I've been spending way too much time this week reading up on famous disappearances - where U at, Hereward the Wake? A Google search about home audio recording equipment lead me down this path somehow - those internet rabbit holes run DEEP, man. Anyway, at some point "research" just turns into plain old time wasting, which I guess brings me back to the original subject of my search (and the poll topic of the week in a roundabout way):
You're suddenly able to play any one musical instrument with great proficiency. Which one do you choose?
Let's assume you retain the ability to play any instruments you're already good at. I'd probably go for the violin. I actually took violin lessons for a year or two when I was younger, but I never really practiced enough to get good at it, and then my teacher randomly upped and moved somewhere in Africa one day, so... yeah. So much for that. They sure do sound nice when other people play them though.
So how about you? On which instrument will you write your ballad about Louis Le Prince?
At the moment, I'm feeling rather leaky-brained. So when I read your question, 'Have you learned anything?' my reaction was, 'huh, whuu...'
ReplyDeleteCatch me next week. Maybe. ~slogs back into spreadsheeting~
It would have to be piano, I have always wanted to play piano, I took a few lessons and I don't think I was meant to be musically talented......LOL!
ReplyDeleteI used to play the clarinet but I was not good at it lol. My husband played the saxophone and was quite good so I would have to go with that!
ReplyDeleteEnjoy those spreadsheets. Maybe the secret to the meaning of life is hiding in those cells.
ReplyDeleteMaybe you're meant to be musically talented now! ;)
ReplyDeleteThat's helpful. I took piano lessons when I was younger, but I never got good at it and now I don't even really remember how to play. I used to live with some professional musicians but now I wish there was someone in my house who could help me figure out my terrible musical ideas, hah.
ReplyDeleteNice choice! I'd imagine playing the saxophone takes a bit of endurance... lots of blowing, lol.
ReplyDeleteI didn't even notice the real poll question about music. I totally missed that - big bolded letters and all. I read about internet holes and Africa and my head went mush. ~blinks~ I must have been way too loopy and in need of lunch.
ReplyDeleteDouble Bass - but only because I'd want to play in a really moody jazz combo. But no, I have zero musical talent. I gave up flute in the fifth grade and never looked back.
I already play piano pretty well, but I'd love to be able to play the violin. Those long notes really pull at your heartstrings, and one thing I just can't do on a piano without hurting my fingers is a glissando. It looks both easier and more difficult on a violin.
ReplyDeleteIf you have but a rinkydink casio keyboard you can still write a straight melody at least, without needing to know complicated chords or harmony. All you need is a good ear.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to play the piano!! My music teacher in college told me that I have "the fingers for it." One of my friends plays beautifully, and I always wish that I could play something besides "Yankee Doodle."
ReplyDeleteYeah, very true! I do have a couple of keyboards (both Casio, funny enough) lying around and do use them for that.
ReplyDeleteYeah, I never really got good enough to do that on any instrument. Violin is a finger-hurting instrument in general, albeit in a different way...
ReplyDeleteMy piano teacher used to say the same thing. I assume "piano fingers" means ones that are long and flexible? Gotta reach those keys.
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you - the intro to my question was sort of weird. But yeah, the double bass is cool. I found a flute in the basement of my mom's house (I'm guessing it was my sister's?) and messed around with it a lot but never really learned how to play.
ReplyDeleteI've actually given this question a good bit of thought - it was a question I asked myself not too long ago, in fact (great minds...) I was narrowing it down between the piano, violin, and guitar. And I think I would ultimately choose the guitar because you can take it anywhere and carry it easily (you can't haul a piano where ever you go and while a violin case and guitar case are very similar, a guitar is easier to just strap to your back without a case in a pinch) and also because the guitar is just one piece, as opposed to needing a bow with the violin (I don't know why that part seems so important to me, but it just is). So there's my long answer. The guitar. :)
ReplyDeleteI was quite a serious flute player in my youth, and I played the piano, but if I could suddenly play a new instrument I would probably choose the harp. Harpo is my favorite Marx brother.
ReplyDeleteTrue story: We had a harp in my house when I was a kid because my dad built one. None of us ever really knew how to play it though, which is so weird I can't even. Anyway, harps are cool. And if you don't have one you can build one, apparently.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right - there's a reason people tend to bring their guitars (and not other stringed instruments) on trips or camping or whatever!
ReplyDeleteHarps are just cool to look at, so I can understand why your dad built one. Or it was a subtle way of encouraging you to learn to play and you didn't take the hint. ;)
ReplyDeleteI was too busy practicing the piano while he hollered "KEEP THAT RACKET DOWN!" I guess the harp is more soothing...
ReplyDeleteI'm a musician, so I love this! I wish my sight reading skills on the piano were better, but if we're talking about an entirely new instrument, it would have to be the violin...or oboe, or...oh, crap...too many to choose just one!!! I do agree about the harp; it's an amazing instrument!
ReplyDeleteHooray for the oboe! I feel like the oboe doesn't get enough love.
ReplyDelete