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Post by Canucks on Oct 30, 2008 17:40:21 GMT -8
I have seen some people's avatars and such that make reference to musical instruments and am curious to see how many of you have played or play them and how you got into it. Also, do you play in a band, for fun and why you play the particular instrument you do. Maybe someone will even take up one if they read this and get convinced on how exciting it can be. I play the trumpet and have been for five years. I started out with the Tenor Sax but found it too easy and the teacher always said I was too loud. I made the switch to trumpet the next year and play in my high school band and jazz band. My teacher still says I'm too loud sometimes though .
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Post by Mike C on Oct 30, 2008 17:53:15 GMT -8
Well, I quit playing my clarinet back in grade 8, and that was 2.5 years ago, and quit the piano about 8 months ago... I took myself out of these instruments because of a lack of commitment and time on my part. But I'm 99% sure I can still play both if someone handed one to me on the street.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 30, 2008 20:35:41 GMT -8
After an unsuccessful try at classical guitar in my tween years, I started playing trumpet in Grade-6 beginner-band.
I also had a couple years of playing trumpet in a Navy League Cadet band and a Sea Cadet band.
In Grade 9, I started playing lead trumpet in stage-band and also started playing in a jazz-combo.
That year, my band teacher took out jazz-combo to Victoria to see a 19-year-old Wynton Marsalis in concert. Wow!
In grade-9 stage band, we went to the Canadian Stage Band Festival (now "Music Fest Canada" or something like that) and won our junior band category.
I was playing lead in stage band, and doing improvisational solos in stage band and combo.
In Grade 10, we had a good band, but just missed going to Nationals.
In grade 11, we went to Nationals again (at Quebec City), where I played lead trumpet with both the Grade 11 & Grade 12 stage bands, plus a jazz combo. I was named to the "intermediate all star band" at that festival. Our bands didn't win anything.
In Grade 12, we went to Nationals again (in Vancouver, for Expo). Our senior stage band finished 2nd.
I then played for a few years in a community big band, playing 4th trumpet. We did regular stage-band pieces as well as some big-band-era songs. I had the derby-hat and plunger for my trumpet.
I also played on the music team at my church...and still do. A kind old lady at my church gave me her son's old flugel-horn, and that was a nice gift. It plays just like a trumpet, but the fatter tubes give a more mellow tone.
Today, I own & play a silver Schilke trumpet (from 1983, very tarnished) and a Yamaha silver Flugel Horn (from 2007, the first instrument that I ever bought for myself).
I play at my church on our music team. I fill in the gaps at the ends of lyric-phrases on the congregational songs, and I also add rhythm-patterns and shots for the faster songs. I'm the only horn, and I create my own "parts" from the basic chord chart (which I transpose in my mind up 1 full tone, because I'm a b-flat instrument). Lots of our songs are in the key of concert-E, so I play lots in my F# key.....ouch.
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Post by Cable Cassidy on Oct 30, 2008 20:47:32 GMT -8
Well I did play the recorder back in grade 4, then in grade 7 it was the trumpet. But I gave both up because of lack of interest.
But not I can make enough unique sounds with my armpits I don't need an instrument ;D LOL
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Oct 30, 2008 22:03:55 GMT -8
I am a total Band Geek, and have loved being in Band for the past 2 years! I have covered a few instruments, I've been hopping around for a while! Gr.8 Gr. 8 Concert Band-Trombone (1st 1/2 of year)- After I started playing horn, the Trombone was basically shoved in the corner for the 2nd half because I new I would play it in Jazz Band the next year. -French Horn (2nd 1/2 of year): It's funny, because basically as soon as our 2 halves of Gr.8 band bagan to practice, I got super jealous of the Horns! At the beginning of Grade 8 I thought horn would be too hard (as I had tried it a few years earlier with little success) but I thought, if THEY can do it, surely I can too! So I began after the first concert. I did begin to take up Oboe at around March in Grade 8, but that got stuffed down the tubes for a while Gr. 9 Junior Jazz Band-Trombone- I ususally played 3rd or 4th and much preferred playing horn -French Horn: I loved playing Horn in Jazz Band as it was so weird. You couldn't really hear me, so if I messed up it wouldn't make a difference! I went to the Idaho Jazz Festival (Lionel Hampton) with the Horn and Trombone, and it was so much fun. Our adjudicator thought it was neat that we had a Horn in our jazz band, I felt special ;D Junior Concert Band-French Horn: This is basically now my standard concert band instrument and I loved it. (I always will) There were 2 of us, so it was really fun! -Trumpet: I did have a little stint playing trumpet in Concert Band. One day my friend (A trumpet) decided to switch for the warm-up (the fingerings are about 80% identicle, and he used to play horn, so it was easy) and my band teacher said I had a really good trumpet sound, so thats how that started. I played it from Sept-Dec for the Christmas Concert (I even purchased my trumpet, which I still have). I don't really know why playing trumpet in Concert band stopped....but.... -Oboe: About right after the Christmas concert I began to get interested in the Oboe again. So I took it home over a weekend and practiced for about 6 hours really hard. Basically my playing for the Spring Concert was split in half between oboe and Horn (Obviously I am much better at horn though) I have been playing Oboe in Concert Band ever since. -Bassoon: Over Spring Break, I borrowed a Bassoon from my teacher to see if I could learn it. I managed to plunk out a few tunes, but I realized that I was playing too many instruments, so I dropped it within weeks Grade 10 Junior Jazz Band-Trumpet: Yes, it's back! As the Grade 11, and 2 Grade 10's from the previous year had moved on to Senior Jazz Band, I ended up playing trumpet because I was sick of trombone. At the beginning of the year, there was just 2 of us, but we lost that one, and have now gotten 3 others to start playing trumpet. I can no longer play french horn in jazz band for the time being as I am lead trumpet, and even though I'm not very good, I'm the best out of the 4 of us (Yeah, our trumpet section really sucks!) So I am still a little peeved that I can't play horn The trombone has basically been retired, and I am looking to sell it. Anybody interested?! Senior Concert Band-French Horn: at the beginning of this year, I started playing on the Double Horn, and that makes my playing a lot easier. I've got some really nice horn parts now that I'm in Senior Concert, It's loads of fun! -Oboe: Oboe has really taken the back seat as I'm not nearly as good at it, and there is only the 1 Horn (me) now. So I play it sometimes, but my band teacher and I agreed that I could play Oboe in the Gr.9 Concert Band this year, as the music is more at my oboe level. Now, I should also mention I play in our local community band. The "Second Wind Community Band" is at one of the other high schools, with their band teacher. I really like it! I originally joined in May of last year, as one of the kids in my band was playing in it and he said She was looking for an Oboist. Little did she know I'm not very good! So for the first few months I played oboe in there, and I began to get jealous of their 2 Horns, so I decided to play both in there also. I will most likely keep it that way until I stop playing in that band at the end of high school. I also play in our local Youth Symphony Orchestra (YSO). I play Horn in that. Last year we played the first movement from Beethovens 9th symphony, the william tell overture, among others. This years program isn't that exciting but it is still loads of fun. I usually play 3rd horn, and I love being able to play with 3 other really good horn players! The director of YSO also directs our local chamber choir AURA, and we are currently rehearsing Bach's Christmas Oratorio. It is sooo much fun, I love it!! One of my big problems in band is that I get really jealous of the other instrument that I'm not playing. It's a huge problem! I'm always waffling over what I should play! I also LOVE the bells, and I get so excited when someone is playing them. We have a piano player from Russia who is playing bells in my band at school, and she makes no mistakes. It's fantastic!!!! So basically this is how my week is: Monday- Jazz Band at Seaton (My School) Tuesday- Aura Chamber Choir Wednesday- Community Band at VSS (Vernon Secondary) Thursday- Lunch: Jazz band rehearsal Thursday- After school concert band rehearsel (I also have double blocks on thursday of band, so i basically spend my whole day in there!) Thursday Evening - Bible Study Friday- Nothing, but I always close at wendys Saturday- YSO (only bimonthly though) 9:00-3:00, work from 3:30-Close Sunday- Church @ 10:30 & Work 12:30-9:00 So I am super busy!!!! One more thing, I also play piano, (i no longer take lessons however) I got the Grade 6 royal conservatory and then I decided to stop because of not enough commitment on my part. Anywhoo, thats my musical story! (I will add anything if I remember it) Queen of Nanaimo Teen
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Post by Balfour on Oct 30, 2008 22:12:35 GMT -8
I currently don't play any intruments, however I do have a musical background from my childhood.
I learned Piano when I was 4, and took lessons until I was 14. I got bored of Piano and wanted to play something more fun so I took up pipe organ. However I didn't keep going with it due to a lack of commitment on my part. I also played Violin from grade 4-6 but dropped it due to a lack of interest.
Up until 2006 I was involved in my church choir. I dropped that due to a lack of commitment and a change in my religious views.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 31, 2008 6:49:53 GMT -8
-French Horn: I loved playing Horn in Jazz Band as it was so weird. You couldn't really hear me, so if I messed up it wouldn't make a difference! I went to the Idaho Jazz Festival (Lionel Hampton) with the Horn and Trombone, and it was so much fun. Our adjudicator thought it was neat that we had a Horn in our jazz band, I felt special ;D In the 1980's, the Toronto big band "Rob McConnell & the Boss Brass" had 2 french-horn players as part of their stage band lineup. It was unique then, just like you were unique for your stage band.
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Post by Hardy on Oct 31, 2008 7:38:00 GMT -8
I play on people's nerves, and some of the tones and notes that I can achieve are very interesting. However, none of that is musical ... hmmm.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 31, 2008 9:48:01 GMT -8
My Great Grandmother was a piano teacher in Edmonton and many of my great uncles and aunts were quite musical. My grandfather had a band that played at the McDonald Hotel among other places, so they must have been quite good. He was an great pianist but took many liberties with music quite often doing his own spin on things. He was the organist at his church and loved to jazz things up which from time to time which tended to cause some controversy. Sometimes he sounded more like theatre organist rather than a church organist. He loved to show off and would do some runs and other extra doo dads and then look where I was sitting to see if he was making us laugh. I had piano lessons until we moved to Toronto and I really disliked my teacher here. So I ended at Grade 7 and wished I had just changed to a teacher I liked better, as today I regret not being able to play better. Today I still "tinkle" a bit but mostly on an electronic piano that has a headset so no one can hear my mistakes. I played trombone in the school band but never joined the Jazz Band. Our teacher was very well known in the city but a very strange man . There were days he had us crying - not because we were scared but because we laughed so hard when he went bonkers. He would storm out and cool down and then come back as if nothing happened. When he got angry at someone for not playing their part right or for not having practiced enough he would begin to yell in Egyptian as if that would really help. He had Egyptian words for various people - some out of affection and I am sure some we would never find out what they meant . Our Jazz Band teacher was Mr. Peglar. He was outstanding on the sax and clarinet. If you are a Jazz fan he often played with Phil Nivens of Nivens and Nine and they came to the school quite often to do workshops and mini concerts. My school was new and had a pool, triple Gymnasium and a theatre that the community often used. After I graduated the school built on the strong theatre and music programs and became a school for the arts. I am sure if I tried the trombone now I would sound like a moose or elk in heat.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 31, 2008 10:26:50 GMT -8
Our Jazz Band teacher was Mr. Peglar. He was outstanding on the sax and clarinet. If you are a Jazz fan he often played with Phil Nivens of Nivens and Nine and they came to the school quite often to do workshops and mini concerts. My school was new and had a pool, triple Gymnasium and a theatre that the community often used. After I graduated the school built on the strong theatre and music programs and became a school for the arts. Phil Nivens was very much involved in adjudicating high school jazz festivals during the 1980's when I was attending various regional & national festivals. A Canadian jazz legend.
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Post by CN2972South on Oct 31, 2008 14:39:32 GMT -8
I play the guitar, and the bass guitar.
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Post by Taxman on Oct 31, 2008 15:47:42 GMT -8
I started on Piano, never went anywhere.
In Grade 7 I began on the Clarinet, which I played through Grade 12 (and for a residence musical in University).
In Grade 8 I began on Trombone (which I don't own, I was not as good at it but found it more enjoyable, because of liberties one can take in Jazz), I started on 3rd Trombone, moving to 4th in Grade 10.
I also began Bass and Guitar in Grade 11, but mainly on my own time, and have no formal training on it.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Oct 31, 2008 16:42:32 GMT -8
Band trips were very interesting. We did exchange programs with various groups. With one we went to Alma, Michigan. Talk about a typical US College Sports town. The whole town went out to every game of basketball and football. The college and high school had marching bands. Thankfully we exchanged with the concert band because the marching band was amazing. For our concert the turnout was huge. We all had the jitters big time. It went over very well because we were different. Rather than the typical music selection most bands did, we had a better mix of unusual arrangements and classical pieces that were lively. Our band teacher was a prima donna and quite odd, but he really knew his music. I don't think we were the better of the two bands but we sure brought the house down. We were told that the next year the Alma band played 4 of the pieces we played at that concert so I guess that was a compliment.
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Post by Barnacle on Nov 1, 2008 9:12:27 GMT -8
I was in the percussion section from grade 6 to 12. I was NEVER a snare drum player--my rhythm was never even enough (again, let's use the phrase 'lack of commitment on my part'). I usually was in the auxiliary division, mostly tympani, with the occasional crash cymbal action, xylophone/glockenspiel, and anything out of the "toybox." On my own, I also played the guitar, though my skill level never got beyond 'campfire.' My guitar was stolen about twenty years ago, and I never bothered to replace it. I currently am starting to dabble in the keyboard arena again. I bought a nice Yamaha keyboard with excellent balance on the weighted keys, and while having no formal training, I am one of those people who can pick up a melody and basic chord structure of a piece after listening to it once or twice. It's a shame it doesn't buy me lunch.
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Post by NMcKay on Nov 1, 2008 10:36:13 GMT -8
i Started in grade 8. it was more of a push because i didn't want to go into the drama department
Bought a 2000 Series Yamaha Trainer and began playing. My teacher at the time thought that i had a natural talent, as i could pick up a piece of music for the first time, and learn it fairly well in only about 10 minutes. was able to play "O Canada" only the 3rd time ever picking up the instrument
Grade 10 - Left my school for another school in another district. with another band teacher. different style different person, and thats when i took off, started in 3rd trumpet. moved up to second by the end of the year. jumped into jr. jazz band for something to do
Grade 11- Started the Year playing 3 different instruments (for something to do), Trumpet, Trombone, and Baritone Euphonium. picked up clarinet in the beginning band, and also picked up a little of everything in the Percussion section, this year i also started Sr. Jazz band, Show Choir and Jr. Jazz Band. we went to the heritage music festival in San Francisco where we got gold in every catagory. My typical Week Looked Something like this
Monday - Jr. Jazz Band, Concert Band, Sr. Jazz Band, Show Choir Tuesday - Nothing Wednesday - Jr. Jazz Band, Concert Band, Sr. Jazz Band, Show Choir Thursday - Jr. Jazz Band, Concert Band, Sr. Jazz Band, Show Choir Friday - Nothing
Grade 12 - Backed off of somethings. Went to just Choir, Sr. Band, Beginning band, And Show Choir. Still Made the week hectic, but that was okay. went to the Seattle heritage festival, where we placed silver in every category, and picked up the "Team Spirit Award"
After High School i joined up with my old high schools adult concert band, but i never had the time to commit to it. so after a year i left.
Haven't really picked up an instrument in a while, but i know that if i have to, i could pick up my trumpet and play it fairly well.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Nov 2, 2008 22:06:24 GMT -8
Well, I have only ever played the Alto Saxophone, but I played it from the age of 11 to 17. I started in middle school (grade 6) and played in school until grade 8. When I went to High School, the music program didn't offer what I was interested in, and practices were in the morning starting at 6:30, which didn't help. I'm going to use the term "lack of commitment on my part" here.
When I joined Sea Cadets at the start of grade 9, I joined band there. We were a very small band of around 14, so I was often one of 4 people playing a melody. I spent the summers of '03, '04, and '05 at HMCS Quadra playing in the Junior, Intermediate, and Senior bands in those years. This was what I really enjoyed: Military band. I loved the drill routines that went along with the music.
When I was in Senior Band in '05, we were a part of a ceremony called "Ceremony of the Flags", which is a naval tribute to Canada that was written for the Centennial in 1967. It consists of a 60 person band, 100 person guard, plus a colour party consisting of the 13 provincial/territorial flags and the Canadian and Sea Cadet ensigns. We performed this several times over the course of the summer, culminating in the final performance on the Legislature lawn in Victoria for the August long weekend (this is an annual event, by the way).
Due to declining numbers of cadets in my corps, I stopped playing after the summer of 2005. Although, that spring we put together a "massed band" of all sea cadet musicians in the Victoria area to compete in the Vancouver Island Cadet Band Competition. We won the competition, with a 35 person band but unfortunately there is no national or provincial cadet band competition.
This is a video of part of the Ceremony of the Flags in 2006. This is from "Nautical Days" in Comox.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Nov 2, 2008 22:32:50 GMT -8
Ok, I might as well weigh in. I had a terrible knee injury in 9th Grade that forced me to choose another subject other than phys-ed. I chose music. I thought I'd hate it. 10 years later I was a graduate of one of the better music schools in the US, the Royal Conservatory Program and did Commerical Soundtrack work in Toronto, as well as Pit Orchestra Musician in traveling musicals. I did my major in Woodwinds, primarily as an Oboe and English Horn player. I play all woodwinds except Bassoon, and flute is my fave for jamming and improv. I write for a number of music publications and music industry trade magazines, under my pen name (my mom's maiden name). My mother's brother was a trumpet player with various incarnations of the Dorsey Brothers orchestra back in the WWII era. Like Flugel Horn, I have been involved in faith music. I have had some amazing opportunities to meet some incredible people and play in some wonderful places. My wife, a Mandolin Player, and myself have a small band that we toured around with. I play guitar, bass, add vocals and some woodwinds. My eldest daughter is 24, and has sung on our CD's. My youngest daughter is 6 and is learning Violin and can already play on a few simple tunes with us. I also have the unusual problem of sharing a name with a famous musician, the Peter Green who founded Fleetwood Mac. I just wish I had his royalties. And in respect to that terrible knee injury, I have had 25 operations and total replacement of both knees twice, so the music didn't force me to give up sports or other activities, but in the Hospital one time I got to meet Oscar Peterson when he had a hip replacement and I had a knee repacement. We met in a corridor, passing each other on walkers. Not quite the "musical meeting" I had hoped for with such a great! I am impressed by the musical prowess on this forum!! Some very interesting people here. Hardy, you underestimate your abilities!! Great thread!!!! drop me a line to talk music sometime...
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Post by Ferryman on Nov 6, 2008 21:44:18 GMT -8
When I was young, I started to be interested in playing Piano. My parents have had this old Upright Piano for my entire life, that I've always had the pleasure of tickling the ivories with from time to time. That Piano was the first piece of furniture my Grandparents bought, while they were immigrating to Canada. They travelled on a Steamboat from England, and then took the train across Canada to Vancouver in 1953. So once they arrived in Montreal, my Grandfather had to make sure he bought a Piano, and he had it put on the train they were travelling on. My mother ended up buying the Piano off of him, because he decided to go electronic with a Clavinova back in the 80's. When I came along, my Grandfather would always sit me on his lap and try to teach me things. Eventually I started to adapt to some of the things he taught me, but I definitely didn't become a Pianist after that. Everytime I would go and see him, he would always tell me to sit down at the Piano to show him what I could do. My Grandfather was self taught, and he ended up recording a bunch of cassette tapes of all of his music. He passed away a few years ago now, I was left with all of his piano recordings to listen to. But of course now, I don't have a Piano to play on seeming my parents have moved away. But I plan to inherit that old piano one day when I live in a bigger house.
These days I'm more interested in playing the Electric Guitar though. I've been fiddling around with the guitar since 2004, and I even bought my second guitar just last weekend. I can definitely say I'm a better guitar player than a piano player though, because most of the music I listen to is rock/classic rock.
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Post by Curtis on Nov 6, 2008 22:11:31 GMT -8
My music days started with Piano lessons many years ago. However since I didn't like practicing it was eventually ditched. Though I sometimes play around with my electronic piano in the basement.
In Grade 6 I decided to go into the school Band program. Choosing to play the drums I had to carry an entire snare drum to and from school on a luggage carrier. In Grade 8 I joined the Jazz Band and have been in it ever since. These days in the band program I'm one out of 8 percussionists in Grade 11 and 12. So I'm mainly Auxiliary Percussion in Concert Band, When the two concert bands form into Mass Band performs I'm anywhere from working hard to hardly working. But compare the Concert Band to being only full Percussionist in the Grade 11 Jazz Band.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,175
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Post by Neil on Dec 2, 2011 20:10:23 GMT -8
Page 11 in this section, thread heading 'musical instruments', has the forum directory regarding this question, as of '08.
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Post by lmtengs on Dec 2, 2011 20:28:20 GMT -8
I used to take piano lessons, and played the piano between the ages of 8 and 12. I still plunk out rhythms that get stuck in my head if I'm looking to compose something, but I don't play it that often anymore. I basically quit due to lack of interest.
I play the clarinet, but I haven't touched it in over two years. I started when I was ten, in the fifth grade. I only played it because the band teacher had a policy of starting off on the clarinet before moving up to the sax.
I play the alto saxophone, which essentially replaced my clarinet. I started that also when I was ten, and still play it to this day.
I play the tenor saxophone too. I started it when I was 11, and it took over from the alto as my main wind instrument, then later took over from the piano as overall main instrument. I play it all the time to this day.
Just today I got myself a soprano saxophone, and I love it to pieces. It took a few hours to modify my embouchure to get a good tone out of it, because it requires that the player's lips be a lot tighter, and the instrument needs a bucketload of air to get any sound to come out. Some of the higher notes make my face turn red from the air being blown.
I can make noise on both the flute and trumpet, but nothing more than noise, and when I was very young I played the recorder, but I don't think I could pick it up today and play anything.
I play these in the school band, and sometimes on my own time. I used to sometimes busk in local parks during the summer too. ;D
I also sing in the school choir. Our choir won Nationals a few years in a row and just last April we were invited to sing for the Cuba National Choir in Havana.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Dec 2, 2011 20:45:09 GMT -8
Just today I got myself a soprano saxophone, and I love it to pieces. It took a few hours to modify my embouchure to get a good tone out of it, because it requires that the player's lips be a lot tighter, and the instrument needs a bucketload of air to get any sound to come out. Some of the higher notes make my face turn red from the air being blown. Congratulations on the new addition to your instrument collection. I like the sound of a soprano saxophone, in the style of Chick Corea's electric jazz bands (songs like "Spain" or "La Fiesta" which we played in high-school stage band).
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piglet
Chief Steward
Posts: 138
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Post by piglet on Dec 2, 2011 21:44:10 GMT -8
Over the years my parents suffered me learning guitar, bongos and bagpipes. Busy relearning guitar after finger damage and building a new guitar in my shop. Might try building new pipes just for the heck of it.
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