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Musical Late Bloomers Shed Anxiety
For adults who set out to learn (or re-learn) a musical instrument, private lessons and excruciating recitals are simply not an option. Today, two writers share how they connected with groups of like-minded amateurs. Environmental policy reporter (and pianist) Perri Knize talks about the nationwide network of "piano parties." And bestselling detective novelist (and bassoonist) Alexander McCall Smith takes us inside a Scottish ensemble called The Really Terrible Orchestra.
Our blog: John Schaefer on playing guitar
Piano World's "piano forums" site
Perri Knize's "Grand Obsession" on Amazon
Alexander McCall Smith's "The Miracle at Speedy Motors"
The Really Terrible Orchestra site
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You are missing a link for the Really Terrible Orchesra's website.
SOUNDCHECK SAYS: Thanks for the heads-up, Jeff! Fixed!
The Old-Time, Bluegrass, and Folk music communities are ripe with individuals learning to play during their adult years. Picking parties, workshops, and "slow jams" abound for newbies and experienced players to unite.
I took piano lessons for 7 years as a kid and can barely play a note today. My mother took lessons when she was a girl - sits down about once every 10 years and can still play through Fur Elise perfectly. Guess I didn't inherit the piano gene
These piano parties sound a lot like the informal guitar jams so widespread in the folk music community. I recently took up the guitar again after an over twenty-year hiatus and while my lessons have gone wonderfully well, those guitar jams have been invaluable in helping my playing -- I'm better now than I ever was when I was a teenager, and confident enough to play and sing in front of both friends and strangers.
My girlfriend gave me a tenor sax, with 4 free lessons, for my 60th birthday.
4 years later, I've made it through, somewhat roughly, the Elementary Rubank book (I'm VERY slow).
I've enjoyed it all the way, though I keep wondering what it is that keeps me going. Something about the vibration, the wind, I guess. Especially since it has only been recently that I've felt my playing has started to get a little bit, uh, _musical_.
But, starting as someone with no sense of pitch, no sense of rhythm, no theory knowledge at all--it's sure been a learning experience!
Here in Laramie, we have LARGE (the LARamie Guitar Ensemble) and LARGO (the LARamie Guitar Orchestra). Members range in age from 18 to 68. Our performances at senior centers and retirement homes are our key demographic: Deaf and medicated!
The Really Terrible Orchestra seems like the perfect performing group for PDQ Bach. Paging Professor Peter Schickele!
I read the Isabel Dalhousie books and thought the Really Terrible Orchestra was a literary joke. Lol
I second the observation about Bluegrass and Old time jams. Bluegrass is a participatory genre, and therefore most people who get into it seem to pick up an instrument. The nice thing about it, too, is that the simple chord structure of bluegrass make it easy for beginners to pick along.
I joined a choir that has no auditions, here in the New York City area, and found that I was virtually the best soprano, which has allowed me to do the kind of solo work I never could have dreamed of doing on a professional level. Compared to my fellow choristers, I am a songbird of great skill and marvelous pitch; on the outside world, I would be red-faced with shame if I were to audition even once. I remain anonymous because I don't want anyone to know how egotistical this is, but boy is this a blast!
Is Kevin familiar with the Portsmouth Sinfonia from the 70s?
I was in the band Pulsallama in the 1980s. It was founded to entertain at NYC's Club 57 party by Ann Magnuson. I played percussion as did most of the group. I didn't realize it was a group, I missed the second performance about a month later. It has been classified as punk.
Somehow we got bookings at many NY venues, traveled out of town to other east coast cities.
We made some of our own percussion instruments and props. We recorded on Y records and played in England also.
Since then I have taken percussion lessons and I was never allowed to perform with the class. Some didn't appreciate my flair and lack of embarrassment as chops.
I am craving to learn guitar or ukelele at this time, so I can sing along.
Hello to Sandy Smith! I'm a fan of his writing and hope to see the orchestra when the land in NYC,
Now THIS is a topic about which you should interview Norman Lebrecht!!!!!!
For the Japanese flute player and his girlfriend:
John Coltrane's wife said their marriage was "90% saxophone."
Yes, Paul, I know the Portsmith. Sadly, LARGE & LARGO have yet to reach their depths. But, seriously, both bands really try to be great and are. In addition to the Senior centers, they play at Farmer's Markets, Arts in the Parks, and regular recitals.
My daughter, the conductor of the Darien High School orchestra, wanted to give me an opportunity to play my cello with adults on a similar level. She started an orchestra for adults that has given many of us a chance to play and (actually) improve. Our audience used to be first and fourth graders, since two of our members were their teachers. Our performances have a bigger audience online, since most of our audience (relatives) do not live around here. Mostly, we all love playing together. We send players who are at a higher level to another orchestra in Norwalk, CT - in the next town.
In the spirit of The Really Terrible Orchestra, New York now has a similar, albeit a relative start-up, orchestra for late starting adult string players, the New York Late Starters Orchestra. There is no minimum level of play in order to join.
The goal is to give later starting adults the chance to make, or at least try to make, fun music together!
www.nylso.org
Hi John,
I read your blog on this topic. Sorry man, but there's no excuse for not finding some folks who share your passion for guitar. A few minutes on Google should turn up at least a few amateur guitar jams or song circles in your vicinity.
For the past 8 years, I've been an active participant in one that meets once a month at a local coffeehouse in Metuchen, NJ. It's open to players at all levels. We've got a core group of eight or so members that keep the groove going month to month, but we've had as many as 15 musicians show up on some evenings.
For me, the best parts are the comraderie followed by the improvements I've made in the quality of my performance.
So, don't be left out. Dust off those strings and come jam!
Listening to the podcast as I write this...very nice playing, Perri! John, if you want to find others to play/jam with, visit:
http://www.musicafter50.com
and check out the forum!
Leah
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