One of the things that many people would like to be able to do is to play a musical instrument. Whether you play professionally or just play for your own amusement, playing music can be very entertaining and enjoyable.

Do any of you guys play, used to play, or would like to learn how to play a musical instrument?
Have you had any experiences of playing an instrument at a family gathering or professionally in any way?

Hmm.
I learnt to play the clarinet throughout highschool, and continued on with that for a while. One of my favourite memories is of sitting on top of the shed roof playing my clarinet whilst the summer storms rolled in in the afternoon, with my parents shouting at me to get down before I got struck by lightning. hehe. But there was just something about the electircity in the air before a storm that really went with making music....idk.

I lived with a guy who played guitar, and one of the rooms in the house had a wall full of electric guitars. He taught me to play some blues riffs, but I don't remember much of that any more.

And I always wanted to learn the piano, but I swear if I had to play Fur Elise I would have refused any further lessons.

At the moment though, I am suffering through Miss 10 learning the violin. I won't comment further on that.

I have a guitar... I was very excited when I first got it, trying to learn the chords and all, but then the enthusiasm just faded away when my fingers weren't doing as told. I think I'd like to pick it back up and start again though.

I used to play the piano when I was a kid (parents' idea). Dropped that once I got into elementary because it wasn't quite my thing.


Musical talents? What about singing though? I can't sing (doesn't stop me though xD), but if the choice were between playing an instrument and singing, I'd opt for the ability to sing.

Susan Boyle ftw!

Hmm.. I can sheet read (not that well at all anymore though...!) :) ahah :) I can play a bit of piano but not much, I can play the recorder too ;) Ahah. :) That's probably the limit of my musical talent. I refuse to learn how to play the guitar. :) But yeah, I've kinda wanted to learn to play the drums.. I'm tempted to get my cousins to teach me if the opportunity ever rises, but I've never desired the need to make music on instruments that much, but I admire people who can and do :)

Mm I also used to be in a choir too, but that was when I was younger, but we went places. :D

I used to play the recorder at primary school but gave up because I couldn't keep up with the music group :P

I also had keyboard lessons for about 5 years when I was younger. I would have continued but it got a bit too expensive. I can still play now, but not as much as I used to. As part of the course we had yearly exams and an annual Christmas concert in which the whole class would play together and occasionally you would get a solo piece. I can read music but it takes me a while, I play better by ear, although it gives me awful earache ;)

And yes, singing counts as a musical talent :) I can sing a little, but I don't think I would get that far on the X Factor ;)

I can sing!
HAH especially after a few drinks ;)
Actually, when I was (much) younger, I was paid by this couple who did karaoke gigs to go with them to where they were doing their gig and be 'in the crowd' - and to be the first person to get up when asked for volunteers to sing. That was fun!
I also wrote a few songs in my early 20's which I record onto a cassette (shush). I found it about 6 months ago and I took it round to a friend's place and we played it. Hehe - memorieeeeees ^^

I played the piano when I was younger and achieved Grade 7 (and was told by my Piano Teacher that she wanted me to consider applying for a place at the Royal Academy of Music). Alas, I was a young, impressionable 16 year old and decided that friends and fun things should come first :/ I gave up shortly afterwards and have rarely played since. :sad: It is something that I intend getting back into though - I used to lose myself in music and loved playing themes from the musicals back to Beethoven and Chopin.

One of my most memorable moments was on my sixteenth birthday. I played a set of music on a grand piano in front of about fifty people in a hotel lobby in New Orleans. I got a standing ovation :embarrassed: I still recall my mum and dad just staring open mouthed at me and with tears in their eyes. I was a shy kid and to do something like that was completely out of character - I suppose I got carried away with the atmosphere of New Orleans - lol.

Now that I am older, I am longing to get back to tinkling those ivories. :)

I also wrote a few songs in my early 20's which I record onto a cassette (shush). I found it about 6 months ago and I took it round to a friend's place and we played it. Hehe - memorieeeeees ^^

Haha, I used to do that with a couple of friends back at primary school. We would record a song, post it to them and they would reply with another song :)

When I was... umm... 12 or 13 or something like that a music teacher at school said: "Do you want to play the saxophone? We'll provide you with one." So I accepted, and was happy for a few days until she started talking about having lessons and that. I thought that it was just like a gift. :/ So I gave it back a few weeks on. I dunno why she asked me, actually.

So no, I don't play an instrument. However, I'm able to listen to instruments, and can also identify as many as three different instruments on sight.
/me looks and thinks deeply... "It's a pianner!"

I started playing the piano at High School for a couple of years, then dropped it, then picked it up again during Sixth Form, then dropped it during uni :s although I do play it sometimes if I see one in front of me. I also learnt to play the guitar but haven't really carried that on. I used to sing at some functions when I was kid... but then my voice broke :(.

I play the guitar using baby nerdy's back.

When I burp him, I tend to have him over my shoulder. I rub his back trying to get a burp out of him, and when I get tired, I find myself rubbing his back with just a few fingers... and it reminds me very much of playing a guitar...

Not sure if that's what you meant by playing a musical instrument though :P And I doubt I can take it up professionally :( lol

I'm fairly good at Rock Band and Guitar Hero.

That's about the limit of my musical talents...

In my primary school they made us all do a test to try and see if we'd be any good at learning an instrument, then they made the people who weren't practically tone deaf do another little test thingy in front of the music guy. I passed both, and was asked if I'd like to play either the violin or the cello (only instruments they taught). I picked violin because it seems more interesting to play than a cello (and who wants to lug a cello around? XD) But the guy said my hands were too big for the violin so I had to go away and didn't get the choice to change my mind to cello :( :P

I've had a guitar for a few years - I'm not bad, but not that great with it. Mainly because there's usually something else I'd rather be doing than practicing it. I'd like to get a different one rather than the one I have as well...

I play a mean ambulance siren on the recorder. I wish i could play piano. </3

Bass, guitar and a bit of keyboard.

i learnt recorder at school in about grade three, as you do :p i'm currently getting violin lessons from my friend and i play a bit of piano :) my fav instrument has got to be the cello, though i don't think i'll ever get around to learning it haha

I come from a very musical family. When I was younger we had a family band and we would perform on the streets of San Fransisco for money! My oldest brother played the stand up bass and my other 3 older brothers played the fiddle and my mother played the guitar and we all sang! We even got so far as to have a producer who got us on stage with Charlie Daniels at one point! But then said producer blew all our money on drugs and basically went bankrupt and we pretty much fell apart after that from what I remember!

Anyway....I have had piano lessons when I was younger but I definitely do not play. I can pluck and figure things out but not just sit and play something. Basically I sing. That is my musical instrument, my voice! All of my family still sings in various choirs and bands etc. Currently I sing in my church choir but that's all. I would love to do more but with kids it is hard.

My 7 year old son is currently learning piano from my brother in-law who is an absolutely brilliant pianist. He and my sister both graduated with a Bachelors in Music, he for piano and my sister for singing. Anyway, he told my sister that my son is his best student....like prodigy material! I am so proud...I would love for my son to become a great pianist! =D

I played recorder, tenor recorder (lol) and clarinet in junior school, and then went on to do a few grades in cello. After that, I learnt cello and loved it.

I haven't played an instrument in ages, and would love to get back into it.

My faves were clarinet and cello.

I haven't played an instrument in ages, and would love to get back into it.

Seconded. I think it's great if you can play music :)

I playy instruments :)

I have Grade 8 in pianoo and violin (which i luff <3) and I play tuba to Grade 7 standard (which i don't luff, but i have to play it).

And I play other stuff to lower standards but fairly well like viola, euphonium, treble recorder and some stuff.

I realised too late that I wanted to do music more than I wanted to make money xD So i missed my chance for applying to conservatoires, but if things don't go well at uni, at least i've got tehh option :)

Whoa Mato, you seem quite talented in the musical department :)

Although did I mention that I'm grade 8 in triangle?

I played recorder, tenor recorder (lol)

no need to lol... I'm sure £10 is a fair price.

I played the piano for 7 years- and reached 5th Grade but now I'd probably be 1st/2nd at best as I stopped taking lessons years ago. I still enjoy getting out my old piano books and mucking around on it sometimes though :), and at least I can still read music!

I also play the recorder for fun- I specialise in nursery rhymes, Happy Birthday, Christmas Carols and Titanic :razz: though I can also play "Friends Forever"- which a couple of you might have been unlucky enough to hear me sing! xD

You were probably of the same standard as me at piano then mapfeatures. I got up to grade 4/5 ish although the Yamaha music grades, which we worked towards, ran slightly differently.
The lowest grade is 13 and highest is grade 1. My teacher at the time had achieved grade 4 on that scale and I had reached grade 9 before I had to leave.

...though I can also play "Friends Forever"- which a couple of you might have been unlucky enough to hear me sing! xD

Unlucky? Who said anything about unlucky? :razz: You have a lovely voice. Although in fairness I think your microphone was slightly "chipmunky" then.

hm...played piano for like...9 years, clarinet for 8 maybe? and recorder too :P but cant remember how to play that one now....


*pokes mato, mr.musical* :P

*pokes Jen* learn recorder again! it's cool plz :D

The only instrument that I can play is a guitar... that is if its plastic and bears the Guitar Hero symbol... other than that, i consider myself musically untalented.

The only instrument that I can play is a guitar... that is if its plastic and bears the Guitar Hero symbol... other than that, i consider myself musically untalented.

Snap .

I once tried the tambourine, but found it too complicated.

lol XD learn the recorder again? :P i dont have the time XD even though it isnt that complicated....i'll stick with learning new piano songs plz ;)

suit yourself. piano is better than nothing xD

tsk, now if only u would finally teach me how to play that songgg :P

hm...i was actually gonna learn flute or violin, but iiiii ended up with clarinet :)
flute is purty ^_^

pshht - I think you'll find violin is the outright winner, but clarinet is a good (easy) choice haha :P

pshht - I think you'll find violin is the outright winner

No.
I have violinist friends, we argue about this all the time. Piano > Violin (literally, as well!)

Do any of you guys play, used to play, or would like to learn how to play a musical instrument?

I play piano, clarinet, trumpet, tuba, euphonium, tenor sax, trombone, and french horn. School band was too easy, so I started picking up random instruments and taking them home with me.
I'd like to learn a string instrument - bass guitar, perhaps.

Have you had any experiences of playing an instrument at a family gathering or professionally in any way?

Yes, I've been hired to play the piano quite a few times, and I'm asked to play a lot as a volunteer.


Nice idea for a thread, db :)

I'd like to learn a string instrument - bass guitar, perhaps.


Oh nooo, please don't take up an fake/electrical instrumentt xD haha, proper string instrument plzz :)

That is a fair feww instruments theree :) sounds goood :)


No.
I have violinist friends, we argue about this all the time. Piano > Violin (literally, as well!)


As I play bothh I think I am the best suited to make the decision.

Violin > Piano

Kthxbye. xD

lol, sounds like gracie is gonna beat u mato XD so many instruments

hm...which is the hardest for u to play? :P

Piano > Violin plz :D u know u love the piano mato ;)

Violin > Piano


Violins are screechy and annoying. :razz: I'll stop here before we get into a full-out fist fight over which is better.

My sister and I both have our grade 10 piano, practical and theory... she took violin lessons for a couple of years and found that she preferred the piano. ;)

Oh nooo, please don't take up an fake/electrical instrumentt xD haha, proper string instrument plzz :)


Maybe cello, then? :)

hm...which is the hardest for u to play? :P


If you were asking me... flute/piccolo or french horn. (I didn't include a couple instruments in my previous post, because I don't really quite play them. I just tinker around and memorize the chromatic scales.)
French horn is actually so difficult - the tone is really hard to keep pure, because it... warbles and dips and never goes where you want it to! I used to think it'd be about the same difficulty as a trumpet since the mouthpiece sizes are pretty close, but that's not the case at all.

I remember posting a video of myself playing a song on the piano on here a loooong time ago..:embarrassed: The video has gone to Recycle Bin heaven, though.

I play piano, clarinet, trumpet, tuba, euphonium, tenor sax, trombone, and french horn.

Whoa, that quite some musical talent you have there gracie :)
Did you start playing all of them while at school?

Nice idea for a thread, db :)

Thanks gracie :)

Maybe cello, then? :)


Ooh yes much better


My sister and I both have our grade 10 piano, practical and theory.


Ohh I think that's roughly equivalent to the gap between Grade 8 and 1st Diploma heree :) That's verry good :)

Did you start playing all of them while at school?
I've been playing piano since I was 4, but the rest I learned at school band out of boredom.


Thanks gracie :)

You're welcome :)


Ohh I think that's roughly equivalent to the gap between Grade 8 and 1st Diploma heree :)

Oh, what organization do you guys have? Ours is the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM).

You two are so musical, gracie and Mato, that is. You should teach us some of your skills :P

I remember posting a video of myself playing a song on the piano on here a loooong time ago..:embarrassed:
I remember that.
Was brilliant.

Oh, what organization do you guys have? Ours is the Royal Conservatory of Music (RCM).

Ahh over here you can choose to take it with different organisations, but the main two are ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and Trinty Guildhall (a merge of two exam boards from two of the main conservatoires here).

I was confused at first, like Grade 10??? lool.

I remember that.
Was brilliant.
:eek: I prefer not to remember that video... in my jammies and everything. But thanks :P

Ahh over here you can choose to take it with different organisations, but the main two are ABRSM (Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music) and Trinty Guildhall (a merge of two exam boards from two of the main conservatoires here).

I was confused at first, like Grade 10??? lool.

RCM goes from Grade 1-10, then you can decide to either take the Teacher's ARCT, or the Performer's ARCT. I learned piano with the Suzuki method, and just skipped straight to the grade 8 RCM exam. As far as I know, RCM is the most popular organization that has standardized tests in Canada.

RCM goes from Grade 1-10, then you can decide to either take the Teacher's ARCT, or the Performer's ARCT. I learned piano with the Suzuki method, and just skipped straight to the grade 8 RCM exam. As far as I know, RCM is the most popular organization that has standardized tests in Canada.


Ahh I see.
And ooh Suzuki method; I don't *think* that it's hugely popular over here, but I do know of people who have learnt from it. :)

Ooo...haven't posted on this forum in ages! But this thread caught mine eye ;)

I just finished me second year BMus...my primary instrument is voice (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m714nPXPwDA&feature=channel_page). That performance is a little off, was recorded in December 2008. I'm actually organizing a concert/recital that will take place next week. I'll be performing 15 songs in total (with encore, if my audience should be so gracious :embarrassed:) so I'm pretty excited.

Otherwise, back to the topic, I have my grade 8 RCM piano but am quite rusty in that area. I played the clarinet in high school, and of course started my musical training on the lovely recorder.

I was watching a group of kids play the recorder the other day and was amazed that not a single one of them was holding it properly! *sigh* Well, I'm hoping to go in and update some musical training for young kids after I'm graduated, so I'll just grit my teeth and observe for now!