I’m pretty sure I could also be the lead singer of a band

A week and a half ago JQ taught me how to read music in the middle of the afternoon.

The next day I rocked out.*

Many years ago I knew how to read music. I learned on the recorder in the 4th grade—an instrument we are now in possession of once again thanks to JQ’s course work. I could play “We Don’t Need Another Hero” on the keyboard. Which was obviously awesome. I played the guitar for awhile in my preteen and early teen years. I was in a couple of choral groups in high school along with the musicals. I knew at least a little about music.

Somewhere along my path to adulthood I lost that knowledge. My focus shifted to the visual arts instead of the musical arts. I forgot everything I had once learned about reading music or playing an instrument. I couldn’t play a chord. I couldn’t hum a note in a particular key on purpose. I had no idea what a flat or a sharp was on the piano. And I was okay with that.

Then I fell in love with a musician.

Funny thing about falling in love with and marrying a musician—it makes you wish you never forgot how to play.

For nearly a decade I did nothing about it. Last year, in an attempt to dust off that long dormant portion of my brain, I added learning how to play a kid’s song on the guitar to my 101 in 1001 list. I think it would awesome to be able to just pick up a guitar and join an impromptu sing-a-long without sounding like a hack. When I first added that goal to my list I considered learning “Jellyman Kelly” by James Taylor. I think that might be a tad excelled for my current skill set. Maybe the ABC song is more up my alley. Either way, I have yet to tackle that goal.

Instead, a week and a half ago I learned how to play “America the Beautiful” on the piano while G-tot took his afternoon nap. It was fantastic. JQ and I were just hanging out and I asked him to show me how to read the notes on a bit of sheet music. It was actually “Rock-a-Bye Baby” and not “America the Beautiful” but that was just the beginning. I knew the acronyms Every Good Boy Does Fine and FACE but I didn’t remember where they were when you looked at a piece of music. Then he showed me middle C on the piano and what a scale consisted of. Slowly and incredibly out of time I played each note until I hit the end of the song. Then I did it again. And again.

A little later I found America the Beautiful and managed to read and play it without any help. Which, you know, is kind of awesome. I’m no genius and can only play the single notes right now, but I’m working on it. You can’t rush these things.

The next night JQ’s bandmate Chas came over. I asked him if JQ had told him about my awesome newfound skills on the piano. Which he had. Of course. Who wouldn’t want to share this fantastic discovery? While the two of them were playing a jazz piece that night I leaned over and took a peak at the sheet music. Then I played the first few notes. Then a C chord JQ had taught me earlier. Which wowed Chas and sent us spiraling into this jam session that lasted the next hour and a half or so. It was so much fun. And as I mentioned earlier, I totally rocked out.*

*The degree of rocking out is based on my extremely biased opinion. I’m not rushing off to the next Battle of the Bands or anything.