#041 Musical NotaShawn

Scheduling has finally allowed me to take my first Tin Flute Music Lesson. Marcel is off to a condo association meeting and the dogs are in a post-kibble crash...

...or so I thought.

It seems that Peanut either loves or dislikes B.  Music lover or critic... who can say?

On the plus side I can play a scale. :-)

#035 Musical ResoluShawn

Guess what arrived today!?

FINALLY!

My Feadóg Irish Tin Whistle, book and CD.

I took advantage of the rush hour shut-down of the Orange Line on the Metro ride home to start reading the book.  Seems straight forward. There are only six fingers needed, I think I can cope.  But can Marcel, the dogs and the neighbours?

For certain, I'm not going to make any friends for the first few weeks though, if only for the first few songs I'll be learning...  'Twinkle Twinkle", "Merrily We Roll Along", "London Bridge" and "On Top of Old Smokey". 

I think Marcel will start taking more walks, and going to the local cafe to sip a cuppa joe and read his book.

But I *can* and *will* do this. 

I suspect the Juno, Grammy nods will soon follow. 

#026 AnticipaShawn II

Well, I ordered an Irish Tin Whistle back on Dec 31st as part of my New Year's Resolution to learn a musical instrument. I should have paid closer attention on the webpage when I submitted the order; seems they were out of stock. Thankfully my order was filled on Friday. I hope to have it by Tuesday or Wednesday.

Personally, I'm really excited about getting it, but also a little afraid. Partially because I'll be learning by myself and also because I'm terrified I'll scare the dogs and upset Marcel along the way. Sure, I'll have a book and DVD to follow, and will be able to find lots of stuff on-line, but without a one on one coach/teacher, I wonder how I'll do...?

I'm not saying I'll be a great success, but I hope to be able to manage a couple of songs by the end of the year... 

If I had Aladdin's Lamp, I'd easily use one wish that I could play this. If you're gonna dream, dream big, or don't dream at all.

#001 ResoluShawn

I'm not a fan of New Year's Resolutions. I think as humans we already fail at so much that we attempt, why add to that unending list?! Sure we all have victories in life, from the small: not breaking the yolk as you 'over-easy' that egg, to the medium: first step or potty-training, to the large: quitting smoking after 23 years, to the extra-large: not bitch-slapping every idiot you meet, each and every day.

I've succeeded and I've failed at New Year's Resolutions.

Successes:
No soda/pop. (pure hell!)
No chocolate. (purer hell!)
Gym membership - Going to the gym at least once a week. (purest hell!)

Failures: 

Gym membership going to the gym at least twice a week (lasted 5 weeks)

Quit smoking (attempt #1 lasted about 1 week, attempt #2 lasted about a month, attempt #3 lasted 67 days)

Not cursing. (lasted a couple of hours)

What I realized in retrospect, is that the times I was successful were the times I pro-actively decided that the resolutions would last only 365 days. The times where I wanted them to go on and on and on, I failed... Self-sabotage, or am I just a person that works better with a deadline or end-date?  

So... maybe that bodes well for this blog, after-all it's meant to be a post a day for one year.  Not that this blog is my New Year's Resolution. My Resolution is this...

...I am going to learn how to play an instrument. Now please note (pun intended), I did not say "play an instrument well". No, I will make no such aspirations. I'm nothing if not realistic... and pessimistic.  

The instrument I have chosen is the Irish Tin Whistle. Why? Well, to be honest I love Irish / Celtic Music. And, I remember years ago receiving a Tin Whistle from my Grandmother Newbury one Easter.  I don't think I ever picked it up and tried to play it, partially because there was no book or guide, but also... I was a kid. 

I've always regretted not trying. So now's my chance to change that. 2014 will be... the Year I learn how to play the Irish Tin Whistle. 

Stay 'tuned'.

God help us all... 

...especially Marcel and the dogs.