Do you play any instruments?

[Jasper Blunk]

What instruments do you play/study? I play piano, guitar, violin, accordion, flute, dumbek, penny whistle, and harmonica. However I am only learning the violin, not quite at a proficient level yet. It's difficult.

I thought this topic could be for people to post the instruments they play which could also open up the opportunity of getting other forum members on your tracks and vice versa, collaboration.

[peter5992]

Guitar (classical, steel string and electric) - though I don't play nearly enough. I also try to practice the piano every day, though I wouldn't call that playing.

[tremolo]

Guitar (classical, steel string and electric) - though I don't play nearly enough. I also try to practice the piano every day, though I wouldn't call that playing.

I play violin and guitar, but learning the piano and find it extremely difficult.

I have a question. I am a late beginner in the piano (I am in my late 30s !!) and find it different from any other instrument. It is not "linear". How do you get ambidexterous? Is it by just learning many songs and getting comfortable with both hands. Thats my biggest problem. Are there specific exercises that get you comfy with any song? I have had lessons before but they all go the same path..and I always hit the same hurdle.

I havent practiced much and consistently though.

sorry to deviate the topic :) but any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

[Pietro]

Drums - jazz, big band, funky, pop, rock. Generally everything. Some live drum&bass styles as an experiment too.

Percussion - solo marimba, vibes and all other stuff, including orchestral percussion.

Piano - just for my own purposes, but I used to play classical music too. I just don't like classical piano that much, so I play whatever comes in my mind.

Clarinet - Basics. Although it was years ago, I'm now aware of some important things specific to wind instruments.

- Piotr

[Jasper Blunk]

Hi Tremelo, you are not a "late beginner."

Well, the fact is when I was beginning my study of piano 11 years ago that I was playing pieces where the left hand was only accompanying. This was/is classical music I speak of. Also, when I began piano I was not composing, albeit improvising, yes. I was playing other's peoples music. I've found that since I began composing 6 years ago, it is much easier to learn an instrument. I applied my writing to the instruments I've learned, some of the writing is difficult, but I learn it because I want to use ME, not someone else to play it. So a way to get better is to challenge yourself to play your own compositions and also play whenever you can and ENJOY playing.

Good luck.

[idragosani]

Guitar (all styles), bass guitar, recorder, a little keyboard, Middle Eastern percussion

[paulwr]

Piano first, followed by table, pencils, pots and pans.
Tremolo
have a question. I am a late beginner in the piano (I am in my late 30s !!) and find it different from any other instrument. It is not "linear". How do you get ambidexterous? Is it by just learning many songs and getting comfortable with both hands. Thats my biggest problem.

you can make it fun getting hand independence using rock and roll piano, if you enjoy old rock. Listen to some left hand figures of Jerry Lee Lewis and simplify it if you need to. Get comfortable playing the figure in the left hand, then add something simple in the right.......... add more............ add more............ and finally be so free of influence from the left hand, that you can play most anything in the right without disturbing the left hand figure/pattern. Then move on to other keys and other left hand figures, and so on..... It will help all aspects of your hand independence.

A couple of years ago, I felt I needed a bit more independence, and studied up on a Keith Jarret live thing he did in Japan. After getting it down well and being free with the right on top of an intricate left hand pattern........ all of my playing with syncopation became A LOT SMOOTHER.

Good luck, and keep at it. When you get some good two handed independence going, it really feels great! Something happens in the brain...... I swear it cuts loose with some endorphans or something.

-Paul

[peter5992]

I have a question. I am a late beginner in the piano (I am in my late 30s !!) and find it different from any other instrument. It is not "linear". How do you get ambidexterous? Is it by just learning many songs and getting comfortable with both hands. Thats my biggest problem. Are there specific exercises that get you comfy with any song? I have had lessons before but they all go the same path..and I always hit the same hurdle.



Here's two books I can recommend:

1. Hanon - The Virtuoso Pianist (60 exercises). This is "Piano Finger Strength Boot Camp".
2. Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course. There are 3 levels.

I am somewhat in the same camp - late beginner (me early 40s). Let's face, we are never going to be real good. Though we can have fun practicing.

ps Piotr is too modest - he toured China last year as the timpani player / percussionist of a major symphonic orchestra. He's not just a really helpful guy around these forums, he also knows his way around percussion instruments.

[tremolo]

Thanks Jasper, you very encouraging. I often see that it can be a challenge to play my own music !

Paul, thanks for your points. I mainly listen to classical and I am not sure where to find the sheet music for Rock. I'll look for it. Yes it feels great to see gradual improvement.

And thanks a ton Peter for the book suggestions.

All this gives me some hope! I am certainly not trying to be a pianist but just to get comfy playing my own compositions and improvising intelligently on the piano. This is a very difft instrument from violin or guitar so the challenge is exciting.

Anand

[Babe]

I don't play any longer but I did play clarinet and a lot of Eb clarinet. Also played some bass clarinet. Could fill in on some percussion if needed.

[Gedren]

Violin professionally.
Piano - just for my enjoyment or for friends.

I started studying electro guitar - always wanted to be able to play it a bit, but the learning process goes very slowly. Mostly because my fingers feel pain very quickly from thick guitar strings, and it's not good for my violin playing.

[OneThrow]

A bit of clarinet, a bit of piano, flute, sax, and guitar (rock not classical).

Used to think I was not bad on the clarinet, wish I could play the piano much better, a tough one that.

[mirrored]

Percussion - orchestral (timpanis, snare drum, cymbals, xylophone, marimba, etc.).
malletKAT - a midi vibraphone, jazz stuff.

I played drums (jazz) a little bit when I was younger, but vibraphone got me. :)

Also played piano (classical) for 8 years or more, but no longer.

Cheers,
Michal

[Lostin Space]

Classical piano.

I would like to play classical guitar too - I really do not understand this beautiful instrument.

[Svavar Austmann]

I play bass guitar for 20 years but always learning new things.
I have a dream of buying a chello but think i have to wait until i become a famous rockstar hehehe:p
also i play piano and guitar for few years still an amateur on those instruments,
i should be recording more but i spend more time playing with my instruments.
im almost getting there as a performer but i guess im getting old and tired hehe
now i feel like having a normal job,reading ZEN and recording some music and heavy metal and living somewhere remote:rolleyes:

[Ryan]

Been playing drums/percussion since I was 7 years old. Started to play the piano when I was 14 (Still learning), started to sing when I was 16 years. And now I'm learning to play the guitar. And still more to come:P

[boulifb]

I learned first bagpipe and after piano.

But I stopped.

I learned ragtime and knew almost all Scott Joplin's pieces.

[PaulR]

Learning to play the keyboards. Making steady progress after 47 years of practice.

[cnk]

Piano and keyboards...

These are my professions but also because of composing & arranging orchestral music (for movie and documentary films) on computer environment, I'm spending much time on learning the harmonies and technical logic (not playing :)) of common instruments (such as violin, cello, drum, guitar etc.) for many years.

Playing keyboard is a big advantage during playing/real time recording, composing and key editing on Cubase but for orchestration I need to know the basics of many instruments. And that's what I'm working on :)

Regards.
Cenk