"No natural music ability whatsoever"

Many years ago there was a little girl who wanted to become a musician just like her Mommy. Going into the 4th grade the opportunity arose to learn to play the violin. It required passing a test to determine musical ability. She failed. The music teacher determined that she had no "natural ability whatsoever" and he would not take her as a student. The little girl was crushed. Just months before, her mommy had died and she so very much wanted to be a musician just like she was.
The little girl's dad went to bat for her and insisted that the music teacher try so she started on the violin. And, she played it very badly. But, kindly, the music teacher switched her to the cello and she did much better. As she was ready to enter 7th grade, she excitedly looked forward to joining the high school orchestra BUT that year, they dropped the orchestra. What could she do? The new music teacher suggested that she learn to play the guitar and spent that summer getting her started. Then, she took lessons for some years from Mr. Young who was a student of Bill Huber Sr. And she sang under the instruction of Doran Gilhousen. She never stopped playing and singing.
That was my musical start. That first teacher would have never imagined that I would one day be co-owner and manager of a music store in Franklin. He was right that music is not a natural gift for me but it has been my refuge and the greatest gift in my life. I've learned to experience it from a broad perspective. I've combined the love of sound with the love of tinkering in a woodshop to make something and a love for words put to sounds. It's offered opportunity to get kids and adults excited about making something that might also make cool music. It doesn't have to be perfect or worthy of a great audience to bring joy. It's whatever you want to make it. It can be shared or yours alone.
All of these things combine to make Porch Music Store something very different than you might experience anywhere else. Holly and I saw something very different - an "everybody can" kind of space. We saw a space where anyone could find a way to experience and experiment with music. As it has grown, we have been blessed with collaboration of truly gifted musicians and instructors who share the vision of simply allowing others to find their own musical space.
The great Mel Bay once said something that I will paraphrase. It is not about your natural ability for music, it is about the joy you find as you explore it. That's what Porch Music Store is all about. That has been my experience and my musical journey. And I am so very thankful to all who have joined in and collaborated as well as those who continue to jump along.