KEELEY’S 30-DAY CHALLENGE

Whistling While I Work Is My Newest Musical Talent

And party horns, too.

Day Four Prompt: Are you musically talented or musically challenged?

You’d think that once you develop a skill, it stays with you forever. Much like riding a bicycle, but you’d be wrong. Through my younger years, I sang, wrote amateur lyrics and music, and played the spinet organ. I took lessons on a church organ and sang in a choir as I grew. So one would think I was musically talented, and you’d be right.

Fast forward to today, and I can hardly sing a note. I have forgotten how to read sheet music, and I haven’t touched a keyboard in years, let alone have coordinated feet that could dance on organ pedals. One might say I’ve lost my touch.

Much like a writer, they say you must read to be any good. Does the same go for musical prowess? Does someone need to stroke the skill by listening to and advancing their knowledge to stay in the groove? If so, that could explain my fallback.

I’ve never had a powerful voice, but it was pleasant, and while attending a prestigious music camp, my vocal teacher praised me. His written assessment read, “Should you ever get really serious about singing, you could be quite good.”