Those who know me, know I listen to quite alot of music.  I also play a bit.  Some of you remember the days I played ... um...the accordian.  Well, I actually do still have the accordian.  Though it's now used mostly only at Christmas where I play Christmas carol duets with my daughter.  However, the accordian has made a bit of a comeback of late and it surprised my friend Einer that the accordian is used quite effectively in jazz and other music.  Played well (and I don't think I play that well anymore), it is a very romantic instrument and is not strictly used in Polka.  Some music I've been listening to with accordion in a non-traditional way are Jazz Accordian by Frank Marocco and the track Antonia by Pat Metheny on the album, Secret Story.   The Pat Metheny piece is very haunting and flows into the next track, The Truth Will Always Be, which causes me to reminisce about my relationship I had with my sister before she passed on with cancer.  

 

Other music I've been listening to include some CD's I just bought of the Newboys.  I recently bought The Hits, and Go.  I bought the Hits for the song Shine.   Shine got me listening to Christian Pop again.  It has a catchy beat and the words were so eccentric and the word origami caught my attention because my daughter does a lot of Origami so she wanted it on her iPod.   The album, Go, I bought because I liked the rhythm of the band and the song "Your Love Is Better Than Life" talks about the struggles I go through when thinking about my walk through life as a Christian.  So I can relate.

 

Of all the songs I've listened to, there is a song that has influenced me more than any other.  Most of my friends will think it's a Christian song like "Rock n Roll Preacher" by Chuck Girard or something.   Though it did influence me using music for a lot of things I do in life, the song that set me up was actually by the Beach Boys.   "When I Grow Up" provided influence to me on how I would conduct myself the rest of my life.  I keep thinking I haven't really grown up yet, though. 

 

So that's what I've been listening to recently.   Making music, I'm still working through Paganinni's Caprice #5.  I'm trying to memorize the music and be able to play it fluently on guitar.  It's a lot big piece to play and will still take awhile because playing the guitar is not a full time job for me.   Then there's the deal I made with my daughter.  I'm so proud of her.   She started last year without know how to even blow a flute and by midyear, her school band of beginners played Mussorgsky's Pictures at an Exhibition at a music festival and won the intermediate level!  So the deal was that I learn to play the trumpet.  I'm now at the point I can blow a consistent tone out of the thing.   I'm even hitting the notes.   Now to be able to put music together. 

 

Outside of the music, Harry Low passed away after a 3 year fight with a cancerous tumor.  He was blessed with the additional years as it was not anticipated that he would make it past the first year.   Harry leaves behind a wife, a daughter, Lorraine,  and two sons, Paul and Steve.  Along with them there were grandchildren Jasmine, Megan and Janine.  Though Harry is now at a much better place, those of us still here will miss him very much.

 

Thanks for reading.