Utter waste

[Dave2002]

From time to time I wonder what to do with a pile of classical guitar music that must be 18" high now that it looks as though my playing days are over (or at least severely limited) because of a now cr*p right hand.

At least it's only 18 inches high. Just before I left one of my previous jobs I went into someone's office, and he had a different style from me. My style was more or less a complete mess - with documents everywhere. Sometimes they went into a filing cabinet.

He had a pile of documents and books which must have been well over four feet tall - I can't remember whether he had multiple piles.

[LMcD]

[QUOTE=Dave2002;801561]At least it's only 18 inches high. Just before I left one of my previous jobs I went into someone's office, and he had a different style from me. My style was more or less a complete mess - with documents everywhere. Sometimes they went into a filing cabinet.

He had a pile of documents and books which must have been well over four feet tall - I can't remember whether he had multiple piles.[/QUOTE]

I sincerely hope not, for his sake.

[oddoneout]

From time to time I wonder what to do with a pile of classical guitar music that must be 18" high now that it looks as though my playing days are over (or at least severely limited) because of a now cr*p right hand.

Music students - at educational establishments or with private tutors? Devices may be the way forward increasingly, but physical music still has its place, especially if it comes at little or no cost.
I sympathise with your curtailed playing; I had to give up my guitar lessons because of problems with two fingers which, as became apparent a couple of years later, was the beginning of widespread osteo-arthritis.

[cloughie]

I still buy a lot of second hand sheet music, mainly from ebay and Oxfam. Things like graded exam preparation books of sight reading, music theory and aural test books with accompanying CD's never go out of date. Syllabuses do change but never by that much and the practice is always useful.

Material like this is appreciated in developing countries and countries with cash strapped economies, too. A music teacher friend of ours used to collect old sheet music and recordings for shipping out to a contact in Greece, for example.

I also have bought sheet music over the last few years for similar reasons, but once I’ve finished the sorting CD marathon I’ll rationalise that and dispose of some at charity shops or NT bookshops when they reopen! I’ve got to the age where I need to assess all those items which were kept because they might come in useful I know now never will so if, and it’s a big if, I can put them in the direction of someone who can use it I will do so. I don’t think I will ever be a minimalist but a bit of decluttering is a good idea.

[oddoneout]

I also have bought sheet music over the last few years for similar reasons, but once I’ve finished the sorting CD marathon I’ll rationalise that and dispose of some at charity shops or NT bookshops when they reopen! I’ve got to the age where I need to assess all those items which were kept because they might come in useful I know now never will so if, and it’s a big if, I can put them in the direction of someone who can use it I will do so. I don’t think I will ever be a minimalist but a bit of decluttering is a good idea.

That's me! I am very aware that for the sake of my two children I need to start reducing my 'stuff', but as a natural hoarder it doesn't come easy. The need may yet be the thing that drives me to join the online selling community. I routinely donate surplus or no longer needed items to charity shops but I also need to consider that I could do with replacing savings that have had to be used during the current crisis and will also be needed for at least a year ahead.

[gurnemanz]

Newsflash. I've started to go through LPs prior to dumping. I'll keep a token few for nostalgic reasons eg Rolling Stones first album, my first LP, aged 14. Also any obvious rarities or absolute favourites (eg Knappertsbusch Parsifal). I know I have at least one signed by the artist which I won't throw out. Some opera sets not opened for years have worthwhile inserts with notes and libretto which I'll hang on to. As a concession to sentimentality I decided to take a picture of the front covers to keep a record of my records, so to speak. I set the camera to 1x1 square aspect ratio. Nice slideshow. Some cover pics are worth remembering for visual impression. Also I will be able to go and listen to some old favourites on Spotify. They will mostly be on discogs if I want to check details.

[cloughie]

Newsflash. I've started to go through LPs prior to dumping. I'll keep a token few for nostalgic reasons eg Rolling Stones first album, my first LP, aged 14. Also any obvious rarities or absolute favourites (eg Knappertsbusch Parsifal). I know I have at least one signed by the artist which I won't throw out. Some opera sets not opened for years have worthwhile inserts with notes and libretto which I'll hang on to. As a concession to sentimentality I decided to take a picture of the front covers to keep a record of my records, so to speak. I set the camera to 1x1 square aspect ratio. Nice slideshow. Some cover pics are worth remembering for visual impression. Also I will be able to go and listen to some old favourites on Spotify. They will mostly be on discogs if I want to check details.

After calling at 3 charity shops yesterday I managed at the 4th to deposit 4 bags of various items - books, wine glasses and various other bits - fourth bag was 25 LPs. Just hope that they find a good home!

[Cockney Sparrow]

That's me! I am very aware that for the sake of my two children I need to start reducing my 'stuff', but as a natural hoarder it doesn't come easy. The need may yet be the thing that drives me to join the online selling community. I routinely donate surplus or no longer needed items to charity shops but I also need to consider that I could do with replacing savings that have had to be used during the current crisis and will also be needed for at least a year ahead.

The same applies to me, except its poor Mrs CS who would have to deal with them.
I need to research the best way to sell items of reasonably significant value. Unfortunately, a classical CD worth a couple of pounds at prevailing selling prices will have to be scrapped. I wonder if Oxfam get any value from plastics recycling. I know they send books to pulping and clothes, if valueless, for fibre recycling.

[alywin]

I asked an assistant at the library a couple of years ago whether the library might consider expanding the service if members of the public were ever prepared to donate their classical CD's. I got a blank look of incomprehension in return and slunk away It's an idea that resurfaces from the back of mind from time to time, based on a DVD rental membership I have of a company called Cinema Paradiso. For a modest monthly rental it's possible to rent movies, and some music and opera dvd's too, by post. It works well Apart from major titles it also gives access to a lot of World Cinema movies and historic masterpieces like French New Wave that you might not otherwise be able to get hold of. Could this work for classical music CD's? Quite honestly, there are times when I'd love to have the flexibility to listen to something on CD but I don't fancy paying GBP15, or thereabouts, for something I might only listen to once and then file.

Does it still exist? That's good to know. When I get settled, I'm considering signing up.

Our local Oxfam shop, which is only of average size, certainly still sells classical LPs and so on, BTW.