Music And Musicians

[Somegeezer]

Much along the lines of the earlier, and seemingly popular 'Gaming And Gamers' thread, how about some music talk? I'm not talking favourite songs and what you are listening to... We already have threads similar to those.

This thread is for those of us who can actually play music, and that does include all the ways you can create it. Whether you play guitar, sing, do it on a computer, bang your head against a wall... Though I'll worry about you if the latter. =P

How about some links to some of your stuff on the net? If you have a youtube vid or a soundcloud account, feel free to share with us.

Please no links to commercial stuff, which probably includes stores to buy your CD or something... I imagine your comment would be deleted and your account suspended.

Myself, I mainly play bass. I own a 4 and 5 string, hoping to get myself a 6 next year some time. I often say kit is my second instrument, but without owning one, it's hard to really get much practise in. =P On the opposite foot, I own 3 guitars and can barely get a tune out of them. >.<
My first instrument was piano/keyboards, and soon after, steel pans. Unfortunately, I never did really like piano keys, and barely use my keyboard for anything more than MIDI work. Steel pans are just damn expensive.

There are a lot of instruments I'd love to learn, but my next to put effort into will be my voice and theremin. The voice is often an underrated instrument and I certainly haven't put mine to its full potential.

I have a good little set up with my computer for recording. [the main reason I built it, even if I do game more often...]
I have a few solo projects I'm planning or in the middle of, that hopefully I can share with you guys not long from now.

Until then, here's some links to things I've been doing the last few years:
http://myspace.com/roadkillwakefield
http://youtube.com/gargoyleinvirtue
http://facebook.com/shadowsofviolence

Let's hear from you guys. =]

[ThatGirlInGray]

I don't have any youtube links as I'm not much of a performer, but I've been musical pretty much my entire life. Piano, then trumpet, french horn, and voice (mostly choir, a little solo), and then in college I got a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education (different than a BA in Music) which required me to learn at least the basics of almost every instrument in the orchestra. And I took guitar for a semester or two.

I don't really like teaching private lessons, so I don't anymore. The original goal was High School Choir Director but with the way Arts programs in CA have gone that didn't pan out.

While I occasionally miss choir I don't miss getting annoyed with the dozens of people who are wasting our rehearsal time by not being prepared. I love singing with my kids and with TGIB and would at some point like to sing at an open mike night and maybe local clubs, but it's not a current burning desire.

[Somegeezer]

Originally Posted by ThatGirlInGray

I don't have any youtube links as I'm not much of a performer, but I've been musical pretty much my entire life. Piano, then trumpet, french horn, and voice (mostly choir, a little solo), and then in college I got a Bachelor's of Music in Music Education (different than a BA in Music) which required me to learn at least the basics of almost every instrument in the orchestra. And I took guitar for a semester or two.

I don't really like teaching private lessons, so I don't anymore. The original goal was High School Choir Director but with the way Arts programs in CA have gone that didn't pan out.

While I occasionally miss choir I don't miss getting annoyed with the dozens of people who are wasting our rehearsal time by not being prepared. I love singing with my kids and with TGIB and would at some point like to sing at an open mike night and maybe local clubs, but it's not a current burning desire.

Never heard of a Bachelor's in Music, what is it?
I tried getting onto a BA course doing something in music, but back in college, when I did my BTEC [an equivalent of 3 A levels], I didn't do as well as I'd hoped. Pretty much a waste of 2 years of my life. Should have waited until I was ready, rather than rushing into it right after high school. There's way too much pressure on people to go right to college and then right to uni. I'd rather just find a steady job and take things in my own pace.

I'd love to do private lessons. I've taught friends in the past. In fact, I taught 2 close friends to play kit, which I actually taught myself to play. Such an easy instrument to learn, but one of the most difficult to master.

One thing I do miss from college were my ensembles. We were always very organised. Such a shame that it's so hard to find bands like that outside of it. Just splitting with my last gigging band, I know how easily things can get in the way.

[ThatGirlInGray]

A Bachelor of Music generally means it was a more intense, specific (Monochrome- rigorous! ) program of study than for a Bachelor of Arts. The school I went to offered a BM (*snicker*) in music education, music business, or music performance. Instead of a schedule that was some General Education requirements, some Major requirements and some Electives, a schedule for a BM was almost all Gen Ed or Major classes. I think I took 2 electives in 4 years. There was 2 years of Music Theory, 2 and a half years of Music History, Conducting, Voice Pedagogy, plus ALL the instrumental classes and various performing groups one had to be in. Oh, AND the classes about Education Theory and Practice. So, lots more required for a BM than a BA .

[Somegeezer]

Originally Posted by ThatGirlInGray

A Bachelor of Music generally means it was a more intense, specific (Monochrome- rigorous! ) program of study than for a Bachelor of Arts. The school I went to offered a BM (*snicker*) in music education, music business, or music performance. Instead of a schedule that was some General Education requirements, some Major requirements and some Electives, a schedule for a BM was almost all Gen Ed or Major classes. I think I took 2 electives in 4 years. There was 2 years of Music Theory, 2 and a half years of Music History, Conducting, Voice Pedagogy, plus ALL the instrumental classes and various performing groups one had to be in. Oh, AND the classes about Education Theory and Practice. So, lots more required for a BM than a BA .

Sounds like an American thing then really. Had a look into it and apparently over here, it is included within a BA. Sounds normal. We English love to just thrw ourselves into the deep end with a ton of information at once.

If you want to do something more intense and specific here, you need to complete your BA, then go onto a Master's. I really doubt something like a Master's could really help me career wise though.

I'll certainly try get in to do a BA in music at some point, but probably as far as I'll take it.

[ThatGirlInGray]

You would do a Master's for something even more specific and intense here too. I got my Bachelor's of Music in Music Education- Choral and General Music. If my plan of being a High School Choir Director had worked out, I would have gone on to get my Master's in Choral Conducting, most likely.

A BA would still have the Theory, History, and performing group requirements. What it didn't have iirc were the instrument-specific classes, Conducting, or the education or business classes. None of the degrees had as many performance requirements as the music performance degree *shudder*.

[Somegeezer]

Originally Posted by ThatGirlInGray

You would do a Master's for something even more specific and intense here too. I got my Bachelor's of Music in Music Education- Choral and General Music. If my plan of being a High School Choir Director had worked out, I would have gone on to get my Master's in Choral Conducting, most likely.

A BA would still have the Theory, History, and performing group requirements. What it didn't have iirc were the instrument-specific classes, Conducting, or the education or business classes. None of the degrees had as many performance requirements as the music performance degree *shudder*.

Yeah, we have the instrument specific classes and business and even law added in with it though. For a 3 year course, you have to do a lot of work.

I'd love to do a performance degree. I think it would suit me more to be in a practical environment, rather than the masses of writing I've often had to be doing. But you're right, they really expect a high performance from you just to think about letting you in. I never did grades on my instrument either, so I'm not even sure where to start. =P

[ThatGuyInBlack]

I've sang all my life. In my family, it's just what you do.

Learned to play guitar when I was about fifteen. I'm not great, lol. I'm a rythym guitarist by nature. Nothing complicated, but I think I do all right. I play mostly Texas/Red Dirt country, but I jump genres pretty regularly. Basically if I like the song, I'll learn it.

[Somegeezer]

Originally Posted by ThatGuyInBlack

I've sang all my life. In my family, it's just what you do.

Learned to play guitar when I was about fifteen. I'm not great, lol. I'm a rythym guitarist by nature. Nothing complicated, but I think I do all right. I play mostly Texas/Red Dirt country, but I jump genres pretty regularly. Basically if I like the song, I'll learn it.

I mainly play Metal. Specifically Progressive Death Metal is my favourite. But I have projects spanning many styles. Love listening to all types of things. Can't beat a bit of Kate Rusby now and then. Bonny Yorkshire lass, she is. =] I think what people find surprising is that I really love Trance music too. But as a 90s kid, I was brought up when Trance was coming up for the first time. Electronic music had a surge of new genres after the 80s New Wave cheesey synth stuff. =P Ambient is another electronic genre I love. Something I'd love to get more into making myself too... and then there's Jazz. Other than Classical music, Jazz also helped create all modern music as we know it. But even going back to the very roots, I can really appreciate it.

[bella123456]

I'm learning violin. To say I play violin would appear to be stretching the english language a bit far

I've been learning for 2 years and I play in a beginners string ensemble. Hard thing to start in your mid thirties...having never even learned to read music.

My son plays trumpet and I've just given him a drum set for Christmas
a. Because he has wanted to learn for ages, and
b. I have an intense desire to annoy one of my neighbours

My fiance is a DJ (minimal house/minimal tech house)

There is music playing in this household at any given point in time. Every genre...
Well, not much death metal I should add. And I'm not sure what progressive death metal is ?