[Public] There was that thing, that I once did. Not just a dream, but more than a dream.

[moonvoice]

When I started getting piano lessons, I had a choice between studying just general piano (scales + songs) or studying as a concert pianist (scales + songs + hand movements + posture + scales + drills + scales + drills). I chose the latter. Even at 18, when I got my piano with the funds from my sold, 22 year old, white Honda Civic (flashbacks rendering it undriveable), I wanted to do it right.

It took me a long time to learn the natural motion of slurs. Staccato I found easier, but slurs were a longer time coming. Oh, I could thread notes together, but the rise and fall of the elbow, the 'just so' and then swing of the wrist, was more complex for me.

One day I got it 'right.'

And ever since then, when I type on the keyboard, especially when I am typing urls or switching between tabs, I find myself 'slurring' the actions together. Pushing my keyboard to sing.

Oh, my piano, I miss you. $500 and I will get you here one day, I promise, my dear Kate.

Comments

[jaythenerdkid]

I've always wished I paid more attention in piano and violin lessons when I was at school. I can play basic-to-intermediate stuff on the piano, but I'll never be a good pianist. It's one of my biggest regrets about high school.

Anyway, I am hugely in awe of people who can play the piano really well. What sort of stuff do you play? Do you have a particular genre that you enjoy more than others, or do you do a bit of everything?

[moonvoice]

I haven't actually played for two years, because Kate, my piano, is at my parent's place and right now we literally can't afford to move her here and get her retuned.

But back when I was playing regularly, I mostly played Jo Hisaishi, and my own compositions. I tend not to enjoy a lot of stereotypically 'classical' music from Western cultures (and that which I do enjoy, I couldn't possibly play, due to its complexity - like almost everything Rachmaninov's ever composed for a piano), preferring classical from Japan, South-East Asia and so on.

I never did it at school. Our school was too poor to offer violin and piano anyway (I did play flute, but didn't enjoy it), and my parent's were too poor to even consider lessons, let alone getting a piano. So when I was old enough and couldn't drive because of flashbacks, I sold my car a bought a dream, and soon I'll get to bring her here.

I don't know that I'll ever be a good pianist either, I started so late. It wasn't a part of my formative years and I had to work really hard at basic body memory. But it can be done. Old dogs can definitely laern new tricks. :)

[jaythenerdkid]

I don't know much about music from that area - my experience is pretty much limited to anime soundtracks and some of the work of Yuki Kajiura (a friend of mine is a big fan of hers). I've heard bits and pieces over the years, though, and I think it's very beautiful, even if it does sound odd to Western-trained ears. I like the way the music of many Asian cultures uses dissonance in ways that are almost completely unheard-of in Western music. It's a completely different way of looking at what sounds right and harmonious, and I love it.

[/tl;dr]

I did violin for a couple of years but never really liked it, despite the fact that my teacher seemed to think I had a gift for it (she was wrong; I didn't). I only did piano for a year formally, but I studied music all through school so I had to learn it. I really enjoy playing, but I'm not very good at all. I can play basic things, but that's it. I'm much better at music theory than I am at playing, I'm afraid.

[spider_fox]

It'd be cool to hear a recording someday.

[moonvoice]

When I start practicing again, I intend to do some. :)

[burningbright]

Aww, I hope you get to play again soon!

I miss playing french horn. Was pretty serious about it for years, and then college happened... If/when I get a new job and have Thursdays open again, I'm seriously considering joining the GLBT band my roommates are part of and picking the horn back up.

I haven't gone so far as doing fingering combinations on my keyboard though. ;)

[moonvoice]

That would be awesome if you could pick up French Horn again! I can't wait to start playing again, and then my bro could bring his oboe over, and we could play. :)

[proserpina]

Wow. This is so beautiful. I never knew that about you--thank you so much for sharing~ :)

(One of my own secrets: I went to college for musical performance, specifically classical piano, violin and voice.)

[moonvoice]

*snugs* It's good to see you here.

And that's awesome that you went to college for it! Do you still sing through and with all your instruments?

[ariestess]

I was a stupid child... I got free piano lessons from my uncle, and I was good at it when I did it, but stopped. I don't fully remember the reason for stopping, but I think the fact that he moved a few hours away and my parents got divorced were high on the list. In 5th and 6th grades, I took violin. I loved it, and I was good at it. But my junior high didn't offer it, and my parents weren't going to PAY for lessons. Plus? The instructor I had in 6th grade told me I was crap and wasn't good enough to play in the school orchestra, and basically made me start over from lesson 1, despite the fact that I was WELL beyond that.

I wish I'd kept up with either. Maybe if I get some good money down the line, I'll see about doing one or the other again...

[moonvoice]

I think not having the opportunity to have lessons in the musical areas I was skilled in as a child, actually allowed me to have a space as an adult where I could choose to do it consciously.

And that instructor in your sixth grade re: violin is all kinds of an assface.

I do think there's no reason you can't start up again now (finance aside). :)

[ariestess]

I think the 6th grade instructor [different school in a different state] didn't like that I was more advanced than his other 6th grade students, to be completely honest. I'd already begun working on the second fingering positions at my old school and was second chair in our school orchestra. If we hadn't moved, I'd have been pretty much a shoo-in for the district orchestra, even if I was a further back chair. But he tried to tell me that I knew nothing and started me over basically from scratch and wouldn't let me do anything more advanced than what he wanted me to do, nor would he let me in the orchestral programs. So after barely 6 months, I quit. My parents were pissed because I'd fought SO hard to get the chance to continue this in the first place, but I stood my ground.

I think if I restarted, I'd probably go with violin, rather than piano, if only for ease of storage, so to speak. Tho' I'd be happy with either. Or with retraining my voice...

[enigmaticmagpie]

I love playing piano. Out of the instruments I play, it feels the most personable, the most friendly.

Kind of like a cat, rolling around, wanting to be loved and pet and played with. :) But then I'm always weird about instruments.

[moonvoice]

I like that description. I'm not sure how I see Kate's nature. I think she's always thought she belongs near a forest though. With water rolling in.

[sidheblessed]

I played the keyboard as a kid and was quite good but my hands were too small for the more complicated parts. I've always wanted to see if I can transfer my keyboard skills to the piano, if my hands have actually grown since I was 11.