Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)

Subject: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: JenEllen
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 11:37 PM

Well, I went and did it. After much deliberation, I gave them away. A pair of violins that I never seem to have time to play anymore went to a happy new home in a middle school music program. I'm a firm believer in an instrument needing to be 'used' regularly, so it didn't seem right to have them collecting dust. I was assured that they would be well looked after, and that I was giving an opportunity to a kid that might not have had one before...but dammit it HURTS!

Anyone else have similar experiences? And more importantly, how do you get over the urge to break into a middle school music room in the middle of the night just to say 'hi'?

~JenEllen

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: hesperis
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 11:46 PM

Ouch.

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Philibuster
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 11:50 PM

I haven't had to say goodbye to any of my babies...yet. Everything is starting to pile up. I'm not going to think about it. It's pretty damn morbid. Like thinking about what people would say in your euology.

*shudder*

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: JenEllen
Date: 14 Jul 01 - 11:54 PM

Well, I forgot to mention that they weren't 'only children'. I have other instruments that I play more frequently. I just thought it was horrible to let them languish unattended, and it seemed like a good cause. I think I'm going to be the only non-parent smiling at every gawdamn middle school concert....

~J

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: blt
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 01:01 AM

I've given away instruments before, it's never an easy decision and I always miss them afterwards. Sometimes I even forget that I no longer have them. I've had to sell instruments and PA equipment to get money to live on (that was the worst). When I've given an instrument away it's been because I haven't played it in a long time and then I run into someone who really wants to play but is too broke to buy a guitar. I've never given up all my instruments though, I've never been that broke. I'll probably bequeath my favorite guitar to my grandson.

blt

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Celtic Soul
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 01:34 AM

Ya done right. Like kids, they need to be played with.

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: GUEST,Slowhand Tom
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 02:30 AM

I've given a couple away to promising young students; and some hang on my wall looking nice (stiff action, I say; hard to play). So long as the middle school concerts give you reason to smile--smiling's good. As for giving them to grandchildren, doesn't Pete Seeger have a lyric, "When these fingers can strum no longer, Hand the old guitar to young ones stronger"

Well maybe now with a lighter load, your fingers will fly a little faster over the strings you've kept. And I do think that charity makes our music sweeter.

Tom

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: GUEST,Roger
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 04:38 AM

A few weeks a go someone asked to buy one of my instruments, I was surprised by the request coming out of the blue and had time to think about it
So I thought to myself how many times had I played it (very little), would I ever have the time to work with it (no), was it right to see it gather dust unplayed (no), did it have any sentimental value (no)
I had been considering hanging it on the wall as an interesting ornament but I kept on remembering how I once read that many old instruments had been taken out of use to be put in display cabinets in theme pubs
So I gave it away, to someone I like, who will play it and will not sell it
On the last point I hope you have a written agreement from the school that they will not sell your instruments JenEllen. I know of someone who has a wonderful and valuable instrument that was sold to them for next to nothing by a school to purchase recorders

Roger

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 05:47 PM

JE! yer a stronger man than I am!! LOL!!

Good move, sharing them, but damn... that's really gotta hurt!

*Round of applause for JE's selflessness*

This round's on me!

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Amos
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 06:45 PM

Huzzah to you both CH and JE, sez I. Two pints to follow on me! One for courage and one for cheer.

A

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Clinton Hammond
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 07:19 PM

o.k... but then I gotta go hug my guitars...

:-)

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: kendall
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 07:30 PM

I gave away a piccolo which I never had a clue how to play. It was given to me by a friend over 30 years ago. No instrument deserves to be buried in a velvet coffin!

As for the old Gibson I gave to Dave Mallett, he likes it more than I did, and, he plays it. Nuff said. Sure I get a twinge of loss sometimes, but, he still calls it "your guitar" and I have visitation rights.

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 15 Jul 01 - 08:19 PM

JenEllen, I already knew you as a kind and generous person. You deserve all the grins you get from the middle school concerts!

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Bert
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 12:10 AM

I know, it hurts, even that cheapie guitar I bought for $8 at Goodwill, cleaned it up and put new strings on it, checked that the action was OK, and gave to a neighbor's kid. I asked her later how she was getting on with it and she replied "I never get to play it much+, my sisters keep stealing it". So I guess I really gave it to the whole family.

So don't worry, your fiddles will think loving thoughts about you every time they are played.

Subject: RE: Saying Goodbye To Your Instrument(s)
From: Cappuccino
Date: 16 Jul 01 - 04:07 AM

Giving instruments is admirable, I believe. However, they always say 'never sell your last guitar, 'cos some day it may be your last chance to make some money'. Last night I was considering my perilous financial situation, and thought about selling my lovely Fender Precision bass, which has been with me for well over twenty years. Apparently it's worth enough to pay a few big bills. So I took it out of the case, looked at it, played it a bit... and thought 'no, I'll find the money some other way!' Regards - Ian B