Saturday, September 19, 2009

You Got the Devil in Your Eyes (when you play the banjo) Case and Point-


I've been playing Liz's banjo almost every day. I take it off the wall when I get tired of reading a textbook, which unfortunately happens almost instantaneously. I take turns with all the instruments, like they are each a child of mine, but I admit that the mandolin and guitar would be a bit jealous of old Banjo these days if they could be.

I'm writing a tune that I really like to play, which never fails to amuse and amaze me. I mean, how can I be a creator of these rhythms and notes that sound so good and feel so wonderful to play? I really don't understand it, and that's probably the magic in music. But anyway, there are no words to this tune yet, and I don't know if there will ever be. Maybe I can get someone else to write them for me. I feel like my lyrics are always kind of, well, bad. Nothing poetic about them, and if I try to make them that way, one can tell they are forced or just really sappy.

Ever since I've had my MacBook, I've used the imovie program with the built-in microphone and camera to record myself playing. I now have 74 clips, and a total of about six hours of just me and an instrument. (Actually, there might be a couple clips of me dancing, and if anyone ever stole my computer I would be more worried about them watching those clips than them stealing my identity and ruining my credit- I guess they're kind of embarrassing.) But I love my music clips so much. The majority of these clips are nothing special, but than sometimes I will go back and watch them and it will be a song that I really like, or some little tune that I fiddled around with for a couple of days back at the start of college. I'm kind of thinking that it would be fun to share them, for anyone that was at all interested. But like I said, I've made them to help me remember songs that I make up, or when I just need a distraction from something.

So, if I figure it out, I will put up a clip of the new banjo song I'm working on... we shall see.
I also want to start recording songs for Owen and Billy and Shayla's baby to listen to. That would make me so happy. Problem for me is I don't have a lot of extra time and since I ain't a professional musician, nor do I have a good way to record myself, I think it will take quite a long time. But I'm not giving up on the idea.
No no, never!

10 comments:

Ms. Moon said...

Do it! Your mama says Do IT!
I love you, honeypie.
I love that you play music. I love that Owen and Tot will listen to it.
So please- do it.

Lily said...

Yay Jessie put something new on her blog! You look tired sweetie, make sure you sleep in between studying and playing music. I love you and I am excited to hear your recordings.

honeyluna said...

Thanks Mama, I will try my bestest to do anything that you tell me to, and you know that.

Lil- Daniel actually took that picture about a year ago, so even though I look tired in that, which I probably was, I don't look like that right now. Although, you are right, I probably should be getting more sleep in between the banjo and school work.

Mwa said...

You should!

Anonymous said...

girl i'm trying to find an old mandolin to buy so i can learn (i used to play guitar & piano and have been wanting to try mandolin - i love the sound). if i do find one, i'm coming to you to show me some stuff - LOL! good luck with all that studying - i'm having a hard time studying for the measley 2 classes i have...

honeyluna said...

Mwa- thanks for the encouragement! I'll be working it all out as soon as I can.
CMe- I would really love to pass on any knowledge that I have about the mandolin to you! I highly encourage you to find one because they really are wonderful. Do you know how much you can pay, because I might be able to help you find something. Let me know, I'd be happy to help.

May said...

You are so beautiful when you play. I would love to see those clips. It is just amazing to me what you can do. Music is such a magic thing, isn't it? You are magic, you lovely wee girl.

Sarcastic Bastard said...

I so admire folks with musical talent. I have NONE.

Love you, Honeyluna. Congrats on your impending aunthood.

SB

honeyluna said...

May- First of all, I hope you are feeling better. If there is anything I can do for you, please let me know. You are too sweet to be sick, it just isn't right!

Secondly, yes! Music is magic. It does magical things to our brains, like a drug. I heard a guy talk about it on NPR. Did you hear anything about that? He also wrote a book about it and I think he did a special on PBS. I should find that and read/watch it... in my spare time.

SB- You are a sweetheart extraordinaire! And I'm sure I could teach you a song on mandolin and you would be so surprised that you too have musical talent. That's basically what happened to me. It still surprises me when I play music, seriously.

That Hank said...

Hey! I will see you later today!