Thursday, 02 July 2009

• Growing

  Nancy called a few evenings ago.  The community churches were organizing an event to raise money to help the needy.  Many in the area have gone to the churches for help and the churches were calling on the community at large to help them.  Nancy was organizing some of the entertainment.  She asked us to take the 5:00-5:30 spot, which we did, playing our dulcimers.  The fundraiser was successful.  A couple of thousand dollars came in that night, and will be matched by the local Lions club and others.  I heard something like $4,000 was raised.  There is talk about doing it again before the summer is over, because $4,000 won't go far.  

  Nancy and Lois played first at 4:00.  Phillip and his father played between 4:30 & 5:00.  We played right after them with a dance group following us, a church choir and a barbershop quartet after the choir.  Our playing was not really a big deal.  We did about 6 or 7 pieces,  we talked to the folks a bit, had a little fun, you know.  What was a big deal was the fact that Nancy, our instructor, was in the audience.  For the first time, she was able to see our level of professionalism (we are still learning, but getting better every time we play).  Phillip is Steven's guitar instructor.  He was also sitting in the audience, which was the first time for him as well.  If we would have known this performance would have been played for both our instructors at the same time, we (especially I) could have got nerved up over it.  Instead, since we just did what we like to do, it went well.  Nancy was so proud, she kept telling everyone who would listen, "They are my students".  Phillip didn't say much.  He's more difficult to read.  Steven has a lesson tomorrow afternoon.  I expect he may get some feedback then, hopefully positive.

  We are becoming more in demand this summer.  We have been asked to play almost every Saturday morning at a local farmers market.  We have agreed to as many as possible (feasibly) without over-committing, taking it one or two weeks at a time.  We played for the Civil War re-enactment (a previous post).  We played for the Old Mill Festival a couple of weeks ago.  This was a fundraiser for Huntington's Disease and a historical celebration for Greenfield Mills combined.  We played at Nancy's church a couple of weeks ago (with Nancy).  We played last Friday evening at the Golden Gate Restaurant (we played for our supper, literally!  ). We have been asked to play for Burr Oak Days, another historical celebration later in July.  We enjoy playing for money (who doesn't?), but my kids feel more pressure when there is money involved.  If we're just playing for tips, then we can do what we want, when we want, without worrying about pleasing anyone else.  But we certainly won't turn it down if given the opportunity. 

  But what an experience this is turning out to be!  We continue to have more interest in our talent as we play out.  We never used to be comfortable being in front of people, but the more we do it, the more we relax.  We are growing both in skills and in recognition.  Amazing.  We always play old-time favorite church hymns mixed into some of the more folksy stuff.  We use the music as a means of testimony.  If we continue to improve & grow, there's only one reason:  because He has a hand in it. 

  Just contemplating  ~  Terri 

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