Your Answers: Your Musical Inspirations

Last week I asked about your musical inspirations. Here are your replies!

Name: David Scott
Location: Westerville, OH
"I bought my first dulcimer after Robert Force performed at a coffee house in Newark, Ohio around 1970. He was in the area to meet JR Beall a dulcimer builder in Hanover east of Newark. I bought my first dulcimer from Beall."

Name: Larry Griffin
Location: Decatur, Alabama
"I did take piano as a kid but hated it and didn't carry on with it. My wife's ex brother-in-law is a master wood worker and made some dulcimers just for display. He gave one to my wife and she decided she was going to get to play it anyway. Well she did although it doesn't play well. That led to purchase of a good instrument. I decided that, if I was going with her to all these festivals and such I should play also so at age 74 (about 4 years ago) I got one for myself and am loving playing and learning about music."

Name: Roger L
Location: Livonia, Mi
"Took a cruise to Hawaii a few years back, a passenger managed to form a ukulele class with the activity directors blessing and I joined up, as well as a few others. We didn't even have any ukes. We got em at the first island stop, some from walmart, I got the best one, from a music shop, it cost me fifty bucks. We took it very seriously, practiced at least twice a day for the remainder of the trip. The last nite of the cruise we played two songs for the talent show, a full house, and had a ball. Our teacher had a wonderful voice and inspired us all. She was from Portland and invited some of us to the Portland uke festival the next summer. Three from my travel group went and had the time of our lives. Stayed in a college dorm, played ukes, made new friends from all over the world. So yes I was inspired. Thank you Sherry"

Name: Denise Grupp-Verbon
Location: Toledo, OH
"The grade school I went to had a Troubadour Harp (see photo). When instrumental music was introduced in 5th grade, I went home and told my mom I wanted to play the harp. The rest is history. Here I am, preparing to accompany the 5th and 6th grade choir on The Water Is Wide."

Name: Lois Ann W.
Location: Lake Luzerne, NY
"My first instrument, I suppose, other than my voice, was a symphonette -- a sort of recorder, at age 6. The second was the Kimball upright piano my parents bought second hand for 50 when I was 8 (1953!). My Dad and I antiqued it when I moved into my first apartment. More recently, I had it refurbished inside and out, and it still sounds wonderful! It was built in 1911."

Name: Carl W.
Location: Demotte, IN
"Always wanted to learn to play a musical instrument - but never took the time to do so - Upon retirement - Settled on a mountain dulcimer - love the sound and ease of playing by the numbers - Now play with a string instrument group (mainly mountain and Hammer dulcimers) of about 20 members - Have jam sessions once a week - also play at civic functions - churches - care centers - next month we play at the Indiana State Fair - Lots of fun"

Name: Janet
Location: North ft Myers, florida
"My best friend bought one for herself, I tried hers, fell in love and bought my own. It sat around for a year or so until I finally picked it up and got started. My friend never played hers."