The "Really Terrible Orchestra" Gets Good Press

Have you ever had the desire to play in an orchestra or band, but felt  you were still in the beginning stages, too old, or you're just plain bad? Some Edinburghians did not let those obstacles get in their way. They started their own orchestra, the Really Terrible Orchestra, and are now a fixture on the Edinburgh music scene. Check it out:

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If the link does not work, copy and paste this: http://thereallyterribleorchestra.com/

Writer and "terrible" musician Alexander McCall has an article in the NY Times about the orchestra; you can read it here:

 http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/09/opinion/09mccallsmith.html
 
I began my so-called "musical career" in East Lansing, Michigan, where the folk music community has a group called the "Pretty Shakey String Band." As far as I know, it is still in existence today. Anyone is welcome to bring their stringed (or other) instrument and learn some basic old-time and other tunes. Often new groups are formed out of the Shakies.

Here in Washington state, we have an association called the "Washington Old-Time Fiddler's Association," or WOTFA. All are welcome to come and play, take workshops, go to WOTFA camp-outs, and just jam. Many other, if not all, states have these groups. There might be one near you!

Do you have a local community orchestra in your small town? In mine, there is one composed of all volunteers, who give regular concerts for free.

And in Sweden, in almost every town you can find a "spelmanslag," or musicians gathering, of fiddlers and others who play the old Swedish folk melodies. Everyone is welcome. There may be five, or there may be 40 in attendance!

These may be but a sampling of the opportunities open to amateur musicians, or those who yearn to someday be professional, who want to play with others, however nicely or terribly.

Do you know of, or belong to, any groups like this?

Do you have that yearning to play music?

It's never too late.