Rowan County is rich with musical talent.
One only has to visit any of the many open mic nights that take place in and
around the downtown Salisbury area to know this to be true. Although we have
many local professionals and celebrity musicians which are celebrated
throughout North Carolina, I am especially fond of listening to the amateur and
up-and-coming musicians that explore their abilities and express their talents
for free.
I am a long-time lover of live music but
have only recently taken the time to explore my own capabilities. My father and
brothers have always played an array of instruments including, but not limited,
to keyboard, drums, and guitar. I have collected many instruments over the
years and currently have a music room equipped with three guitars, two
keyboards, a microphone, and even a digeridoo, yet my instrument of choice has
become the harmonica.
In November of 2017, I participated in a
six-week beginner’s harmonica workshop taught in Concord, NC by professional
musician, Todd Parrott. I was blown away by his overblows and drawn in by his
draws. Parrott has been playing for nearly thirty years and has been called
“One of the Tastiest & Most Accomplished Overblow Players Around Today"
by Brendan Power, professional
harmonica player and inventor of various harmonicas and tunings. For more
information about Parrott visit his website at www.ToddParrott.com,
or better yet, take one of his workshops!
I received my first true tin sandwich, a
diatonic Hohner Special 20 in the key of C and I have been practicing any and
every chance I get. To supplement my budding fascination for the mouth harp, I
was able to find, not one, not two, but three harmonica guides in the
non-fiction collection of Rowan Public Library! The items I’d found seemed to
have my name written all over them:
·
Country
& Blues Harmonica for the musically Hopeless
by Jon Gindick [Non-Fiction – 788.82 GIN]
·
The
Complete Idiot’s Guide to Playing the Harmonica
by William Melton [Non-Fiction – 788.8219 MEL]
·
Mel
Bay’s Fun with Harmonica: An Instruction method for diatonic, chromatic, and
blues styling by William Bay [Non-Fiction – 788.8216
BAY]
I can’t think of a better New Years
resolution than to bring more music into your life and into our community and
Rowan Public Library can help! Rowan Public Library is home to thousands of
items (Books, CDs, DVDs, oh, my!) to educate, engage, excite & encourage
the musical entrepreneur.
Another way Rowan Public Library offers
patrons the opportunity meet their personal development goals that come along
with the New Year are Gale Course. Gale courses are online classes which are instructor
led, highly interactive, and structured enough to keep you learning and growing
yet allow you the freedom to work at your own pace and comfort-level. As a library card holder in good standing, you are entitled
to these courses at no cost. Courses
run for six weeks and new sessions begin every month!
A couple of the wonderful Gale courses
which may inspire a deeper knowledge and appreciation of music include:
·
Music
Made Easy: earn the fundamentals of music theory. Be able to
read, write, and play simple music.
·
Introduction
to Guitar: Master basic guitar skills and become the musician
you've always wanted to be.
To explore Gale Courses for yourself,
visit Rowan Public Library’s website at www.rowanpubliclibrary.org,
click or hover over the SERVICES & SUPPORT tab and then simply click Gale
Courses.
Just want to listen and enjoy some great
music? Then keep an eye out for the next free concert held at the Main Branch
of Rowan Public Library in Downtown Salisbury sponsored by Cheerwine and the
Friends of Rowan Public Library.
Emma
Rose
Due:
12-22-2017
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