Playing Music. Singing Music.

I am a singer.

I only say this because in the last few years I have had to struggle with what that means as I try to get better at playing music.

My main instrument, for ease of use and convenience as well as for nostalgia, is an ukulele. I am not an accomplished player. I can play some chords, not all and not many. I can’t pick. I am not fluent in the notes on my frets but I am learning. I am learning how to form complicated chords with large Hawaiian fingers. I have a tenor and it’s still small. I’m not complaining. I have seen larger guys than me play smaller ukuleles with the dexterity and nimbleness of the very insect the instrument is named for.

And, of course, I can sing. I think I’m a pretty good singer. I have been classically trained. I have sung opera, jazz, blues, pop, Hawaiian, R&B, etc. I can go from a clear as a bell soprano to a raspy alto.

So, the ukulele was and is an instrument to accompany my singing. But as I sing and play, I find that I want to be better at playing. I want the skill to smoothly move my fingers and hands along the neck. I want to strum the correct rhythm instead of changing it to suit my aesthetics, which by default is jahawaiian/reggae. I want to have my playing suit my voice as well as the voices of the singers around me. I want to be able to pick well.

I know I want a lot. I also know that what I want can be accomplished by practicing every day.

I guess what this whole entry is about is I think I want to be a musician.