There is an apprentice in our midst
​Almost everyone has heard the tale of the sorcerer's apprentice which the hapless apprentice did not follow the explicit rules set forth by the sorcerer, thus creating much mayhem. It was originally written as a poem, "Der Zauberlehrling" ("The Sircerer's Apprentice" in English), by Wolfgang von Goethe in 1797 from a traditional folk tale with a cautionary and teaching message.
In 1897 the composer Paul Dukas wrote a symphonic tone poem based on Goethe's poem. Then in 1940 for the landmark Disney movie "Fantasia," conductor Leopold Stokowski led a group of musicians from Los Angeles. When Disney and Stokowski harnessed the folkloric story of Goethe and the music of Dykas, magic was literally created and the animated film industry was never the sane, Many young people, including me, had their very first classical music learning experiences from visionary teachers who fed eager imaginations with sights and sounds of Fantasia clips in elementary classrooms.
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The lesson in the story is ththat, if you get a chance to become an apprentice of a skilled artisan, pay attention, do as you'r instructed, dot every "I" and cross every "t" in you pursuit of perfection for the craft you're learning. Do not deviate from the norm until you have the basics down, and above all, do not engage in reckless behavior that might damage the precious object or activity you've been entrusted to learn, which someday you may pass along to another.
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Becoming the apprentice is a rare and wonderful thing, and for many, the process irepresents the opportunity of a lifetime. For this to happen, the master must believe that the apprentice is serious about learning, will stick with the process and wants the best-possible outcome for those being served. A teacher is always gratified when the student is sober of mind and approach and shows genuine interest n the subject matter as a life choice for a satisfying vocation.
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Recently, I stumbled across a master/teacher and apprentice situation and tophought it might be of interest to you as well. Since our home fire almost two years ago, I have been engaged in a steady process of refurbishing those instruments in my collection that weren't outright destroyed and rendered unrecoverable. To this end, I have been working with various luthiers and artisans according to the particular instrument type. Dave Lewis from Dave Lewis Guitars in Mount Penn and Fred Bernardo from Shillington have worked on my electric guitars, while MikeAndrews and Paula Taylor of Meadowood Music< Maidencreek Township, have been working on the challenging task of restoring the more temperamental and delicate acoustic guitars =, banjos and other acoustic instruments in my care..
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These instruments include most of my go-to live concert guitars and banjos, and they were adversely affected by heat, water, and smoke. While picking up my beloved Bill Gibson blonde, curly maple, five-string banjo, which needed a complete overhaul, meaning it was entirely taken apart, cleaned, and put back together, I was chatting with Mike and Paula, and Mike mentioned how many hours "Margaret put into taking the banjo apart and meticulously cleaning each piece before putting it back together."
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We both laughed as we mused about how banjoes are more like mechanical machines than acoustic instruments. I asked Mike about Margaret, and it turns out that Margaret is Margaret Young, a resident the Topton are who now works at Meadowood. Many of us who have spent time attebdubg and performing at regional fiddle, bluegrass and folk festivals have watched Margaret from a young pre-teen musician to a motivated teenager determined to win fiddle festival competitions, which she has accomplished, to the fine young woman of 20 that she is today.
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I offer my highest respect and compliments to Mike, Paula, and Margaret because, as it turns out, Mike and Paula have given Margaret the opportunity to be their musical instrument repair apprentice at Meadowood, and Margaret has jumped in with both feet and is doing exceptionally good work in her role. When I asked Margaret what she finds appealing about luthier work, she said, "I've always enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together."
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Knowing that this young woman has been taken under Meadiwiid's wing increases my joy when playing the instruments she has worked on for me. By the wa, taken under the wing also applies to Margaret in one of the other pursuits. Margaret is a falconer, and goes by the nickname The Falconry Girl because in her spare time she's trained a ret-tailed hawk, a peregrine falcon, Harris's hawks and a unique Gyr/Saker hybrid falcon. She releases them into the sky and they return to her and she offers educational programs with them. What an amazing and interesting woman she is and what a special groove her life is playing out in. You go girl!
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Dave Kline is an award-winning writer, photographer, show host and producer, singer-songwriter, travelguitdd and community advocate. Reach him at davesmountainfolklore@gmail.com