geekchick | No "Stairway"!

The Post has an article today about local institution Chuck Levin's Washington Music Center.

You haven't seen the ads, you say? Yeah, Chuck's doesn't really do much advertising. Also, employees don't really have titles. The two guys running the place -- Levin's sons, who took over when Chuck died three years ago -- don't really have offices. Most instruments don't really have price tags. Until six months ago, the store didn't have a formal return policy. Buy something and your receipt's handwritten.

Yet somehow, out of its jampacked, run-down, bazaarlike buildings, Chuck's continues to sell more instruments than any other single music store in America.

I keep thinking perhaps I might try taking up the guitar as part of my trying to learn something new to keep my brain from atrophying any more than it has. Or maybe, if

nminusone annoys me enough, the digital accordion. ;) I had an alto sax a very long time ago and was pretty good at it, but it wasn't ever really what I wanted to play. (My school music teacher basically assigned people to instruments based on how well they could get a sound out of a sample mouthpiece, so I didn't get to play flute like I'd hoped and they already had enough clarinet players. Saxophone it was.) I think it's one of those instruments that just works out better if you're good at improv, which I'm not.

What I'd really like to take up would be the cello, but I think serious consideration of that will wait until I'm not living in a townhouse right next to my neighbors who haven't yet pissed me off particularly.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

phinnia.livejournal.com

DENIED.
I've always wanted to try the saxophone. (That reminds me, I need to harass the music department about lessons.)

From:

geekchick

If I had the slightest idea where mine had ended up, you'd be welcome to try it out. I suspect my parents sold it at some point after I wasn't using it anymore.

From:

pecunium.livejournal.com

Buy the cello.

Get bored and frustrated with it.

Give it to me.

:)

TK

p.s. Do they carry penny-whistles?

From:

geekchick

Heh. Ulterior motives, I see. ;)

I don't know if they have pennywhistles or not, but House of Musical Traditions in Takoma Park certainly does. Next time you're in the area for more than 10 hours, we can road trip. =)

From:

pecunium.livejournal.com

It's a nice little shop.

I bought a laminate sweetheart from them (in G, very mellow whistle), which the body of got smashed. I managed to find (on a scrap of paper) their number, called them and found out how to get it repaired.

Sadly (because I really like that whistle) I've failed to get that done.

The problem is the hassle of the mail, and ways in which to better spend the money. When I get back from Korea I really need to take care of it.

But when I come to town next, count on it. I will want to head that way. I know exactly where they are.

TK

From:

pecunium.livejournal.com

Er... looking at the site (and I have a thin weasel, but the end fell off... I'm hoping it's in the car... metal ring to keep the bottom from getting dinged, no change to the tone but...) it seems I have the laminate fife. And probably in D... let me go see if the head tells me anything... Nope. My other Sweethearts all have the key on the head and barrel.

C'est la guerre.

TK

From:

geekchick

The problem is the hassle of the mail, and ways in which to better spend the money.

I can't help really with the money part, but if you still need it repaired by the time I'm out that way next I can ferry it back for you if you want.

But when I come to town next, count on it. I will want to head that way. I know exactly where they are.

Excellent. Trip to HMT and coffee at Mayorga. Sounds like a plan to me. I thought I'd vaguely recalled you saying something about having popped in there when you were temporarily local.

From:

pecunium.livejournal.com

The whistle needs to go to Conn., that Mr. Sweet can repair it(well actually build a new barrel).

The embarrassing thing is how little the money is. I just tend to forget about it (the fipple being in a silk cloth in a drawer) when I'm flush.

HMT?

TK

From:

geekchick

The whistle needs to go to Conn., that Mr. Sweet can repair it(well actually build a new barrel).

Ah, I misunderstood and thought it needed to come back to the store.

HMT?

Sorry, was being lazy. House of Musical Traditions.

From:

wolfy.livejournal.com

Always wanted drums, but figured guitar would be smaller / easier. Ended up with bass. Never got good at it then hurt my hand and gave it up.

<shame> When I was in the church</shame> there was a lady there that played the flute. It was nice (when she didn't screw up), but always lacked in something. Lately I've been having thoughts and desires to learn the harp. I known that in the real world there isn't much hope of that happening ($$$$$$) but it still gives me something to dream about.

Now being the type of person I am I should be making comments about you and playing the flute, but will allow that one to slide by (I'm sure someone will pick up my slack). Still have your band camp t-shirt :)

From:

geekchick

Harp has crossed my mind too, as well as a bunch of other random stringed instruments like the hammered dulcimer, but I've never gotten around to doing anything about it.

From:

wolfy.livejournal.com

I do have a 100+ year old zither in my possession. It either belonged to my grandfathers mother or his grandmother I forget which.

From:

geekchick

Always wanted drums, but figured guitar would be smaller / easier. Ended up with bass.

I've got it! You pick up your bass again, I'll pick up an instrument, we can form a band and do the whole Lindsey Buckingham/Stevie Nicks giant breakup drama/incredible creative output thing. It'll be genius! We'll make a million bucks and retire.