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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.

OP posts:
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Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 09/04/2017 08:34

I am so envious of orchestral instrument players! There are a few amateur music clubs and orchestras round here but a pianist is not wanted anywhere. Sad

Having said that it's great to not have to have friends. Grin

OP posts:
Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 09/04/2017 08:36

I will take up the violin/cello/recorder when I retire!

I remember now I did have violin lessons for a few years, maybe up to Grade 3 or so (didn't do exams).

OP posts:
robinia · 09/04/2017 08:45

Another 'musician' here. Diploma on flute and Grade 8ish on piano though just a Grade 7 on paper.
Coincidentally picked up my flute for the first time in about five years a couple of days ago. Takes a day or two to come back but not too far off what it was. Piano is a different story - takes too much practice to get it up to standard. Did have that Beethoven 3rd mvmt many moons ago but sadly no longer.
My real love is the French horn though. Self taught myself to about Grade 5 standard ooh 25 years ago. Sadly back to pre Grade 1 now. Will take a massive effort to make any headway with that.
Also have a few other instruments lurking around the house courtesy of the dc. Would quite like to get a bassoon but cant really justify it Grin

Icouldbeknitting · 09/04/2017 09:17

outandintoday if you have a local brass band you may find that they have a flugal sitting in a cupboard waiting for someone to play it. As well as the instrument they will provide you with an ensemble to play it in. If your local band happens to be incredibly good then they will be able to tell you of another one that will be better for you starting out.

I am a lurker because I play nothing. DH left school with G2 piano and took it up again in his late forties. He practised much more than he ever did as a child (they didn't have a piano at home so that was always going to be a bit of a challenge) and passed G8. He's now pottering through the jazz syllabus.

Robinia DS fancied a bassoon, I think it was an act of teenage rebellion as DH said he shouldn't because it would wreck his embouchure. We found a teacher who had an instrument to lend and he had a few lessons over the summer after which he gave it back. It was a beautiful thing and I could have looked at it all day.

MrSlant · 09/04/2017 09:30

outandintoday have you seen the film Brassed Off? That has a flugelhorn player in it. It's an old film now but just amazing for the colliery brass band. I went to see the one it was based on in concert once and I've still got shivers down my spine thinking about it.

PS, thank you for all the lovely congratulations, I'm not sure I have anyone in RL that I can tell who would understand!

Icouldbeknitting · 09/04/2017 09:41

Congratulations MrSlant, it's hard taking exams as an adult because many people seem to believe that they are only for children and instead of recognising your efforts you get an odd look.

For returning brass players, find your local brass band here:
www.ibew.org.uk/link01g.htm

many will have a training band and instrument hire. Pianists could volunteer for tuned percussion...

MrSlant · 09/04/2017 09:45

I did feel a bit silly going for the exam flanked by my younger children but the lady after us must have been in her 70's and was taking grade 3!

That's reminded me that I wanted to play saxophone in school but they wouldn't let me because of my embouchure, hmm well if I don't want to play the flute anymore... (they're probably ridiculously expensive aren't they?). I also always wanted singing lessons, I'm in a choir now which is the highlight of my week, there's something about being in a group making music that's unbeatable.

BarchesterFlowers · 09/04/2017 10:22

I have been looking for teachers this morning. I think I might have a lesson a month with someone.

There are quite a few specialist recorder teachers near me which is a bit Shock.

I have been meaning to look for ages, never's thread has given me a kick start!

Cagliostro · 09/04/2017 10:40

Another maths fan here, that's the other subject I tutor :) I was doing my maths degree with the OU before I got sick (I have fibromyalgia among other things hence the hand pain when I play too much). I've always thought music to be very mathematical. I have Aspergers and they were always my strongest subjects.

Love love love the 3rd movement of Moonlight - it's so underplayed compared to the 1st but it's just wonderful. Great for getting some anger out!

I didn't get round to playing yesterday as still feeling sick but DH is taking the Caglets out for a bit after lunch so I will make the most of the opportunity!

BarchesterFlowers · 09/04/2017 14:05

These are really interesting, clearly you have to like that sort of thing Grin.

MrSlant · 09/04/2017 14:07

Oooh, they look brilliant, thank you Barchester.

BarchesterFlowers · 09/04/2017 14:24

Smile, sometimes mumsnet is great! Apart from DH and a couple of my very musical friends (who I don't see very much as we all live all over the place) I can't think of anyone else who would think they were brilliant!!

Gah81 · 09/04/2017 14:31

Oh this is a great thread! Grade 8 piano here and practise about once a week - nowhere near as often as I should. I would love to play the piano socially but get SO self-conscious playing in front of people, my hands go all sweaty and I make mistakes I never normally would.

Any tips for how to get over this? Apart from just woman-ing up and doing it?

I also sang to Grade 8 and have never felt nervous doing concerts etc. Really not sure why I have this thing about the piano.

MrSlant · 09/04/2017 14:35

I think that's what MN is best for. People think we are all women talking about nappies and breast feeding but actually we are a diverse group of people from all over the country talking about absolutely everything! I've made some great friends on here because you can find all sorts of people who are interested in your specific and diverse likes. Two of my best RL friends started as MN posters many years ago, I don't even know their posting names now but I'm going to see them next week so it's not really an issue.

OvariesBeforeBrovaries · 09/04/2017 14:40

This thread makes me want to take up violin again!

Mendingfences · 09/04/2017 14:41

I play flugelhorn, with a small local brass ensemble 😊 i was a cornet player in my youth.

BarchesterFlowers · 09/04/2017 15:18

Slant - we were out walking this morning and sat on a bridge dangling our legs over the edge to have a drink and an apple, the ferns were coming to life and the fractals reminded me of this thread and those lectures, hence the post, I had to come home and find my bookmark. Odd Grin.

LooseAtTheSeams · 09/04/2017 15:19

MrSlant I was distracted by the nice weather and nearly missed your news! Well done on a brilliant result! StarStarStar
Got chatting to someone in local community orchestra today and felt a bit jealous as piano a rather solitary affair. Tempted to try flute again after decades of neglect but suspect I'd be truly awful! And it would probably physically hurt!

treaclesoda · 09/04/2017 16:21

Gah I think the piano is a funny beast. I am much much better at playing the piano than I am at playing the violin. Yet I have played violin solos in public (when I was much younger!) with reasonable confidence (felt nervous obviously, but it was manageable) and I really have never been able to master playing piano in public at all. Actually, I love accompanying people on the piano. It satisfies the desire to play with someone else, but there is no major pressure because you're not the star of the show!

MrSlant · 09/04/2017 16:50

Loose you should give it a go, or try something different. I think it's relatively easy, once you can read music and understand how it works, to pick up something new. I was learning the guitar and picked it up quickly but without money for lessons I've stalled. Playing the flute now just frustrates me because it used to be as easy and natural as breathing and having to work at it is irritating as hell!

Barchester that first you tube post is brilliant. I am going to devour them all, plus I think DS2 and 3 would enjoy them as they both love maths and music equally. I always think fractals when I see a fern or look at the coastline! Or even look at the sand on the beach where it is in ripples from the sea and realise that magnified it would be the same as dunes. I love photography too and the 'golden ratio' is meshed in every shot I take.

Can't wait for my children to come home from their fathers now so we can jump up and down about our exam results now. My middle son was doing exactly the same exam as me and fortunately got exactly the same result (the examiners aren't allowed to rig that are they, I keep thinking he must have been worrying about family harmony Grin)

Gah I know what you mean, if I'd played my pieces like I do at home then I would have definitely got a distinction. I go to bits when people look at me! I'd love to be grade 8 though, must be lovely to play so much great music, even if it's just for yourself!

cudbywestrangers · 09/04/2017 18:29

Can I join?
I did lots of music through school: g8 piano and oboe and g7 violin. Auditioned for music college, got told to take a year out to concentrate on practice (in hindsight i was so unprepared!) and went to study pharmacy instead. Have done very little beyond playing in a church music group since.

I think I need the discipline of lessons to make me practice properly. Do any of you have any advice on how to find one? I've always said I'll get back into it eventually but the longer it goes the harder it is!

BarchesterFlowers · 09/04/2017 18:38

I am using www.musicteachers.co.uk cudby. You put in your instrument, postcode and how far you want to travel and can then look at the individual details of teachers.

Original poster
NeverEverAnythingEver · 09/04/2017 20:34

cudby I found my piano teacher by asking at the local piano shop. (Yes, we have a local piano shop.)

Gah I joined an amateur music group and play with string players. It is a new experience. Especially since I practised months and they turned up and sight-read. Hmm Grin I always think I play a piece beautifully and then when I go to my lesson it all falls to bits. Not sure how to sort that out ...

I have a craving to play the piano part of some Schubert lieders. Anyone tried them?

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disorganisedmummy · 10/04/2017 12:40

Hi everyone, please can I join? I've been told by my therapist that I need a hobby that's just for me so I've decided to take up either cello or clarinet. I can read music as I sing in a church choir but my theory isn't good so having theory lessons with the lady who teaches my son. She also teaches Strings so have a cello teacher there if I want to take that up. Clarinet teachers are hard to come by.
Does anyone play either instrument and if so,did you hire/what make do you have.

Thanks

flowery · 10/04/2017 12:53

I'm currently toying with taking my grade 8 violin. I did grade 8 viola when I was a teenager and play the violin to the same standard but never took any exams.

DH bought me the grade 8 pieces last week and they look perfectly doable, and I've actually played one of them before, so I'm taking that as a good sign.

I hadn't played for years until DS1 started learning. I didn't have a decent violin either until DH bought me one for Christmas 2015. I then ended up being persuaded to do a solo in a concert my choir did last year. My first ever- would have been far too terrified to do that when I was a teenager.

DS1 is doing his grade 5 in July and I can't have him overtaking me so I want to get my grade 8 under my belt!