Do you play a musical instrument - or wish you did? We asked readers what music means to them...
Vanessa says:
I play the piano. I've been playing for eight years and have passed my Grade Five exam, so I'm now working on Grade Six! I started because I loved listening to my friends and parents play - and now I can join in with them! My whole family (there are six of us!) play different instruments and we switch and swap to create our own little band - it's great fun, especially at Christmas and family celebrations! Music puts a smile on everyone's face! I'd recommend any instrument to anybody - music is amazing and the sense of achievement you feel when you perfect a piece is worth all the hard work.
Laura says:
I play alto saxophone and a few other things too - Dad taught me how to play the organ when I was younger, but I haven't played in a while now. I started saxophone when I was twelve, inspired by the character of Sam in the Cathy Cassidy book Gingersnaps! It was challenging at first - I had the mouthpiece the wrong way round and couldn't play a note without getting high-pitched squeaks! I soon got the hang of it, though, and took Grade One a year later; now I'm at Grade Five... I play with a band at college, too. I play keyboard at college and sing too, and I have a guitar which I am hoping to learn soon! I don't know many people who play sax. People imagine it's just jazz and blues, but it's MUCH more than that. I am completely inspired by music... I can let my feelings go out into the music, and that always makes me happy.
Mina says:
I'm starting to play the violin but I can't actually play anything yet! I'm trying to learn 'This is Gallifrey' by Murray Gold at the moment. I wanted to start violin because I'd love to have a talent that was unique. I play piano already, but I know lots of people who can do that too and violin just seemed very cool! I listen to loads of songs that have violin in them and every time I listen I imagine how amazing it would be to play like that...
Deborah says:
Music is a huge part of my life and I play manu different instruments. I started playing violin and joined the school choir in Year Three, and the following year performed with the choir at the Royal Albert Hall! Later we were chosen to take part in a concert called 'Perform' where I played the trombone! At secondary school, my music really took off. I have a virtuoso trait where I can hear a song and pick up the notes without seeing a sheet of music, so I can learn songs quickly; this also helped me to become the keyboardist at my church! I'm in the school choir at secondary too and picked up my violin lessons again. I can't always fit practice into my schedule but music is practically my life - I love it!
Lily says:
I play guitar. I started in my last year of primary school because it looked like fun - and I thought it would be cool to learn to play different songs! I began learning chords and progressed from there. I'm at secondary now and I still love guitar; I probably practice more now than I used to. I'd like to write my own songs... one day, maybe!
Have Vanessa, Laura, Mina, Deborah or Lily inspired YOU to try a musical instrument? COMMENT BELOW to tell us which one you'd most like to try out... or share your own musical stories!
I play the piano. I've been playing for eight years and have passed my Grade Five exam, so I'm now working on Grade Six! I started because I loved listening to my friends and parents play - and now I can join in with them! My whole family (there are six of us!) play different instruments and we switch and swap to create our own little band - it's great fun, especially at Christmas and family celebrations! Music puts a smile on everyone's face! I'd recommend any instrument to anybody - music is amazing and the sense of achievement you feel when you perfect a piece is worth all the hard work.
I play alto saxophone and a few other things too - Dad taught me how to play the organ when I was younger, but I haven't played in a while now. I started saxophone when I was twelve, inspired by the character of Sam in the Cathy Cassidy book Gingersnaps! It was challenging at first - I had the mouthpiece the wrong way round and couldn't play a note without getting high-pitched squeaks! I soon got the hang of it, though, and took Grade One a year later; now I'm at Grade Five... I play with a band at college, too. I play keyboard at college and sing too, and I have a guitar which I am hoping to learn soon! I don't know many people who play sax. People imagine it's just jazz and blues, but it's MUCH more than that. I am completely inspired by music... I can let my feelings go out into the music, and that always makes me happy.
I'm starting to play the violin but I can't actually play anything yet! I'm trying to learn 'This is Gallifrey' by Murray Gold at the moment. I wanted to start violin because I'd love to have a talent that was unique. I play piano already, but I know lots of people who can do that too and violin just seemed very cool! I listen to loads of songs that have violin in them and every time I listen I imagine how amazing it would be to play like that...
Music is a huge part of my life and I play manu different instruments. I started playing violin and joined the school choir in Year Three, and the following year performed with the choir at the Royal Albert Hall! Later we were chosen to take part in a concert called 'Perform' where I played the trombone! At secondary school, my music really took off. I have a virtuoso trait where I can hear a song and pick up the notes without seeing a sheet of music, so I can learn songs quickly; this also helped me to become the keyboardist at my church! I'm in the school choir at secondary too and picked up my violin lessons again. I can't always fit practice into my schedule but music is practically my life - I love it!
I play guitar. I started in my last year of primary school because it looked like fun - and I thought it would be cool to learn to play different songs! I began learning chords and progressed from there. I'm at secondary now and I still love guitar; I probably practice more now than I used to. I'd like to write my own songs... one day, maybe!
Have Vanessa, Laura, Mina, Deborah or Lily inspired YOU to try a musical instrument? COMMENT BELOW to tell us which one you'd most like to try out... or share your own musical stories!
I played violin in P5. Or at least I THOUGHT I did. It was actually the viola. And no one had thought to tell me that. I only played for a couple of months (I gave it up because I didn't like missing English, Art or Topic Work) but I once played with a huge orchestra which consisted of various musicians from different schools. I only remember running around a hall with a classmate, giggling, being taught a song called 'Calypso' or something, playing it in front of an audience with all the other violaists, violinists, cellists, etc. then being given chocolate. Yum. I took up the drums in S2 but gave them up a year later, again, due to my dislike of missing various classes (and Mum's refusal to buy me a drum kit. She bought my sister an electric guitar even though she didn't play though. I will never let this go). I was too short to reach the cymbals anyway. Ruined a nearly perfect solo once, I hadn't made one mistake, just had to hit that cymbal with a dramatic flourish and...it was out of reach. The teacher just picked the cymbal up and moved it until it was within reach. Such an anticlimax. However much I tried to tell myself otherwise in my angst-filled youth, I'm just not musically inclined. I'm an English geek at heart.
ReplyDeleteBlue. :-)
Knew this had to be you, Ms Blue - brilliant story! A big smile to start my day! xx
DeleteMy rambling is either amusing or boring. I'm glad it was the former.
DeleteBlue. :-)
I play the flute. I started when I was 7 years old and I'm now eleven. I am on grade three and I just past it.
ReplyDeleteWell done Amy C! xxx
DeleteI play acoustic guitar. I started 3 and a half years ago (when I was in year 4) when I played a year of beginner and then two years of intermediate. I am having a year of general practice to improve myself. When I start year 7 in September, we can book out practice rooms and I am planning to book one out with a couple of my friends. I love playing notes, chords and arpeggios and enjoy music.
ReplyDeleteMiriam
Xxx
I started playing the Scottish harp about 2 1/2 years ago. I love it because it just makes such a beautiful sound! I took my first exam - Grade 3 - a couple of weeks ago, and although I was nervous and made lots of small mistakes, I passed! :)
ReplyDeleteWow... can I feature you on DREAMCATCHER Gracie? Can you message me on FB or email me to discuss? mailcathycassidy@googlemail.com or better still via FB fanpage xxx
DeleteThank you so much! I sent an email.
DeleteThere's a lot more to having music as a life... I'm doing grade 8 cello, and I've done a number of courses and toured overseas as prinicpal, but I still feel like I'm at the beginning of it all!! Working in a pit is awesome too - "we started from the bottom, and now we're in the pit", as the saying goes ;)
ReplyDelete- Lauren WS
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ReplyDeleteI play a whole array of instruments from irish whistle and celtic lever harp to the classic guitar and keyboard! I love music but struggle with lessons so almost all are entirely selftaught! I was inspired mostly by book characters or just walking into a music shop and seeing 'my perfect instrument' which is true until the next one comes along!
ReplyDeleteAnon, if you'd like to talk about this more in a DREAMCATCHER feature, do message me on the FB fanpage or email me! Thanks!
Deletexxx
I don't play an instrument but I do sing. I go to singing classes and I have a grade 5 exam on Monday so wish me luck!!!!
ReplyDeleteGood luck Laoise!
Deletexxx
I used to play the recorder [we were taught in grade 3 & 4] but I absolutely HATED it, so I just pretended to play. I'm really not a musical person at all, but I've been begging for ages to learn how to play the drums [REALLY loud}!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteWell,I don't play Western Instruments but I wish I could.
ReplyDeleteI play a Chinese Instrument called Erhu which must be new to all of you.
Currently,I'm in grade 4.(Distinction)
I'm currently around Grade 5 in clarinet! 'This is Gallifrey' sounds like such a cool thing to play on violin - a Dr. Who fan there, by any chance? :)
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