for Great Uncle Paul... and the Bottle Band

My wonderfully creative uncle has been making music using nothing but empty bottles for 30-some years now. He and my grandma were the co-founders of the St. Luke's Bottle Band, and since the band was formed, it has become widely known... even making appearances on the David Letterman show and Wild Chicago! Basically, the group plays songs, arranged by my uncle, on bottles that have been filled with various levels of water to make different pitches. Quite honestly, it's amazing! Not only do they blow on the bottles, they pluck them by snapping a finger out of the top of the bottle, and play them similar to a xylophone... or as Uncle Paul has named it, the "bottle-o-phone". If you want to see some songs the Bottle Band has done, just go to Youtube, and search "St. Luke's Bottle Band". You'll LOVE it!
I've grown up going to bottle band concerts, and having a wonderful time laughing and enjoying the unique way they make music. Micah, on the other hand, has only been to one concert... and that was a very mini-version of the actual show. (Some of the family did a brief performance at my cousin's wedding this summer.) However, despite his lack of experience with the bottle band, he seems to come by the various methods of playing the bottle quite naturally. During a rehearsal at my parents house back in June, Micah got a chance to participate... he didn't actually make any sounds, but he probably changed the pitches in the bottles from his drool! :)




And then yesterday, I was sitting at the computer while Micah was playing with his toys and all of a sudden I heard this tiny popping sound. I turned around, curious as to what was making that sound and saw Micah, sitting in a pile of toys, plucking his finger out of the smokestack on his Thomas train! I can't even do that and I've been trying for EVER! My fingers are just too small! And here's my son... not even 10 months old, plucking like a pro!

So, there you have it. I guess it's just a matter of time before Micah is dressing up in goofy costumes, marching into the gym at St. Luke's church along with the other members of the bottle band. I guess it's true, what my uncle says at each concert... "it's never too early to start your kids out in music, and for the cost of a six-pack, you can get him started in bottle music today!" :)