not mr. benny's violin...

not mr. benny's violin... 

                                                                        

  I walked into a unique store in Louisville called, Old Town Violins.  The store name caught my attention and I was hoping to speak to the owner or manager. 

  Joe Hislope, the president and owner of the company, has moved to Florida and works from home.  A couple of e-mails later, it was arranged that I would meet with his Lexington, Kentucky store manager, Zara Christopher. 

  Regina and I drove the 60 miles from Louisville to Lexington on eastbound I-64 on an overcast weekday for a two o'clock appointment.  I used to be the guy that stopped every few blocks to ask directions at a gas station, but, thanks to my car's GPS, I don't need to do that.  Besides, workers at convenience stores don't have answers like the old school gas station guys.

  Old Town Violins in University of Kentucky country is housed in a historic home from the late 1800s. It is a remarkable building and the very gracious store manager gave the two of us the grand tour.  Following the walk through, Regina went outside to enjoy the day and Zara and I got down to business.

  This interview started out to be more about the store than a person, but, the person turned out to be very interesting.  

  This is the first installment of a two-part interview.

  Zara, how far back does your love affair with music go?  

  I started playing piano when I was five years old, Zara told me.  I knew then music was the path I was going to take, but, I wasn't allowed to continue with piano because of the cost.  When I was 10, I picked up a viola at my school which let students borrow instruments and I've been playing ever since.    

  What about significant others?

  I am not married.  My parents are going to relocate here next month from Arizona, she replied.  They are going to come live with me and my kids. 

  That's impressive and quite a change for everybody.

  It is, but, I am looking forward to it, she confessed.  I am from Arizona and I moved here 12 years ago.  After my divorce, I stayed here because I like Kentucky.    

  Earlier, you mentioned you have children.

  Yes, I have three kids, and only one is musical.  The other two are tone deaf, she laughed. They range in age from 14 to 18.

  I can relate to the two who are tone deaf. You have a Masters in viola performance.  Enlighten me.  What did that do for you?

  The people who do their Masters in viola or some other instrument can work in an orchestra, she informed me.  That was the goal.  I wanted a musical career in a professional orchestra.  It ended up I injured my hand and the injury put me on a different path.   

  Did you ever make it to an orchestra?

  I did, she smiled.  I played with the Tucson Symphony before moving here, the Ann Arbor, Flint, and Lansing Symphonies and I played in concerts with Rod Stewart, Josh Groban, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller, and, Johnny Mathis.

  How is it that you are the manager of this branch of Old Town Violin?  How did that come about in your life?

  I met someone whose children were playing musical instruments and I asked to see them, she recalled.  I asked them where they bought the instruments because they were so nice, but, they told me they rented them from Old Town Violin.  

  I love the name of the store by the way,  It also fits this building. 

  So do I, she agreed.  The people I met said they knew the owners and I should meet them. I did and Heidi and Joe, told me they had a part time job opening. I was looking for a place to teach, so, it was perfect.  I learned to do some repairs and other things and the part time morphed into full time.  

  What about the teaching side of Zara?  Everything together must really keep you in overdrive.

  She shook her head yes and said, I am wrapping up teaching this month.  I have been teaching since I was 16 and I don't want to burn out.  There are times I taught more and times I gave fewer lessons, but, it is time to cut down.

  Do you have a favorite student that comes to mind after all these years.

  I had a young lady who stroked my ego because she liked the sound of my voice, she laughed.

  Tell me about her.

  Well, she came to a lesson one day and asked me if she could start recording her lessons so she could hear my voice all week when she practiced.  How is she not my favorite? Zara asked.

  To be continued.

  Coming up:  part two of this interview; another oddities, observations, & ?'s, and; more POS.

  And, finally.  America has elected a president who has stopped funding medical research looking to find causes of heart defects in babies, but, wants to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to rebuild Alcatraz. 

  HUH?  What's up with that?