Me & My Piano

ME AND MY PIANO*

*or other instrument

Hand Made – Heart Played

By Jack Bowers

Iam mid-way through my seventh decade, the name is John, call me Jack. My wife and life partner and I have been carving out a living for almost 54 years. She is wonderful. I am working on it. Putting a long life in a small nutshell is rather difficult, but music takes up a lot of that room. It is the “reset” when things get cluttered, confused, and crowded. Since my early days in high school I have played a guitar, at least until some 50 years ago when a machine bit off the tips of the two middle fingers of my left hand. This left me two notes short of a full chord, and it stopped my guitar pickin’. I had a living to make, a family to raise, and life to live, so time to feel sorry for myself was at a premium, although from time to time I indulge that privilege, even now. Somewhere along the line a friend gifted me with an Auto-Harp, which restarted my music interests. Early folk songs have always been my thing, so this was a near perfect platform to build on. The story, the message, and the more simple melodies worked well for me. If I can’t hear the words clearly, or the music gets tangled up, the whole of it, why bother. Poetry and song composition run down the same road so, for me, this was a natural genre. We built an off-grid home this side of Packwood and pioneered for 21 years. During this time we would often frequent the twice yearly flea market. I came away one year with an instrument called a ‘Strumstick.’ A ‘Strumstick’ is simple, open-tuned to one chord group. It was missing certain frets, and the salesman assured me it could be played by anyone, even me with my “stubs.” I bought his line, he was right, we even became friends. I quickly got the hang of things, started composing — hunting songs, ballads, hymns, and so forth. In time it occurred to me I could build one myself, if I wanted. And I did! I learned what it took and soon was building for interested parties. To date almost 900 have made noise as a result. If you are interested in how they look and play, two songs were recorded on YouTube, “Freedom” and “Ashes and Roses,” by Jack Bowers. I no longer build, although from time to time I have to create sawdust, and I will succumb to the “shop itch.” Still, the first notes from a new instrument have magic, and it drives me onward. I got to a point where what I was doing sort of morphed into a self-published booklet of 62 original hymns and related stories that even now I draw from to present to appropriate settings. An earlier work captured songs about bow hunting adventures, titled, “Bad Ballads for Bow Hunters” featuring the lyric, “The eagle flies high, the skies are his playground, he knows of places that will never have names.” For me the story is still being written, and the notes to the next song and words expressing the language of my heart are an important part of that story. While I play a lot of the songs most folks recognize, expressing what I see and hear on my own life’s path in song and poem are what make me...me!

Jack Bowers has hand made more than 900 instruments, today known in folklore as “cigar box” instruments, including Strumsticks in the style of his original purchase. Two of his original songs may be heard on YouTube:” Freedom,” and “Ashes and Roses.

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of you and your musical instrument in 500 words or less and mail to CRR, 1333 14th Ave., Longview, WA 98632, or email to publisher@crreader. com. Note “Me and My Piano” in the subject line and if possible attach/include a current mugshot and/or a photo of you with your instrument, then or now. Don’t worry about perfect spelling or syntax. If your story is chosen, we will provide editing services and will contact you for additional details or embellishments as needed.