The Little Boy with the Spoons

Andy and I went to the bluegrass show at the Rives Theater in Martinsville Saturday night. Before the main attraction/guest band, there is always an hour of The Potluck Band. The Potluck Band is a mixture of interesting musicians playing all sorts of instruments. Basically, it is whoever wants to join in and jam. As usual, there were banjo, mandolin, dobro and guitar players. There was also a big upright base and a fiddle or two. Last night we noticed a new addition to the Potluck Band. On that big stage stood a cute little boy playing the spoons.

He was introduced as Jordon and he played along with the band on every song; foot tapping bluegrass tunes, gospel and a few slower songs too. He looked right at home on stage while wiggling around like little boys do; scratching his nose, yawning a few times and smiling shyly at his family in the audience. He smacked those spoons against his leg and hand keeping time with the music. He was entertaining the crowd for sure.

When the Potlucks finished their set and the scheduled band was setting up, I saw Jordon and his dad head toward the the back of the theater. I caught up with them in the lobby and asked if I could "interview" him. Jordon and his dad agreed and I started asking questions.

"Jordon, how old are you?" I asked.

"Six years old." He answered.

He told me he had been playing the spoons, and a little guitar, for two years and it was not hard to do. He said he does not get nervous on stage, and that he was in the first grade. He was a little shy but very sweet and when he moved away to look at something a few feet away, his dad told me that Jordon's favorite music is by Elvis. From the first time he heard Elvis, as an even smaller child, Jordon had loved and imitated Elvis and knew the words to all of his songs. His mother even made Jordon a jumpsuit just like Elvis wore in Vegas, but it was now a little too small.

I was very impressed with Jordon and was so glad that he let me talk to him for a few minutes. I hope he does continue with his music and wish him much luck.

"Hope to see you back on stage, Jordon!"

ps: I looked up "How to Play the Spoons" on the Internet and one article claimed that "it only takes 10 minutes to learn!" There are pictures and instructions teaching one how to play. I tried, but failed miserably. There is not a musical bone in my body. I cannot play the keyboard (a gift from my husband) or dulcimer (a gift to myself) or even sing. In fact, when my children were young, I would sing to them and they would politely ask me to stop! Andy thinks I have a great voice. I know better. He just likes me a lot. So neither singing nor the spoons are my thing. Spoons are great to eat with, but I will just leave "playing" them to Jordon.