My entire life is connected in some form or function to music.

I sang with my family growing up; took piano lessons when I was a child and then continued to learn and play without the aid of instruction; and every major event in my life can be traced to a song.

After years of being told by impatient siblings to stop singing and be quiet, I eventually moved forward with a quieter pastime — writing.

Music has never stopped being a part of who I am, though. I still sing when no one is around and play the piano when the house is empty and no one is there to distract my expression.

My greatest disappointment with this “other” talent is that I do not have a lot of time to practice, unless I am musically involved somehow.

It was with this in mind that I decided it was time to foster this expression with a music class through the City of Albany Parks & Recreation Department.

Every quarter, Parks & Recreation publishes an activity guide with classes for children and adults. The guide includes dance, music, art and aerobics classes, as well as sports.

For my little endeavor, I chose to register for the beginning guitar class at the Conservatory of Music Education, 35355 Eicher Road S.E., in Albany.

My primary instrument has always been piano, and still is, but I saw no harm in experiencing a new one. After all, the beginning classes offered through the city are meant to allow people to get a taste of something new.

I borrowed my dad’s acoustic guitar and headed off to the first class. I have a good basis in music theory and didn’t know how I’d feel about the beginning “frustrations.” I had hoped that it would be as easy as those experienced guitarists make it appear.

The truth is, making your fingers bend to your will is a feat.

After 18 years of piano, I am used to long fingers and stretching out. The general idea behind piano is that it is a lot like typing.

Guitar for me is a contortionist’s feat. Instead of stretching and using my long fingers to reach for the black and white keys, my fingers are forced to curve up as if someone is pressing the tendon in my wrist and forcing my hand to close.

Now in my second week, my hands are warming up to the strange maneuvers I request of them. I cannot say that I will be able to play any complex piece anytime soon, but I am getting the basics.

In theory, guitar really is not a hard instrument to play once you get the movement down. You play chords with one hand, strum with the other and generally do “piano” things in different positions.

Learning a second instrument has also allowed me to understand how the instruments relate to each other. And who knows, perhaps one day those songs I’ve written might end up with a nice arrangement instead of just solo piano.

The second three-week session of classes for the summer begins July 16.

In addition to beginning guitar, beginning piano and voice are offered. The school also offers woodwind ensemble, intermediate to advanced clarinet, intermediate to advanced flute, and flute ensemble.

To register, contact Albany Parks & Recreation at 917-7777 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The classes are $67 per person. Or for other music opportunities at the Conservatory, call 926-2975.

Heather Crabtree can be reached at heather.crabtree@lee.net or 812-6090.