Midlife and the Mandolin

Thoughts on a non-quite-impulse purchase

I have a track record with musical instruments. I have bought guitars, ukuleles, even a hammered dulcimer (because Rich Mullins was a huge influence in my life) and I’ve had no success learning to play them. I mean, I can do a few chords on the uke, but that’s it.

What’s so maddening is that all four of my kids have insane musical talent. My oldest plays piano and flute, my second plays viola, my third plays bass (upright and electric), piano, and composes music, and my youngest plays oboe, ukulele and tenor sax. I’m very proud of them. I’ve paid truckloads of money for instruments and lessons, and I consider it money well spent.

But I want the joy of making music too. But I have some obstacles.

First of all, I’m 52 years old. My brain and fingers didn’t get music lessons in childhood - so learning will take longer.

Second, I’m left-handed. Most instruments are set up for right-handed people. (Yes, I tried a lefty guitar.)

Third, and most importantly, I’m busy. It’s hard to carve out time to practice, which is the real reason I never got “over the hump” with the other instruments, I think.

A few weeks ago, there was a church campout which my family attended. The evenings were spent sitting around the fire, while Nathan (our music guy) noodled around on his guitar and mandolin. I was insanely jealous, because I wanted to be able to do that - be able to relax and enjoy playing.

And then I realized that my employer gives us a $3000 learning stipend (most of which was unspent) that I could use on music lessons!

Problem: My right shoulder is messed up, and I can’t extend my arm that far without pain. So until rehab is over, playing my lefty guitar was out. I remembered back to the campout, and how cool the mandolin sounded. I’ve always liked the sound of the instrument. And it’s short, so my shoulder could probably handle it.

I went on Monday to the local Guitar Center and tried one out. Even with my left-handedness, a normal mandolin felt good - I could fret, I could strum. I began doing research on mandolins. The next day, I ordered one. It arrived yesterday.

I still haven’t told my family - I don’t want to hear the “there he goes again” comments that are sure to come. They’ll figure it out when they see it on the wall of my office. I’ll set up lessons as soon as a finish a few household projects that need to take priority.

My goal is not mastery - I’m never going to sound like Chris Thile or Ricky Skaggs. My goal is to make music that doesn’t totally suck. That’s not too much to ask, right? RIGHT?