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| Coming home from guitar camp and singing our hearts out on the ferry |
Truly it couldn't have been more perfect. I adore being with my lovely, funny, lively sisters and we live thousands of miles away so this was a grand reunion. When we got to the camp, which was rustic and in the woods, there was a pristine lake. Since we all love to swim and the weather was in the eighties I could foresee some salvation for my guitar anxiety. No question, that part was perfect. However....
The guitar camp was a big challenge for me. I'm not used to being the worst in a class of anything and oh, indeed I was. Prior to signing up for my teacher's class, I proudly told her, "I know some jazz chords and sing and play some snappy tunes from the thirties and forties", thinking this meant the class would be a breeze. "Good for you, you should do well then," she said. Well, I couldn't have been more wrong. Upon starting my first class, when the teacher told us we were going to do the scales, my thought was, "what in the world am I doing here?" I'm of the home-schooled-folk-rock-schlep-it kind of guitar player. What scales?? Momentary paralysis set in but then I quickly decided that challenge was good for my brain and my character so I persevered. "Suck it up and dig in," became my mantra to my semi deflated ego.
We were allowed to take three classes a day and due to my ineptness in that first class I took two easier classes for the rest of the day. That was good--in the other two classes I didn't feel like a first grader in an eighth grade class. It also meant I could enjoy the spirit of the camp: all about learning and having a wonderful time, especially with my three sisters. A big bonus was we swam every day and had delightful encounters with various other students at the camp while resting on the raft.
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| With brother Bob at his house and here are the sisters who went to camp |
At the guitar camp we became known, not as individuals but as "The Sisters". I thought that was funny and not only didn't mind, but enjoyed the notoriety. As part of the camp experience you have the option of doing a performance. Another plus was you could request to have anyone of the teachers or students back you, and the talent was extraordinary. I was very impressed with Annie, a young woman who taught and played blue grass fiddle. Prior to the camp I had the sisters listen to a song that I particularly loved by the Dixie Chicks. So when I asked Annie if she'd consider accompanying "the Sisters" with that song she said, "yes, but I've never heard of the Dixie Chicks". Trust me, she could play anything and was a joy to listen to, so I had confidence in her. In me? As lead guitarist? No, I'm always the second banana. Lead singer? Yet another challenge. Again, yikes.
Are you surprised that the sisters took that option to perform times three? None of us is shy, and as one sister pointed out, that's a gross understatement. It's our good fortune that we've been singing together since we were children. Luckily the songs come easily as does the four part harmony. A friend called it "genetically engineered voices," and it's always a pleasure to sing with my sisters. We ended up singing and playing every night with various people at the camp, reveling in our time together. As for reveling, it's what we're accustom to, in fact we call ourselves "Sibling Revelry" when we perform.
Our first performance was with a big band and because I was just part of the group- no sweat- it was fun and went well. We sang, Dan Hicks' "How Can I Miss You If You Won't Go Away" and the audience cheered. Didn't hurt that we had the fabulous swing band behind us.
The next day loomed for me. I'd signed up for it and what if I screwed up? I looked at the play list for the student concert, hoping against hope that I was on early in the program. Then I could be done with the worrying. But I wasn't on until almost the end of the program. I'm sure my groan was audible. When I complained to a fellow student about my concerns about being on so late, she said, "this is the most supportive audience you could possibly have. Even if people are bleeding out of their eyeballs with exhaustion, they will be there until the end of the program." I laughed and it shut me right up.
Sally was up early in the program and we were doing a comfortable song that she wrote about another sister, "Don't Call Me Honey Until You Know What Kind of Mood I'm In". Our accompanists were a tuba player and a flute. Fun and funny. We've performed it before and it's always a hit with the audience.
Interestingly, I usually choose zippy musical numbers that are somewhat silly and I do the harmonies, second banana style. This time I'd chosen a slow soulful number, was to be the lead singer and was the main guitar. Sanity did reign in that I had not only Annie but Sally backing us up [on fiddle and guitar] and of course the sisters singing four part harmony. I expected to be in the audience dreading the hours I'd have to wait to perform, but instead I ended up being enchanted by all the brave, talented students. My focus shifted to them not my own anxiety. Time raced by as I was enveloped by the warmth, the talent and love at the camp.
Finally it was my turn to go on. Prior to the emcee announcing us, I was excited more than nervous and I was just so happy to be meeting the challenge I'd set for myself. I didn't screw up, I actually loved the experience, in the lead, singing with my sisters. The song I choose? The Dixie Chicks' "I Believe in Love" and, god help me, I do.
It is worth it- to take up a challenge, in fact, I personally recommend it... but then,
I believe in love.
susansmagicfeather 2013 copyright Susan R. Grout all rights reserved
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