I'm a well-made guitar. My express purpose was to be something middle-ground: well-crafted for an experienced player, but affordable enough for a beginner. I was crafted by Ibanez to produce a traditional as well as a modern guitar. Technology moves forward at a frantic pace and the world of guitar craftsmanship is no different. I was made to respect the rich tradition of the acoustic guitar while adding modern interpretations. I am a proud specimen of this.
Naturally when I was first created I had hopes of being in a band, of travelling, of being the next star of Nashville. Those dreams were short-lived when I was bought by an aspiring musician who spent more than he could afford on all the bells and whistles, took me home, and soon gave up on learning guitar. I collected dust in my barely-touched hard case for a few years before he sold me to a local music store. What originally had cost him over $300 was now being sold all together for $150.
I accepted my faith to collecting dust rather than memories when a young girl in high school excitedly bought me. She knew nothing about playing the guitar, saying she had a friend that would teach her to play. I prepared myself for a few more years of being forgotten. But then, I was pleasantly surprised to find that she did learn to play from her friend. She then continued to teach herself in the first few months, playing Bible School songs hesitantly. Her strumming was to be in want, but she learned quickly how to create chords and making a clear, resonating sound. I thought I had had my fill of "Our God is an Awesome God" when I found out why: I was going to play for kids at a Summer Camp. Apparently she had started learning guitar after being asked in a job interview for music director, "can you play guitar?" To which she replied, "No, but I can learn!"
And so, every week for an entire summer, I was surrounded by excited children, being led in song and dance by this young girl. I was carried constantly outside in the sweltering heat to inside a freezing worship hall. Thankfully I'm a hearty instrument, but I would object on occasion. I did my best to give it my all, though. This girl was always so passionate about singing and playing with the campers, and I led them all in worship with my upbeat music. Then come the weekend, she kept playing with me, practicing whenever she could for as long as her blistering fingers could stand.
It wasn't the path I was expecting, but I found it incredibly fulfilling. Naturally I was excited to find out that my journey didn't stop at the summer camp: she was going to study Music Therapy, where she would continued to learn to play guitar. It was here that she did her best to buckle down and learn as much as she could. With the help of professors, private teachers, and friends, she improved day by day, month by month, semester by semester.
She took me to all sorts of places for school. I have sung everything from "A Little Help from My Friends", to "Creep", to "My Wild Irish Rose", to "Old Mac Donald". I've been excitedly strummed by children and led self-conscious adults in singing beautiful music together.
After four years of school and a year of internship, she became a music therapist herself. Now I spend most of my days visiting homes with family members on the autism spectrum. From ages 5 up to 25, everyone seems to love when I step out of my guitar. Maybe I'm not strummed gently always, or I get bumped and scraped when the therapist has to reach for something quick. It's not glamorous work, but when I see how I'm helping people with my art, I realize I wouldn't trade it for the world.
She took me to all sorts of places for school. I have sung everything from "A Little Help from My Friends", to "Creep", to "My Wild Irish Rose", to "Old Mac Donald". I've been excitedly strummed by children and led self-conscious adults in singing beautiful music together.
After four years of school and a year of internship, she became a music therapist herself. Now I spend most of my days visiting homes with family members on the autism spectrum. From ages 5 up to 25, everyone seems to love when I step out of my guitar. Maybe I'm not strummed gently always, or I get bumped and scraped when the therapist has to reach for something quick. It's not glamorous work, but when I see how I'm helping people with my art, I realize I wouldn't trade it for the world.
