Why did I wait so long? (Page 1 of 2)

That's awesome deadstring!!!!

Kills 2 birds...you get to occupy your time doing something you love and helping others out at the same time. Really good stuff. Praying for the other gigs for ya!!!!

Thank you.

Good for you Deadstring.  Some of my fondest memories of my youth include playing in a stage band at a nursing home.  I can recall one old lady who sat in an electric wheelchair.  Strokes had almost completely paralyzed her.  Her head had to be strapped up in the chair and all she could do was move her right hand a little bit.  That was where they put the controls for her wheelchair.  Darned if she didn't get on the dance floor and get that wheelchair grooving!  Another woman who was bedbound and weak asked a candystriper to remove the blankets from her feet.  She didn't have the strength to move them with the weight of the blankets on them, but she wanted to tap her feet along to the rhythm.  I'll remember those two fine old ladies in my heart as long as I remember how to play music.

Yeah.  I call those 711 songs - same joke.  Sing it acapela.  OK now sing it fast.  Now sing it with just the drums.  Now the full band - louder, louder, louder.  Now the electric guitar solo.  Now a quick stop and just the lead singer (eyes closed and face heavenward of course) - others joining in as they realize the song hasn't actually stopped.  Now start the rhythm back in.  Full band again.  Now real slow.  OK now make sure that there are people hanging on to certain words very loudly in their microphones - about an octave above.  Now back to acapela (and make it a prayer). 

Not my speed.  Some folks like it.  It's supposed to put one in the mood for worship and to praise the Lord, but I just don't get it.  I don't object, I just don't get it.  I'll wait for my turn on something like this for modern "worship" music: v=ShAfHM4npdk&feature=related

- Zurf

Thats a great contribution too the people at those homes,you are a good person for doing so much for them.

Two thumbs up Deadstring.!!  What an excellent way to share your music!

And nice story Zurf.  Certainly a great memory.

DE

Thanks for all the kind words and encouragement! Chordie folks are great folks, but then we knew that already!!!

Awesome Deadstrings, your reward will be smiling faces and happy people,

badeye      way 

Awesome Deadstring! Keep the good work going.      Mike

Good on you, Deadstring! There are a lot of nursing/care homes within a few miles of where I live, so it's given me an idea to follow your lead. I would have to get together a few more popular songs - my repertoire is pretty eclectic! I also sing in a choir, so they may also be interested in doing something for the old folks...

There is a forum for tuba players called Sean Chisham's Tubenet.
I read a post by another forum member describing how he played Christmas carols on his tuba at Christmas time - relieving the bell ringer at the entrance to Wal-Mart for an hour to give the bell ringer a break as well as the ears of the cashiers inside the door.
I thought that was so cool, I called the Salvation Army, got permission and contacted a bell ringer and set up a appointment for me to play my tuber (That's Alabama speak for tuba) at 6 P.M. on Christmas Eve.
I brought a chair and my horn and repeated the ten carols I had prepared over and over for an hour.
The problem was, the bell ringer took the money bucket with her. People wanted to toss dollar bills down the bell of my horn and I had to warn them if they did that we may never see it again. I stuffed money in all my pockets until the bell ringer came back. Apparently the novelty of a tuba playing Christmas music generated a huge quantity of donations.
Several Wal-Mart cashiers kindly told me they enjoyed it and I had a really good time too.
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