You May Say I'm A Dreamer

When I was 11, a note was read out in class that a guitar class was starting in town and all children were welcome. Despite having absolutely no musical prowess whatsoever, this appealed to me.

I went home and asked, and my mum and dad discussed it, talked to my Nant and Nunk, and produced a guitar which my cousin had brought home from Spain for me.

On the designated Tuesday night, I turned up at the shop. Shelves were upturned and used for benches. And we all sat down eagerly and Billy and Gordon showed us our guitars and the names for all the parts.

The Neck, the fret, the board, the body, the machine head. It was all so magical. Then Billy asked us what tune we would like to play. I had absolutely no idea about current songs, or what we would be able to play. One boy, Alex, said "Imagine". Everyone concurred.

I had absolutely NO IDEA! Hey Ho! How naive I was. Never did like the Beatles.

The lessons at the shop continued for a while, but then the shop closed.

We found a new teacher, a wee old man in town who was a grand guitar player.

My little guitar did me good, but gradually through over tuning, the machine head, started to bend up to meet the body. As sawdust spilled out of the neck, it was decided that I should get a new one.

I loved my Yamaha. It was mahogony on the back, and a golden wood on the front. I adored playing. I could only play from music though and was constantly frustrated at my inability to play from ear. My sister had a boyfriend and he was in a Wedding Band, he could play any song from ear. It cruicified me that I couldn't. I couldn't even play my guitar without the music in front of me.

I played and took lessons for probably near on 5 years. A year at Primary and then 4 at Secondary. High spot being my friend and I playing in the Interhouse-Music Festival in the school.

Both Boy and Toolibelle took up Guitar Lessons - Boy was more advanced teaching himself, than anyone that the teacher had, he has a natural ability for music. Toolibelle sat her Grade 1 exam, and then pressure of sports and school took its toll.

Boy continued to play and when I'm missing him, I pick up my mobile and I listen to him singing and playing.

This is his Yamaha. I took it out tonight, to see if I could mangle a tune of out it - I never did master Imagine, but I do a pretty mean "Theme for Young Lovers". lol