Anyone remember when the Beatles took their listeners on the “Magical Mystery Tour”?  Well, I am the new music columnist here at the Perry Hall Patch and I’d like to take you on a Perry Hall Musical Tour. With your permission, let’s fasten our seat belts and get ready to discover all the wonderful musical connections right here in our backyard.

As your tour guide, I will admit I have been a music addict since I was a teenager and got my first copy of Creem Magazine. The excitement and exuberance is still palatable when I see, hear, or read about musicians I admire. I have heard Bruce Springsteen exclaim, “Rock 'n' Roll can’t save your soul, but it can give you life right now!” That pretty much sums up my musical philosophy.

Music has a unique power to transport us to past memories, to soothe us when we are troubled, or just explode into a joyful toe-tapping celebration. Music transcends culture, gender and any other dividing category that defines us as individuals. It is the universal language. It is why music is incorporated into most enduring cultural rituals, such as weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, seventh-inning stretches, church services, etc. It is also why we come to think of a particular song as defining significant personal relationships. 

Perry Hall might not be the first place that comes to mind when you think of music.  Many readers would probably think of heading down Interstate 95 to downtown Baltimore to see bands or go to hear the symphony. Not to take anything away from the charms of Charm City, but there truly is a wealth of undiscovered musical treasures right here in Perry Hall.

Let’s take a preview of our Perry Hall Musical Tour.

A good place to start is at the very beginning. There is a rich musical history in the Perry Hall public school system. Our children have access to one of the most acclaimed music programs in Baltimore County. This fact was one of the deciding factors when I moved to Perry Hall. Both of my sons are musically inclined and I had heard Perry Hall had one of the best music programs. The tour will explore how and who have made this legacy a reality for our children.

Further tucked away in every corner of our town are some great places to go see live music. Ever been to Surf City, our latest addition? How about the Saturday Perry Hall Folk Music Night? Ever seen live music at the Gunpowder Lodge (formerly called Timbercreek Tavern)?  How about the Batter’s Box? Liberatore’s? All of these places are just a hop and a skip from your house.  The tour will make a lot of local venue stops.

Another musical connection in Perry Hall is our music stores and places that offer music lessons. As Ruth Gordon said in "Harold and Maude," “Everyone should know how to make music.” There are some great places for you or your child to learn how to unleash musical talent and learn how to play an instrument or two.  The tour will stop into our local music stores and get the lowdown. 

There are also church choirs and marching drum ensembles and plenty of great musicians that make Perry Hall their home. The tour will visit with our neighbors and hear all about their personal musical journeys. You might be surprised at the musical connections right next door!

Phew—seems like we are going to be busy exploring the musical landscape of our fair town, but it also sounds like a lot of fun. So, sit back, relax and join me on the Perry Hall Musical Tour.

Editor's Note: This column will run biweekly, once every two weeks.