The Music in Me

I am taking part in The Write Tribe Festival of Words 8th – 14th December 2013. 

     Ever since I could remember music has been the driving force of my life.  It has always been playing in the background.  It is as if my soul needs it to thrive.  I love all types of music.  I love the music that touches my heart and mimics my very thoughts and emotions.  I  crave  music that excites me, gets my blood pumping faster, and my body and head pulsating to the beat.  Somehow I doubt my love for that driving beat will ever change.

        When I was little I remember loving my records and record player.  I could spend hours listening to music.  One song played right after another.  I would dance.  I would sing along.  If I wasn’t playing music, my mother was and lots of it.  Growing up my mom and I went to lots of concerts becoming great friends of many who made their life in the music industry.  I even fancied at one point wanting more than anything to be part of that industry heading straight to Nashville, Tennessee to study music business at Belmont University following high school.  I didn’t plan on becoming homesick or disillusioned, but I was and came home.

 

         When I was about 10 I made up my mind that I wanted to play the piano that stood in the living room.  My mom bought me music books and I began teaching myself.  I learned to read music in class at school and applied that knowledge to my efforts at home.  I would sit at the piano for hours playing every single song in every songbook one right after another.  By the time I was in my 20’s I had mastered the classics and preferred playing them because they provided a challenge.

 

         All through school I sang in the choir and loved it.  When I left school I sang in the choir at church.  Around that time I decided I wanted to take my music to the next level and decided to take piano lessons.  I remember that first lesson.  I took one of my favorite songbooks containing pieces composed by Bach and to my tutor’s amazement played almost perfectly the “Canon in D”.  She taught me which fingers to use where and my playing was perfected.  With her at my side I explored all the classical composers.

      While growing up one of my main musical influences were the tight harmonies of the Oak Ridge Boys.  From the age of about 11 years old on, my family spent almost every weekend and school holiday on the road with the Oak Ridge Boys.  They became dear friends and like family.  They were a significant part of my childhood and through them I met many other illustrious performers across genres in the music industry, attended music award shows, and had some amazing experiences making memories that I cherish to this day.

         These days music is still the backbone of my existence whether I am writing, commenting, creating artwork, or doing housework music is playing full blast in the background.  I type faster to a beat.  My thoughts flow and my creativity soars.  With music, I am inspired and I always want MORE!