Before the Victrola, radio, television, and the CD, it was common for ordinary people to make their own music in their homes for their own enjoyment and for the enjoyment of their family and friends.

In some remote locations, people might go for months and not hear any music. When they finally did get to hear folks playing music, the effect could be astonishingly powerful, reducing hardened loggers, miners, sailors, and cowboys to burst into ecstatic tears and do some considerable blubbering. We are so used to music on demand 24/7 that we may not fully appreciate the power of music..

During the past 50 to 100 years, many Americans have outsourced their music, delegated the making of music to professional musicians and no longer make their own.

On the other hand, there some of us who think that playing music and dancing are about as much fun as you can have with your clothes on. Most of my friends play old time music in their homes, as part of their lifestyle. They dance contras, squares, waltzes, swing, clogging, and all kinds of fun stuff for the feet, ears and soul. We think that playing music in our homes, and socially in the homes of others, is a wonderful thing, one of the great joys of life. I encourage it.

The essence of traditional music is the playing of music for the sheer delight of it, not to mention setting a very good and proper example for the children. Do not be ashamed of crying your eyes out when the music is really good. That's how you know when it becomes transcendent.

Be excellent and party on!.

Ed Littlefield, Jr.