It's easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.
- Johann Sebastian Bach -
I've been on Hive for a long time, since June 2017, and over that time have shared some of my life on the blockchain, touched on other parts and simply refused to directly open up about so much more. I guess one could say I've taken the iceberg approach meaning that only a portion of me is visible above the surface. The stalwarts, people who have followed me all the way through, and others who read a post here and there, will see a few of the elements that make up me and my life and the others, well whatever, I guess.
I've touched on my musical journey a few times but not in any great detail, it's something quite private to me and I like to retain elements of me and my life for myself and those around me however for perspective, I began playing the piano as a child of four and a half years old and continued for many years. I also played the trumpet and bass guitar although not as well as I play the piano.
I did all my piano grades up to Grade 8, just below the attainment of a Diploma here in Australia, and along the way went through the process of examination with the Australian Music Examinations Board (AMEB) through the Elder Conservatorium of Music (nicknamed The Con) here in Adelaide, Australia's senior academy of music.
It was difficult and many thousands of hours of practice, training and learning went into it; the theory and practical aspects.
As a child, I'll admit to having not liked it; it wasn't so much the playing, it was how I was driven to do it by my mother, something I didn't value. I don't want to go into it, but that's one reason I don't play for people now, I keep it a very personal thing and am content with that. I am glad I had that grounding though, it's an amazingly rewarding skill and brings a lot of enjoyment, and frustration I suppose as well; learning new pieces can be a challenge.
Today, I want to share three pieces of music that I learned to play over the years and that I can still play to this day, although probably not quite as well as I did when I first learned them.
✳️ Here's a link to YouTube where you'll find all three in a single YouTube playlist.
Hill Street Blues was a police show I used to watch back in the 1980's (when I was allowed to). I loved the theme song and recall wanting to play it so much. I saved up for a month or so until I had the money to buy the sheet music and sat at my piano for hours a day until I mastered it. Clair de lune was one of the pieces I had to master for a grading exam. I got to the point where I could play it with both hands tied behind my back. Ok, not really, but playing it was like breathing so comfortable it felt. I'm kissing you is a piece of music from a Romeo and Juliet movie released in 1996 starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes. I'm not going to tell you why I chose to learn it, suffice it to say that I did.
Music is a massive part of my life, and one I'll never fully explain to others. I'll never play in public, will never put videos of my playing onto the internet and most people I know have no clue I even play; those that do know not to ask me to do it, they know I'll refuse. I play all the time though, sometimes endless scales to keep my fingers moving and doing the right things, sometimes the pieces of music I've learned along the way or those I want to learn; either way it gives me something, moments I can't gain else where through doing other things.
Do you folk play any musical instruments or would you like to? Tell me about it in the comments below if you're so inclined.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
The image in this post was taken by me.