Mardi's Musical Notes — July 31, 2013 at 1:03 am

Mardi’s Musical Notes 7/28/2013

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Mardi PromoNot everyone can do it; sing and play an instrument at the same time. We can walk and chew gum, we can talk or text and do anything else. However, after reading this blog hopefully you will have a new appreciation for those who are performing musicians who also sing.

 

Most of my younger years were spent sight reading music and singing classical. I rarely, if ever, picked up an instrument. I played the piano and guitar sparsely but I was in a chorale group and I was good at singing so I didn’t have any problem. After high school I joined a reggae band, frat band and rock and roll band as well as attended college full time. I loved performing other people’s songs with bands, being a lead singer was as far as I went. Once I picked up the guitar and started learning to play it was another ballgame. I had to memorize (yikes!) and practice! (God forbid). I actually learned pretty quickly, in fact after three weeks I could play every chord and 100 songs. I took my place in the back of our church guitar group, there were 12 of us! I liked being in the back, un-noticed.

 

That, my friends, took guts. Once I was well rehearsed and knew the songs,  I would be sent out with my group and THEN I started to learn to play and sing. I wasn’t afraid because I was in the background. No one would hear me or see me if I screwed up.  It was a gradual progression for me. Ultimately, my church hired me to sing and perform solo. I was shaking in my tree! I did that for several years and discovered that I could hold an audience and not make a complete fool of myself, stumbling through words, chords, etc. It became like breathing, effortless and energizing.

 

Eventually, and exactly 16 years ago, I started writing my own music, lyrics, composition, the melodies and the music. I had the desire to perform them to live audiences wherever I was called to. Here again I was put to the test; not only was I playing guitar and singing solo, but I was performing my very own music. It seemed so personal to me at the time. I was brutally self-conscious and sometimes I would even cry if it was a deeply emotional song (which I had a tendency to write, especially at the beginning). After years of performing that feeling has gone by for the most part. The only difference is now, when learning a new song, I get a little nervous.

 

I will always remember my father’s wise words to me; Once you decide to make your music public you offer it to others for them to call their own. How many times have you heard someone say, “That’s my song” or  “Our Song” perhaps from a particular memory or relationship. In any case it’s out there for someone else to enjoy. I have no right to mock it or laugh at it or take it lightly. Original music is serious business.I enjoy playing and singing for people and watching them grab a hold of the music. That, in itself, takes the pressure off and allows me to be myself and play like I want.

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