Autoharp
Downey Autoharp Circle
June, 2010. What in the world am I thinking of? I just gathered together 3 friends who would like to practice and play autoharp every week. The Devil’s scratchboard I call it!
It was supposed to be an easy-to-learn instrument. Ha! That was before they told me about the zillions of different strums to learn. So, strums it is, along with a whole book of Christmas tunes (Yes, we still practice the new ones all year long!), and the Mel Bay Complete Method of autoharp or Chromaharp by Meg Pearson. This excellent instruction book shows us the strums as well as the chords to tunes to play and sing. It comes with a CD so a person can hear as well as read assignments.
The Downey Autoharp Circle has played a few open mics, proving to ourselves that diligent practice makes a better player. That simply means we can’t play in public until we improve. Amen.
Should you wish to join our die-hard group and strum with us, we guarantee instant gratification, as a simple strum is just that – simple. We’ll hold your hand and press the chord buttons just so you get the feel of it. After a tune or two, you’ll be on your own. We are sure of it! We even have a loaner instrument available to get you started. Our autoharp circle meets most every Friday at a private home in Downey from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m.
More often than not, Bea and Pat pick up a few guys – well, OK, our husbands – and go out to lunch after practice, another event you are welcome to join. Oh yeah, Lynn grabs her neighbor down the street and even brings her mother to chaperone. However, on the 2nd Friday of the month, we head over to Mambo Grill at 11018 Downey Avenue (just north of Firerstone Blvd.) for yet another music jam: Pat’s Music Jam is from 2 – 5 p.m. It’s on that particular day we bug out of practice a little early so we have sufficient time for lunch. Often we find other jammers doing the same. Pat follows the same round-robin style as the Downey Folk Music Jam (See: Etiquette under the Jam page). There is no charge or registration.
So, that’s about it. Should you be independently wealthy, retired, supported by another or otherwise available Friday afternoons, come on over and strum along with us. All you’ll get out of it is some new friends, the satisfaction of learning a new instrument, and new brain cells for your hard work. Guaranteed.