Can you play an orchestral instrument?

[Serial_Apologist]

I intend to devote some serious practice once I retire.

That's what I told myself

[amateur51]

It's looking a bit more like a wind ensemble than an orchestra ...

Would that be a toot ensemble?

[Serial_Apologist]

Would that be a toot ensemble?

Oh NO! At least I wasn't PIPPED to the post by that one!

[kernelbogey]

The answer for me has to be, alas, 'no', although a clarinet, purchased some 25 years ago and refurbished only 2-3 years ago, sits beneath the stairs awaiting my return to it.....

A propos, I thought contributors to this thread might find inspiration in this interesting article by Alan Rusbridger (editor of the Guardian) on getting serious about playing in mid-life.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

That's what I told myself

[salymap]

Well done Alan Rusbridger. My problem was that work often entailed hearing great pianists and I worked with a couple of men who could sight read a new manuscript, not necessarily written for piano, straight on tothe keyboard.

I gave up

[Serial_Apologist]

Well done Alan Rusbridger. My problem was that work often entailed hearing great pianists and I worked with a couple of men who could sight read a new manuscript, not necessarily written for piano, straight on tothe keyboard.

I gave up

Which reminds me of the story told by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, about the time when Sandy Goehr introduced him and Harrison Birtwistle to the score of Boulez's Second Piano Sonata. Whereupon in strides John Ogden with words to the effect of "Ah - what have we here then?" and proceeds to sight read the score through with no apparent difficulty!

Personally I have found having poor technique no barrier to just sitting down at the piano and improvising. It doesn't even have to be a tune, well-known or made up on the spot; the act of discovery suffices and is never ending. Competent church organists think nothing of improvising an outro to a service, or backing the taking of the communion. Yet leading jazz musicians, who also teach, often inform me that their classically-trained players find it tremendously difficult to play anything which is not on a written score in front of them - which I find rather sad.

[Beef Oven]

Triangle - novice.
.

[MrGongGong]

Triangle - novice.
.

You need this in your life

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plays-Triangle-Christine-Balfa/dp/B001T46TIS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329939521&sr=8-2

[Beef Oven]

You need this in your life

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Plays-Triangle-Christine-Balfa/dp/B001T46TIS/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329939521&sr=8-2

Jesus Christ GongGong!! How the chuff do you know about recordings like that!!!?

.

[MrGongGong]

Jesus Christ GonGong!! How the chuff do you know about recordings like that!!!?

It's a classic
Niche musics are what we do well here

[Beef Oven]

It's a classic
Niche musics are what we do well here

Well I suppose I ought to buy it. On second thoughts, I'll wait for thr re-mastered, expanded collectors edition.
.

[EdgeleyRob]

... and do you still do so - in an orchestra or ensemble?

It would be interesting to know whether there are enough message boarders on this forum to form a small orchestra or ensemble.

Apart from that, it would save us all embarrasment from "trying to teach grandma to suck eggs".

Come on now. Don't be shy. Anonymity will be preserved, but it would be nice to have an idea of to whom one is talking, before putting one's foot right in it!.

HS

I play a mean stylophone if that helps

[arundodo]

Slightly off topic, but I heared a lovely story today that is worth sharing.

Last Summer at a residential course, one of the country's leading flute players was giving a masterclass. His pupil of the moment was a rather distinguished looking middle aged gentleman - and not a bad player by all accounts. He was having difficulty mastering a particular technique and my college said in a friendly manner.

" this needs is a bit of concentration and practice, that's all. You'll find it easy after a while - it's not brain surgery!"

His pupil looked askance.

"I am a brain surgeon. This is far more difficult!"

[Beef Oven]

Slightly off topic, but I heared a lovely story today that is worth sharing.

Last Summer at a residential course, one of the country's leading flute players was giving a masterclass. His pupil of the moment was a rather distinguished looking middle aged gentleman - and not a bad player by all accounts. He was having difficulty mastering a particular technique and my college said in a friendly manner.

" this needs is a bit of concentration and practice, that's all. You'll find it easy after a while - it's not brain surgery!"



His pupil looked askance.

"I am a brain surgeon. This is far more difficult!"