Midlife Crisis Hawaii

Since we’re on a high from JindoMaster808‘s excellent guest blog post (Big MLC Mahalo once again, JM808), I thought we’d do a Thursday 3 about Makin’ Music.

Copy and paste the 3 questions and answer them or just answer them by number, order, whatever.  And don’t forget to leave any comments, stories, memories, etc. relating to the topic.  So, with a one, and a two, and a three…

1. If you woke up one morning and had the magical ability to play, I mean really jam, any musical instrument – what instrument would you choose?  And why?
2. If you used to or still do play a musical instrument, what made you choose that specific musical instrument?
3. What’s your take on music?

Here’s my replies:

1. If you woke up one morning and had the magical ability to play, I mean really jam, any musical instrument – what instrument would you choose?  And why?
   In my younger days, I would’ve liked to play the electric guitar – like Eddie van Halen.  But now, in my MLC age, I’d choose the saxophone.  To me, the sound of the sax is both sexy and soulful.  The way the notes have the ability to blend together.  How you can almost feel your passion through the music that you play – like it’s an extension of your soul.  Now that’s Makin’ Music.
2. If you used to or still do play a musical instrument, what made you choose that specific musical instrument?
   Since my brother had a guitar, I tried to learn how to play it.  Didn’t happen.  I think with my short and stubby Okinawan fingers – it just wasn’t meant to be.  In high school, I tried taking a few slack-key guitar lessons.  Nope.  Nada.  Nuttin’.  I even tried the harmonica.  No go.  Then it dawned on me – even if I knew how to play something, if I’m simply not musically inclined – it wouldn’t sound good anyway (which leads me to question #3).
3. What’s your take on music?
   Since Makin’ Music was so hard for me, I gained an appreciation for music.  It’s so amazing to me that individual instruments making all different sounds can come together and produce something so beautiful in harmony.  And when I’m tired, stressed, or just need to relax – music calms me down.  And one of my biggest loves for music is how it can transport me back in time and trigger my memories to when I used to hear that song.  In fact, it still does that to me today.  For example, a couple of times when we were playing at the Main Street casino, this song was playing in the background.  I heard it although I wasn’t really listening to it – I’m guessing that my subconscious was soaking it all in – and the song was suddenly burned into my memory.  So of course whenever I hear this song now, I remember sitting at the poker machine at the Main Street casino, relaxed and having fun.
   
   

First off, just a reminder — we have until Monday, Oct. 4, 2010 to help the UH Band.

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A fellow MLCer needs our support:

Howzit MLCer’s!!!

Hope all is well with everyone.

Would appreciate your help. Please vote for the UH Warrior marching band in the CBS College Sports Hawaii Five-O Marching Band Mania Contest. The winner gets $25,000 which they could certainly use.

http://promotions.mardenkane.com/cbs/marchingbandmania/videovoting.cfm

You will have to find the UH Band Video and click on the Vote button. Please vote every day if you can. My son is a sax player in the band, thanks for your support.

ct

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Now, as for band memories.  I have nothing. 

I never took band.  Although I did have to take Music for one quarter back in the 7th grade.  I learned “Every Good Boy Does Fine” and F.A.C.E.  And that’s about it.  I don’t think I’m musically inclined.

Like most guys, I tried to learn to play the guitar — but I am cursed with short, fat fingers.  I could never put a finger tip on one string without touching the next string and making that “twang” sound.  And as for “bridging” (if that’s the proper term), forget it.

I think that’s why I appreciate music so much — because it’s so hard for me to do.

I remember when our neighbor (no, not Jules – the other side neighbor) took up the trumpet in intermediate school and used to practice in the garage – right next to our parlor.  Yikes.  That’s when I learned the word “excruciating”.  Imagine listening to this “bwaaap, bwaaap, BWEEEP!” while trying to watch Checkers & Pogo.  Excruciating!

Well, that’s about it for my band memories.

Now it’s time to help me out with this blog entry and share some of your intermediate/high school/college band memories.

What instrument did you play?  Were you part of a marching band?  Maybe you used to ride the band bus to football games?  I haven’t a clue…