...So, I added listening to Country Music between Wagner compositions...it actually relaxed me from the carnage of Sigfried, Die Valkure, and other such works. I would listen to the bass lines of the Country Music, and get an idea of the chord progression. When I was playing WITH the String Bass in a practice room...I WASN'T practicing...I was just having fun...my piano music would be sitting on the piano... a Country Music song would run through my mind...and I would accompany it on the String Bass.
...Once, Ted came in, when I was doing that...CARRYING HIS DAMN BANJO!!!

I stopped plucking the strings...I usually plucked...bowing the damn thing was HARD. He said, "Start again, I know what you were playing." I did, and then he joined...

...It was FUN!!! We played a few more, and he corrected me, at times, saying, "It is a 4th chord, going up to a 6th, and then coming down to a 3rd...and then settling down. We then practiced often in the months that followed, and I learned a lot about Country Music...and...most importantly...ABOUT MUSIC!!!
...It IS the most SUBLIME Art Form there is. IMHO The 'Arts' are there to inspire, comfort, and get our minds 'THINKING'. You can look at a painting, or sculpture, and walk away...your mind thinking differently for a while. (Cooking is also an 'Art'...IMHO...you can put something in your mouth...and your 'THINKING' will be different...

...I have written short letters to give to the Chef over just how GOOD the food was...a few times I left most of the meal on my plate...paid the Bill...and left. My 'THINKING' was different each time.

) But, MUSIC lasts for SO LONG!!!
...Ted convinced me to accompany him at 'Solo Class', playing the String Bass, while he played the Banjo. I did agree...I had decided that I was going to change my Major to Business Administration. I said, "The Dean won't approve us doing that." And Ted just shrugged, saying, "We will tell Him that we are going to play a violin and cello duet the week before." Ted did tell the Dean that...but I wasn't comfortable. I had my usual weekly meeting with the Dean...I was President of the Students...we discussed the usual matters. I then shifted in my seat, and said..."Ah, Ted and I want to play a joke at the next Solo Class." He sighed, and said, "What do you want to do?" I explained it...and He laughed and said..."Let ME get into the 'Act'...I will come out at the end...yell at the two of you...and turn to the students...and explain that we are trying to train PROFESSIONAL MUSICIANS."
...I laughed, and said..."It is a deal." He smiled...He knew that I was changing Majors...I had spoken to Him many times that I was realizing that Music would have be a Hobby with me...I had started the Cello and the Piano way too late in my life. He actually got me to change my Major to Music Education for a while...but the thought of being a Music Teacher just didn't grab the essence of my inner self. I mean...Music Teachers affected me much more positive than any other Teacher...but I just didn't imagine that I could do that...plus...I wasn't sure that I could handle working with large groups of TEENAGERS day in...day out...plus...every year...
...I WOULD HAVE TO CONFRONT ONE LIKE MYSELF...OR MAYBE EVEN TWO!!!!
