That Wasn't So Bad...

On thursday nights I practice with the choir at my church. I used to sing in the choir when I first moved to charles town but gave it up after about two months. At the time I was commuting to DC every day and I just got tired of having to go to church an hour early every sunday so that I could learn what we were suppose to sing. In those days I wouldn't get home till 8 or 9 o'clock at night so there was no chance to make the once/week practice on thursday night at 7:00.

Fast forward a couple years. A week before Lent started a woman from the choir approached me and asked me if I wanted to come back and sing with them. I had been looking to take on something new for the Lenten season besides just giving something up. I agreed. I said I would come to every practice and sing at every sunday service as long as I was in town.

Our music director knew I played guitar so she asks me two weeks ago if I would provide music for "Amazing Grace" at the upcoming service. I said sure. She hands me music. I totally forgot that the last time I read music was in 10th grade when I was in the marching band. (geek, I know). So I take it home, figure out some chords, and go to thursday's practice ready to rock. Now the amusing bit.

A. I had been painting a ceiling that day and accidently touched my head to a freshly painted surface so I had a perfectly shaped yarmulke sized white circle on top of my head. I had no idea of course till it was too late to do anything about it.

B. When I take out my guitar someone said "looks a little dusty." I've been renovating my house for about 2 months now and there is dust everywhere but it really looked like my guitar had been sitting in an attic since the 1800's.

C. We go to practice in the place where we will sing on Sunday and I, of course, am expected to play at a microphone standing up. At home I always play in a chair and so I never bothered with getting a shoulder strap. I also forgot to bring a pick.

D. My guitar sounded to me like it was out of tune with the organ so it just didn't sound very good.

I think the choir was really wondering if I actually played guitar or perhaps I just wished I played real guitar.

Anyway, sunday came. I cleaned up the old instrument. Got a shoulder strap. Brought my pick. We practiced it once right before church and the organ player said I sounded so good that she would just let me play along with the choir singing. It ended up sounding great in the service although I was a little nervous and the choir gave me a standing ovation. Remember, managing expectations is the key! If you can make people think that you are going to totally suck and then you actually do ok, then they will praise you as if you're totally awesome.