Music Is Important . . .

Dear Papabear,

What kind of musical instrument would you want to own and play?

Greg

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Dear Greg,

This is a nice change of pace, someone asking about Papabear! Well, I could sure use a question like this in my current state of stress and mental disarray, so I am happy to take a break from more serious stuff and answer you.

The bear is sad to say he never learned to play an instrument. I did sing in my school choir (bass, even as a boy), and one time I tried to learn the dulcimer (my wife told me I was hurting her ears, so I stopped), but I never learned to read music or really play.

If I WERE to learn something, I would want to learn the piano. Always loved the piano. My grandfather on my mother's side was a pianist for MGM studios back in the days of the Depression. He even appeared in a couple of films, including a Charlie Chaplin movie in which he gets hit in the face with a pie. I've never found that movie, but the thought of my very stoic Grampa being smooshed in the face with banana cream still makes me smile.  I asked him when I was a cub if he would teach me, but his policy was never to teach family members (he never taught my mom, either) because if there was any upset then it could cause family conflict.

So, this is one of the big regrets of my life. I would love to buy a cheap keyboard and try and learn. There is even a nice bear in Palm Springs who gives lessons, but I don't have the money right now to do that.

I think everyone should learn to play something. I feel half illiterate not knowing what the squiggles on a music sheet mean (interesting side note: Paul McCartney never learned, either, and he has to hire people to write down the music he composes). 

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent," said Victor Hugo, and he was so right. Music moves the spirit and nourishes the soul. Music is the universal language that connects us all. The person who does not love music has a tin can where his heart should be.

I'm hoping my life will someday become boring so that I may learn the piano and also get back to my drawing.

I'll probably never get as awesome as this guy, but I'd love to connect to the piano.

Thanks for your question, Greg!

Papabear