Recently I entered a poetry contest asking what one thing I would change in the world. Here's my entry; I think you'll all appreciate it!
http://www.powerpoetry.org/poems/vibra-what#.U0gJSYnmTF4.facebook
I play the vibraphone.
The xylophone?
The vibraphone.
The vibra-what?
The vibraphone.
Not the xylophone?
The vibraphone!
These are the words I tend to say more than the notes I get to play
Each night while standing on a stage making music by ear or chords on a page
On a page glued into that one big book, between Y and W where we look
For words that define us, our language, our traits
Words learned as children just shaping our fates
A is apple, B is for boy...U is for umbrella, T is for toy...
X is for...what? What word shall we use? X-ray, perhaps, but often we choose
To say xylophone, xylophone! Just this, nothing more
Nothing more for percussion, so please, I implore you to
Rethink the alphabet, open your mind; remember V stands for vibraphone, if you'd be so kind
V is for vibraphone, D is for drum, M is for marimba...does this sound dumb?
X is for xylophone, that's wonderful but
Know that I play the vibraphone, not the vibra-what.
Comments
What's a vibraphone?
gloria krolak Tue, 04/15/2014 - 18:16
Like a xylophone but not.
Carolyn,
I too get these same questions when I tell people my show features the vibraphone.
I love your poem. Are you going to work on the book of ABC's? It's still a great idea
and you're already partway there.
M is for Mallet
P is for Percussion
O is for Oud.
Gee, I'll write this if you don't.
gloria
The ABCs of Percussion
c.stallard22 Wed, 04/16/2014 - 11:05
In reply to What's a vibraphone? by gloria krolak
Thank you Gloria. Funny you should ask...after I wrote this poem my first thought was that it would be a great introduction to the book. I've always wanted to write a children's book so this IS going to happen. Feel free to keep pushing me to get it started :)
Your next book
gloria krolak Wed, 04/16/2014 - 16:27
In reply to The ABCs of Percussion by c.stallard22
Carolyn,
I've been told that the most important thing about young children's books are the illustrations.
Maybe you have an artist friend who can do some nice line drawings or whimsical colorful watercolors. But get the book written first!
S is for Sticks
Music ABC
aquorange Mon, 06/02/2014 - 08:58
In reply to Your next book by gloria krolak
Nice idea! Have a look at the illustrations of Gergely Kiss, a friend of me.
http://kissillustration.blogspot.de/
just say keyboard
tedwolff Tue, 04/15/2014 - 18:57
I loved your poem! It captures the frustration we all face trying endlessly to describe our beautiful instrument. Long ago I began to say only that I'm a jazz musician. If asked what instrument I play I simply say "keyboard". That seems to satisfy everybody.
Thanks Ted
c.stallard22 Wed, 04/16/2014 - 11:12
In reply to just say keyboard by tedwolff
How crazy it is that we have this challenge when we present ourselves. I always carry a picture of a vibraphone so when people ask, I can show them what I play. Rather than as a frustration, I think of it as a chance educate more of the public about the vibraphone. Challenge becomes opportunity.
Picture this
gloria krolak Mon, 06/02/2014 - 10:41
In reply to Thanks Ted by c.stallard22
Carolyn,
Carrying a picture is a great idea! One picture traded for a couple thousand words.
I think I might have a line drawing printed on the back of my next business cards.
That could help answer the questions too.
How's the ABC book coming along?
gloria