Ohop Mutual

Dennis and Dona Townsend break from a song as they share a laugh during a practice session in their Spanaway home. This Couple Can Carry a Tune Spanaway husband and wife find special harmony playing music together By Christopher Gaylord their time to playing folk and country “I think the common denomina- songs together as they can, music is tor has been our music,” he says. “And When it comes to music, Dona a lot of things. It is a common hobby I think that’s the important thing that Townsend’s husband, Dennis, is her they share. It is an art, a conversation helps us grow.” security blanket. If he is not there, she starter, a way to make new friends and They share songs with one another will not join in to play her auto harp a form of expression. Most of all, music that they hear on the radio, offer con- with other musicians. is a platform where the deepest parts of structive criticism to improve each oth- Dona has grown so familiar with their individual lives come together. er’s skills, and teach and encourage each Dennis’ guitar playing during the “It’s art, it’s expression, and it really other to grow in new ways musically. 12-plus years they have practiced, comes from a real deep place—call it It was Dona who pushed Dennis to jammed and performed together that your soul or whatever—but when you sing in public for the first time, and she can follow along with the music he sing and when you play music, espe- Dennis who encouraged Dona up onto plays by simply watching his fingers cially when you play together, you’re a stage to perform with him in front of move. It is a special comfort she shares sharing a lot of your life that is different 1,100 people during a folk festival in with him and no one else. in a lot of other ways,” says Dennis, who Juneau, Alaska. For Dennis and Dona, who married started playing piano in middle school “She was scared to death of perform- 12 years ago and dedicate as much of and eventually learned to play the guitar. ing,” Dennis says, sitting on the couch

4 May 2015 Above, Dona flips through lyrics and chords during a practice session with her husband, Dennis, in their Spanaway home. Right, Dona and Dennis have been playing music together more than 12 years. in the couple’s music room in their festivals, jamborees and shows across harp. She was born without most of her Spanaway home in between songs dur- Oregon, Washington and Alaska—the left arm, and it is the only instrument ing a Sunday afternoon practice session. Northwest Folklife Festival in Seattle, she can play comfortably. In the past “And now I love it,” Dona chimes in. Alaska Folk Festival in Juneau, and decade, Dennis has taught himself to If not for music, Dona says, she and Oyster Fest in Shelton among them— play many new instruments. Between Dennis may not be where they are now. just about every month of the year. They the two of them, the Townsends own an “It’s a huge part of our lives,” Dona play local open mic night events at least electric drum set, two bowed psalteries, says. “If it wasn’t for music, I don’t know once a month and practice together in two guitars, three dulcimers, a concer- if we’d even be together. We do other the comfort of their home’s music room. tina, an accordion, a fiddle, a mandolin, things, too, but the music is always The two have made friends and a piano, a skinny wooden instrument t h e re .” played with groups of fellow musicians called a strum stick and an auto harp. Dona, a retired school teacher, met across the Pacific Northwest. Even when Even with their vast collection, Dennis while he was serving on the they set off for a camping trip, they Dennis still has his eyes on a xylophone board for Bethel School District. Back bring along a trailer full of instruments and a hurdy gurdy, a stringed instru- then, they were just friends. Then she so they can play around the fire. ment operated by a crank. He hops from heard him play the piano at a party and “We meet so many different kinds of instrument to instrument, constantly everything changed. people,” Dona says. “We know people in leaving music stores with new finds to “I thought, ‘This guy’s more interest- Germany, Juneau, Oregon—and that’s bring home and discover. ing now,’” Dona recalls. just because of the music.” When Dennis joins Dona in retire- She had not played much music in The Townsends belong to the ment, he may teach her to play one a while. She thought with Dennis, she Washington Old Time Fiddlers of his bowed psalteries—triangular, might be able to get back into it. Association. Each year they return to stringed instruments played with bows. She gave him a tape recording of her Burns, Oregon, where their musician- Dona admits it is a daunting under- playing the auto harp. From there, their ship as a pair took off as they practiced taking. No matter her level of success, relationship and passion for music blos- with fellow folk and country musicians, one thing about their future is certain: somed together into something new. to jam with a group called the High They’ll keep the music going. Today, after 12 years of discovering Desert Fiddlers. “It keeps you young,” Dona says. “If the best way to fit their musical abilities They own a dozen different instru- you have music, you can keep playing together, the Townsends play at music ments, although Dona sticks to her auto until you drop dead.” n

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