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Nova Scotia is alive with music. This is not to say other
places are not. But it is everywhere here and of every genre. What I love
particularly, is the celtic music, often blended with country, folk, and even
jazz. It is in the bars, the restaurants, the theatres and community halls and it
is also on the streets.
Now, I can tap my feet, beat out a rhythm on my knees or a
table top, and clap my hands. But I have never yet mastered a musical
instrument. As a small child I took piano lessons. I got bored. In high school
I tried my hand at learning guitar on my own. I had an old six-string and also
a twelve-string instrument. I learned a few chords, but had trouble with the fingers.
It hurt, especially on the metal strings of the twelve-string. I am not sure if
I got bored with this too, but I had other curricular and extra-curricular interests
that soon took precedence. Then, in grade thirteen, there was the recorder. I
tried the soprano and alto instruments. I loved them but never got to the place
where I was comfortable with the fingering, particularly with fast pieces. My
hands are small. My fingers are short and stocky and so am I.
In public school, we had a school orchestra. I was lucky to
have lived at a time when music was a part of the curriculum. I wanted to play
the violin. In order to participate, one had to be a high achiever academically.
I was. However, there were not enough of these instruments to go around. I lost
out to one girl in our class because I was a boy. I never understood that
logic. But this was the late 1950’s or early 60’s. I was very disappointed.
Years have passed. Indeed decades have passed. I am now in my
seventieth year. I have trouble writing that fact and believing it. I have always loved music and have participated as audience on
a regular basis. Recently, I have been a regular attendee at a local pub for
weekly celtic music. And somehow, on a whim, I have found myself the owner of a new fiddle and am
now attempting to learn how to play it. And it is not easy for me. My teacher is encouraging and patient. She needs to be. But, as difficult as it is to teach an old dog a new trick, I am
determined to try. I am determined to persist. If I can only achieve the playing
of the Skye Boat song, I shall be happy. So short, fat fingers be damned.
