Gather round…
Behind every instrument and voice, there is a person who has stories about the music they play. After someone finishes playing a song at a jam, they might be reminded of an experience they had that is related to the lyrics of the song. Perhaps they remember a place where they first played that song, and the people they were with. You’ll probably learn some history along the way, such as about different technologies people have used to listen to music, like record players or tapes. Or maybe you’ll hear how music helped someone meet a special person or changed their life. You’re already making memories of your own with the music, too. Does playing Boil Them Cabbages Down remind you of your first Pick & Bow recital? How did you feel when you were on stage? What do you remember about the people who were there?
Sharing memories is an important part of any tradition. That’s why Pick & Bow has started an archive of recorded conversations with musicians in the local community. Many of these interviews are with people you might recognize from Pick & Bow. Maybe you see them every week! But even if we see some people often, you might have never sat down and heard about how they got started playing music, what some of their favorite songs are, and other memories that don’t come up every day. Listening to stories can expand the ways we think about music and how it is part of our lives. The next time you sit down to play music with someone, try thinking of a question you might want to ask them!
