Did you know that for many folks learning to play an instrument is the #1 on their bucket lists? Creativity doesn’t have an expiration date.
I really wanted to play the piano when I was little. I would go with Pammy, the girl next door and sit and listen to her lesson. She hated them, I loved just being in the same room with a piano. Our family couldn’t afford the lessons so my concert pianist career was denied. In college one of my dorm mates had to teach newbies for her degree, I finally put my fingers on the keys. Those five weeks were magical for me. Again not having a piano made learning the instrument difficult for me.
I understand for many men having a drum set in the basement is as big as purchasing the Mustang as a symbol of their so-called midlife crisis. When I was 50 I bought a drum. My drum is a Native American drum. It is stretched with elk skin and a drum stick of feathers and leather. I love my drum. I put music on and walk around the house beating to the bass. I make music. I create sound. It is a lot easier to carry around the house than a piano.
Then I met Jenny Robinson. I hope you’ll take a gander at her website and youtube videos because she is amazing. She MAKES drums. Well actually they’re called handpans. The sound is exquisite, it’s other worldly.
It’s how your heart would sing outloud if we could hear it. 
Jenny takes two sheets of steel, she bends it, she shapes it, she builds notes into the steel. The steel is heated, it responds to her touch.
The instrument was invented in 2000 in Switzerland as the proprietary Hang instrument until 2013. Instrument makers in Europe and the US began to make their own version and so Handpan was created. There are only about one hundred creators in the world and I got to meet one! How cool is that. She does workshops so be sure to let her know you’ll be interested in attending or playing on her handpan.
So how do you march to the beat of your “music”? One of my friends wants to start Ukele lessons at the Senior Center. Researchers have shown that as we age music can heal our bodies through the vibrations instruments create. Focus, patience, learning something new with an instrument all help with the skills we must have in our daily life. So regardless if you’re wanting to pick up the piano, the drum or the uke, try it you just might like it.
Do you make music? Do you listen to music? Have you prepared your song list? That list that your family and friends can play for you to tie you to your past some day? How has music impacted your life. Please come over to the Facebook page and leave some thoughts.
Contact: Jenny Robinson, Ithmus Instruments at isthmusinstruments@gmail.com
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