Randy J. Schum    Wed, 12 Jan 2000 10:46:02 PST
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Friends,

I'm Randy Schum and have been enjoying the mutual sharing of lute 
information on the "lute-net" for about 4 years now. I do more "lurking than 
posting but would like to introduce myself for those
of you whom I haven't met at the LSA seminars.

The first 28 years of my life were spent in Rochester, NY. My family and I 
moved to Orlando Florida in 1981 and have resided here since.
I started playing guitar in 1965 but put it on inactive status in the
early 70's to devote my energy to raising a family and also pursuing
other forms of artistic expression.
About 8 years ago I took up my guitar again and also learned to play some 
early wind instruments.  However, through an interesting set of
circumstances I obtained a lute 6 years ago, put aside my guitar and
winds and 12 months later started lute lessons with Dr. John Robison at the 
University of South Florida.

I only have one 8 course lute ("Celia") made by Richard Fletcher after 
Venere 1582, a very fine instrument. In addition to being musically 
fulfilling, I find playing the lute is a spiritual experience.  It almost 
seems as if it were an extension of my inner person. No other instrument has 
had this effect on me. My deep desire is to connect with those for whom I 
play through the music and touch their souls rather than merely entertain. I 
am just as pleased to play for one person as I am for 100 and will go out of 
my way to do so. I attended the '97 and '98 lute seminars and was thrilled 
to meet many of you "lutenetters" in person.  I've never met a lutenist I 
didn't like and have been truly enriched by all the friendships I've made.

Personal Statistics:
I am 46 and have been married to the same wonderful woman for 26 years and 
have 2 adult daughters, one teenage daughter, and 3 granddaughters. By 
vocation I'm an electronic packaging engineer at a large aerospace Co. and 
by avocation a professional calligrapher (see the URL below for some 
calligraphy I did for the LSA in honor of Suzanne Bloch).

http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lsa/lsa_97/Award.JPG

My other interests are reading and writing poetry, creating art, gardening, 
listening to classical music (especially early music) and enjoying the 
rewards of being a grandfather (for those of you who are grandparents you 
know what I mean!).