Music And Musicians

I sing. Mostly for joy, and not entirely well, but I sing just the same. (the lord said make a joyful noise, and he didn't say anything about on-key)

And First bf bought me a ukelele for christmas. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's green and has silver sparkles on it. It's quite fun.

Had piano lessons as a kid. Group lessons at school, from an old man who spit on us when he talked. Horrible system, with numbers above the notes, so I learned that '5' was my pinky finger, rather than it was a 'g note.'

I sing along with the radio a lot, but left to my own, I sing folk songs, girl scout songs, and christmas carols.
 
And First bf bought me a ukelele for christmas. I'm not entirely sure why, but it's green and has silver sparkles on it. It's quite fun.

A friend of ours in the contra dance world is a singer and musician by profession; she plays a mean swing guitar, and has recorded CDs of funky children's songs. She introduced my daughters to the ukulele . . . and now one of them has a sparkly green one and the other has a sparkly blue one. (Mahalo is the brand, right?)

What a great little instrument for learning to play chords to accompany singing!

(My daughters are also taking piano lessons with another dance friend, and one of them now wants to learn fiddle, as well.)

My wife - who has a degree in vocal performance, and used to play viola da gamba - got a green ukulele (without sparkles) and is learning along with the girls. She may move up (or is that down?) to a tenor ukulele, though, since her hands are bigger.
 
I went out and bought a small (10W) amp for my electric fiddle; it has a built-in overdrive (distortion) but that's about it.

Still, what a kick!
 
I play guitar, badly, and have done so for 20 years.
 
I went out and bought a small (10W) amp for my electric fiddle; it has a built-in overdrive (distortion) but that's about it.

Still, what a kick!
Blergh, built in effects on 10w amps. =P I suppose if it's only something you play in your own time, but if you perform, you could really do a lot better with at least 30w or more for a violin, and probably a separate overdrive/distortion pedal. You can get some 30w that start to get good effects built in though. The Roland Cube amps are really good for small venues and practising. They come built in with a few effects, and a lot of good tone changing stuff. But also fairly expensive for the size. >.<

When I'm playing bass, I don't really use effects live. My amp can really start to grind if I push it hard, which adds a fair bit of oomph, but for proper effects pedals and stuff, I just find them way too fiddly. =P I do enjoy the way it sounds just through the amp though, so that helps. =] When recording, I love trying out all sorts of different effects plugins. Just to see how they make it sound. Reverb is always an effect that can be great to use especially. As most rooms aren't all that great to record in, so you can add the sound of an actual good room to your instruments and transform it as if you actually recorded there.

NovemberRain, I see what you mean about the vocals, but I'm a huge fan of the "out of tune". =P In fact, I don't even much like the 12-tone scales we use. The whole major/minor thing we have to have going on. I often write music using all the notes, but I'd really love to get into using other scales completely.
For some really good twelve-tone stuff, - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twelve-tone_technique - that is a really fantastic read.
 
Yep, hyperskeptic, it's Mahalo. With the funky dvd for learning. I didn't realize they come in different sizes. I can reach an octave plus two on a keyboard ~ I have huge hands. :D

My mom loved to sing and she wanted me to sing with her. Trouble was, I was a beginner, and she tried to sing harmony before I had the tunes down, so I was matching pitch to her harmonies.
 
Yep, hyperskeptic, it's Mahalo. With the funky dvd for learning. I didn't realize they come in different sizes. I can reach an octave plus two on a keyboard ~ I have huge hands. :D

My mom loved to sing and she wanted me to sing with her. Trouble was, I was a beginner, and she tried to sing harmony before I had the tunes down, so I was matching pitch to her harmonies.
I must have big hands too then. =P Just checked on mine.

Shame about teaching you that way. I'd love to have any vocal training I could get now though. Such a useful instrument to have. Equally beautiful at times too.
 
Blergh, built in effects on 10w amps. =P I suppose if it's only something you play in your own time, but if you perform, you could really do a lot better with at least 30w or more for a violin, and probably a separate overdrive/distortion pedal. You can get some 30w that start to get good effects built in though. The Roland Cube amps are really good for small venues and practising. They come built in with a few effects, and a lot of good tone changing stuff. But also fairly expensive for the size. >.<

Yeah, it's just for my own practice, in the small room at home I use as office and practice room. The amp just has the overdrive, no other effects; it's really a very simple little thing. It's a Fender, so at least it has its reputation to trade on.

If I ever want to play around with effects, I'll borrow pedals from friends who have them.

I justified the purchase to myself on the grounds my wife is a dance caller, and may be able to use the amp for small gigs (at schools, for example, or private dance parties); other dance callers around here have this particular model, so I've at least seen it in action before.

If I ever upgrade to a real electric violin - the one I have is a bottom-of-the-line model, more toy than serious instrument - I might consider playing it in public . . . but, then, usually in a venue where the sound system is provided and I'd need, at most, my own individual monitor.

Until then, for public performance I generally make do with my acoustic fiddle and a clip-on condenser mic.
 
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I've played the guitar and a few other instruments for quite a few years now. I've been in a few bands here and there, but always quit because I don't want to make a profession out of music (long story, I guess). My music tastes are quite varied, from death/grindcore to classical, singer/songwriter, indie, etc. I don't have anything of my own to share because I have yet to record anything, heh. I am trying to develop my sound/style right now, and I hope I am close to putting something down. We shall see... =)
 
I have taken lessons for piano and clarinet. I played in marching band. I can also play flute and sax.

I played clarinet in marching and symphonic band from 7th to 12th grade - enjoyed every minute of it and my fellow band members are more like family than schoolmates.
 
I've played the guitar and a few other instruments for quite a few years now. I've been in a few bands here and there, but always quit because I don't want to make a profession out of music (long story, I guess). My music tastes are quite varied, from death/grindcore to classical, singer/songwriter, indie, etc. I don't have anything of my own to share because I have yet to record anything, heh. I am trying to develop my sound/style right now, and I hope I am close to putting something down. We shall see... =)
Don't need to make a profession out of it to play it. =P I often split from bands because someone in the band always has something come up that takes down their time or money. With my last band, that guy was me. =P Now I'm planning on just solo projects and studio bands, rather than the gigging aspects. Will give me some good experience with recording too. =D

If you do get anything down, please share it with us. =]
 
Don't need to make a profession out of it to play it. =P I often split from bands because someone in the band always has something come up that takes down their time or money. With my last band, that guy was me. =P Now I'm planning on just solo projects and studio bands, rather than the gigging aspects. Will give me some good experience with recording too. =D

If you do get anything down, please share it with us. =]


That's true. But they always wanted to "go somewhere", which just isn't for me. Now I'm so fucking old, in the entertainment world, that the whole issue is moot. I want to work for money and play music for love. Well, I'd take free money and spend the rest of my time making music if it was an option =P

The sound I am currently working on developing, when perfected, should resemble an orgy with Iron&Wine, Phosphorescent, and Neutral Milk Hotel, while Ben Cooper of Radical Face sweats in the corner. Sorry, I love fucked up metaphors. LOL! If I ever achieve my goal and someone says "Hey man, you sound like (see above), I'll piss myself.

Do you use Spotify or Last.fm?
 
That's true. But they always wanted to "go somewhere", which just isn't for me. Now I'm so fucking old, in the entertainment world, that the whole issue is moot. I want to work for money and play music for love. Well, I'd take free money and spend the rest of my time making music if it was an option =P

The sound I am currently working on developing, when perfected, should resemble an orgy with Iron&Wine, Phosphorescent, and Neutral Milk Hotel, while Ben Cooper of Radical Face sweats in the corner. Sorry, I love fucked up metaphors. LOL! If I ever achieve my goal and someone says "Hey man, you sound like (see above), I'll piss myself.

Do you use Spotify or Last.fm?
I know where you're coming from. I'm happy just playing for the money it costs me to get to a gig really. With my last band, I never really paid for much of anything, which was great. Meant earning no money didn't bother me at all.

I have Spotify. Don't really use it all that much though. I find youtube to be much better usually if I want to listen to a song casually. Most the music I listen to is on a huge hard drive instead. =P

Brings me to an interesting question. Songs or albums?
I'm very much an album kinda guy. What really annoys me are people who can't even listen to a full song. They change to the next one before the last one is finished. =P I love full albums, start to finish.
 
I like Spotify because I couldnt otherwise afford the amount of music I listen to without considerable expentiture. I have about 1200 albums on Spotify, and about that many on cd at home.

I am with you on albums vs. songs. I tend to like an artist as more of a package deal. If they only have one song I might like, they won't hold my interest.
 
Brings me to an interesting question. Songs or albums?
I'm very much an album kinda guy. What really annoys me are people who can't even listen to a full song. They change to the next one before the last one is finished. =P I love full albums, start to finish.

I tend to listen to albums, too . . . though I'm certain my collection is quite different from yours!

When I'm driving somewhere, though, I sometimes put the iPod on shuffle . . . which, in my case, is a little like riding in a malfunctioning time machine, zipping back and forth through three or four centuries of music.

(For example: Caravan Palace (recent "electro-swing"), followed by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross (jazz vocalise), followed by Hesperus (18th-century American dance music), followed by Crooked Still (alt bluegrass), followed by Django Reinhardt (original gypsy jazz), followed by Laurie Anderson (??) . . . you get the idea . . . and that doesn't even tough on Bach or Monteverdi!)
 
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I tend to listen to albums, too . . . though I'm certain my collection is quite different from yours!

When I'm driving somewhere, though, I sometimes put the iPod on shuffle . . . which, in my case, is a little like riding in a malfunctioning time machine, zipping back and forth through three or four centuries of music.

(For example: Caravan Palace (recent "electro-swing"), followed by Lambert, Hendricks and Ross (jazz vocalise), followed by Hesperus (18th-century American dance music), followed by Crooked Still (alt bluegrass), followed by Django Reinhardt (original gypsy jazz), followed by Laurie Anderson (??) . . . you get the idea . . . and that doesn't even tough on Bach or Monteverdi!)
I once went back and forth through 4 centuries. One hell of a headache after. =P

You'll be lucky if you see me listening to anything older than the 80s. Even then, the 80s is pushing it for me. =P I do love old Jazz and such from way back in the 20s and 30s, but i don't listening to it often at all. I'm very much a 90s guy. =P Doesn't mean I can't appareciate even older stuff though.
 
Somehow I missed this thread. I am yet another violinist on the site. Hmm we could have a poly string ensemble at this rate!!! I also sing, play piano and write music. I am getting ready to take the plunge and learn viola I think. I am also a wannabe fiddle player. My husband plays guitar and we try to do the contra-dance thing as well.

I guess this is a dream of mine but it would be to find a musician partner to play with us. Kind of makes me sad right now to think about it (just cuz I want it right now) but also happy because it seems like such a nice thing.
 
I have two jobs, one is as a church pianist. I've been playing at church for a little over a year and a-half. This is my first professional gig. When I took the job I hadn't practiced like I should for about 6 years, but thankfully playing piano is like falling off of a log for me.

I really love playing. I'd play even if I didn't have the job, but I do, so I play more : )
 
I was a church pianist for 8 years. I loved it but my church closed. A new church tried me out as their pianist but they were part of the reason the other church closed their doors. The old church had sold me the piano as part of my service to them and I think the other church was trying to get me to let them have the piano. That Baldwin sure does look nice in my livingroom. :)
 
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