Time Away From Playing Music

[Admin]

Have you taken time off from playing music for an extended period of time? If you have, why?

I played "professionally" (even though some may consider that a stretch) smiley-laughing024 for over 6 years and then had to take time off to be a U. S. Marine for about 9 years. I began playing a little for pleasure when I returned to Memphis, but didn't try anything professional again. Arthritis has now made me reduce my stringed instrument playing time, but I still play a little piano/keyboard, harp and slide guitar. I just began trying to play with others at a local bluegrass jam.

[slapjaw]

I stop playing for about 15 years. Started my business and not a lot of time I guess. Got back into music in about 2000 and never looked back. Kind of wonder where I'd be if I didn't stop?
Then again I might not have the same love for it as I do. Now I play everyday, even if it's just scales.

[steve]

Not for me. There was a period, when I found myself in the position of single parent with a young son, that I didn't play live but once he hit his teens, I got back into it. In that period I still played most days though there wasn't any focus and so I was treading water I suppose. These days I am playing more than ever!

[jbone]

As a harmonica player and singer of several decades, music was a solace and a mission to me. Though I got my first harp at age 17 I never truly took up the banner until I was in my 30's. There was a period in my 20's where I was going to some small jams around Dallas and I learned a bit, but I was not ready to take the leap and try to work with bands or take any sort of lessons. In my early 30's I made some changes in my life which made me more teachable. I got sober for one thing, and this allowed me to begin actually learning some about music and playing with others. During that period from my teens into my 20's I probably put harp down several times, just put them away in frustration. I never tossed them as I was inclined to do, I just set them aside for a time. Eventually- weeks or months sometimes later- I'd give it another try. My pride kept me from asking anyone who might be able to help me, for help. My mid 30's found me going out to jams and open mics and trying to play, sometimes doing ok. A couple of years in I was invited to sit in with peers' bands and ultimately I was recruited into a couple or three bands and began actually making a buck or two. All this time I kept a "day job". I likely would have starved otherwise!


In my 30's a few key events occurred. One was, I met other harp players who were light years ahead of me on how to play well. One was I "had to" learn to sing since the band I had co-founded needed another voice. By this time I had begun to dare to dream a bit, about having a steady gig and being a real part of a music scene. Some of my peers began working on me a bit at a time to get me to learn outside my comfort zone, which was pretty much limited to second or cross position playing, blues style. I began to study deeper intricacies of playing harp and expanded my bag of tricks quite a bit. By this time I was totally hooked and committed to music, or so I thought.
The last year I lived in Texas, I went through major changes: left a career, bombed out of school, wife left me, lost a home, and discovered a lot of debt that had piled up on me. That year, even with all those calamities, I was immersed in music like never before. I was in a steady band, and a duo, and hosted an open mic night every week with another outfit. I was starting yet another band, and I was getting calls to sub sing and play with yet other bands in the area. Music was "sort of" supporting me, and least day to day. I was working days here and there but music was my main focus. BUT. Ultimately I made a choice to move to a new state, thinking I could start over with music easily. Wrong. As life goes along things happen which can interrupt our dreams. But there I was, hitting jams, trying to get a band going, or get hired into an existing band. Something! And I was invited to sit in with some guys close by any time I wanted, for no pay. Which I did for some time just to keep a hand in. I used that time to learn and refine my playing.

At age 46 I saw an opportunity to build a business from the ground up and I took it. It was going to take pretty much all my resources every day to make happen but I was willing to go the distance. 16 months later I let the idea go since I was not making a living at it, and went back to hourly wage slave gigs. During that 16 months I played harp about twice, since fun was not a component of building my business. My rationale was, I'd return to music once I had a good living going. I pawned- and lost- 2 amps and 3 mics during that time because I needed cash to keep the business going. I sold off a couple hundred CD's as well, a collection that I'd built over about 15 years. Many people told me I was not the happy guy I had been my whole life, and urged me to get back to music. So finally, when I got back to "regular" work, I made a commitment to myself that I'd ALWAYS pursue music no matter what, until the end of my ability.

The past 16 years I have stayed as busy as possible with music. I joined a band which lasted about 15 months. I co founded a 2 state project, which presented some good opportunities along with some real challenge. That went by the wayside as well inside a couple of years. During this time I was beginning to work with Jolene. Some 6 years ago, after we'd released our first original CD, I was invited to play a few gigs with a guy around town, which I did for the money, which was pretty good. It turned into more work than I had expected, and also into a full band. I had thought Jo and I could both be a part of the project but that was not in the cards, so 5 years ago I quit that band after about a year, and have been totally committed to the duo with Jo ever since.

At this point, age 63, I see the duo with Jo being my primary focus as long was we can do it. Music is a staple in this house, and I anticipate many years yet of spreading joy with it.