What Musical Instruments Do You Play?

[Vatican Cameos]

I've taken piano lessons for 4,5 years. That's 3 years ago. I quit because my friend introduced me to her drama club. And I've been acting since

People say I am quite musical. I don't know if they are right, but I am able to learn instruments pretty fast. I have a tin whistle, a guitar, a piano of course and I like to sing. Next week I'm performing a song (this song:

). My friends thought I sing well enough to do this, but I have my doubts...

 

I've always wanted to learn how to play the violin. I almost got lessons, but then I started acting

[aely]

I've won an ebay auction, so I will be able to tootle away on the tenor recorder again very soon, I have my eyes on a book of baroque music and all - I'm looking forward to getting my fingers on a tenor again, it's been far too many years. I've always felt it has the nicest sound of all the recorders though that may be because I'm biased to lower pitched stuff (I'm an alto, and also prefer the viola to the violin).

[Banshee]

I've won an ebay auction, so I will be able to tootle away on the tenor recorder again very soon, I have my eyes on a book of baroque music and all - I'm looking forward to getting my fingers on a tenor again, it's been far too many years. I've always felt it has the nicest sound of all the recorders though that may be because I'm biased to lower pitched stuff (I'm an alto, and also prefer the viola to the violin).

 

Yay

[Alice Holmes]

I've played the violin since I was nine! I love it! It helps me to think, and I've found it seems to have alarming soothing properties. Unless the calluses on your fingers are hurting more than ever, and you're freaking out about that recital in three days, and the solo Bach you're playing isn't memorized yet, and your teacher says you should practice three hours a day instead of two, and at that point you're like "violin teacher, get a life", and...yeah. You get the idea.

[aiRR]

I play the piano, But I'm not very, very talented. In fact, it's my fault, because when I was little I didn't practice at all, I can't understand how I passed the exams... and now I regret, because I still play the piano in my own but I could have been better x) .Aw and I love playing soundtrack songs!!

 

And definitely, I CAN'T play songs by ears. it's totally impossible, I need the sheet!!! It's a pity, I admire these people!

[John Watson]

If I do ever get round to learning an instrument it certainly won't be the blooming violin.

[Mollove3]

I'm a flautist!!!

And also a singer of musical theatre!!! <3

[Undead Medic]

Hey we could be getting quite the virtual band together!

[aiRR]

Hey we could be getting quite the virtual band together!

 

hahaha yeeah it would be funny!

[aely]

Wheee! I finally got my tenor recorder - has a lovely sound.

 

The recorder has been in the spotlight a bit more recently thanks to Young Musician of the Year - first time a recorder player has ever got into the final!

 

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRTGLds9V_4

 

OK so this is a treble, but never mind...

[Alice Holmes]

If I do ever get round to learning an instrument it certainly won't be the blooming violin.

 

John, that is not funny. You need a girlfriend, seriously.

[John Watson]

Well dating isn't exactly easy when you have Mr Tact and Diplomacy as a flatmate... or should I say had.

[Alice Holmes]

Hmm. I see. Well, if you miss him so bloody badly you could always date me, John. I am his cousin, as you well know.

[InGenHarborMaster]

_{I play the Clarinet! 'Tis a fun instrument to play, most definitely!}

[CSIBakerStreet]

If I do ever get round to learning an instrument it certainly won't be the blooming violin.

 

If I remember correctly, and I believe I do, you said you played the clarinet in school. Or did you just say that to impress Sarah?

 

Well dating isn't exactly easy when you have Mr Tact and Diplomacy as a flatmate... or should I say had.

 

Wait, so I have done the whole Reichenbach Fall thing? Oh, no wonder you won't respond. You still think I'm dead.

Hmm. I see. Well, if you miss him so bloody badly you could always date me, John. I am his cousin, as you well know.

 

BACK OFF, "COUSIN"! Just because I go off does NOT give you the right to go up to MY John and say "Oh, you can date me."

[Shangas]

I have played the piano on-and-off since the age of seven.

 

After watching the musical in London, and the recent film, I'm learning the soundtrack to "Les Miserables".

 

So far, I have learnt...

 

"Master of the House" (my favourite song in the musical).

"The Bishop of Digne" (my other favourite song).

"Valjean's Arrest" (which follows directly after the above).

 

I'm currently learning "Do You Hear the People Sing?", and "Look Down", from the same musical.

 

I would love to be able to play "At the End of the Day", but the number of sharps is making my fingers fall down flat!

 

Outside of that, I generally play jazz and classic pop. Anything from the Edwardian era up to about the 1950s.

[SH/LotR/Zelda Fan]

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And I have an ocarina (of time replica!) that I dabble with sometimes, though I'm not very good at it.

Woooooow you have an ocarina?!?! I want one but my mum won't let me Our school has loads but we're not allowed to use them unless it's for a lesson but we never need them for lessons

 

I play...Violin (a lot - I've done my grade 4), Descant/Treble Recorder (quite a bit, but not a LOT), Flute (a bit), Alto Saxophone (a bit), Piano (a miniscule amount), and that's it I think. Yeah that's it.

 

May I ask how the "Virtual Forum Band" is going to work?

[Bakerstreet Irregular]

I started out playing piano but since I can't read music, I played by ear for 5 years before my music teacher caught on, I gave it up. I have had 7 years of bagpipe lessons but now I dabble in a 22 string wire strung Celtic harp. She needs a little work right now, but hope to get back into it soon.

 

I also sing, love it, and have been known to write a song or two. Even had one pirated...never trust guys on the internet who tell you they know some people who know some people.....uuugggghhh. Actually that should be....aaarrrrrhhh....since I play a pirate in real life. Go figure.

[aely]

Dabbling with a 22 string wire strung harp sounds brilliant. I love the harp, was able to have a bit of a play with one not so long back, managed to pick out 3 blind mice without too much trouble but got a bit stuck with anything more complicated!

 

I want a ukulele. I could play one when I was 6 so I'm sure I'll be able to pick it up again. Maybe. It's also cheaper than a harp and you can get them in purple. Mind you, I've seen a purple harp for sale too...

 

When I lived with my parents the music system was in a room that connected with the one where the piano lived. I used to play along on the piano with my favourite songs. Learned to play quite a few OMD songs that way, and Imagine by John Lennon.

[Alex the Dabbler]

I play electric guitar occasionally, mostly 1970s rock.  I have a black 1976 Gibson Firebird limited edition and a Marshall MG15DFX amplifier.

[Alice Holmes]

Nice! I cannot, for the life of me, play the guitar. My violin calluses run the wrong direction on my fingers for guitar strings. * Sigh *, it looks like it'll never happen.

[Selena]

Is playing the violin hard? What is required in order for a person to play it well?

[SH/LotR/Zelda Fan]

Well, I would say it's not too hard, as long as you're patient and all the other stuff you need when learning any musical instrument. What is required to play it well? Well I suppose for a start you need a good violin (can't really get anywhere with a bad one!)...and then you need to practise loads and loads and be aware that it takes a long long time to be good...and you need a lot of time. That's pretty much it I think...

[Selena]

Thank you.

 

Can you compare it to another instrument? I play a couple of wind instruments and used to take piano lessons, but I have been told that learning to play the violin is much harder.

[SH/LotR/Zelda Fan]

Harder than Piano and some wind instruments, like Recorder or maybe Flute, slightly easier than Saxophone, harder than Ukelele (did I spell that right?), about the same as Cello (although if you can't read Bass Clef go for Violin) and Viola (again with Viola you need to learn Alto Clef, so I wouldn't go for that) but it isn't really that hard. Just don't expect to be able to learn very fast. Most people in my year (year 5, 9-10 years old) started when they were 6, and did grade 1 last year (8-9 years old). But then I've done my grade 4 now, so I think it really depends on how much you practise. I practise for about an hour every day, so yeah. Practising makes a big difference.