would get me into more orchestras, so I got one and found it easy to play, becoming proficient on it very quickly and invited to play in City and county orchestras too. On the guitar and bass I played in big/swing bands and concert bands, music I still love (and pre covid was playing in 4 different big/jazz/concert bands and a jazz band) . At 16 years old I was involved in about 12 different bands, orchestras and groups, so several days a week I would walk out of one rehearsal and straight into another. I had discovered I had perfect tone (as they called it then) and could sing, mainly by choice as a backing singer & even ended up singing bass in a barbershop quartet a few of the teachers at school had formed, performing in hats and aprons as after dinner entertainment for private events. How I passed so many O and A levels still intrigues me.
It was in one of the orchestras where I played double (or upright as it seems fashionable to call it these days) bass that I voiced an opinion about the noise being produced by a nearby cellist, that earned me a clout round the ear with her bow and about 6 years later we got married.
Whilst at university I joined a couple of pop-rock type bands and we had plenty of gigs earning much needed “beer tokens”! And the number of bands I was in had me travelling all over the country whilst still studying for my degree.
After university, Circumstances and my career meant that I couldn’t carry on like this & music began to take a back seat until a decade ago when my health caused disability & retirement from work, but a re-awakening of my love of music reaching the position I was in a year ago. I am still composing and writing songs of many genres, especially since lock-down.
I have fond memories of playing with some “famous-ish” musicians, have been in bands who supported other bands who have made it big, been in the backing band for some successful vocalists and was in a band who actually got an original song into the top 100, albeit only just and 35 years ago! But I have studio recorded records of bands I was in, and professionally recorded tape cassettes (which were ‘in’ 30 odd years ago) to look favourably back on and wonder how close I got to making it ‘big’.
In the last year I have learned a lot about YouTube, found new artists I love, like the MLT, Reina del Cid, Josh Turner and “the other favourites” and many more. I realise how fortunate I am that I had a pension plan that allowed me to retire from employment at 50 years old and persue my dream of making a living playing music again. To use some of my income supporting the younger generation who will become the future of the music scene.
I am fortunate enough that an opportunity arose where I was able to legally, safely and socially distanced, play in front of a live audience (also following the rules) with one of the big bands I am in during the back end of last year a couple of times. There were, unusually for me, nerves present, we had not practiced together for over 6 months so were totally unrehearsed. But ever the professionals we are, we followed the music and the bloke waving the stick around at the front and it was a success. I cannot express how good it felt. We were even invited back & to do a Christmas gig but the tightening of the rules meant it was cancelled.
For now I am building up my collection of original material while we’re in lock-down, and looking forwards to be playing in a different band every day again like pre-lock down , performing live instead of making YouTube videos, and wondering what the musical scenario is going to be like for professional and amateur musicians when this is over.
I have been through all my kit, every mic, lead and stand, everything I have has been checked, serviced, repaired and packaged into new flight cases. My collection of 30 odd guitars and bases have been cleaned, serviced and re-strung. I have bought a big pedal board and all my pedals are on one board instead of the three I previously used – each set up for different band and music styles. It also meant I could sell off the duplicated now spare pedals which helped cover the cost of it all.
So as soon as we can, I wish to be playing again. I am ready to go!
But most of all, I wish to receive the email saying I can pre-order the new MLT original album!
I started playing guitar at 15. It was in the mid-sixties, (I graduated from high school in 1969, and I am 69 years old now) I never had a real lesson, a friend and I started learning from the records, “Learn to Play Guitar With The Ventures.” After that we went our own ways and played in different bands. Eric Clapton and Cream caught my attention and it was really continuous jamming with my bass player friend that helped me improve. I have always been an improvisational player. I also started writing lyrics at 16, mainly as an outlet for my thoughts and feelings. I wrote a few songs, some of which we played in one of the bands, but mostly the 75 lyrics I wrote between 1967 and 1977 remained in a notebook.
I retired from playing music at the age of 27. There were times through the years when I did not even own a guitar. One thing I failed to mention was I was also a wannabee drummer and also I played bass in a couple of bands.
Jump forward to 2007, and at the age of 56 suddenly the music bug hit me again. I resumed writing and recording for my own pleasure and because I had this music in me that had to get out. Having discovered computer recording opened up a new world to me. It took me a while to learn how to properly use it and I did not have much in the way of equipment or computer processing power. Making a very long story much shorter, between 2007 and 2012 I wrote and recorded eleven cd’s of music and started number 12. Then writer’s block hit me and I gradually stopped playing. What, looking back further mystifies me, I was working a full time third shift job during that whole time period.
Today, 2021 I still have my equipment but still am not playing. I wrote one song in 2016 and then quickly faded back into not writing or playing. I do not know if the music is done or if there is more there. Mona and Lisa you have inspired me with your music, your joy, and your energy. I am trying to convince myself, “To Try One More Time”. I am now 69 and still working a part time job. I do not know if there is more in me or not. Time will tell I guess. Oh, and I was never a singer. But your music has rekindled a hope inside me.
Thank you, from one musician to another. Never as good as you both are. I am your fan for as long as I live. Thank you so much. And thank you to Rudi and Michaela too.
Trying to stay groovy,
Tom Watson
Around the age of ten my mother asked if I thought I’d like to take piano lessons. I was ten, so ready to try anything. Lessons were arranged from a woman who lived out in the country, and she had an upright piano in her home. We had a baby grand that had travelled around the family for a number of years to practice on. I took lessons for a few months, and was doing pretty well, but my attention was easily diverted, and got bored with practicing while my friends played outside, and gave up the lessons.
In the fourth grade I started on the trombone, and I did work at that more diligently until the middle of high school, when I developed a strong interest in playing sports. There wasn’t time for all of it so I stopped playing the ‘bone.
However, the next year some friends wanted to form a band and needed a bass player. I thought that might be fun, and we had a used instrument store locally where I picked up a Harmony hollow body bass with round wound strings. I didn’t know much about guitars at the time, but I did know I didn’t care for those strings and got a set of flat wound pretty early on. I played along with “Crocodile Rock” about a million times, and when I got together with my friends, one of them had learned the same song so we had a tune first time out. The coolest thing about my time in a band was the amp. It was a 1965 Fender Bassman, with a green pilot light. I’ve never seen another amp like that; plenty of blue pilots, but only the one green, like a traffic light green. Even today when I hear a song that we played in our band I think to myself “Hey, Crossroads”!
Later on, I dabbled on the guitar and learned basic chords, but I haven’t played in years. Looking back of course I wish I’d stayed with piano and guitar, but I just didn’t have the passion for it which I think contributed to my lack of discipline in learning. I do think I have a decent background to appreciate music though, and currently I’m following a really cool band that’s fronted by these two sisters, originally from Austria, but now producing out of Liverpool.
At the my school, in 5th grade we choose vocal music, band or orchestra. I couldn’t sing other than in the shower so I picked band. The band teacher recommend trombone so it was trombone. I enjoyed learning music and and started taking private lessons. I worked hard and practiced both my lessons and for band.
In high school I was in Jazz band, Concert Band and Marching Band. In 10th grade I took 2 semesters of music theory. But, also during 10th grade I realized no matter how hard I tried, music just wasn’t going to work for me. While I had a great tone quality and intonation, I had no rhythm. At this time I was also getting involved with photography. I set up my own darkroom and was spending far more time with my cameras than my trombone.
After graduating from high school my trombone was put away but I made a career in photography. My time in high school learning music turned out to be time well spent. I learned to appreciate good music and the work that goes into making it. More importantly, I met my wife of 37 years in our high school marching band 46 years ago. My big decision going forward, when I retire, do I go back to film photography and a darkroom or continue with digital.
I thought about joining a community band when I retire and have time to practice, But my wife and I are thinking of extensive travel. We plan to travel North America in our RV as well as Europe, (Liverpool???) and New Zealand with my cameras.
This does bring up a question. Is Mona going to learn to play that little soprano trombone?
I grew up in a music loving family. My oldest brother (Mario) always had a guitar in his hands. He is the one who first placed a guitar in mine. So I grew up in the 1960s like every other American kid trying to figure out those Beatles licks. I also had a ukulele banjo which I really liked (see photo). Then in the late sixties the movie “Bonnie and Clyde” came out. It was a huge success and featured the banjo in its sound track which I thought was so cool. Plus some groups I followed (Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Lovin Spoonful, The Byrds) used banjos. So when I graduated High School in 1970, my parents bought me my own banjo. (5 string). I learned some basic chords and picking styles but never mastered it. Well my guitars are gone and so is that old ukulele banjo, but I still have my old banjo that my parents gave me. Well after watching so many MonaLisa videos and how they play, I got the hankering to once again dig the banjo out and give it another go around. It’s been many many years. Ordered the strings, picks, tuner and instructional manual with a dvd. (Back to basics!) When they arrive I’ll be back at it. I know I will never be professional, but I intend to have a good time with this and just have the fun and satisfaction I felt as a kid learning some new song.
My musical journey began when I was two days shy of being eleven years old. I saw Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) sitting on a raised platform, February 9, 1964 on the Ed Sullivan show, playing drums for The Beatles and I told my parents, “That’s what I want to do.”
Of course they laughed. And, when I bugged them about wanting to take drum lessons they said that they paid for piano lessons for both of my older brothers who lost interest and quit, and they were not going to waste any more money on music lessons.
So, I got my middle brother to take me to the local trash dump and I searched for anything I could bang on. I came back with large lard cans, lids from something that I wasn’t familiar with, a movie screen stand, other stands and whatever. After some hard cleaning, hammering and drilling I had put together the worst possible drum set imaginable. No hi-hat or bass, I wasn’t creative enough to make either. Then I proceeded to set it up in a small space by my record player. I practiced every day I could for as long as I could, simply by standing by the record player and listening to whatever record I was fortunate enough to have.
After about a year my Dad told my Mom that I was keeping time with the music and he wanted to get me a cheap drum set. It was cheap.
But, a couple of years later my middle Brother, Carlie, introduced me to a very talented girl in his class who played piano. She could listen to a song on the radio, then sit down at a piano and play it. I was blown away. We started getting together every chance we could and playing just for fun. This went on for months, until one day she walked up to me at school and told me that she had entered us into a talent contest. I was shocked and scared. My knee jerk reaction was to refuse. I told her we didn’t stand a chance because there would be “real” bands there with vocalist, PA systems, guitars as well as electric pianos, lighting and they would laugh at us. I didn’t want to be humiliated. She said that she had already paid the entrance fee and our names would be in the program. It would be “humiliating” to not show up. I reluctantly relented and we played.
As I predicted, we finished dead last and, even though people politely applauded, I felt they were secretly laughing at us. But, while I was loading up my drums afterwards, two guys came over to my car and wanted to know if I would consider leaving my friend to join their band. Of course I jumped at the opportunity. They were all in their twenties, all married and all but one had children. I was a big kid at fifteen years of age. Almost everywhere they played sold alcohol and the legal age back then was eighteen. I easily passed for eighteen and all the band members covered for me. Once I began playing with them I was told to upgrade my drum set. I went to my Dad and he was so excited for me, that I was playing at that level and getting paid for it, he agreed to help me finance a set of Ludwig drums for a year. He even offered to pay half of each monthly payment and I would have to pay the other half with what I made playing. So, in my heart and mind, that made up for not getting piano lessons.
I played with the band for four years, then when I was nineteen I got a full time job that began to interfere with my ability to play. The was having issues with other members as well and eventually broke up. I started freelancing and tons of fun, made more money and dictated my own schedule. It was great. Then I got married. My wife loved the whole music scene at first, but after our first child was born and she couldn’t always go with me she changed. It eventually reached a climax and she laid down her ultimatum: her or the drums. So, I gave up music when I was about twenty one. I had shown some interest in the guitar when I was in the band, and I bought an old Fender Mustang from one of the guys. He taught me a lot. To this day I feel very fortunate to have been his friend and to have had him as my mentor. So, after quitting drums I settled for playing the guitar and I bought a cheap Fender acoustic. It was one of the first made in Japan for Fender. I still have it.
Well then, after about three more years my wife had an affair with her boss and we got divorced. That same year my Dad was diagnosed with end stage lung cancer and given six months to a year to live. He died nine months later. I was so depressed. I had changed jobs and my new boss became my best ally. I was fortunate to have the job and my boss.
My boss, my middle brother and a friend, Derrick, at work helped me get through it all. But, for a long time I put music in a closet. I decided to focus on my health and education. I quit drinking, started running and I went back to school. As for running I never won much. I ran mostly 10k races with a number of half marathons and a handful of marathons. The best thing I ever won was a fifty dollar gift certificate to the local mall. It was a small race (i.e. not a lot of quality competition) and the certificate was for a second place overall finish. Not a big deal. As for education, it took a while but I eventually finished with an MBA. I also got remarried in the process.
The MBA opened a door for me at The Citadel Military College in Charleston, South Carolina. I really enjoyed my career there. We, my wife and I, loved Charleston. We had been married in 1985, had a son in 1988 and moved to Charleston in 1995. It was some time after that that I pulled my guitar out and began playing it again. I was scanning YouTube for beatle songs when I stumbled upon the MonaLisa Twins playing “Eight Days A Week” by The Beatles and “I’m Yours” by Jason Mraz in an open cut out in Ayers Rock, Australia. Been hooked every since then. And, the MonaLisa Twins have inspired and encouraged me to continue with music.
That’s where I am today. My music journey continues and the MonaLisa Twins are an important influence on that journey however far removed my journey is from theirs. Their journey is just as important to me as my own. Peace, Love and the MonaLisa Twins! ????❤
Jerry Chamness
Because of the Beatles, I started playing the guitar. I was nine years old. I had a friend who was musically gifted and took piano and guitar lessons. He was my guide in those days without the Internet brimming with tabs and how-to-play YouTube videos. The first guitar I got – as a Christmas present from my parents – was what you might call a hobby-killer. My first proper electric was a junk shop Fender Mustang, which I stupidly sold in the late 70’s. Of course, today, when I’m not going to get any better as a musician, I have a Stratocaster, two Martin acoustics and others. I still play every day, sometimes just half an hour to keep my fingertips from going soft.
Thanks for posting the photos, how cool that you have those memories captured! 🙂 You say you’re not getting any better but when you’re playing for half an hour every day we are sure you are!
We all have special talents we were born with, and music doesn’t seem to be one of mine. My singing voice is not very good, and as far as playing an instrument, there is an old joke that fits me well: “What musical instrument do you play?”. Answer, “The Radio”.
I have started several times to learn to read music, but never finished. Perhaps it’s a good time to get back to it.
I started playing drums at around age 9 after hearing / seeing my older cousin Kevin playing one day during a visit to his house. He let me sit on the drum stool and showed me a few simple things and I was hooked! Played in garage bands until my mid 20’s then life came along and I stopped. Eventually selling my drums. I miss them.
I was also interested in playing rhythm guitar too so after learning open chords on my own I had my guitar playing friend show me barre chords. So today I still dabble playing guitar with my Fender Telecaster mostly and a Fender acoustic sometimes. The days of wanting to “make it big” are long gone but the fun of playing never goes away!
I started playing guitar and bass at 11 years old, be leave it or not in church. My Dad was and still is a preacher, and he is just like my grandfather they could play anything they got their hands on. I asked my dad at 10 years old to teach me to play, well he tried for a few weeks then he finely told me my fingers were too short. Well that made more determined, so I learned on my own and started playing at church and would always get “the look” from my dad when I was tuning my guitar and bass and playing Sweet Home Alabama or Sweet Leaf. I continued playing guitar. I’m waiting to get a custom built Gowen guitar form Mark Gowen in the UK, his daughter Lucy Gowen I think is 16 years old now and is awesome with a guitar and bass. Go on Youtube and look up Lucy Gowen Freebird cover.
Hi Mona and Lisa
What a wonderful topic! Where to start with my musical journey, well perhaps the early 90s, when I was in my late 20s or early 30s. I always appreciated classical music, was not a stranger to it as I grew up listening to it in the house and the car everywhere my parents went as they always had it on. Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi etc… But it was not something I listened to myself nor appreciated it it, preferring the pop rock music of the Beach Boys, Beatles, Elton John, Eagles, Steve Miller, Kinks, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, AC/DC etc. It wasn’t until I started my career working and met this girl at work, Shelly Klassen, who really got me into classical music. Our first date was a Shakespeare play “Bard On The Beach”, and then later Beethoven’s movie “Immortal Beloved”, a Handel’s “Messiah” performance etc..For my birthday she bought me my first classical album, Gorecki Symphony of Sorrowful Songs. Don’t let the title fool you, it’s one of the most beautiful classical symphonies. She introduced me to more art and culture than I ever experienced before during the year or so we dated and left a profound impact on me for the rest of my life. I really got into classical music and started buying up tons of classical music CDs, especially Beethoven, and his piano works.
It was Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No 5 (not to be confused with his 5th symphony), the first movement blew me away. What a musical journey in that 15 minutes first movement. I use to air piano (like I use to air guitar AC/DC or Led Zeppelin) in my head those magnificent piano runs. I could just feel what it must have been like for the pianist to play that in my imagination. That inspired me to take up piano lessons, although initially it was on a Casio Keyboard that just didn’t quite have the proper feel of a real piano. So I saved up my pennies to get a real acoustic piano, a shiny black Baldwin upright, what a beauty. I took weekly lessons and practiced all week. By that time I not only got into classical music, but also into all the great pianists and their life stories reading books about them as well as pianos themselves. They were such elegant instruments I thought. I use to marvel at the inner workings of my Baldwin as I took the panels off and looked at all that craftsmanship inside. I bought books about great pianos of the world, and I dreamt of owning one day a magnificent “Bosenderfer” grand which was supposed to be grandest of them all.
When I got into classical music, especially Beethoven, one thing I noticed about its appeal was how reminiscent it was to the experience when I got into AC/DC in my early 20s. In those times I was very conflicted and went through a tough period in my life and the hard rocking guitar sounds of AC/DC was my haven that kept my sanity. A lot of Malcom and Angus Young’s guitar riffs were not too different, in feeling anyway, to the spectacular piano runs in Beethoven’s piano Sonatas and Concertos. There is the same kind of hypnotic melodic effect that really gets inside of you. With AC/DC the lyrics were often too raunchy that I didn’t care for, but the instrumentals I found really soothing. Beethoven is like that but in a much deeper, grander and more beautiful and elegant way I find. The recent BBC video documentary I came across “A World Without Beethoven” where they show how Beethoven influenced Rock and Roll, just seemed to bring all the pieces together for me with my own experience with AC/DC and Beethoven.
So I learned the piano and practiced it from the early 90s through to around 98. While my job at work was all technical, I really enjoyed the practicing and just the feeling of creating beautiful sounds and music as simple as it was. The highlight was a piano competition they had at the music school where I took lessons, in my case it was more a short piano recital, as I think I was the only adult and there was no one to compete against in my age group, and my piano instructor felt performing live in front of an audience was a good way to hone up my skills and a good experience for me. So I learned and practiced a simplified version of Beethoven’s Moonlight Sonata for several months, memorized it, and played it in front of an audience. I think it went well, no big blunders anyway. 🙂 I posted a video of one of my practice sessions full of mistakes in the Advent Calendar. Seeing that video recently just reminded me of that beautiful passion I had for the piano playing. I remember thinking I would continue the piano lessons and when I could retire one day or win the lottery, I would pursue the piano as my other and real passion.
So why did I stop? Well to make a long story short, it was a sour relationship, and abandoning the piano lessons was one of the casualties or sacrifices to try to make a relationship work to make more time for the relationship. In the end we broke up after a few years, and I lost my music and piano. Although I intended to take up the lessons again one day, it kept getting put off and other things in life came up. It kept getting easier to put off as the years passed. One life lesson from this, don’t ever sacrifice/give up a passion like music for a relationship, it’s not worth it. When I stopped the piano, for a few months I felt like I lost a part of my soul, something was missing. So this past spring on the heels of the pandemic and lockdowns, I finally got back to my piano lessons again. You don’t know how wonderful it felt. If felt like an old best friend came back into my life.
I don’t think it would have happened Mona and Lisa if it weren’t for the both of you who brought me back to music, and through the MLT Club, back to my piano as well. I remember in my very first Introduction post at the Club, you said I should take up the piano again, and that message stuck in my mind, and I finally did it during the pandemic reset and I wasn’t working. So thank you.
If you know of any good music education sights including piano lessons, please let me know, I would love to check out any suggestions you have. I have been doing lessons at “Andrew Furmanczyk” youtube site, but I am open checking out other possibilities. Thanks for sticking it out to the end on my rather overly long post. 🙂
I took a basic guitar class in eighth grade. We learned a few open chords and sounded terrible. Most kids took it for an easy music class to pass. I wanted to learn more, so I asked my parents if I could take private lessons. They were a little apprehensive at first, as I had begged to take violin lessons previously and gave up after two lessons.
So I got a cheap acoustic guitar and started weekly lessons from a very kool guy named Gus. (Fun fact: Gus always talked about the Kennedy Assassination and how he had studied it quite a bit in college. Later, he was a chief contributor to a movie about it starring Kevin Costner – JFK)
I never became a great player, but good enough that I can impress friends once in a while. Good enough that I can play along with my favorite songs. I now have a Takamine acoustic and a Parker electric. As soon as I heard about Parker Guitars, I had to have one. My solos sound great, if I am the only audience member.
The only ones that hear me sing are in other cars at the stop light. Occasionally I forget I have a passenger, and they hear me sing while they calculate how quickly we can get to our destination and get out of the car. I think I sing very well, even better when I am alone.
Nowadays, I can go months without picking up my guitar to playing every day. Life gets in the way sometimes. But when life gets to be to much, I set aside a couple of hours and and dive into six strings of heaven. The only drawback is when I don’t pick up for awhile, fingers get tired quick.
I think I need to learn some new songs this year.
JP
My maternal Grandpa was a wonderful harmonica player, according to my Mom. I remember seeing his mouth organ lying around his house when I was quite young, but never knew him well, as he passed when I was only 10, and unfortunately suffered from dimentia his last few years. He was also a master carpenter, and crafted beautiful violins, among many other things, from simple toys to church altars and entire houses. I’d love to take up the harmonica as a tribute to him, and should just buckle down and do it!
I’m so touched when Mona works her blues harp, maybe in part because of him. His personal instrument is long gone????, sold by his second wife before he passed or any other family members knew her plans to turn heirlooms into cash. Hopefully this small encouragement will get me off my butt and on the road to playing. Thank you yet again, ladies!
P.S. Love your drums, but for me , the shipping crate in “Paint it Black” is PERCUSSION PERFECTION! … honorable mention to the chair back in “I’ll Follow the Sun”, too.
I have tried to play the guitar. But can only still bash out House of the rising Sun. Always always dreamt of being able to play the drums but hey Ho! Would love to in the drum skin and T-shirt….. mainly because I would love the T-shirt and I guess I could frame the Drumskin…… or buy a snare drum and have a Tap????????????????????????????????
I played a clarinet in my school band class from age 9 to 14. I never got particularly good at it, but the act of making music with several dozen people every day was incredibly joyful.
Somewhere in the middle of that run I saved up my allowance and bought a small electric keyboard, and painstakingly picked out my clarinet parts on it note for note. Then I would figure out the parts for other instruments, and eventually I got to the point where I could play the songs straight through for three or four different instruments at once, with two or three fingers devoted to each instrument.
After that I went into a long fallow period, becoming just a consumer of music. Then a year and a half ago, after being smitten by the video for I Don’t Know Birds That Well, I bought a ukulele and started watching tutorial videos. I ultimately had to resort to laying it flat in my lap so that I could see what I was doing, but now I can play the chords for several MLT songs and a lot of Beatles songs. I try to set aside a few minutes every day now to make a little music, and it’s like being a kid again.
Hello Ladies,
It may come as a surprise to know that I did take music lessons at one time. Both for the Trombone (I know you love that sound)
And Banjo. Took both for a year. Since I have a perception problem, I can’t play and instrument. I can play with one hand but, not both at the same time.
I also took beginning piano my Jr year I. College. Bad teacher. Expected me to play something.without knowing keys. Got mad at me so I quit.
I do love to sing along with songs all the time. Not necessarily in the shower. Lately the on songs i sing along to are by two Twins from Liverpool. You might know them. ????
I would LOVE a drum skin signed by you all. ????????????.
Thanks soo much for the opportunity to have a shot at winning one. I’m so Excited!!
Thanks Ladies!
Rick Ross
P. S. Have you ever thought of selling your old set lists from some of your shows? I believe many people would love one.
I ask my Dad if I could get an acoustic guitar for Christmas in 1975 and he agreed. At the time I was fixated on artist that played acoustics such as Cat Stevens, Jim Croce and John Denver. Years later I bought my first on many electrics that have come and gone. I had stopped playing for a long time and after a few strokes, my ability to play now isn’t as easy is it once was but I pick up one almost every day trying to play again, mostly from the inspiration from you to try to play along. Its amazing how good I sound when your girls are blasting away on my sound system and Im playing an electric…unplugged!! LOL
Trying to tickle my aunt’s puano and organ ivories in the past ( she’s the church organist/pianist at her church so she had both an organ/piano at home to practice on with– fun times for ne dabbling on both)
So sweet!
Thankyou????
Your smile says it all – so much fun!
Thankyou, Jeannette????
A blast of my music efforts past…
In the mid-80’s I wanted to learn to play the guitar and I bought one (it is still at my mother’s house). The instructor was my older brother, he played in a school group with his friends and they did well.
Within a few days I was convinced that I did not have the ability and patience to move on, so I did not continue.
I started taking guitar lessons from my dad when I was about 8 years old. School, sports, work and parenting have taken up most of my time for the past four decades but I never stopped playing and I’ve gotten better playing along with Beatles records all those years. I remember with great joy the first times I played through I Saw Her Standing There and I’m Happy Just To Dance With You with no mistakes. Unfortunately along the way I developed GAS – Guitar Acquisition Syndrome – and now I have over twenty amazing instruments that beg to be played. As Mona and Lisa said in Santa Baby – “Think of all the beautiful guitars that exist”.My sons now play guitar and I think the gift of playing an instrument is one every child should be given. Watching the talent and much practiced skill of Mona and Lisa is not only just fun but also inspiring.
Well, I’ve always been drawn to music, mostly singing, while I have dabbled on piano/keyboard /organ/guitar/banjo/triangle/morracas/drums/harmonica/tin whistle/trumpet and the tribal drums , ( banjo and tribal drums were on loan from the public library for 2 wks for each under their instruments loan program). I also own a uke, 2 unusual percussion instruments , one has metal tongs while the other is like a small xylophone idea. I cannot hardly read or understand music notes, etc to play, I’m better off learning by ear or have a visual reference of some sort at all times for me to grasp the concepts… also I cannot play guitar/uke much to my frustration, as my brain and fingers don’t get along to combine to play, and I have short fingers, arthritic at that to boot, poor hand/eye coordination so percussion and harmonica instruments are better suited for me. In elementary school we had music classes, mostly singing from songbooks but I thoroughly enjoyed, sang my little heart out loud and proud, even joined school choir. In Grades 7, 7, 8 ( yes I had to repeat Grade 7 for various reasons), however my music ambitions were short-lived due to a teacher who clearly did not like someone that couldn’t play any instrument, even remotely and one tried hard, told me I’m a failure and best you stop this class and take a spare instead, same thing in high school happened…
And over the last while, pre Covid, I got brave to do a few Karaoke sessions at a pub, family gathering, and open mike jams…but I can do a mean air guitar and air piano, drum… If I’m going to tackle learning instruments, I’d luv to try cowbell, autoharp, harp,…etc… but if I could play guitar, belueve me I’d love to, but just not doable and that’s a fact sad to say, just the way it is.
About forty odd years ago, in the hey day of punk, new wave and rock in the UK, I got my first guitar…a rubbish Kays catalogue strat copy. Looked nice, but the action on it was about 6 inches from the fretboard with no way to adjust it apart from sticking matchbox card underneath the neck joint! I soon formed a group with my mates called ‘The Angry Young Men’..a mega band (in my head at that time) who were so good that we only knew three chords (.but hey, that never stopped Status Quo! LOL.) and had a singer who couldn’t really sing, but looked amazing in those suspenders…hahaha, I think Freddy Mercury stole his outfit ideas from him?.. Check out the rhythm guitarist, it’s me, showing off my chicken legs and I think Angus from ACDC probably took his style from me??! Front man Paul (who loved Showaddywaddy) , other members were Andy ‘Greedo’ Myers (into Genesis), Andy Lister on drums (ELO fan), Mr Haller on stand in bass guitar (anyone really), Rick on lead guitar (a style of his own!), and a few others from time to time who probably knew four chords or more?. We were once spotted practicing in my grans front room by Jimmy Saville who listened to us through the window as he jogged past! (phew that was a lucky escape!) We actually won a talent contest at Guiseley Working Men’s Club, Leeds, in this picture, playing ‘Teenager in Love’….those were the days…:))
“The Angry Young Men” has got to be the best band name out there! A shame you never found that 4th chord but I’m sure it made for great memories! Rock on!
Hahaha…still searching for that fourth chord some decades later! 🙂
Talk about synchronicity! I was just listening to Getting Better (cover) by Mona & Lisa and there is a line in there (in the video at 0.46)…’ I used to be an Angry Young Man’…..LOL . I wasn’t really too angry, just in the band of that name, but never remembered all these years later that we might actually have been inspired by that one liner from the fab four?
Hello!
When I was 7 years old, my brother showed me three chords on the guitar.
Then I studied myself.Usually after school I picked up a guitar and tried to pick up chords.
Now playing the guitar is my hobby.About a year ago I bought a music synthesizer and
am learning to play. I advise everyone who plays the guitar to buy a good musical synthesizer and learn
This will improve the quality of your guitar playing and bring you new joy.
Of course, I compose my own tunes, even try to record them, but I don’t think people will hear them.
It’s like writing a book that will never be published.But playing music always gives me joy.
Are there people like me here?
I wish you all good luck!