Learning to play a musical instrument.

Fizzlesque

When I was a youngster, I had plastic panpipes which I loved. Couldn't play it, as in make tunes, but I still loved it, making any kind of sound. In my teens my dad bought an electronic organ player. Used mess about with that a lot, but again, with no real idea how to play.

There was a piano in the house, for a spell, too and I learned how to play Fur Elise and a bang the keys other one that I now can't remember.

Three years ago, my dad gave me a guitar. One of his old ones. So off I went to get some guitar lessons. They didn't work, ten weeks and little to show for it, somehow it wasn't to be for me.

Then, this year, dear old dad (once again to the rescue) gave me a crappy ukulele he'd picked up while grocery shopping in Lidl or Aldi and lo and behold, I think we've finally hit the musical instrument jackpot!

I had an internet date with a handsome young man from South America the other day because his profile said he plays the ukulele - which he does! I brought the ukulele on my date and a printout of this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFOvN5FEhsw which I want to learn for a Muppet Show party I'm invited to, where I'll be expected to do a Muppet themed piece. My date said he'd help me learn.

Still can't play anything on it, but I'm off to a Ukulele Hooley this weekend - who knew Ukulele Hooleys existed? Not me.

I'm not musical at all - unlike some of my siblings and my dad - but I enjoy my failed attempts to learn as well. Fingers crossed the ukulele turns out to be the musical instrument I've been waiting for all along

Are you musical? Or do you, like me, flail about hoping something will eventually click?

Polloloca

I played the tin whistle when i was younger, until my mom took it from me for smacking my little brother with it.

Fizzlesque

Polloloca wrote: »

I played the tin whistle when i was younger, until my mom took it from me for smacking my little brother with it.

You rascal!

My sister used play tin whistle - another instrument I tried and didn't click with. School used teach tin whistle, if I remember correctly, now that you mention it.

Malari

No, I'm entirely non-musical. I played the recorder in school and tried to learn the guitar but failed.

The Big Red Button

I played piano up to Grade Eight, then did the Gold Medal Senior Recital thing (basically a fun thing which was like a piano exam, but with no boring scales/theory etc, just 45 minutes worth of Grade Eight plus standard pieces, but with no sheet music.) If I'd done one more exam after, I'd have been qualified to teach piano - I didn't though, I moved away to college, and never got back into it. I still play; I can still play the pieces I was able to play for the Senior Recital; probabaly not as well though. I think it would take a couple of years of dedicated practice to get up to that level again. I was actually really good - won quite a few cups and medals at local Feiseanna. And, my one and only claim to fame in life, is that I can play Flight of the Bumblebee. :cool: It's really not a technically difficult piece, but it never fails to impress!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-QrSc_Jw3g

I did up to (I think) Grade Five in violin. Never particularly enjoyed it, at all, although I wasn't bad at it. I much preferred piano, where you could just sit down and bash away at it, whereas with the violin you were messing away with tuning the strings and putting that resin stuff on the bow, etc.

I love Piano because it gives you such a great understanding of music, I mean I could pick up almost any instrument and manage to pick out a tune on it - you just understand how it all works, how all the theory fits in. I don't think you'd really get all that from learning just one wind/string instrument. I did music for Leaving Cert outside of school, but sure I didn't even need the lessons, I would have passed it no bother just from the theory I learned in my piano lessons (and I got a full 50% from the practical side of things, anyways, so I'd passed the exam long before I'd even sat the written paper!)

I'm planning on a big career change in the very near future, and it'll hopefully result in a lot more time on my hands. I want use that time to (amongst other plans) learn either flute or clarinet - basically because the flute was the one instrument I picked up and couldn't make a bit of music out of it. I was around 14 at the time. As far as I know, flute/clarinet/sax are technically very similar, so once you learn one, you could easily play any of them.

I've also always wanted to play the harp; I don't know if it would be much of a challenge, though, as it seems quite similar to the piano; also it's very expensive and not exactly easily transportable (like the piano!)

So, yeah, I love music! I'm very much looking forward to getting back into it very soon, when I get boring life/work stuff out of the way!

I used to play piano, would like to still but don't have one. I did grade 6 but continued on my own after that so I suppose I'm grade 8 level or so.
I play the cello, diploma level. I also sing, hoping to do grade 7 this year. Also done years of music theory so yeah, musician is me

confusticated

Did tin whistle for a good few years, never went on to anything more complicated though...tried the guitar briefly alright but worked out when I was a teenager that I have pretty much no sense of rhythm or timing, which makes music a bit tricky! As in, I can't clap along in time at concerts. No sense of the beat of a song at all.

Bubblefett

I play guitar and love it. Don't play as much as I used to but when I was in school/college I did my time in a few bands. That said we mainly messed about/drank. Learning Bass now.
I also did solo singing for 2 years which I loved but my voice wasn't the strongest. I did get a solo in the school opera though :cool:

EDIT: Oh and I did play that awful instrument that is the recorder for a year when I was 9

cantdecide

chatterpillar wrote: »

I played piano up to Grade Eight, then did the Gold Medal Senior Recital thing (basically a fun thing which was like a piano exam, but with no boring scales/theory etc, just 45 minutes worth of Grade Eight plus standard pieces, but with no sheet music.) If I'd done one more exam after, I'd have been qualified to teach piano - I didn't though, I moved away to college, and never got back into it. I still play; I can still play the pieces I was able to play for the Senior Recital; probabaly not as well though. I think it would take a couple of years of dedicated practice to get up to that level again. I was actually really good - won quite a few cups and medals at local Feiseanna. And, my one and only claim to fame in life, is that I can play Flight of the Bumblebee. :cool: It's really not a technically difficult piece, but it never fails to impress!...I did up to (I think) Grade Five in violin. Never particularly enjoyed it, at all, although I wasn't bad at it. I much preferred piano, where you could just sit down and bash away at it, whereas with the violin you were messing away with tuning the strings and putting that resin stuff on the bow, etc.

I love Piano because it gives you such a great understanding of music, I mean I could pick up almost any instrument and manage to pick out a tune on it - you just understand how it all works, how all the theory fits in. I don't think you'd really get all that from learning just one wind/string instrument. I did music for Leaving Cert outside of school, but sure I didn't even need the lessons, I would have passed it no bother just from the theory I learned in my piano lessons (and I got a full 50% from the practical side of things, anyways, so I'd passed the exam long before I'd even sat the written paper!)

I'm planning on a big career change in the very near future, and it'll hopefully result in a lot more time on my hands. I want use that time to (amongst other plans) learn either flute or clarinet - basically because the flute was the one instrument I picked up and couldn't make a bit of music out of it. I was around 14 at the time. As far as I know, flute/clarinet/sax are technically very similar, so once you learn one, you could easily play any of them.

I've also always wanted to play the harp; I don't know if it would be much of a challenge, though, as it seems quite similar to the piano; also it's very expensive and not exactly easily transportable (like the piano!)

So, yeah, I love music! I'm very much looking forward to getting back into it very soon, when I get boring life/work stuff out of the way!

Holy cr*p, that's my sister's entire back story verbatim!

bubblefett wrote: »

I play guitar and love it. Don't play as much as I used to but when I was in school/college I did my time in a few bands. That said we mainly messed about/drank. Learning Bass now.
I also did solo singing for 2 years which I loved but my voice wasn't the strongest. I did get a solo in the school opera though :cool:

EDIT: Oh and I did play that awful instrument that is the recorder for a year when I was 9

I play the geetar but not well enough to do anything meaningful with it. Learned a bit of bass too.

Still recovering from nearly losing my arm in May makes you think differently about the things you wish to achieve in life. I have ALWAYS wanted to learn the drums. I showed some aptitude for it when younger and now I plan on following through...

Dolbert

I was asthmatic as a child and the doctor advised starting me on a wind instrument to strengthen my lungs. It worked, but more importantly I caught the music bug which hasn't gone away! I've played trad flute for over 20 years now and have also since taken up guitar and bodhrán.

I was lucky enough to be taught by one of the finest trad musicians in the country. One thing about traditional music is that it's very much listening-based, so while my sight-reading is pretty rudimentary, I can sing or play pretty much anything by ear (and am a bit of a pitch-Nazi to play with)

Played the flute for a while but never really took to it or liked it. I really wanted to play the saxophone but my parents couldn't afford to buy one so they got me a flute instead. I managed to get to about Grade 3 then gave up.

I've always loved the piano and started messing around on a keyboard when I was about 5. Started formal lessons when I was 13 or so but didn't like them. I realise now that the whole reading music (very difficult for me due to dyscalculia) and exam thing took all the fun out of it for me. I struggled through about 3 grades and then stopped the lessons. Recently started again and I was shocked at how quickly I was able to pick it up again. I could play quite a few songs from the Amelie soundtrack after a couple of weeks. I just play what I like now. Much better. Hopefully, I'll keep going and improve more and more.

Lia_lia

My Dad is a professional musician. He plays just about everything. If my brother and I lived with him for our entire childhood I'd say we'd playing loads of instruments too, but we moved to Ireland while my Dad stayed in France. My younger brother and sister in France are REALLY musical. Especially my sister. She was once the best in France for her age at classical piano. Always going to comps and all that. She can also play whistle/guitar/bass/drums etc. My brother plays electric guitar very well! And sings.

I played violin when I was very young, but then when I moved away from my Dad I lost interest. Won a scholarship to play Cello when I was about 10 so I did that for a few years...but after the scholarship ran out the lessons becomes too expensive! Would love to take up a new instrument but just don't really have the time..

Mars Bar

I can play the acoustic guitar but pretty badly.

I can play the drums fairly decently but definitely not as well as a person who has been playing for about 8 years should.

I can bang out the very basic chords on a keyboard.

rainbow kirby

I'm not musical at all - any time I've tried to learn any instrument it's been an absolute failure, and I can't even sing.

JustAThought

I did classes for years; rigid formula; dragging myself in a school uniform up the road in the rain dragging a guitar in the rain & later clutching a soaking wet guitar round the middle as the wind tried to smash it against every car & wall on the way home. Endless moaning about practicing & mortified at the thought of parents & family listening g to me struggle through the Walls. Felt obliged to say yes & thank you when asked/told with great happiness that a place for the new year/term had been bought for me.
I still remember the joy & relief at being told my parents didn't think I really enjoyed the classes & so I wouldn't be going back.

My poor folks!

Roll on 3 or 4 years; teenager; new interest in music that actually interested me; same guitar extracted from the attic; into McCoullagh Piggotts to buy books of ( beatles !) music & didn't look back for 8 years!!!!!

Funny old thing, music!!!!

monkeysnapper

I started a thread very simelar in kerry site

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2056719283

Anyway i always wanted to play saxophone but took it up just to late because it makes one holly mighty noise and when you have babies in house it dont go down well

BrensBenz

OP, totally agree - the ukelele is a very pleasant and hugely under-rated instrument.
I'm a (fairly) accomplished classical style guitar player but I have trouble with trapped nerves affecting my left arm and hand which can severely hinder my guitar playing for days, or sometimes weeks, at a time. I bought a ukelele to try to keep my left hand in some sort of shape while the trapped nerves eased off.
Pretty soon I found the uke to be a real "pet". My new party piece is a selection of contemporary etudes (probably) composed on uke, e.g. Status Quo - Rockin' All Over the World; Stones - Brown Sugar, etc. Strangely, people seem to prefer listening to that rather than my guitar renditions of Verdi!
To other readers: Try a ukelele! Nylon strings, so no bleeding fingertips; small fretboard, so no finger-stretching exercises; a few, basic guitar chord shapes and you're away!

Jenneke87

When I was little, my biggest dream(still is) was to learn to play the violin. My mom disagreed and told me to start with the flute instead. Played it all the way through primary school and then swapped it in favor of the silver flute(dont know the correct name,sorry) When I was 16 or so I learned to play the bodhrán, followed by the harp which I still play.

I would still love to learn to play a hurdy gurdy, a chinese harp and the violin still....I'll be be busy enough in this lifetime

Jenneke87

chatterpillar wrote: »

I've also always wanted to play the harp; I don't know if it would be much of a challenge, though, as it seems quite similar to the piano; also it's very expensive and not exactly easily transportable (like the piano!)

So, yeah, I love music! I'm very much looking forward to getting back into it very soon, when I get boring life/work stuff out of the way!

The fact that you're playing vertically instead of horizontally makes a big difference and the techniques are way different. The prize will depend on the type of harp you get, if you start out with a second hand or rent one, it won't be that bad. Bear in mind a harp does require a fair bit of maintanence. You can get transportbags on wheels for your harp or a transport kart which will make it okay to travel with them. Hope this helps a bit.

metaoblivia

I'm a classically trained vocalist and can play the piano/keyboard at an intermediate level. I wish I could play the piano better, but oh well! I love practicing and performing music. I can honestly say it's one of the great joys in my life.

Ilyana

I begged my parents to let me get piano lessons and finally when I was ten, they gave in. They were right to refuse for so long, I gave up after Grade One. It was too like school, with the exams and whatnot. In my mind, a hobby should be fun, not a chore. I was never great at it anyway!

Then I took up guitar from the ages of twelve to sixteen, both acoustic and electric. The great thing about the guitar is that I remember the basic chords, if I wanted to I could pick it up at any time and hammer out something half decent after a few minutes' practice. I'm no Hendrix, but it's great for the odd singsong

I am an awesome singer, but my talent only reveals itself after a few glasses of wine. The rest of the time, I'm rubbish

cantdecide

Ilyana wrote: »

I begged my parents to let me get piano lessons and finally when I was ten, they gave in. They were right to refuse for so long, I gave up after Grade One. It was too like school, with the exams and whatnot. In my mind, a hobby should be fun, not a chore. I was never great at it anyway!

Then I took up guitar from the ages of twelve to sixteen, both acoustic and electric. The great thing about the guitar is that I remember the basic chords, if I wanted to I could pick it up at any time and hammer out something half decent after a few minutes' practice. I'm no Hendrix, but it's great for the odd singsong

I am an awesome singer, but my talent only reveals itself after a few glasses of wine. The rest of the time, I'm rubbish

I begged my folks for a guitar and went for lessons soon after. It was like math class. Theory theory theory. I gave up soon after too. I've always said that when you're teaching someone to play an instrument that the first thing to do is make it fun. Have them play their favourite tunes. Teach them things that are fun to play. The grade systems are a bit too serious for people who just want to learn to rock out.

I picked up my guitar again a couple of years later and taught myself and went on to have some of the best experiences of my life through my teens and into my twenties playing in bands and rockin' out!!

metaoblivia

cantdecide wrote: »

I begged my folks for a guitar and went for lessons soon after. It was like math class. Theory theory theory. I gave up soon after too. I've always said that when you're teaching someone to play an instrument that the first thing to do is make it fun. Have them play their favourite tunes. Teach them things that are fun to play. The grade systems are a bit too serious for people who just want to learn to rock out.

I picked up my guitar again a couple of years later and taught myself and went on to have some of the best experiences of my life through my teens and into my twenties playing in bands and rockin' out!!

Theory is one of the off-putting things about seriously learning an instrument (although I know some people who love it). It's basically math for musical notes, and sometimes that puts off the more free-spirited souls.

What I really hated though, was Ear Training and Sight Singing. Music majors at my university had to take those courses every semester in addition to music theory. In ear training, we used to have sit down and listen to our professor play a piece on the piano and then notate it on staves - keys, time signature and measures, rhythms, chords - everything. Then in sight singing, they gave you sheet music, played the first note and then you had to sing the rest a capella without ever hearing the tune played elsewhere.

That's why I stopped pursuing music at university. The theory, ear training and sight singing courses were just sucking the passion out of it for me. I had no desire to become a music teacher; I just wanted to sing!

But some people love that part of music and are really good at it. To each their own! Although, now I'm glad that I did pick up the basics of music theory because it definitely helps when I'm composing an original song and developing chords for it. But yeah, it's a beast to learn.

saa

I can play the guitar, I never learned any songs off but when I'm stressed I pull it out and play a few tabs and finger exercises

so..

when I'm at house parties and a guitar I grab it when its free do a little speed shred on it and then walk away like nothing happened

Whatsernamex33

I've been playing guitar and violin both six years now...
Only person in my family that's sort of musical, although my brother tried play guitar.. Yeah. xD

Always been meaning to pick up the drums, haven't got around to it!

Contessa Raven

Played tin whistle in primary school.
Got a guitar for my 16th birthday. Took 10 lessons and then the Leaving Cert started. 8 years later and I still keep meaning to pick it back up!
In college we learned the basics of keyboard playing which was great craic. Probably could play one or two bits but I've forgotten most of what I learned.

I can sing although I hate singing in front of people. I have awful stage fright. I'm always belting out tunes in the shower or singing at the top of my voice when I'm home alone.

My boyfriend has been a drummer for 18 years. (Makes my 10 lessons look even more pathetic!) He also plays guitar, bass and the ukulele. I'm well jealous!

I always liked the theory
musical dictation, sightsinging, writing melodies & piano accompaniments in pen&paper exam conditions, chorales... luckily I didn't do music in college as I'm not sure I would have managed figured bass at sight - no problem with it as pen & paper
I'm a bit rusty at singing back melodies I've heard once/twice now, I'll have to train it again

meta, I'm surprised you had issues with sightsinging if you're actually a singer- it was one thing doing it when I was a pianist/cellist but now I'm doing singing grades it's part of it and straightforward enough...

but to each their own sure

Fizzlesque

I'm loving reading these replies, great to know there are so many other non-musical sorts like me who are ploughing ahead regardless, and making some kind of music. Like many who have posted, I'd love to be able to play piano - my sister plays a particular song/melody on the piano and it always brings tears to my eyes. Like it reaches inside me and gives my heart a squeeze...

Interesting comments about how the school-effect killed the enjoyment of learning to play, for some. I suspect I'd have been the same, if there had been an opportunity to take lessons as a child. Although I did do music lessons for the first few years of secondary school, the crazy nun who taught us didn't teach us anything of use, she did let us have a free form dance class on Fridays though, which I absolutely loved. Dancing would be my natural space in the world of music and movement, though I'm determined to make a concerted effort to learn to play a few ukulele tunes. I can't read music, which makes playing an instrument more difficult - except the ukulele (or so I've been told) which just adds to its magic and makes it even more likely I'll manage to go the distance at last.

A few years ago, at the Electric Picnic (last time I was there) there was a section with instruments made out of bits and pieces, where people could just join in and make noise - can't remember what instruments were there but any old passing eejit could get involved. I loved that, a jamming session with absolutely no rules. The noisier the better. Did any other picnicers see that space at the picnic?

BrensBenz

OP, I'm musically illiterate too but me Mammy says I'm a great musician. If the tune is in your head, who needs to read the music? (Yes, OK, all of you classically trained virtuosos reading this, feel free to sneer.)
I pulled a pdf of ukulele chord diagrams from Mr. Google (no idea how to add links or the actual document here) but they're not hard to find. (Yes, OK, all of you know-all IT nerds reading this, feel free to sneer.)
Uke chords are the same shapes as those of the four higher-pitched strings of a guitar, but with a five semitone difference. Because I've been playing for so long, I can "hear" the chords but a lot of that fancy sheet music shows the chord names and where to play them. This might be useful for you for a while but you cannot imagine the thrill of figuring out the chords yourself: "I'm NOT just repeating what some teacher showed me, I worked this out myself". Sneer away!

Ilyana

I did Junior Cert Music and I was actually really good at the theoretical aspect, although maybe it was because I'm just good at learning things by heart anyway. But I can see how it would be a turn-off for people who are more free-spirited with regards to playing music.

I didn't take Music for the Leaving Cert because I knew my practical aspect would be too weak, given the 50% weighting. I could have worked on it but it would have taken time away from the subjects I liked more and was better at (English, History etc.).

Still wish I'd progressed with the guitar, maybe I'll resume it again sometime. But like someone else said, I'm paranoid of people hearing my dodgy chords through the walls!

Giselle

I'd love to be musical.

I took three guitar lessons. I think my teacher might have wanted to cry after the first one, but she definitely did by the time the third was over. I had to quit, for both our sakes.

I took a years worth of piano lessons. I think I was better before the first one. My piano teacher gently suggested that some other instument might suit me better, but we both knew that instrument hadn't been invented.

I joined a choir in school. The choirmaster remarked that there was a crow worse than any he'd ever heard lurking among the new members. Of course it was me. There was no escaping the fact that my singing resembles the sound of a cat being kicked to death. While giving birth. To an elephant.

I do dance though. I love to dance. I've been involved in competitive dancesport since I was a 12 year old, and at this point I've quite a few trophies. Tell me there's a tango festival and I'm there faster than you can say ''spray-glue my costume knickers to my bottom''.

I still fantasise about playing an instrument though, although the consequences for humanity might make it advisable not to.

Fizzlesque

BrensBenz wrote: »

OP, I'm musically illiterate too but me Mammy says I'm a great musician. If the tune is in your head, who needs to read the music? (Yes, OK, all of you classically trained virtuosos reading this, feel free to sneer.)
I pulled a pdf of ukulele chord diagrams from Mr. Google (no idea how to add links or the actual document here) but they're not hard to find. (Yes, OK, all of you know-all IT nerds reading this, feel free to sneer.)
Uke chords are the same shapes as those of the four higher-pitched strings of a guitar, but with a five semitone difference. Because I've been playing for so long, I can "hear" the chords but a lot of that fancy sheet music shows the chord names and where to play them. This might be useful for you for a while but you cannot imagine the thrill of figuring out the chords yourself: "I'm NOT just repeating what some teacher showed me, I worked this out myself". Sneer away!

Hello BrensBenz, I have located lots of online chord sheets and other ukulele music sheets, so no IT fears here. I do need to learn a few basic chords first though - and then buy myself a better ukulele (hope to get a good deal on a new uke at the hooley this weekend).

I doubt anyone here is going to be sneering at anyone else's efforts. As you can see, the posters who've replied vary enormously in levels of proficiency from 'barely there' (me) to highly trained. We're not in competition, we're sharing happy (and some not so happy) music stories. No finger wagging or tsk tsking

I just want to be able to rattle out a few tunes and, sometimes, a song along with it - my old party piece (which I've had for years and years) is about a banjo that's broken, complete with air-banjo theatrics but it's time for a new party piece and a real live ukulele that I can actually play is the perfect next step.

metaoblivia

bluewolf wrote: »

meta, I'm surprised you had issues with sightsinging if you're actually a singer- it was one thing doing it when I was a pianist/cellist but now I'm doing singing grades it's part of it and straightforward enough...

but to each their own sure

I'm surprised you're surprised. Most of the people in my class didn't like the sight singing. But we were doing it at a high level. It wasn't just do re mi fa so in order. It was jumping all over the place, with flats and sharps, and because the music was written specifically for sight singing there was no melody. And it wasn't done in a group. You had to stand up and sing individually.

And again, some people are good at that. I was never one of them. I never made great grades in any of the technical classes. And I was okay with that because at the end of the day, I was getting cast in major roles in productions and getting solos. And I found that a lot too - the people who wanted to go into composition or education or music therapy were better at the technical side of music. Those of us who were on the performance track weren't as interested in theory and dictation as we were in getting on the stage and beefing up our resumes with roles.

metaoblivia

metaoblivia wrote: »

I'm surprised you're surprised. Most of the people in my class didn't like the sight singing. But we were doing it at a high level. It wasn't just do re mi fa so in order. It was jumping all over the place, with flats and sharps, and because the music was written specifically for sight singing there was no melody. And it wasn't done in a group. You had to stand up and sing individually.

Yes I know, same on all the above

Raven_Melody

I tried to learn guitar right handed before. I'm a leftie.

So yeah..that went well!!

Dolbert

If there any other trad musicians reading the thread, I highly recommend doing the Comhaltas exam grades. I completed them all and it definitely improved my musicianship, your teacher will be able to tell you the most appropriate starting point. As it is specifically geared toward traditional music there is lots of emphasis on performance, aural awareness, trad-centric theory (i.e. modes) and the history of the tradition. Also, sometimes people can be dismissive of traditional music and not appreciate the skill involved, so it’s nice to have something to throw in their faces

BrensBenz

Fizzlesque wrote: »

Hello BrensBenz, I have located lots of online chord sheets and other ukulele music sheets, so no IT fears here. I do need to learn a few basic chords first though - and then buy myself a better ukulele (hope to get a good deal on a new uke at the hooley this weekend).

I doubt anyone here is going to be sneering at anyone else's efforts. As you can see, the posters who've replied vary enormously in levels of proficiency from 'barely there' (me) to highly trained. We're not in competition, we're sharing happy (and some not so happy) music stories. No finger wagging or tsk tsking .

Apologies Fizzlesque - I forgot this isn't After Hours - much more civilised here! Those guys are lightning quick at getting offended, microscopic nitpicking and nyaa nyaa na na nyaa....ing.

Blowfish

I played the Trombone through secondary school up until 4th year (reached grade 6 afair), which involved playing various gigs as part of the school's wind instrument band, including one in front of Mary McAleese as President which was interesting. After that I switched schools to one which unfortunately didn't have the band etc. so kind of drifted away from the Trombone as it's not the greatest solo instrument.

I ended up playing the Bass guitar after that, including in the usual silly 'mates in a garage' type band, though we didn't really take it too seriously.

I did write a few melodies and recorded them on the pc at one point, though not sure if I still have them anywhere.

Aside from that, my family is fairly musical so I've played around with piano/keyboard, guitar, trumpet, flute etc. as they were floating around though never particularly seriously.

I'd like at some point to pick up the guitar or piano for versatility sake and also the cello as I love the sheer amount of emotion it can produce.

bluewolf wrote: »

I always liked the theory
musical dictation, sightsinging, writing melodies & piano accompaniments in pen&paper exam conditions, chorales... luckily I didn't do music in college as I'm not sure I would have managed figured bass at sight - no problem with it as pen & paper

I actually remember the first time ever I had to sight read stuff on the Trombone. I hadn't been playing that long and it was the first school band practice I went to, the teacher basically plonked the sheet music in front of me and started conducting. I wouldn't have minded so much if it was just me and a teacher/examiner but when there's 20 other people who already know the piece backwards it's a bit nuts. Thankfully though it was an adapted version of the William Tell Overture so at least I had an idea of the main melody, even if I didn't know my own part.

What I found much tougher though was being taught improvisation by my Bass teacher. I've no problem writing melodies, but usually take my time about it. Being given a couple of chords and told to improvise around it from scratch and make it sound decent took a while of getting used to.

Fizzlesque

BrensBenz wrote: »

Apologies Fizzlesque - I forgot this isn't After Hours - much more civilised here! Those guys are lightning quick at getting offended, microscopic nitpicking and nyaa nyaa na na nyaa....ing.

Ah no worries, it's easy to forget that it's much more civilised here if you've been scalded by the meanies on AH - which I have. They can be brutal in their dedication to being always and thoroughly disapproving of pretty much everything.

I'm heartened to learn you're now playing the ukulele by ear - one of the reasons I want to get a better uke than the Lidl/Aldi one (which really is crap) I was given is for the sound. I don't want to be trying to train my ear to get to know an instrument that's unable to give me the sounds it's supposed to. As well as wanting it to actually sound better.

Fizzlesque

Raven_Melody wrote: »

I tried to learn guitar right handed before. I'm a leftie.

So yeah..that went well!!

Snap - I'm left handed too. When I was trying to learn how to play guitar I decided to do it right handedly, even though when I picked up the guitar I did it left handedly, for sake of ease and because a few people advised me to.

However, I'm gonna go with the left handed ukulele playing, see how that goes. I can hold it either way if needs be, but left handedly does feel that bit more normal and comfortable. Bit of restringing and it's good to go.

fenris

I went out for a sandwich about this time last year and happened to wander past Waltons, who were having a 50% off sale (on again at the moment) and ended up wandering back to the office with an electric guitar (epiphone LP Studio for €149) and loads of good intentions that are holding up pretty well.

My OH laughed and reckoned that it was pretty harmless as mid life crises went and that headphones were the best invention ever.

Sometimes you just have to apply the ASFIA (AhhShurFsckItAnyway) principle and just go for it, I was amazed at how badly behaved my hands were as regards fingers doing what they were told for the first while, followed by wondering why my brain didn't seem to be able to handle keeping the right hand moving when changing position with my left.

Once the early enthusiasm wears off and you get through the "I'll never get the hang of this" phase the transition to "why didn't I do this years ago" happens very quickly!

So if you are even thinking about it, just go for it!