G McBride Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 My niece and her husband came to Indiana this weekend for her HIgh School reunion. We watched the two sons last night. The older of the son's is twelve and plays a Viola in school but wants to play guitar also. Last time they were up we played around with a guitar and a bass to see what he would prefer. Last night I decided to send him back to South Carolina with my old Citation guitar. This is a guitar that is over 30 years old because I have owned it that long and I think it was used when I got it. All I did to the guitar was replace the original tuning machines with a good set of Grovers. I also put the guitar in a decent hard shell case for him and sent him on his way to start playing. Because he played the Viola, I set down with him and taught him some Blues LIcks instead of teaching him chords. Told his mom and dad to pick him up a beginner book to show him how to play chords. He may start getting guitar lessons in school this year in their second semester. Did my part this week to start off a new player. Got to keep teaching these kids music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 Excellent! What a nice thing to do. When I was 8 years old (about a 1000 years ago) when my mother was in hospital after just giving birth to my sister, my father and I were asked over to dad's manager's house for dinner. My younger brother must have gone to a baby sitter. The manager's wife had just bought herself a new Martin something, and was very, very pleased with herself and gave me her old acoustic guitar! I was on the way to playing guitar! I have a old acoustic with someone's name on it when they present themselves, but as of yet no-one is really interested. BluesKing777. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilliangirl Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 What a lovely gesture and a great way to inspire a new life. I remember vividly how I came into my first guitar, and the people who inspired me to that point (and after). He will always remember fondly what you did for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G McBride Posted August 14, 2011 Author Share Posted August 14, 2011 I wanted to be sure that Victor got a guitar that he could play. All too many times a parent will go out and get a guitar that is only going to discourage the child from playing. The old Citation I gave him has been adjusted so that it will play. I got rid of the cheap tuners and put a good set of grovers on it a few years back so that it would stay in tune. Put on new strings and put it in a good dread case and sent him home. Can't wait to hear him next time I see him. MIght see them again in December. BluesKing, your mother was in the hospital just hangin out and just giving birth. I'll bet she would love your simplification of the ordeal, I chuckled when I read that. Keep picking, Gill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
57classic Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 A great and wonderful gesture. He will remember you always and probably repeat the deed down the line. [thumbup] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G McBride Posted August 14, 2011 Author Share Posted August 14, 2011 That is my goal that he will take up playing and pass the giving on some day when he is older and able to do so. He has a little brother so at the very least, I hope he helps the younger brother learn to play when he gets old enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
larryp58 Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 Good form, G! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zombywoof Posted August 14, 2011 Share Posted August 14, 2011 Excellent! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MissouriPicker Posted August 15, 2011 Share Posted August 15, 2011 Gill, that was pretty cool. The day will come when that young man will really understand and appreciate what the gift of music means in one's life, and a large portion of that appreciation will be "you." You helped improve someone's life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G McBride Posted August 15, 2011 Author Share Posted August 15, 2011 Thanks for all the good words from everyone. My Grandchildren have all received musical gifts from me. I have given them Guitars, Drums, Amps, Harmonicas and instructional videos on how to play each instrument. I have also played guitar with the two oldest grandsons who are now 15 and 11 but we started a couple of years ago. We all need to hand down a few things to the young generation growing up today. Patriotism because it is not taught in the schools any more. Integrity, because the world seems to have forgotten that your word should be your bond. Music, because it is a way to express yourself. The world according to Gill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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