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My Guitar Playing Family & Esteban's ""How to Play"" Set at the Q

by on ‎08-22-2013 11:31 AM

I grew up listening to my step dad play the guitar.  I remember summer vacations camping in Yosemite with him strumming by the fire.  He played, and still does in church, and he practiced for months before my wedding where he played me three songs in lieu of his father speech at our reception.



 I learned over the years that music is one of his true joys in life.  He tried to teach me once when I was in grade school. I managed to get in a couple chords but quickly lost patience.  I was more inclined to dance to the music than play it. 


When I met my husband he was also playing the guitar from time to time.  Its funny how we find men to marry that are like our fathers.  Dan (my husband) was also living on a boat when I met him just like my biological dad.  Dan played songs by Dave Mathews and The Indigo Girls, which made him even dreamier to me.


11 years later I jumped at the chance to learn to play the guitar with a legend like Esteban.  Music is so important to me and my head was swimming with memories of campfires with my family and evenings being romanced by my soon to be husband.  


The guitar is gorgeous.  Truly a piece of art, and the videos are simple to understand and make it easy for even the non-musically inclined to learn a few simple chords. 


My lessons started with making sure I even knew how to hold a guitar, It had been that long!  The wood and steel felt right in my arms, like a new baby, or a friend I had been longing to embrace.  


It is a commitment to learn to play the guitar. One that between my children and work and my addiction to working out has been hard to keep, but the pay off is fantastic.  My girls see organic music in their home and are mesmerized by their father and mother playing to them and singing with them.  Georgia dances around the house and Grace looks intently at the beautiful instrument longing to touch and play one on her own.  We have even managed to get her to hold it. She is going to be a musical girl that one.



Music has always been about memories for me.  You will hear me talk, quite tearfully, during Bose shows or while presenting a Braven speaker about different songs through my life and how when they come on I am immediately taken back to that place; my wedding, the birth of my child, a night with my best friend in college.  It’s so sensuous that with a sound I can again smell the wood burning by the tent or feel the warm sea air that night on the boat.  With a sound every other sense is heightened.  It is why I always have music on, its escapism and also a way of being utterly present in that moment at the same time.



From the moment you pick up your new guitar or gift it to a child or a friend you are creating memories.  You are romancing a lover or playing for your daughter at her wedding, singing a baby to sleep or holding on to a bit of that soundtrack from your youth.


My family ties to guitar started with my step dad but I know it won’t end there.  With a little help from Esteban I am making memories for my daughters that they can pass down long after their grandfather is gone.



I sure hope you will join Esteban and me for a very special night 1am est Tuesday on QVC for our premiere show. He will be there with his daughter playing songs and helping us learn about the beauty of guitar.  Also keep up with me on my girls on Facebook & Twitter.