What have you always wanted to try but never started?

A little over two years ago, I challenged myself by learning to play the cello. I have played the piano since age 4 and the guitar in high school but never played a string instrument. I will qualify that by saying that even though a guitar is technically a string instrument, it has lines or frets that tell you where to put your fingers (a cello, sadly, does not). My daughter had played the cello during middle school but when she became too busy playing basketball, the beautiful instrument sat in its case until I became brave enough to try it.

First off, it must be assumed that the people who make beginner-level cello music

believe that no adult would be crazy enough to start taking lessons. The names of the exercises tell the story such as the Happy Farmer (my daughter still teases me about that one), The Big Kangaroo, and Pachyderm Parade to name a few. Nothing is more frustrating than playing Pachyderm Parade and knowing you suck, really suck. Apparently, the cello is also a terrible frequency for dogs as witnessed by the photo below. Luckily, there is a mute

for the cello which helps (somewhat).

Fortunately, with continued practice, I am now at the point where a song can actually sound like a song and I now feel that I do not completely suck. Maybe playing with a cello ensemble is in my future. This has been an incredible journey and accomplishment, which occurred only because I dared myself to try.

What can you dare yourself to try this year?

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