My old man's 53rd birthday is fast approaching. I had a gift idea for him that I'd like to run by you folks, and it ties into another point I'd like to get other peoples' takes on...
My dad's taste in music is not exactly what you might expect in a guy like him. He's a sportswriter, and pretty much lives and breathes sports day in and day out. Long as I can remember, he's had something of a one-track mind for it. But his taste in music runs in the vein of bluegrass, folk, Civil War, and Celtic. That's not to say he doesn't like some more contemporary mainstream stuff. He's also a CCR nut, loves The Traveling Wilburys, the Beatles, and so on. But for the majority of the time, you can find him either tuned into NPR for older stuff or listening to the soundtrack from one of Ken Burns' documentaries like The Civil War or Lewis and Clark.
Several years ago, my grandmother gave a cheap harmonica a piece to both myself and Pop in the hopes that we might learn the instrument together since he's a walking sports encyclopedia and I've always been the more artistic type. Maybe taking on something like this would be beneficial to the two of us in finding some kind of common ground to relate upon.
At first, I did start dinking around with it. Following along with some of the old-timey music that Pop listened to. But Pop never once picked his up. He was always too absorbed in his work that he brought home with him.
Fast-forward another few years. I've gotten heavily into the harp world. I'm playing in a hot local band. And Pop has said several times to me that he's very proud of me for what I do.
In the last few years, Pop has unbended some when it comes to his work ethic. I think mainly when my mother was diagnosed with multiple myeloma six years ago, that was when he snapped to and began to realize the importance of life outside of his work. And for the first time since I was a small kid, I would catch my dad singing to himself while he was doing things, (he's a damn good singer by the way. Irish tenor like my grandfather was.), so I knew music was becoming more and more of a refuge and a release for him.
Anyways.......
The idea I had for his birthday is a new, personalized C-harp. A while back I found this: Personalized Stainless Steel Harmonica I wrote the company and all they know about it is that "it's a Hohner." Well, that sure narrows it down, right? I'd bet at 18 bucks it's probably a Bluesband, GLH, or Old Standby. But I could probably transplant the personalized covers onto a SP20 so it isn't a crap harp anymore.
I figure he could play along with the music he loves to listen to like I did when I first picked up harp.
So yeah, that's my idea for his birthday. But the side point I'm asking about...has anyone else ever passed the love of harp back upwards to your parents instead of your children or someone else of a younger generation? My own 20 month old son is already tooting around on a Piedmont G-harp and his eyes light up when he hears daddy playing his harps, and, cause and effect, grandpa's eyes light up at the sight of his grandson taking after his daddy. Is it such a strange notion that grandpa might want in on that great little pastime as well? ---------- Hawkeye Kane
i got mine interested in it @5 years ago. it was for the health benefits, though, more than the music. however, he did get fairly good at chugging out some nice train rhythms.
we did put our harps together on a couple of family get-togethers. afterwards people came up and told me they could see in my dad's eyes the enjoyment he had during these "jams".
it seems to me there was a thread about clean covers on the forum.
btw- his health improved dramatically from the playing.
My experience is that encouraging people to pick up an instrument by buying them one is most often a failed sentiment. That said, even if he doesn't play it, I think he'll make the connection to what it means to you, and he'll appreciate the gift alot...even if it turns out to be a beautiful paperweight.
Record a few songs he likes for him. Leave some room for vocals so he can sing along, it sounds like he already has an instrument. Then maybe add a few you think he'd be interested in. Then one day you can pull out your harp and prod him to sing along...
think of something you really don't like to do ... or something you very seldom do. just for an example let's say it's coloring easter eggs.
fast forward 25 years and your son is an avid easter egg guy. he thinks that a personalized easter egg kit would be just the thing for you. now he knows you aren't that into easter eggs so he colors some of the finest eggs he could just so you might get inspired.
give your dad something you know he would want or like or use and spend more time with him. believe me....time is one of the best gifts out there.
Last Edited by on Jan 17, 2012 6:30 PM
Now there's an idea...find a template of Musial's autograph and have that engraved on the bottom plate. Conjoin the harp with a recording of Stan the Man playing Take Me Out to the Ballgame...the plot thickens...
@smwoerner
I've already recorded a small album of songs and given it to him. Did that a couple years ago for Christmas, but another one would be good I suppose. Problem is his birthday is Saturday and I don't have the time to get that done at this point.
@clyde
The thing is that I do believe he likes harp enough to the point where I bet he'd wanna start picking it up if he had one. If nothing else, I bet he'd start playing it in the car. The man drives like a 1,000 year old turtle, so he'd probably be happy to have something to do during his commute.
@walterharp
Believe you me, Pop doesn't need voice lessons. He prolly could've made a second career out of singing if he'd put his mind to it before his job took over his life years ago. I'd say I only inherited maybe half of his singing talent myself, but even for that I'm grateful.
@Greg
I'd thought about that too. But the good thing about the one on the wedding favor site is that the plates are already blank, and I doubt I could get blank cover plates for a given harp that would be less than $18. Not to mention the engraving is included in that price with them.
I dunno. I'm glad I'm getting some feedback on this, along with some great ideas. I'll let you know what I wind up doing, and if I do something cool enough to share, I'll post photos. ---------- Hawkeye Kane
if you use the bottom cover of an SP/20 for the top cover it has some room for engraving above where it reads M. HOHNER made in germany. so a SP/20 w/ two bottom cover plates is an idea.
hohner uses SP type covers for a lot of promotional harps..'world champ' etc.
in fact, i think they even offer engraved harps as a service but only in bulk. maybe i'm wrong. in any case, i'll bet they have tons of blank covers. getting two of them is a different story though i'll bet. ----------
MP doctor of semiotics and reed replacement.
"making the world a better place, one harmonica at a time"
Last Edited by on Jan 18, 2012 1:03 PM
