Thanks everyone who welcomed me here. It's been decades since I have been exposed to so many musical folks with varying likes, talents, and musical education. I've missed it!

@ELCBK - my musical preferences are as varied as my other interests, classical of many genres, jazz, folk, country, blues, and religious.

A brief musical bio - Started as a child on a cardboard keyboard and group piano lessons, accordion, piano, choral voice, pipe organ, viola, and alto recorder. Dabbler in all, expert in none!

My best friend growing up was from a musical family, his father taught percussion at the American Conservatory of Music in Chicago, his mother was our church organist and piano teacher. Through them I found myself in the world of music that ended when I entered the army in 1963.

The month before enlistment, my best friend (Jon), another friend (Paul), and I went on a long weekend to my family's cottage on a lake where Jon playing cello, Paul playing violin, and I playing viola enjoyed some wonderful moments playing and improvising (me poorly, Jon adequately, and Paul expertly) for memories that will last me forever. Paul was both a classical violin student and jazz trumpeter. Jon's forte was jazz drums, and I was the hanger on!

I am looking forward to immersing myself again through this forum and through learning the viola.