Ineke's Mitten (ePub)

Charles McNamara has worked as a newspaper and magazine editor, photographer, freelance writer and motion picture lighting technician.

Loves black and white photography especially faces. Loves playing drums, jazz and military band music. Excels at storytelling, interviewing and inventing characters. Oh yes, finding surprising historical detail on the Internet satisfied his natural curiosity.

I started taking drum lessons in seventh grade. We were taught “rudiments” which are like scales for other instruments. Learning these rolls and triplets prepared me for band and orchestral music but not for jazz and not for improvisation. I didn’t realize I needed a different perspective, one with rhythm and passion. A friend, who was a jazz musician, gave me The Drums of Passion by Olatunji. He thought it would give me that new perspective. I have never lost this rhythm. Listen and you’ll understand (http://youtu.be/ZYhFyF8dvU4).

Public pageantry such as parades, coronations and Catholic processions stir my heart.

He has learned that writing and photography require passion and experience. The first is inbred; the second is only gained over time. It takes a lot of practice to get it right and hours of rehearsal to make it blend together. And now you know my inner drummer.