Playing an instrument

[Fearless]

Scottish smallpipes for me. A marvellous moment was being the Lone Piper at a war memorial, piping a lament while a large crowd stood in front of me in perfect respectful silence. Music united us.

 

[ABB125]

I have played piano since around 7 or 8 years old, and French horn since about 14. I've never done any piano grades, mainly because I found the potential pieces boring, but have done grade 5 French horn, and am slowly working towards grade 8.
The thing with musical instruments is that once you have a basic understanding of theory, you can pretty much play (learn) any instrument, especially families of instruments, eg: brass, woodwind etc

 

[krus_aragon]

I had a few piano lessons from my father as a child, but that didn't work very well, as I couldn't be compelled to practice ("you need to practice before you go see Mrs Jones on Tuesday" didn't work when my teacher was in the house).

My father played the trumpet/euphonium as a youngster, as well as the piano and organ. But I funnelled my musicality into school choirs instead.

I tried my dad's euphonium as a teenager, and while I could get a sound from it, I didn't like the feeling on my lips after a few minutes of buzzing into the mouthpiece.

In recent years I've acquired a tin whistle, and have been fingering out a few pieces by ear. My little daughter enjoys me playing nursey rhymes on it, but wants me to sing along as well, which is tricky.

I resolved about five years ago that I wanted to buy a keyboard and pick up the piano-playing again, but that's on hold until I have room in the house to put one.

 

[GusB]

My father played the trumpet/euphonium as a youngster, as well as the piano and organ. But I funnelled my musicality into school choirs instead.

There's a huge difference between a trumpet and a euphonium! Having said that, technically the valve combinations should be the same. Being a trombone player, valves was never something I had to deal with (until bass trombone - meh), although I did try to learn. I was elated one day when my band conductor asked me if I could play in a brass band contest (I'd always been a reservist), but my heart sank when he advised I'd be playing tenor horn...
The euph is a gorgeous instrument, and I love the sound, but there's not much call for it outside the brass band world.

If I was to start again, I'd probably choose trumpet or cornet. Maybe even flugel horn - that's another beautiful instrument.

 

[Busaholic]

I bought Bert Weedon's 'Play Guitar in a Day' around 1962, and still haven't mastered it.

 

[HaggisBotherer]

I always knew a lot of work went into it but considering the level I am at after around 20 hours of practice could only be described as "can't play the piano at all" my eyes have been opened a bit as to just how many hours go into being even being on the low end of competent at this sort of thing.

Despite the slow progress...

I must admit these quotes did make smile a bit. 'Slow' progress? I'm multi-instrumental and it took me years on each one (albeit most of those concurrently) to teach myself to play at a level that I'd consider even remotely proficient. For me 'proficient' means being able to pick up / sit at an instrument and start playing without really thinking about it. When I got to that point on guitar, bass guitar and piano/keyboards, I knew life was good...

Any tips on getting back into playing the piano after so long please?

Firstly, learn to play what you want to play. In my experience that's really important. I know a lot of people who have given up on instruments because well-meaning parents bought lessons for them and they got fed up of being forced to play Puff The Magic Dragon or classical pieces, when they really wanted to play rock'n'roll.

If it's a difficult piece, start playing it in the simplest way possible. Building up the complexity will come naturally as your experience, competence and confidence increases over time.

I think there's also an awful lot of truth in the quote by the late, great Gary Moore. He said that every time he walked past a guitar, he couldn't resist the urge to pick it up and play it.

That for me sums up how, in my experience, learning an instrument has to be something you want to do from the very core of your being. The first time that it feels like a chore, or that you don't feel like playing it, that's the signal that it's probably not for you.

The very first thing I taught myself to play was the single chord keyboard rhythm during the lengthy guitar solo in UFO's Rock Bottom, played on one string on a cheap nylon-strung guitar lent to me by a friend at school. Well over 30 years later, I'm not only a decent musician, but also an experienced songwriter, studio producer and have a career in the professional sound industry.

When you'ree someone that the bug really bites, it bites hard

 

[Intermodal]

I must admit these quotes did make smile a bit. 'Slow' progress? I'm multi-instrumental and it took me years on each one (albeit most of those concurrently) to teach myself to play at a level that I'd consider even remotely proficient. For me 'proficient' means being able to pick up / sit at an instrument and start playing without really thinking about it. When I got to that point on guitar, bass guitar and piano/keyboards, I knew life was good...

Thanks for the reply. Indeed I am impatient! But I feel it is a sort of measured impatience that I know is unrealistic. Just because I am aware I should expect it to take years to play well doesn't mean that I am going to be happy that I can't play well yet - but I still look forward to that day excitedly!

 

[Strat-tastic]

I bought Bert Weedon's 'Play Guitar in a Day' around 1962, and still haven't mastered it.

What have you done with it?

 

[The_Train]

Thanks for the reply. Indeed I am impatient! But I feel it is a sort of measured impatience that I know is unrealistic. Just because I am aware I should expect it to take years to play well doesn't mean that I am going to be happy that I can't play well yet - but I still look forward to that day excitedly!

That's exactly the same as me. Even though I know that it takes time to learn an instrument I still want to be able to play like a pro now and it takes a lot to stop myself feeling disappointed when I can't

 

[HaggisBotherer]

Thanks for the reply. Indeed I am impatient! But I feel it is a sort of measured impatience that I know is unrealistic. Just because I am aware I should expect it to take years to play well doesn't mean that I am going to be happy that I can't play well yet - but I still look forward to that day excitedly!

That's exactly the same as me. Even though I know that it takes time to learn an instrument I still want to be able to play like a pro now and it takes a lot to stop myself feeling disappointed when I can't

If you feel the passion, you'll get there

Two more pieces of advice - (1) don't worry too much about reading music at the start (learning how to really listen by playing by ear at first is extremely useful - music is, after all, about sound, not sight) and (2) start jotting down and playing around with your own tunes. That's a great way to learn about melody, harmony, chords, scales and so on. It's also a whole lot more satisfying than just parrotting what already exists. Personally I have never understood the whole covers/tribute band thing, but each to their own.

As you probably realise, this is a subject I am still incredibly passionate about, even after all these years

 

[Geezertronic]

I was only ever good at two things at school: Music (GCSE Grade A) and IT (Distinction). I had the opportunity to work in local Radio but chose IT which is a decision I regret to this day.

 

[Busaholic]

What have you done with it?

It's just possible it's in my attic, but I probably couldn't locate it even if I knew it contained a million pound winning lottery ticket!

 

[route101]

I dont play an instrument . Last time would of been 2nd year in high school. My friend who has aspbergers plays the piano , very attentively too

 

[A Challenge]

It's also a whole lot more satisfying than just parrotting what already exists. Personally I have never understood the whole covers/tribute band thing, but each to their own.

I think that people do tribute bands as they want to either pay tribute or profit off the other band's success.

 

[The_Train]

I think that people do tribute bands as they want to either pay tribute or profit off the other band's success.

And not everyone who can play music is capable of writing their own music so doing covers/tributes is their only way of playing

 

[The_Train]

If you feel the passion, you'll get there

Two more pieces of advice - (1) don't worry too much about reading music at the start (learning how to really listen by playing by ear at first is extremely useful - music is, after all, about sound, not sight) and (2) start jotting down and playing around with your own tunes. That's a great way to learn about melody, harmony, chords, scales and so on. It's also a whole lot more satisfying than just parrotting what already exists. Personally I have never understood the whole covers/tribute band thing, but each to their own.

As you probably realise, this is a subject I am still incredibly passionate about, even after all these years

Thanks for the advice. I've spent time over the last few months learning to play along to some songs, where I've learnt some note for note and others just by listening and playing along. My aim for this year is to get back into lessons as there is still so much for me to learn regarding different techniques and as good as YouTube can be, it still doesn't offer someone being able to say whether you're actually doing it right