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involved in amateur theatre that featured a live orchestra. Then the fun started.

Before I knew it I became addicted to live performances and sought out every opportunity to show off. The benefit was of course that playing improved and in time I actually found myself with a few dollars in my pocket due to my efforts. It looked good but another setback disrupted the flow of time and I found myself one thousand kilometres away with a new job, in a new city and knowing nobody. It looked like the fun was over.

My daughter to the rescue once again before long she had identified herself with another amateur performance and no prizes for guessing I ended up back in the pit playing once more. Finally settled in a permanent location it seemed opportunities began to come in from every direction Oh bliss! The problem then became this:

OK what next?

Into the 21st century and a new thought occurred to me, which was: "Why not start tutoring and earn extra for new gear"? Ambitious as it was and full of dreams as I recall at the time it was so frustrating getting this idea off the ground. Having never taught the first obstacle was to learn how and this I did with enthusiasm. Keeping my costs down well below others I used the early days to learn how to tutor and plan lessons, assess progress and now have nine years experience along with numerous success cases of experience. My greatest success is now performing as a semi-professional and is fast becoming a well-known performer. OK what next?

Tutoring others gave me a new drive learn more myself. This answer was there all along and it took about six months before I was up to performance level and a new skill. My latest was conversion to a five-string bass and my sights are now set on learning how to play mandolin.

To say music has some effect on my life seems a gross understatement and I would consider it like loosing a limb if I lost the ability to do the things I enjoy with music. The decision aged 12 to start learning was the first turning point, to begin tutoring others was the second and I will spend my remaining life enjoying music as well as attempting to learn and enjoy at least one new instrument per year.

Learn more about this author, Ian Loft.
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