How many of you create music?

[Hammersmith]

This could arguably go in The Prancing Pony, and forgive me if it's an old question (I did run a fruitless search for it :) ), but it's here, and I personally think it's a worthy topic of discussion. After all, music is art, is it not? So here's the question:

How many of you write music, sing or play an instrument? If so; don't be shy! Even if it's the acoustic guitar you bought when you were thirteen and haven't touched since, or the slide whistle you kept for memory's sake!

I personally write mainly poetry, but there's a fine line between poems and songs, and on occasion I breach it, adding music to poems. I also play bass guitar; a beautiful 5 String Ibanez EDA905 with the most gorgeous flame orange finish you can imagine. Her name is Charlotte, and I've been playing for a couple of months now. I hate it when bass is used as a fancy metronome, and while I don't have dreams of "becoming a rock star", I plan to learn bass as well as my ability permits, for my own enjoyment.

[SpankusAurilius]

i am a musician (self-proclaimed)..... i have been playing guitar since my dad bought me one on christmas when i was 10.. i have been playing bass since i was about thirteen, and i have played the drums since i was 16.... at the moment i am immersed in playing my new drum kit (a d.w. knock off that was still just as darn expensive)and i am in colaboration with my bassist and a mutual friend and guitarist who is to say the least phenomenal, yet he has a wife and a kid and a full time job and doesn't often have the time to play, although we have tons of completed songs together, we don't often jam anymore because of said friends lack of inspiration (or intrest, you choose) but nonetheless, i am currently working on my own stuff on my little tascam recorder and hope to someday become a full-time musician so all i have to do is make music.... yeah...so.... that's about it.. thanks for listening

[Annaheru]

I'm a fiddler, who sometimes writes poetry, and every once in a while puts it to music. . .

[Maggot]

I can play the acoustic guitar a bit but I've had a fall out:eek: with my guitar tutor and he now refuses to teach me so I'm in desperate need of a guitar tutor.

[Hobbit-queen]

I can write poetry, songs, stories of different sorts. I used to sing in the choir, and now I play in the school marching band, concert band, and am currently a soloist on the bass clarinet. I am also learning how to play guitar. I'll probably eventually start a band someday. Music is my life.

[Barliman Butterbur]

How many of you write music, sing or play an instrument?

I was a musician all my life, from the seventh grade on (that is to say, from age 12). I have bachelor's and master's degrees in it, played woodwinds, did many arrangements, was a music publisher and engraver for many years. Played in big bands, marching bands, concert bands, symphonic wind ensembles, jazz groups and symphony orchestras and chamber music ensembles. I even conducted such groups from time to time.

I'd still be doing it had I not developed serious irreversible inner ear damage (including constant tinnitus) due to sustained noise trauma over the years. Not being able to play — or even listen to music at normal levels — is one of the great heartbreaks of my life. Photography, although great fun, has been no proper substitute. It simply is not my passion.

The day before yesterday I upgraded my copy of Sibelius (a computer score notation program), even though I have no earthly use for it. I still can't quite let go; I have to be able to call myself a musician somehow!

Barley

[cardanas]

I've been playing guitar for 2 years. I listen to music 24/7.

[Eledhwen]

I play violin - not very well, as when I was growing up we had a bull terrier, and every time I practiced, he heard this terrible yowling noise and saw something at my throat. He then did his best to protect me from it. It's a lousy excuse, I know, but the only one I have that doesn't implicate me and my lack of application. One thing though - if I know a tune, I can play it on my violin.

I also sing. I was looking for a new church recently, but sneaking in at the back to check it out doesn't work when you then sing your heart out in the worship. Most times, I got asked to join the choir (I might have been more impressed if they checked whether I was a Christian first). When I'm reading Tolkien out loud, I always sing the songs; I can't bring myself to just recite the verse.

I can read and write music, but don't have to do it much these days. I write poetry - I've even posted some hereabouts. I can do it to order, but find I write much better stuff on inspiration (IMHO :rolleyes: )

Barley, my heart goes out to you! It never occurred to me that orchestral noise can be just as bad for you as overloud speakers at a rock concert. My Dad had really bad tinitus - he got it from training people to throw grenades in the army. His only real therapy was music - he especially liked Georg Solti and Herbert von Karajan. He bought a pair of electrostatic headphones, which he said were much better than normal earphones and helped him to ignore the noise. You are still a musician! Ear problems never stopped Beethoven.

[Elorendil]

Oh, Barley, that's so sad! I can't imagine not being able to play or listen to music:(


I am a musician to the bone. Elorendil and music, music and Elorendil, we just go together. Playing piano is my biggest asset when dealing with stress or emotional turmoil. Listening to my favorite CD is my other coping technique. I hear notes in just about everything and frequently catch myself trying to identify the note (unfortunately, I don't have perfect pitch, so I'm not always right). I can spout more music theory and music history than most people care to hear and love learning more about the subjects. I suspect that Barley could give me a good run for my money, though, when it comes to musical knowledge;)

My main instrument is the piano and I have had the privilege of studying under a nationally renowned teacher. I am also trained as classical singer, and I'm learning to conduct. I compose a bit and am currently writing a song based on Psalms 91. My preffered tool for writing is Finale, although I only have the minimal Notepad version, due to a small budget:(

[Barliman Butterbur]

...Barley, my heart goes out to you! It never occurred to me that orchestral noise can be just as bad for you as overloud speakers at a rock concert. My Dad had really bad tinnitus - he got it from training people to throw grenades in the army. His only real therapy was music - he especially liked Georg Solti and Herbert von Karajan. He bought a pair of electrostatic headphones, which he said were much better than normal earphones and helped him to ignore the noise. You are still a musician! Ear problems never stopped Beethoven.

Thanks, m'dear. I'm so sorry for your Dad! I know something of what he's suffering.

Yes, I still remember those first nights when I began to wonder what the hell was going on... I was in an orchestra rehearsal playing first desk flute at the time, and I thought there was something wrong with the positioning of the head joint cork in the flute. The instrument seemed to be out of tune with itself — flat in the upper registers. No amount of adjustments could make it play right. People would whisper to me "You're playing sharp!" It drove me crazy, I couldn't figure out what was wrong. It wasn't until quite sometime later that, through audio testing, I discovered that I was suffering from pitch distortion: the louder the tone the flatter. So I was playing sharper and sharper trying to match what I was hearing. There were other times when I was playing on a mike, and what I heard with my ears was one pitch and what was coming out of the speaker was another. Quite unacceptable.

And then there was that night when I was playing piccolo and wondered why it sounded so harsh and edgy, and the same with the brass section. I didn't realize that my cochlear cilia for the high frequencies had been destroyed. I can't hear anything above about 3,000 Hz, and the normal ear can hear to between 15K and 20K Hz. Anyway, to make a long story short, I had to stop playing in any music ensemble where performance quality counted! I was suicidally depressed there for a while. I must say, it took a bit of work to get through that.

There are worse stories though: a friend of mine in Dorset, England, was a piano tuner with tinnitus much worse than mine. Can you imagine trying to tune a piano with tones raging in your ears that fight with the ones you're trying to adjust on the piano? Retired eventually — had to — and at times he wears headphones similar to your Dad's, which cancel out incoming sounds.

And there's a woman I know who woke up one morning thinking her husband was vacuuming the bedroom carpet right by her head. No one was there. The noise has never stopped with her from that day to this. It could always be worse, in some cases the noise has driven people to suicide...

Barley

[Aranel]

I sing. Lots, I'm currently a member of three different choirs that range from a classical (we just did Handel's Israel in Egypt) to Gospel (mostly African but with the odd America gospel song in there). It's my main stress reliever in life.

I also play the piano but only for fun and I used to play the cello before university sucked up all my time.

[e.Blackstar]

I sing...maybe not so well, but one does what one can. I used to play the piano but my teacher quit teaching and I haven't done much piano since. I write poetry/music a bit as well...nothing exceptional, I'm afraid. Oh, and I've taken up the Irish tin whistle. ;)

[smeagol444]

i can play ..a very restricted level of acoustic guitar and piano, and i like to sing. whether i can or not is a different matter. um art is my life and it makes up most of me, i love poetry as well...and obviously music and art are very closely connected. music is very important to me. my favourite times in life are when i'm with my friends and a guitar and we are all singing a song. . :)

[Lomin...]

I've been playing accoustic guitar for a few years now. It's a fairly low end...Okay it's a bottom of the line guitar, but it good enough for me. If I buy a new one, it's going to be a nylon string guitar (classical).

I don't write a lot of music. I mostly just play Bach, and some Dowland, traditional japanese folksong. I have written a couple pieces, most recently a study in narural harmonics. I don't write any lyrics, though. My literary and musical interests never seem to get along. I can't sing really either, so it's kinda pointless.

As far as playing in a group, I'm not that good yet. And my tempo is pretty bad. But I play guitar and I enjoy it. People seem to enjoy listening to it, so it isn't too bad. *shurgs*

Laterz...

[Nenya Evenstar]

I play the piano . . . haven't been able to really play for the past two years though, because after I moved out of my parent's house I no longer had a piano. My husband and I were just given a piano, but we have to be able to afford to move it now (we want to move it professionally, not ourselves). Then we live in an apartment complex! I don't quite know how that'll work . . . hopefully my neighbors like piano?

I mostly played classical until I got my aunt as my piano teacher. That didn't work out well, so I quit lessons (wouldn't do that now, if I could do it over). I found that playing classical is much more difficult without a teacher. Then I mostly just accompanied my church choir and various singers that came my way.

[wizard2c]

Guitar and keyboard but I have not written much lately songwise....the future has been bothering me......but it's normally 24/7 music with some static mix.

:rolleyes:

[Hammersmith]

Why hello! I remember this thread! Since *ahem* (puffs out chest) I founded it. Since then, for everybody who doesn't care, I've picked up the sweetest Michael Kelly Dragonfly Acoustic Fretless Electric Five String Bass Guitar, in a wonderful turquoise blue shade. Her name's Rachel, and she's a beauty.

[HLGStrider]

I want to know why all your guitars are female. It is strange. Frued would love to get into the issue, I'm sure. . .


Andywise. . .

I played clarinet for a decade. I could fake it very well, but I am tone deaf and musically challenged. Most things come naturally to me. Music doesn't. But after ten years you can be an expert at anything. I haven't touched the poor dear in six months.

My currently clarinet is named Vinnie Veto (Veto being the brand). My last was Clarissa Belmont (Belmont again being the brand. I adored Clarissa but she was coming apart in places. . .actually parts of her were Normandy and the other parts Belmont because she was an original Normandy but Normandy stopped making clarinets and so we had to replace sections of her with Belmont parts. I ended up replacing her because it was cheaper to buy a new one than to continue recorking her.). Clarinets are amazing instruments. I adore them and think them highly superior to trumpets (My brother plays the trumpet. . .curses. . .). I also played bass clarinet when things were desperate in the homeschool band's bass section (which was pretty much always but othertimes there were others willing to carry that honking big instrument case), and I took six months on the tenor sax before going back to the highly superior clarinet (my sax was a BEAST. It bit me! It weighed more than I did! Honestly, it bit me!).

Anyway, I can't hold a note for more than two seconds at a steady pitch, but I'm somewhat entertaining to listen to as far as singing goes. . .if you have a good sense of humor and are wearing earmuffs.

[Hammersmith]

I want to know why all your guitars are female. It is strange. Frued would love to get into the issue, I'm sure. . .

It's like naming cars. I never learned to drive, so I named my instruments. And I honestly couldn't imagine cradling a beautiful machine named Gerald.

I'm somewhat entertaining to listen to as far as singing goes. . .if you have a good sense of humor and are wearing earmuffs.

Well, I do have a good sense of humour...

[e.Blackstar]

My friend's cello is named Felix... :D

[ingolmo]

I have been playing the keyboard, piano, harmonium (if you've heard of it), and singing vocal since K.G. I can play a bit of flute, harmonium (only when I'm on my own, since it's banned in the house when anyone else is there :cool: . Now, I've started to learn the drums.

But of all things, I don't know how to play the guitar.

[Lomin...]

Prithee, what be a Harmonium?

And my guitar's name goes to the highest bidder! I'll have it etched/painted on if you pay enough. :D

Jim

[Nenya Evenstar]

Honestly, I don't know of any guys that name their guitars anything besides female names. It would almost seem weird if they named them anything else. . . .

Does it count that my brother names his computers too? He has multiple computers and they are named things like Monica -- most of them are just used as slave drives. Go figure. :rolleyes:

[HLGStrider]

Smitty, my cars so far have been named Mayflower and Bree. Mayflower was Mayflower because it/she was a Plymouth and the Pilgrims were from Plymouth and they came to America on the Mayflower. Bree is Bree because she has the letters BRE in her license plate.

[iamiluvatar]

i play the piano and have been playing for 5 years. not to long ago i bought music from the lord of the rings movie; ive memorized almost all of them

[Lomin...]

A buddy of mine just tonight--well it's after midnight, so last night--invited me over to his place to try and write some music. He plays basic guitar stuff really well (rifs and whatnot), but I don't think he fares too well when if get into arrpegios and fancy stuff. That's what I play, but not as well as he play general stuff, still it'll be a fun time when it happens.

This will be my first time trying to write music with anyone, or even really playing with anyone, so I have no clue what to expect. I expect it will be interesting and enjoyable, though.

I babbled about it some in my blog--mostly mirrored what I said here--which you can get to through my new sig.

[Barliman Butterbur]

I have been playing the keyboard, piano, harmonium (if you've heard of it)... harmonium (only when I'm on my own, since it's banned in the house when anyone else is there :cool:...

How in the world did you get hold of a harmonium??? I am affiliated with an Eastern religion which does a lot of Hindu chants, and they use harmoniums (hamonia?) as one of the basic instruments. We have one in the house — I bought it for my wife who said she wanted to learn it so as to play along with the chants. As you might imagine, it sits there in the bedroom under a dust cover in silent splendid glory, and has for a good number of years... :rolleyes: :p

Barley

[wizard2c]

I never considered naming my guitars........oh, it would be so difficult...but it is something to ponder.......... :rolleyes:

[Narya]

I write music. Guitar and keyboards are my instrument of choice. 6 of the songs in my first album are all originals, but they are pop, not really very proud of them. Still writing, but the genre has changed a bit.

[Lomin...]

A while ago I got a new guitar: a Takamine G-116 (classical/nylon strings).

Also, some of the songs I've written can be heard here:

http://newgrounds.com/audio/view.php?id=1449981&sub=50413

If anyone cares to listen, anyway.

[Majimaune]

Hey I've been playing guitar for *couts backwards for a while* arguable 10 years. In that ten years I have writen a good deal of music but most of it I have forgotten because I don't like to write it down most of the time. Unless its really good. Most of the time I just play random chords and keep on playing until it sounds good. I like the G and D chords so most of my songs have those chords in them.

[Noldor_returned]

I don't play an instrument, although I am in the middle of writing a 100-minute song, including a 20 minute guitar solo.

[Majimaune]

I don't play an instrument, although I am in the middle of writing a 100-minute song, including a 20 minute guitar solo. Hey you told me about that. Hows it going. It would be hard no playing an instrument.

I got a cool song going on. I figured out some good chords yesterday and then worked out a little intro, chord pregression and strumming rhythm. It's pretty cool. If only I could record it and then you guys could hear it.

[Majimaune]

I have recorded a first version of my song that I have writen onto my MP3 player. I don't know if I can attach it as a file though because I think that you can only attach pictures. Does anyone know?

[Firawyn]

Heh, I mess with my drums...but I don't have much talent...at least that I've descovered yet.

I do however enjoy writing songs. I got that from my mother, who...writes songs and plays piano, keyboard, trumpet, clairanette, saxaphone, and gituar...to bad I can't spell....:D

[Narya]

Heh, I mess with my drums...but I don't have much talent...at least that I've descovered yet.

I do however enjoy writing songs. I got that from my mother, who...writes songs and plays piano, keyboard, trumpet, clairanette, saxaphone, and gituar...to bad I can't spell....:D

WOW! Not a bad musical influence there, Firawyn. And don't ever tell yourself (or others) that you don't have much talent, everyone has talent for something and considering how musical your heritage is, I'm pretty sure you'll find out which instrument is the one for you.

My brother is a genius when it comes to melody-instruments. He learned to play the guitar, the piano, keyboard, and the bass all by himself. He can write and arrange (used to be my arranger), but when it comes to playing the drums and keeping the rhythm, he ain't got nothing on his 9-year-old son.

[Barliman Butterbur]

How many of you write music, sing or play an instrument?

I was a musician all my life until my ears went south from noise trauma. I played (woodwinds) and sang (bass), conducted, published and arranged.

I have GarageBand on my computer, but I haven't done anything with it yet. I have the Sibelius scorewriter on it too, but never use it — it's just a "hangover from the old days" can't bring myself to take it off.

Barley

[Ermundo]

I also have Garage Band, though my skills on it aren't the best of the best. I have made a few decent songs using the software, but anything else is a nightmare come real. I play Baritone and Flute (you heard me), and I do sometimes try to compose something classical, but everytime I play to my cat, she starts chasing her tale like it were on fire. Weird.

[Narya]

COOL! Band people! I was also with a band before and sang for a living for 6 years. We played soul, Pop, and R & B mostly. I can play the guitar but am better off doing vocals. :rolleyes:

[Barliman Butterbur]

I also have Garage Band, though my skills on it aren't the best of the best. I have made a few decent songs using the software, but anything else is a nightmare come real.

I can't make heads or tails of GarageBand. Two music degrees and I can't figure it out! I'm going to have my son come over and teach me. :eek:

Barley

[Majimaune]

It makes me feel left out only playing guitar, But once for about six months (a passing faise) I played trumpet. I can mess around on a piano but can't anyone.

[Fugitive1992]

Heh, I mess with my drums...but I don't have much talent...at least that I've descovered yet.

I do however enjoy writing songs. I got that from my mother, who...writes songs and plays piano, keyboard, trumpet, clairanette, saxaphone, and gituar...to bad I can't spell....:D

Curse you, Firawyn, for not being able to spell 'guitar'. and btw peoples oour mom does not play the guitar. my dad does. as well as he plays the piano. anyway, enogh about them.

I can play the piano, accostic(5 strings because Firawyn broke my string:mad: ) and electric guitar (which isn't mine:( ), and, a 5 and a 4 string bass(i don't know what brand). i have been fiddleing with the drums. and i am ditermened to learn the sax, on which i got 3 or 4 years ago for x-mas.

i cannot write lyrics at all. i can write music. but nothing to go with it. oh, btw Firawyn, you spell 'discovered' with an 'i'! :D

[Firawyn]

Mom can play gutair, just not that well. Ask her...she's rubbed it in many times. You're right about dad though, he's the oe with the gutair talent....and piano...why did not get any of that talent. It all passed to you Fug.....he,he, you're going to be a fugative if you don't stop bugging me.


Barley hun, you've been published??! Can you PM me a link to where I can get some of your work?? Please!!!

[Ermundo]

I can't make heads or tails of GarageBand. Two music degrees and I can't figure it out! I'm going to have my son come over and teach me. :eek:

Barley


*Shrugs* It takes a while to get the hang of it. It was all giberish to me when I first started to tamper with my songs, but after a while, the music I made gave me the title to be called the "DJ" at our school. But nowadays, I only use the software that belongs to our school, which has nothing but Macs, and even when I make music, it's only for projects.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Barley hun, you've been published??! Can you PM me a link to where I can get some of your work?? Please!!!

Here ya go hun: http://www.wiminc.com/main.html . Anything with the name Auslender is mine.

EDIT: Well, evidently, almost the whole site is being reconstructed, including the section on the listing of transcribers and arrangers, which would include me. Right now it looks like everything's bogged down. Knowing them, there's no telling when the thing will be up and running properly. :mad: (But I sent them a hot email, maybe that'll goose 'em into action. :) )

@ Morgoth — I've been diddling with GarageBand, and I can see what they're getting at: Evidently one strings a bunch of music snippets together like colored beads on a string. So far I can't get to the point where I would call that "composing." More like "assembling..." It seems a complicated piece of software for something like that. But we'll see: I'm not giving up — I paid a hundred bucks for the damn thing and the rest of the iLife bundle.

Jeeze, Morg, you set up that Tolkien site??? Good job!!! And good job you have a place for the discussion of religion and science and called it The Prancing Pony!!! Only problem — I saw how to log in, but not to register. What am I missing?

Barley

[Majimaune]

Ah be good to have you there when you can register (if that was your plan) Barly.

I havent been able to play guitar much lately which really sucks so that has put my song writing on hold, I'll be back at it as soon as I can be.

[Ermundo]

@ Morgoth — I've been diddling with GarageBand, and I can see what they're getting at: Evidently one strings a bunch of music snippets together like colored beads on a string. So far I can't get to the point where I would call that "composing." More like "assembling..." It seems a complicated piece of software for something like that. But we'll see: I'm not giving up — I paid a hundred bucks for the damn thing and the rest of the iLife bundle.

Jeeze, Morg, you set up that Tolkien site??? Good job!!! And good job you have a place for the discussion of religion and science and called it The Prancing Pony!!! Only problem — I saw how to log in, but not to register. What am I missing?

Barley


I wouldn't say assembling, but more along the lines of remixing, if you get my meaning. Taking peices of different snippets, and adding them together in the right fashion can get someone a marvelous peice of music. But you must have both ears screwed on tight, and a brain that isn't drifting in space, for those two things are the key.

And yes, thank you for the compliment Barley. I put Religion and Science , (and politics to;)) into the forum since undoubtedly, those two topics would come up somewhere else, and a flame war might start. I didn't want that, and the fact I like discussing Polics somewhat.

Also, the Register button should be at the bottom of the index.cgi page, where it says for you to Login.

[Firawyn]

Here ya go hun: http://www.wiminc.com/main.html . Anything with the name Auslender is mine.

EDIT: Well, evidently, almost the whole site is being reconstructed, including the section on the listing of transcribers and arrangers, which would include me. Right now it looks like everything's bogged down. Knowing them, there's no telling when the thing will be up and running properly. :mad: (But I sent them a hot email, maybe that'll goose 'em into action. :) )



Barley


Barley, thanks...I may have to send them a 'hot', as you put it, e-mail as well. You've got me all excited now.

Well you may be published, but alas, I am not, and some how I doubt I ever will. HOWEVER, a great man (can't remember who) once said 'But what is the purpose of writing if not to be published'.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Barley, thanks...I may have to send them a 'hot', as you put it, e-mail as well. You've got me all excited now.

Well you may be published, but alas, I am not, and some how I doubt I ever will. HOWEVER, a great man (can't remember who) once said 'But what is the purpose of writing if not to be published'.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM ANY SUCH LETTER. You will embarrass yourself, and you will embarrass me. I have been close professional associates and friends with these people for over thirty years and I DON'T need the kind of problem your ill-considered letter would create. Get yourself UN-excited.

Barley

[Ermundo]

PLEASE DO NOT SEND THEM ANY SUCH LETTER. You will embarrass yourself, and you will embarrass me. I have been close professional associates and friends with these people for over thirty years and I DON'T need the kind of problem your ill-considered letter would create. Get yourself UN-excited.

Barley


Barley, I understand entirely, but wouldn't it be better, to get the message, to PM Firawn about the post, not post it on a thread? And I do say to Firawn it was rather ill thought. But Barley, let's try to say some sweeter words next time.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Barley, I understand entirely, but wouldn't it be better, to get the message, to PM Firawn about the post, not post it on a thread? And I do say to Firawn it was rather ill thought. But Barley, let's try to say some sweeter words next time.

You're absolutely right.

Barley

[Firawyn]

Oh chill boys. I'm not that stupid. *grin* I was kidding.

Oh and Barley, Morgoth(the1) is right, if you have bone to pick, PM me, or e-mail me, you know how. :p

All I did do, for reference sake, was drop then a nice polite letter asking for information, and they very politly, and quickly might I add, replied with the information I requested. Keep your pants on.:rolleyes:

[Barliman Butterbur]

Oh and Barley, if you have bone to pick, PM me, or e-mail me, you know how. :p

Since you chose to disclose your intentions the way you did in a thread, I replied in kind. :cool:

Barley

[Firawyn]

You're right. So be it Mr. Butterbur. Out in in the open.:p :D

[Ermundo]

...

Please let's try to stay on topic people. Anyway, I'm rather gifted with the flute (and I'm a guy:eek:!), so I tried to compose a few songs based of Aura Lee, but they were total disasters.

[Firawyn]

Fine, on topic, who many of you are any good at writing song lyrics?

[Majimaune]

Ok I suck at writing song lyrics (might've already said that in this thread).

Morgoththe1 really playing the flute and being a guy isnt bad. I know a guy who plays the flute and he's really good.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Morgoththe1 really playing the flute and being a guy isnt bad. I know a guy who plays the flute and he's really good.

As one who spent his entire life among performing musicians, I can tell you that any good wind player — boy or girl, man or woman — worth his or her salt knows how to play a whole family of instruments well, including (usually), sax, flute, clarinet and even oboe (this ability to play several instruments equally well is called doubling and is quite common among jazz big band musicians) since they all have similar (based on the flute) fingering systems.

Long gone are the days when, for example, flutes, harps and violins were considered "girl's" instruments, and trombones, tubas and kettledrums were considered "boy's" instruments and so forth. That's just silliness. You will find men and women the world over playing every instrument you can think of.

Barley

[Ermundo]

As one who spent his entire life among performing musicians, I can tell you that any good wind player — boy or girl, man or woman — worth his or her salt knows how to play a whole family of instruments well, including (usually), sax, flute, clarinet and even oboe (this ability to play several instruments equally well is called doubling and is quite common among jazz big band musicians) since they all have similar (based on the flute) fingering systems.

Long gone are the days when, for example, flutes, harps and violins were considered "girl's" instruments, and trombones, tubas and kettledrums were considered "boy's" instruments and so forth. That's just silliness. You will find men and women the world over playing every instrument you can think of.

Barley


Well, I can't say the same for my school.

[Barliman Butterbur]

Well, I can't say the same for my school.

Then I hereby anoint you Savior of Your Music Department, and you are Charged with Bringing Them Out of the Dark Ages! :p

Barley

[Ermundo]

Then I hereby anoint you Savior of Your Music Department, and you are Charged with Bringing Them Out of the Dark Ages! :p

Barley


Out of the frying pan, into the fire. :cool:

[Firawyn]

Then I hereby anoint you Savior of Your Music Department, and you are Charged with Bringing Them Out of the Dark Ages! :p

Barley


You forgot to say 'by the power vested in me'... he,he!:D ;) :p

[Aiwendil2]

I've made some music using computer synthesis software - you can find it here (http://pantheon.yale.edu/~skl28). Incidentally, I've also got my Latin translation of the Ainulindale up there.

[Arlina]

I've taken a year worth of Music Theory and know how to write music for choral parts. I've got a keyboard that I play on and plan on writing a song one of these days. =^.^= I've been in a choir, be it school or church, thus my love of writing choral parts. I might take another course in Music Theory soon...not sure yet...hum...

[Majimaune]

In music at school my teacher said we all had to go into groups and do something. Me and my friend chose to make something up, me on guitar and him on some bongo drums. It's quite good and I only wish you could hear it.

[infernumflame]

I write a good amount of music myself, both symphonic metal and epic movie score-style stuff.

[Noldor_returned]

Well, me and a friend have sort of started a two-piece band (I play drums, he goes guitar), so I've been working on a few songs. I did write one for my year 10 graduation, which has already been agreed upon to b eplayed by me, one other and sung by anohter friend.

Oh yes, what is a good idea for a band name? We're stuck.

[HLGStrider]

Kung-Fu Trees? Slippery Eels? The Daring Due? Rabbbbbits?

Try putting your finger in the middle of a dictionary.

[Thorin]

I've written a few songs for guitar with voice and a few instrumentals. I could write a lot more but every lyric I write just comes across as 'cheesy' to me and I end up abandoning it.

My 'crowning acheivement' thus far has been writing a 'Lux Aeterna' for a cappella voices (SSAATTBB). I am quite proud of it but I haven't had the opportunity to try and get my highschool choir to perform it as it is beyond the scope of their numbers to do so (though I am having them at least try it (My pride can't just let it rest on the shelf)

[Majimaune]

Hey Thorin do you think you could send me some of the guitar stuff and I'll send you some of mine if you want???

You know I just wish my grasp for another language was better so I could write something in that and it wouldnt sound so bad.

[Noldor_returned]

We are also going to have a bass guitarist, and hopefully another lead guitarist. However, how's this for a band name: Voice Of The Enemy. Or VOTE for short.

[Majimaune]

Sounds cool. SO you could say "Vote for VOTE".

[Hobbit-GalRosie]

We are also going to have a bass guitarist, and hopefully another lead guitarist. However, how's this for a band name: Voice Of The Enemy. Or VOTE for short.
Voice of the Enemy would make a truly great band name.

I'm more of an intensive enjoyer of hearing music than a creator of it. Occasionally a melody will pop into my head (especially for a song that fits into one of my novels somehow), but nothing more than that. Alas, I wish I had the gift...

[Lomin...]

I thought I'd update this thread, as I've come a long way musically since I posted eons ago.

Well, I went from playing guitar to play ing classical guitar, and I actually spend just about as much time composing music as playing it, now. I mostly write ambient music of a classical nature. Stuff kinda like Nobuo Uematsu and other video game score composers.

You can take a listen to some of my stuff here:

http://soundclick.com/shadowsinterlude

[Noldor_returned]

Voice of the Enemy would make a truly great band name.

Well, it's the one we're going with. And we've upgraded from a two-piece to a three (temporary, while we find a lead guitarist, as the current one doesn't want to sing and play at the same time.)

[Majimaune]

Well, it's the one we're going with. And we've upgraded from a two-piece to a three (temporary, while we find a lead guitarist, as the current one doesn't want to sing and play at the same time.)Well it is hard to play and sing at the same time.

[Firawyn]

Actually, it's a man thing -

Research says (I've heard, don't have a reference *glares at Barley*) that it is much easier for women to play and sing at the same time than it is for men.

[Majimaune]

Hmmm I guess thats because a woman finds it easier to do two things at once...well most women, some I know I dont think they can do one thing at once sometimes their so unco.

[Thorin]

I would disagree that it is harder for men to play and sing at the same time. Most musicians who do so in front line bands or even solo acts are men.

What I find very hard is to flat pick a solo or fills, and sing or talk at the same time.

Try that one! You sound like you're stoned as one slow word after another pops out while you're trying to concentrate. :)

[Majimaune]

Now that would be hard.

Anyone who plays Bass guitar then GET OUT!!! This is a place for musicians. I'm sorry I just felt like bagging out bass players.

[Noldor_returned]

Well, we think problem is solved. We decided just to put an add out only in school for anyone who can play lead guitar. The auditions start next week.

[Noldor_returned]

We have had a minor setback. The school drums are not up to standard, and we cannot get them fixed atm. Basically, this is the condition they are in:

Floor TomTom: the skin is too loose and needs to be tightened.
Hi-hats: The top one is on a slope so that one side permanently touches the other cymbal.
Bass Drum: The pedal winds back too far and needs to be pressed twice for it to hit- basically you're doucle-pressing for one note.
Snare Drum: There is a 2cm (inch) rip near the middle. It is playable, but not as good.A possible solution is that our bassist goes to guitar, I go bass and we have no drums for a while. It solves our lead guitarist problem for a while.

Also, we have had a name change to Mind Altering Substances. Quite ironic considering our lead singer has ADHD and was on Ritalin.

[Majimaune]

Hmmm but a good band has to have drums. That really sucks. Well if you go to bass its really not that hard, all you need it fingures...

[Firawyn]

Also, we have had a name change to Mind Altering Substances. Quite ironic considering our lead singer has ADHD and was on Ritalin.

Gosh, you have to be careful with that ****. I have a brother who is bipolar ADHD, and the Ritalin was supposed to do go stuff for him, to calm his moods and such, and it did that...in most cases...unless he got really upset and then he strated throwing things and swearing up storm, and he got violent...they took him off Ritlin and wala! He's fine.

About the drums...that's some hard stuff...If I was wealthy, I'd buy you a set...alas I am not.:( Love you guys, lots of luck!


Fir-

[Thorin]

We have had a minor setback. The school drums are not up to standard, and we cannot get them fixed atm. Basically, this is the condition they are in:

Floor TomTom: the skin is too loose and needs to be tightened.
Hi-hats: The top one is on a slope so that one side permanently touches the other cymbal.
Bass Drum: The pedal winds back too far and needs to be pressed twice for it to hit- basically you're doucle-pressing for one note.
Snare Drum: There is a 2cm (inch) rip near the middle. It is playable, but not as good.A possible solution is that our bassist goes to guitar, I go bass and we have no drums for a while. It solves our lead guitarist problem for a while.


Ahh...Drums, who needs em? Make your band a folk or bluegrass band! No need for percussion in that!
:) And before you headbangers start to knock it, I'll have you know that I am in a popular local bluegrass band! Here's my website...I'm the good looking, young guitar player.

http://www.vwh.ca/dlds/

[Majimaune]

Do you have a mac at your school NR? You see on a mac there is a program called Garage Band that is great for composing music. You could do a drum beat on that if you really needed one.

[Noldor_returned]

The problem is that we can't play it live then.

And Fir, we know. Our singer was taken off Ritalin too and he's much better. Sort of an ironic and twisted word play. Can't think of the proper English term for it. Not a pun...somehting else.

[Firawyn]

To what phrase were you trying to place the proper English Term? :confused:

I'm a bit of a Engllish dictionary...I'm a Sr in highschool and I'm in third year advanced English and third year Latin Road to English Grammer study. I know more about proper English terms than most English teachers do! lol;)


I'm curious, back on topic, are you guys all first genreation creaters of music or to you get the talent from your mom/dad/aunt/grandpa/etc?

[Majimaune]

Well alot of my family play drums (dad, cousins etc) but as far as I know I'm the first to play guitar. None of my family can sing. Me and my sister should do a duet sometime at 12 at night realy loud to annoy the people that do it to us.

[Noldor_returned]

To what phrase were you trying to place the proper English Term? :confused:

I'm a bit of a Engllish dictionary...I'm a Sr in highschool and I'm in third year advanced English and third year Latin Road to English Grammer study. I know more about proper English terms than most English teachers do! lol;)


I'm curious, back on topic, are you guys all first genreation creaters of music or to you get the talent from your mom/dad/aunt/grandpa/etc?

The phrase I meant was Mind Alterating Substances and the way it's used. Sort of sarcasm but not.

As for being first generation, I sure am. Although my sisters can sort of sing, my younger one moreso than older.

[Elorendil]

I play piano and love every minute of it! I had my debut with an orchestra, last year, which was the most amazing experience of my life. :) Currently, I'm working on a master's degree in piano performance. I'm also a coloratura soprano (aka I sing really high, crazy-hard opera music). I've dabbled a bit in composing and taken some composition lessons at uni. I don't have too much to show for those lessons, though, because I compose incredibly slowly and sporadically...