Martin M-36

I've become interested in trying out a Martin M-36.  May be difficult to do. According the Martin Guitar Customer Service folks, there haven't been any delievered to dealers in Texas this year.

Bummer. 

Martin Customer Service helped me locate one in Nashville; however, I wasn't able to make it to the music store there on a recent vacation to Tennessee. 

The Martin M-36 is a 0000 sized guitar, pretty much the same as my J-40, but not as deep from front to back.  The other difference is that it has a 1 and 3/4" nut width.  My J-40 is 1 and 11/16th nut width.   I have found the wider nut width a little easier to play, especially on hands that are getting older each day.  My Taylor GS has similar specs and the same nut width.  However, I'm still a Martin guy at heart. 

Like a J-40, the M-36 is touted as being a great balanced instrument for strummers like me, and for fingerpickers.  It's a good all around guitar that can handle different venues, whether plugged into an amp or not.  Acoustically, I wonder if it will be as loud as my J-40, which is still one of the best camp fire guitars I have ever owned.

The journey to find one begins!   Will I get one?  Who knows.  It seems I find more joy in the journey finding something than I do buying it.

Rick ><>

Family Concert at Crowley UMC on August 19th . . .

For those in the area near Crowley, TX and southwest Fort Worth, Crowley UMC and the Crowley United Methodist Preschool will be hosting Jim Newton and Paul G. Hill of the Hugworks Children's Network for a family friendly Back-to-School concert and ice cream social beginning at 5:00 PM on Sunday, August 5, 2018.

I apprenticed several years ago with Jim and Paul in their Therapeutic Music Performer program.  They pretty much taught me most of what I know about singing to children and to senior adults.

If you are in the area, and would like to participate, then please email me and let me know!

Exploring the possibilities of singing at a new venue . .

For several months now, I've been driving by a new rehab and memory care facitily that is under construction not far from my church.   I am unfamiliar with the company, but the design of the building was very familiar to me.

One day I stopped by the building, and found that several administrative staff were in place and working on site.  I was directed to contact the progam director and did so later in the day, introducing myself, as well as letting her know that I volunteer where I can as a therapeutic music entertainer. 

Several conversations later, including my offer to come in an audition to the staff and filling out a background check, and it looks like I will be singing there about 1-2 times a month once they are opened for business.  I may get to provide entertainment at the grand opening.  We will see.

I can't emphasie enough the need to have a clearly stated "elevator" speech to share when asked about the musical service I am willing to provide.  Mine has changed over the years, but it serves me well.  Here it is:

Good morning / afternoon.  My name is Rick Mang and I am the pastor at the local United Methodist Church.  One of my personal ministries to the community is to sing for senior adults in senior centers, and to seniors in nursing, long-term care and rehab facilities.  I do not charge to do this.  I am a certified therapeutic music entertainer, and I am willing to volunteer if your facility would benefit from my doing so.  I am available 1-2 times a month as my schedule allows.

I think the word "free" gets me in the door more often than not.  One day I hope to be considered good enough to be paid a fee, but that will probably be after I retire from pastor / preacher stuff.

It is good to volunteer in the mean time.  It feels good to offer a brief respite to senior adults, especially if they are going through some kind of medical treatment.  I'm glad I can make a little difference in their lives with the gifts and skils that I have to offer.