Author Topic: What Musical Instruments Do You Play?  (Read 566 times)

Offline Halo

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« on: December 10, 2006, 12:27:19 AM »
How many of you play musical instruments?  What do you play and where?

I'm last chair third clarinet in the county community band.  We have lots of retired musicians from THE U.S. Army Band plus many music teachers and many other skilled instrumentalists, some of whom have returned to instruments they haven't played since high school.

Miraculously, we're a walk-on group.  Anyone can walk in and sit down and join us.  It's impressive self-regulation.  Unless you're pretty good, you feel out of place soon and leave on your own accord.  We're the most self-regulating, democratic band I've ever seen.

The least skilled survivors, like me, know enough to mime when the parts get too tough.  The main thing is DON'T play wrong notes!  I've played tenor sax too but prefer clarinet with its more interesting parts.

Music is such a miracle.  An empty room.  People wander in one by one toting cases of various sizes.  They open the cases and take out mechanical devices.  Some need little strips of precise cane to generate music.  Some just blow through many feet of tubing all coiled up.  

Some pound on membranes.  One just waves his arms.  All are looking at perplexing black symbols on white paper, often created hundreds of years ago.  

Suddenly the room is filled with not just noise, but the most glorious coordinated sound, a feeling created by a composer dead for many generations, but still alive through his composition as we are transported into a place not otherwise attainable.

Well, when we play it right, anyway.

Er, I do get a lot out of it, huh?  Seriously, as you know, the main test of music is this:  great music gives you chills, sublime music brings you tears.

I love it on the rare occasions when great music gives me chills.  And I'm not ashamed of the tears that come from beyond my control when sublime music touches me as nothing else can.  Maybe that is the universal commonality of humans and beyond.  

Some of the most sublime music I recall was when in-laws treated us to a night at the Chicago Symphony.  It was a rare concert when a great choir complemented the orchestra.  They performed highlights of Italian opera.  My God.  Literally.

I tear up thinking about that.  It makes all kind of crap worth enduring.

Hundreds of artists joining to communicate the most exalted music of geniuses from centuries ago, preserved and embellished for future generations.  Such an incredible gift.  Maybe as close to immortality as we get, at least before death.  

As is the ability to sit here up too late and spew such thoughts to a keyboard that makes them available to kindred souls around the planet.

As Tiny Tim said, Bless us All!
« Last Edit: December 10, 2006, 12:30:30 AM by Halo »
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Offline Masherbrum

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #1 on: December 10, 2006, 12:31:32 AM »
Played Drums and sang Lead/some Backing for 14 years.  

Looking at the Guitar or Keys now.
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Offline DiabloTX

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #2 on: December 10, 2006, 12:33:44 AM »
Junior & Senior High School = Saxophone; alto, tenor and baritone.

Now = Guitar.
"There ain't no revolution, only evolution, but every time I'm in Denmark I eat a danish for peace." - Diablo

Offline Wolf14

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #3 on: December 10, 2006, 12:34:30 AM »
Violin

Offline DiabloTX

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #4 on: December 10, 2006, 12:36:14 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Wolf14
Violin


I am seriously thinking about taking that up next.
"There ain't no revolution, only evolution, but every time I'm in Denmark I eat a danish for peace." - Diablo

Offline cav58d

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #5 on: December 10, 2006, 12:42:03 AM »
Acoustic & Electric Guitar, Piano and Kazoo.
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Offline RightF00T

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #6 on: December 10, 2006, 12:50:22 AM »
Trumpet, Tuba, Baritone, Guitar, Bass Guitar, learning Piano, intermediate guitar....its all really easy once you learn how to read a ledger line and basic music theory.

Offline rpm

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #7 on: December 10, 2006, 01:01:55 AM »
I haven't played in years, but back in the day I was in the U S Coast Guard Band. I played tuba, bass, baritone, trombone and pretty much any bass cleft instrument. I also played assorted percussion.

I know what you mean about playing in a band that clicks. It's a very special thing being part of such intricate teamwork. There are some of those old military marches that run chills up my spine when I hear them.
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Offline LePaul

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #8 on: December 10, 2006, 01:04:50 AM »
Took piano lessons from age 8 to 17.  Havent played in ages and really want a piano for the house.  

Been twanging away on an electric guitar for 2 years.

Like to tackle violin next.

Offline Golfer

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #9 on: December 10, 2006, 01:42:58 AM »
Recorder, Trumpet, Tuba, Sousaphone, Guitar and Harmonica.

Offline nirvana

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #10 on: December 10, 2006, 01:45:43 AM »
Guitar, Harmonica and I played tenor sax for a year in middle school.
Who are you to wave your finger?

Offline Arlo

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #11 on: December 10, 2006, 01:52:56 AM »
Look at all the Tuba players come out. One day ... at band camp.

All region here. *sigh*

heh

Used to mess around with the guitar some ... rarely now since that butcher knife nearly took of a finger.

:D

Offline DiabloTX

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #12 on: December 10, 2006, 01:58:46 AM »
Quote
Originally posted by Arlo
Look at all the Tuba players come out. One day ... at band camp.


Texas Tech BC by chance?

Hey, Django only needed 3 fingers and he pwns all.
"There ain't no revolution, only evolution, but every time I'm in Denmark I eat a danish for peace." - Diablo

Offline ByeBye

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #13 on: December 10, 2006, 02:02:31 AM »
guitar and bass.

I mess around with piano a little. Piano is something I really want to learn to play well. I think piano is as close to the perfect musical instrument that has ever been created.

Offline DiabloTX

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What Musical Instruments Do You Play?
« Reply #14 on: December 10, 2006, 02:04:40 AM »
All piano's should be gathered together, doused with gas and set alight.

Same with clarinets and guys that play flute.

Stringed instruments rule all.
"There ain't no revolution, only evolution, but every time I'm in Denmark I eat a danish for peace." - Diablo