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Original poster

Instrument players - come and chat!

999 replies

NeverEverAnythingEver · 06/04/2017 23:21

I thought we could have a thread to chat about playing! I play the piano (not as badly as I fear but not as well as I hope) and have recently tried my hand at chamber music. Would love to hear what other people are doing.

CoteDAzur Here's a picture of the instruments they used in Rameau's Dardanus.

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Gooseygoosey12345 · 08/04/2017 14:42

I've played guitar for about 15 years. Not as good as I'd like to be but generally it's just backing for singing. I also play piano and was taught from a young age but haven't played for years and am probably terrible now. I've self taught a little violin, the ukulele, harp and accordion. My grandparents on both sides were very musical so I guess it's "in my blood". I'm not graded as I never took the exams. I'd love to learn violin formally.

Cagliostro · 08/04/2017 15:08

Agree re: recorder teaching also. It's a shame. I teach a few kids recorder too (my own kids are home educated so there's ample teaching opportunity for me in the community) and sooo many people are like "OMG are you crazy I could never stand the squeaking!"

But there's no squeaking really - if you teach the right technique with breathing/fingers from the start it's not an issue. Now when my pupils squeak occasionally they can instantly check themselves and see what's gone wrong.

I did think of doing a group lesson but I thought individual (or pairs of siblings) would bring better progress.

I have a flute but really struggling to get a decent sound out of it, and I can't get any noise at all out of my old clarinet! I'm too weak for that! I have a ukulele too but I don't devote any time to anything other than piano really.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 08/04/2017 15:14

Former violin player (gave it up when I was 12 and everyone said "Violin isn't cool" :( ), a little bit of piano but main instruments now are guitar and ukulele :)

TheCrystalMaise · 08/04/2017 15:19

I managed to get to grade 5 on the trumpet at school and I'm now, many years later, a year in to learning the saxophone, so very much a beginner on that. Decided against doing grades on the sax and just playing for fun. I have very limited skills in pitch, rhythm and timing so amazed I made it as far as grade 5 on trumpet. I am also pretty much tone deaf, failed a couple of music exams as I got 2/18 for the aural section!

MrSlant · 08/04/2017 21:09

I got a merit in my grade 2 piano, 128 so 2 marks off a distinction, I will try very hard not to be bitter about that. Especially when my 10 year old got a distinction playing my flute in his exam Grin.

Cagliostro · 08/04/2017 21:24

Awesome! Congratulations 🌟😀

MrSlant · 08/04/2017 21:27

You guys were the first people I came to to tell! Well after my children of course, they needed their results too. Can't wait to get stuck into my grade 3 now. I'm self taught which I have decided makes my grade better really because my children have lessons. Any excuse!

BarchesterFlowers · 08/04/2017 21:39

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 well done. I would be thrilled. How much of your old theory do you remember - scarily I remember very little 30 years on.

MrSlant · 08/04/2017 22:01

I remember nothing but it doesn't matter because I don't have to do it again Grin. My youngest is into composing so I've transcribed one of his piano pieces but it was like pulling teeth, will have to learn with my youngest two to help them. Middle boy is concentrating on his GCSE's and just plays for the joy of it so not a problem but I think Mr Distinction is going to be flying up his grades so I'm going to have to stay one step ahead of him I think. Having a very excited evening trying to work out what size frames we need so we can put our certificates up on the wall. Really motivated for grade 3 now!

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 08/04/2017 22:29

CeeBeeBee Well done for passing Grade 7!

I have a teacher (started a couple of years ago) and I see her every couple of months or so just so that she can tell me how I'm doing it all wrong. Hmm Grin But it's great. I now no longer fear the instruction to play quietly. Grin

I'm trying to play a Beethoven sonata at the moment and sometimes I think I'm making good progress and sometimes I think I may as well give up. I'm also trying to find a piano quintet that I can mange. And perhaps a Schubert lieder. I've only just started listening to them and am quite obsessed ... But to be realistic I'm probably not going to have time to do everything!

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Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 08/04/2017 22:31

Well done MrSlant!

I agree that there is something very special about the sound of recorders played properly in a proper space. Brings tears to your eyes.

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treaclesoda · 08/04/2017 22:32

Which Beethoven sonata are you learning?

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 08/04/2017 22:32

Barchester Another maths person here! Smile

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NeverEverAnythingEver · 08/04/2017 22:33

treacle The Moonlight. I'm trying the 3rd movement.

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treaclesoda · 08/04/2017 22:35

ooh, that third movement is difficult!

treaclesoda · 08/04/2017 22:39

Have you ever tried the Beethoven piano sonata in E flat major? It's lovely Smile

I absolutely love Brahms piano music, but I have tiny tiny hands and it is incredibly difficult for me as the stretches are so long. I remember my teacher at school telling me that Brahms himself apparently had massive hands, and wrote his music to suit his own ability!

MrSlant · 08/04/2017 22:42

Barchester I've done maths as a mature student through the OU, I think there is a big correlation between music and maths. Distinction DS is also a very good at maths as is my piano player. I was torn between continuing my music and doing a radiography degree and decided there was more regular money working in the NHS.

Any new piano players come across Neugasimov? I did one of his pieces for my grade 2 and looked into him (he's younger than me, how is that possible!) and he has a couple of books of pieces that are grade 3/4 level that DS2 is really enjoying. I am trying to learn one of Chopin's preludes as it is DS1's favourite piece of music (who knew stupid games on phones could make older teenagers love classical music?).

AlexandraLeaving · 08/04/2017 22:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

treaclesoda · 08/04/2017 22:49

oh, I totally forgot to say in my posts, well done Mr Slant!

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 08/04/2017 23:42

treacle I've been trying to learn that 3rd movement forever. I love the ferocity. Just need to play it that way instead of being all wrong notes and stop-and-start! I don't know the E flat major - will listen tomorrow. I don't play major key pieces much though. I like my music all doom and gloom though that's not what I'm like in RL. Grin

I tried to play Brahms Hungarian dance no 1 in G minor too. Must revive that soon.

Mr Slant Will check out Neugasimov tomorrow.

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BarchesterFlowers · 09/04/2017 05:01

There area few of us then. Yes, lots of similarities, the American Maths Society has got lots of interesting videos/articles/podcasts on maths and music.

They were always my best subjects, I guess once you can see/predict patterns you can apply it to both. My dad (engineer) strongly encouraged his offspring done the stem route, although I am too old for it to have been called stem. My mum was a music teacher, as was my grandfather so music was sort of compulsory.

I might take DD to the church tomorrow with our recorders, mainly thanks to this thread.

OutandIntoday · 09/04/2017 05:28

Grade 6 French Horn player here. Sadly i stopped when i went to Uni as i am old enough to still have got a good instrument for free throughout my school years. I regret not buying one. After going to a youth competition recently and hearing one being played, i am thinking about teaching myself the flugelhorn as it more affordable and possibly easier to pick up than the french horn -though I've not yet had the chance to try play one to see if my theory is correct!

treaclesoda · 09/04/2017 07:57

If any of you play an orchestral instrument I can heartily recommend downloading your instrument's part for whatever symphony/concerto takes your fancy and then putting on a YouTube video of the Berlin Philharmonic or some such and then playing along and living out your fantasies that you're a professional musician. Grin

And yes, I am in my 40s. Don't tell anyone. Blush

startwig1982 · 09/04/2017 08:02

I am grade 8 on the flute and started the diploma but never finished it. I'm not as good as I was due to lack of time to practise! But I do play on an amateur orchestra: for a long time as first but now happily playing second and sometime piccolo.
I rarely get to play my piano these days but I was about grade 6. I'd probably just about manage grade 1 now!

OverAndAbove · 09/04/2017 08:27

I'm just going to tip toe in as a recidivist piano player...

I got Grade 5 then played for a few years without further exams, and then not at all for twenty years. I've picked it back up in the last few months and reckon I'm at about grade 3 - not that it matters as I'm not doing any exams or lessons but just playing for fun.

I'm loving it - such a brilliant way of switching off from work etc.

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