As if two guitars, mandolin, bouzouki, flute, fiddle, various whistles, and small drums were not enough, we now have a keyboard in the house. Starflower began taking lessons two weeks ago, so we got my keyboard out of storage and somehow managed to make room for it.
I took a few piano lessons when I was a preteenager, and I could still probably play an acceptable tune or two, but somehow I never caught on to it like I did with flute or stringed instruments. It did teach me the fundamentals of music theory, however, and I still think piano is one of the best instruments for learning the basics. Although Starflower just had her second lesson yesterday, and this picture was taken last night while she was practicing, I can tell she has a sense of rhythm and she was doing a good job of playing simple melodies.
You would think, with all of the instruments in the house, that this place would be alive with music every evening and the TV and video games would be silent. Alas, it has not been that way this weekend. I'm in somewhat of a musical rut lately; I need some inspiration, something to get me going again. Or maybe I just need a swift kick: "Quit making excuses, get out an instrument, and PLAY IT!"
11 comments:
I agree about piano giving you the basics. I've struggled to move beyond it. This weekend I was at a songwriting retreat, though, and when I got back things just flowed. I could play things just by instinct on the guitar, things I didn't know I knew. Listen, listen, listen - and "write, write, write" - that's what James Dean Hicks wrote in his autograph for me. I'm smitten. But I got a new song out of it - my best ever, I'd say, but that's what I always say.
She's pretty cute, that girlio. Poppy has the same fashion sense, by the look of things - PJs with matching hair accessories.
She is too cute. The musical apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
melissa- Thank you. And by the way, we had your cauliflower pasta dish again tonight, and my 8 year old son said, "Are we having Mighty Cauliflower? I love it!!!" :)
Laura- A songwriting retreat? I am absolutely green with envy! I'm thinking maybe a month by myself in some isolated cabin might finally get the juices flowing for me. Although I know you probably won't read this for a while, what with Garth back and all. Have fun.
Madcap- Yes, she does have quite the fashion sense, and I'm glad it includes PJ's and ponytails.
FC- I'm still all weepy about your last post, realizing that in not too many years my darling daughter will be the beautiful young woman yours is.
So, who plays the fiddle in your household? And how easy/hard is the bouzouki after knowing a bit about mandolin? I really want to get one of those one day.
Have I mentioned to you that the sometimes cantankerous but always interesting Eleutheros who visits my blog is a Tennessee luthier?
Laura-
Any chance of sharing the lyrics to your new and I'm sure wonderful song?
Dan- We're hoping to get Calvin started on fiddle soon, but the instrument needs a bit of a tune up.
I've found the bouzouki to be pretty easy after learning the fingerings for mandolin. The major difference is, of course, the length of the scale, which requires a lot more hand movement, and you can't play any of the closed position (chop) chords.
Perhaps you could have Eleutheros make one for you!
Oh, it wasn't an isolated cabin - it was "The Brass Monkey" bar and grill in downtown Saskatoon, a block away from the Midtown Plaza in a concrete canyon, with two dozen aspiring songwriters hoping for a ticket to success from the trio of Nashville veterans leading the retreat. Leading the retreat - hmmm - sounds like something ignominious.
I hestitate to ask, but what's a rolling chord technique?
You're a knowledgeable fella, Ellie. I'd reckon you might make for a good neighbor.
Maybe.
Wow, this has developed into more of a musical discourse than I ever imagined! Thanks Dan for asking the questions, and Eleutheros for the answers. I'll have to get the 'zouk out today since I'm home with a sick kid. Maybe I'll post a picture of it.
Eleutheros, does that keyboard happen to be a Roland EP-5? I like it; portable, good sound, without too many unneccessary frills.
"The thing is to keep the thumb nearly behind the neck when playing the mandolin..."
I had a guitar-playing friend who tried to get me to not curl my thumb up so far around on the guitar's neck, told me it'd limit my playing.
He was likely right, as I'm a very limited player.
But it is a habit that I've carried over to mando. I just like the balanced feel it gives me.
What a weenie.
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