I spent some time yesterday covering the first aid station at our local festival's pre-festival string camp. Sadly, I had to back out of attending the camp, but am volunteering on the medical side. I was sitting outside picking my mandolin just to pass the time and soak up the energy around the place a bit. I had been feeling down on myself lately about my mando playing. Fiddle is my primary instrument and what little time I've had to play the last few months has gone to that while my mandolin has been largely idle. Anyway, one of the instructors, who shall remain nameless since I'm not into name dropping, who is a top national mandolin pro, strolled by and said with a smile "nice playing!". Wow...I quickly stopped feeling like a schlub. In fact, when I got home, I was suddenly playing better than I ever had. Many of us know how playing with, and learning from better players can bring us up a level, but I was amazed at how much just a compliment and appreciation can also do the same when it comes from someone you respect musically. Inspiration clearly comes from many places...
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