How many of us are instrumentalists?

Piano - but I stopped playing years ago, upon realisation I would never be really good at it. Now, strictly consumer. My 10 years of playing allow me to be sufficiently critical to enjoy others doing it better than I ever could.

EJ

Wow Bart, nice long list of instruments you play.

My main instrument has always been the piano every since my first recollections around 3 years old.  If I am granted another life I would add the cello.  I own a cello but it comes second to the piano.  I don't have the time to practice all I want on the piano currently and so the cello gets even less time.  Somehow in Junior High Band class I played the Tenor Saxophone for three years but haven't touched it since then.

The piano has always intrigued me and just seems so natural.  Things may have been different though?  I'm told that my older sister actually started on the violin.  My father, who does not have one musical bone in his body, allowed the squeaking to last only one week.  My mom made sure though that we could at least have the piano since stringed instruments were banned.  Truth is that the piano was not liked or preferred anymore than any other instrument.  My mom was very musical and so was her grandfather as the story goes.

To do any justice to any instrument you have to really work at it full time, non-stop throughout your life and it would take years of this to even get to any top level.  I've never had this opportunity but maybe one day things will work out in my favour and the time will be given to me.  This hasn't stopped my will and determination.  Being that I can only practice an hour here or there now throughout a month, I do it just to keep some skill level going.  Stopping altogether and you soon lose even the basics.  But even as an amateur, I can think of no greater joy than to make music.

The piano has been my faithful partner throughout my life and has always been there when I needed her.  The more I give the more she gives back to me.  Sadly, that is more than I can say for many humans.  There is a book by Katie Hafner whose title really aptly puts it for me as, "A Romance on Three Legs."

Doug

I have achieved the pinnacle of mediocrity in guitar; I own a few classical, acoustics, a 12-string, and several electrics (both solid & hollow body).  Every time I come home from a well played concert, I feel like I should make a bonfire out of them...they deserve better than me!

I also played the bassoon for a while in high school, and even tried to self-teach it again, but money got tight and I sold it.

For 3 years I had a friend who left a full set of traps over my house, so I got to where I could play those a little.

But as EJ said, I am just good enough (or better, not good enough) to really appreciate those who do it well.

Biggest problem is not enough time in "grown-up life" for it.

For a complete novice: What's the easiest instrument to pick up?

Harmonica is pretty easy.

BTW Shivo, a lady at work has this on her cubicle, and it made me think of you:

Hmm.. sorry, I miss your point. I really do. Can you repeat this once again, slowly this time?

Ok, what's the second most easy instrument to pick up?

Triangle?

Lots of instruments are easy to pick up , it's getting a tune out of them that is difficult IMO.

Howard, who aspires to play the guitar, he knows the notes and most chords, can pick out tune given that it is simple and I have enough time. Main problem  is regularly practicing.

I used to play guitar but had to give up a couple of yours ago due to an annoying rheumatoid condition in my hands.

My collection of guitars sits in our spare room and I'll occasionally tune one up & have a little play, but without regular practice I've forgotten most of the stuff I'd be able to play instinctively. I know I should sell  them, but I can't bring myself to do that at the moment.

Hi Doug.  Many people feel as you've said (the part I put in italics), but it doesn't have to be that way IMHO.  There is a definitely enjoyment *I* get from the process of making music, playing an instrument, using that part of my brain.  I am just a "hack," but it works for me.  I'm glad to hear that it works for you too, that even a few hours per month brings enjoyment.  I have several friends who don't sit at their pianos because they aren't as good as they used to be.  I do feel a bit sad for them, as I would hope that they could enjoy playing for what it is, and not have to be 'the best' at it in order for it to have any value for them. 

I would love to be able to play the piano, and if I sat at one for a long time, it would not be fun for me either.  It really does intrigue me, and one of my sons is quite a natural at it.  And I don't really have the patience or time (but one can always make time) to learn.  But at 54, I still have a few more years in me, so who knows what the future holds   I say the same about golf!

Well good, because now I am missing yours...

Try a ukulele. I bought my daughter one - cost was only about £20 and there's loads of tabs (chord diagrams for tunes) and youtube video instructions if you google. Try a simple tune like McCartney's "Ram On" and take it from there.

I've got a couple of guitars which I pick up now and again, A Fender Strat (Squier) and a Yamaha APX.

Hi Bart, yes I agree with you.

Time or lack of it is one issue.  Another issue is our modern society.  A century or two ago (at least 1960's or earlier) families were larger and as a result were much more social.  People would get together more and you would eat a meal and then retreat to the music room and play instruments together and sing.  I come from a poor family but on my mom's side they always had a piano in the front room.  My grandpa and great grandpa never had one music lesson in their lives but both (like the rest of the friends and family) picked up the violin (or fiddle) and learnt it.  Others played wind or reed instruments etc. As well as one instrument each everyone sang and played in a local community band, orchestra, or church.  Seeing photos of a group of 50 or 100 people in the community for this was the norm.  

In my life the opposite occurred.  Through many bad experiences and memories, I just eventually stopped playing for others and only played behind closed doors for myself.  I've said many times how fortunately, this is the most enjoyable time I could ever imagine.  In the last 10 years though I've slowly been coming out since I started playing chamber music (duos, trios, quartets etc.).  The best thing ever I did next to solo piano.  The difference is that you are with one or two or more like minded people who are there for the same reasons that you are.  With this experience, I find I am caring less and less what someone else thinks of a final performance.  All I see is the fun I had with this person or group for the past year or years working on something together and how far we came starting at zero to some point musically many miles forward now.  It is priceless and a highlight of my life.  Solo piano is different and unless around very like minded people it stays in seclusion so that I don't lose my own enjoyment of it again.

The sad part of today's society is that very few people play instruments and don't see any motivation to do so.  Those that don't play sometimes make the worst kind of audience and critic.  Note perfect recordings haven't helped either.  Why would someone want to listen to an amateur or wanna-be when for free nowadays they have a limitless supply of perfectly doctored recordings?  I can spend years learning a piece and if you hit one wrong note that then suddenly becomes the focus.  It seems that is the only thing they understand?  Unless you are with another player, most people aren't interested in listening to you (my experience only).

Speaking of patience, that is one thing I am grateful for.  If I could afford to not work 12 hours out everyday and then for the rest of the day be a single dad, guess what I'd being doing?  I would be perfectly content in practicing 10 or 12 hours a days and I have the patience to do so.  I long for nothing more in life and think about this daily.  The problem is that I'm heading in the wrong direction both physically and health wise.  When I'm able to retire (unlikely now) and spend time on my life's passion then my old body likely will come in the middle of this dream.

Having a young son though is the pleasure for me now.  Fortunately, I can live vicariously through him and he is musical, at least so far.  He's only played piano for about two years and he's gone through four grades of piano.  He's been playing cello for six years.  Over these last years I've come up with a plan of, if you can't beat 'em, join 'em. So, starting from the beginning, I am working through all the same books and pieces as him.  I have my work cut out for me but I'm having fun anyway.  He is smarter and has youth on his side but I have more musical experience, insight, and a better technique.  This will change in the very near future.

Besides an unreal fear of playing for others (simply to avoid criticism) my only other handicap is that I have trouble memorizing pieces.  This is mostly a function of lack of time.  I can play many pieces by memory when alone but in front of someone else I get too self-conscience and it falls apart.  My son has this gift and can have a piece memorized in one sitting.  The difference is that he has the time but also that he started with a stringed instrument.  I never had any experience with a stringed instrument until in my forties.  With a stringed instrument you start by having to learn and understand perfect pitch and he started playing without written music.  On the piano, if I need to play an A, I press that white key within within that group or three black keys.  I can't do anything to change its pitch.

Sorry to go on here but there is joy in playing a musical instrument for me and sometimes I find I can't stop talking or writing about it .

Regards,

Doug

I do a bit of percussion now and again.

Firstly, the easiest instrument is any of those that do not require tuning by the player...unless you have an ear for pitch.

Secondly, the less finger movement the better and avoid having to use two hands to start with unless you are ambidextrous.

Thirdly, playing music should be fun. If you have to spend hours slogging away and don't enjoy it, do something else.

We could form an orchestra - Portsmouth Sinfonia anyone ?

(Has anyone got the album ?)

Like this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?f...WTJ0sQn8sTg&NR=1

ATB from George

Ha ha -- I'm laughing at myself.  I'm thinking, "This is truly AWFUL."  Then I read on . . .

Kazoo?

I can get a tune out of guitar, keyboard instruments, flute, recorder, bugle (ex boy scout!), but don' t really think I am good enough to inflict my efforts on others.  

That's the one George. I first heard them when someone selected a track by them on Desert Island Discs. I nearly wet myself laughing. I believe Brian Eno was a member. Here's a medley

I can only play this musical instrument;

" I can play many pieces by memory when alone but in front of someone else I get too self-conscience and it falls apart. "

Ouch - you read my mail there...I can sit with a guitar for an hour by myself playing songs and parts of songs (the "fun licks" that everyone recognizes).  Then in front of people my repertoire of tunes drops to a few - can't even think of the songs sometimes.

When I was unemployed I thought about busking; just find an innocuous semi-public place to sit and play & have a list of 10-15 tunes and just rotate through them however many times as I want.  It's not like anyone would stay for more than 1 or 2 at most, so that would be more than enough material.  I thought it might get me past the unnatural fear of playing while being watched since it would "free me" to make mistakes in front of others...and if I made some meal money all the better!  But I never tried.

And now I work so I don't have time to even think of it...

What I loved about playing the double bass in orchestras is that you almost never get a solo, and most people don't even notice what you do so long as you get it right!

The worst concert [in terms of nerves], that I ever played was Beethoven Fifth in the first half and the Elgar Violin Concerto in the second.

In the interval a grey haired gentlemen came to the stage edge and asked me what my bass was?

[In this photo, which originally is very fine, is seen a full height wardrobe behind. It was larger than standard 4/4 size in today's terms].

He saw me after and apologised for un-nerving me! He saw the effect on my playing of realising that I had an audience!

It was only the Double-bass Professor from the Royal School of Music in London! Fortunately the Elgar requires such utter concentration that I was able to forget the presence of a member of the bass cognoscenti and I settled down after about five minutes of nervous marginal intonation! It was when I was very inexperienced and still amateur ...

I could almost never play in front of another without the printed music, except one occasion when I was asked to join a Jazz combo at a Prep School Reception, where I had just been playing in the school Summer Concert as a "guest." I fetched the bass back out of the car and we played from about 9 o'clock till gone midnight  with joyful dancing, and much wine consumed in the band. That was a Saturday evening, and the guys in the band offered me a place in their line-up on the spot. Next gig for them was in Kensington in London on Tuesday! Well I declined, because I was worried to take a couple of days off work without notice. That was the single worst decision of my whole life. I'd be playing Jazz today if I'd accepted and let the Devil take the hindmost over work ...

ATB from George

trumpet.

dont play much. but no excuse as i have a cornet in cph where i work and a strad trumpet at home.

do lip slurs every now and then just tomake sure the chops stay in shape.

i really ought to play more -- but usual excuse -- time...

enjoy

ken