Now you are ready to turn on the record or tape player and start your play-along.

Select some good waltzes, fox-trots and polkas. Most country music is good and bluegrass is excellent. Some popular music is also good, especially the old Big Band "jitterbug" songs of the 1940's. Some later tunes such as "Alley Cat" are also great.

Soon you will want to add some marches - but lets leave that for later.

Review your lesson on music for the spoon player and practice your selected beat.

You are now ready to turn on the music.

You will find that you are ready to really get with it - but not so fast.

First assume your position and establish your grip. Now start your toe tapping the beat on the floor. Now start tapping the beat with the spoon on your leg. When you have the beat established, add your off-beat.

You are now playing the spoons - almost.

You will notice that the constant beat, off-beat, beat, off-beat gets boring very fast. What to do?

Well, just drop the off-beat for a beat or so. How do you do that, you ask?

You just stop tapping the upper spoon on the upswing between the beats.

You must drop the off-beat at the appropriate time and pick it up again at the appropriate time.

What is the "appropriate time"?

That is the secret of spoon playing and you will have to find it for yourself!

Well, that's not quite true, as I will help you all I can; but it will be mostly up to you from here on.

After you have played 3/4 waltz time for a while, take a break.

Review your 4/4 fox-trot time and play one with a good beat. Establish your time with your toe, pick up the beat with your spoons, and then add your off-beat.

When you have the rhythm going well, try to find the appropriate times to drop, and then resume, your off-beat.

Now, play along with several songs of both times, and practice, practice, practice.

Play until it becomes easy for you and fairly easy for those who have to listen to you. Play until someone says "Hey, that's good". It may take a little while.

One other thing. If you are still striking the tips of your spoons as instructed, you will note the tone of your beat and off-beat are about the same. It is time to add some more variety.

Move the lower spoon further over your leg so that the bowl of the spoon strikes the leg. Note the more muffled sound.

You can experiment with the different strikes and select the combinations that make the best music for you.