What Are Your 🎶Music Endeavors Right Now?

[Ent]

This thread is intended to be a "mutual encouragements' thread similar to the 'Writing" thread someone started awhile ago.
We have some folks here working on music in various ways, and some thought it might be useful to provide a venue for keeping track of whozzits and whazzits - hold one anlther accountable for progress perhaps - and generally keep the thoughts flowing.

I'll begin it with a brief on the current status of the Ent:
As some of you know, a certain Elf around here posted a thread relating to Paul Corfield Godfrey's music/opera works,- that thread being particularly about his work on the Silmarillion. He's also working on his Hobbit and LoTR operas diligently - not unlike Tolkien, much of his work on them having begun som e 5 decades ago. LoTR will be coming out out next.

This Ent was already set on the road back into Classical music, with focus on Pipe Organ music, particularly on historical organs of renown. Well, it branched out substantially.

So now I've invested in decent Electronic Piano/Keyboard and all accoutrements, and begun the process of learning to play well. (I've been an instrumentalist - learning to play piano/organ has always been another dream of mine, and it seems now's the time to start fulfilling that.) This is intended to double as an enhancement into my composition process. (I'm starting a 'mini-epic' poem related to Sauron and his ongoing thoughts, and ultimately want to set it to music. I've got a long ways to go.)

Everything will be here by tomorrow night, so I'm reorganizing the Home Office to accomodate a new piece of equipment.

Looking at the early 'practice' books I've obtained whose intention is to separate the left branches and twigs from the right ones and get them to operate well independently, I couldn't help but say to myself "Self - I remember this..!!!" All those 'practice' notes crammed into just one wee tiny single bar, intended to drive one along at an unseemly pace... I do believe it's all intended to reduce me to beauty bark..! But it was the same with the Clarinet - my first instrument.

So I'm very determined. I'll hire an arborist to remove a few twigs - (they get tangled enough just on the computer keyboard.. will be helpless without a pruning here) - and get on with it.

So - 1) - don't be afraid to hold my feet to the fire and drive me forward, and 2) - what are you all involved in regarding 'music' ? (As with the Writing thread, this does not need to be directly related to Tolkien. It's just a place for us to encourage each other in our endeavors.)

(p.s. - I've also acquired all Paul Godfrey's Akallabeth and Silmarillion works and scores - as well as a few others - so will probably chat those up now and again here too. They're really well done, and a good learning environment as I think about composing needs..!)

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

Glad to see you've posted this thread!

a certain Elf around here posted a thread relating to Paul Corfield Godfrey's music/opera works

Hehe 😎

(I'm starting a 'mini-epic' poem related to Sauron and his ongoing thoughts, and ultimately want to set it to music. I've got a long ways to go.)

I'm so excited to see what you come up with here!

Currently, I've been practicing a duet of Be Thou My Vision, which @Fingon_Findekáno and I will be singing for a graduation ceremony for homeschoolers. The arrangement was a collaboration between us, my mom (who's a pianist and the organizer of the ceremony), and my voice teacher. We're singing in unison for two verses, and I'm singing a high harmony for two verses.

After that, I can get back into classical art songs with my voice teacher. We haven't done any in 3 months, because we were working on Disney songs for my audition into a party princess company. (To my frustration and disappointment, I didn't get in. They essentially said my voice is pretty but not loud enough. My voice teacher told me since I'm so small, I will likely never have a very loud voice. That's perfectly fine with me, but I'm so tired of living in this day and age where loudness is prized and thought of as good technique. If I lived 100 or 200 years ago, I think the high, soft qualities of my voice would have been much more widely appreciated.)

And yesterday, I practiced my violin a little, for the first time in weeks. I used to play intensely from age 7 through high school, but I got burned out by it and basically switched to singing. I find singing much easier and more fun. But I would like to get my violin skills brushed up, if I can find the time. It's been hard to find the time for violin while I'm working and in school, especially since I have so many other hobbies. But maybe once I'm done with school, I'd love to see if I could get into a local orchestra, and I'd like to be ready for that.

 

[Server Room Gremlin]

Be Thou My Vision

Favourite hymn of mine since I was a little kid.

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

I'm not sure if this also counts, but I started reading this book about music theory. It is often used in music schools to teach students, and the one my guitar teacher recommend for me to get a few years ago, when I still took guitar classes.

I feel like I have a better understanding of this now, compared to my teenage self.

 

[Ent]

And yesterday, I practiced my violin a little, for the first time in weeks

Good. I kept up with my clarinet for a short while in and after the military, but eventually turned it over to the first enting. It was an $1,800.00 instrument when I bought it.. a very pricey thing for the time. today's sale price is $8,142.00. Hand crafted clarinet of German make.. a little fuller tone than the LeBlanc of France.

Only way to get a 'better' one was to get one with 2 wee added keys, not found on any other clarinets. Anyway, that's when I dropped it, and decades later, am re-entering the field from a different angle AT LAST - as noted above.

if I can find the time

Yes, finding time IS difficult. There just isn't any laying around. It's not like a dollar bill or a penny dropped in a parking lot to be found.
Only so many minutes have been created and handed to us.
Yet I fear if every day were 48 hours instead of 24, we'd still be looking for more of the stuff..!!
For some, 'busy-ness' is about all we know.

 

[Ent]

I feel like I have a better understanding of this now, compared to my teenage self.

Indeed. For me, this is what it's all about. My appreciation increases consistent with my knowledge of a thing.
(Tolkien is a 'classic' example, to mix 'classics' just a little bit. 😁)

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

These are the books. One is is beginners guide to musical theory, and the other, a guide to composing music.

I kinda had the dream of becoming a music composer when I was a teen, but it didn't work out due to different reasons. I got these when I was around 14, so six years ago.😅

 

[Ent]

I kinda had the dream of becoming a music composer when I was a teen, but it didn't work out due to different reasons.

One never knows. Who would ever have thought this old bit if bark would be moving back in that direction..!
There's never a better time to rekindle a dream and get started, than "today".

 

[Tyelkormo the Fair]

One never knows. Who would ever have thought this old bit if bark would be moving back in that direction..!
There's never a better time to rekindle a dream and get started, than "today".

Perhaps I will, but not today. Maybe an older, more financially stable me can think of it.
Music is an expensive field to get in already, and it doesn't quite pay of as much as you work for it.

 

[Ent]

Music endeavors of the day:
1. Reviewed some stuff and refreshed my dusty memory.
2. Learned a few new things while I did so.
3. Finished reorganizing the home office so it's ready for its new arrivals tomorrow. (Piano/Keyboard and Stand.)
4. Opened and drooled over the 3 packages arriving today - the headphones for the Keyboard, the Sustain pedal, and the first book - lessons, theory, and technic.

Just got done with the office rearrangement. Pretty tired. Going to go sit awhile and do 'nothing' (except glance through this new book a bit.)

Later...

 

[Ent]

Was working on some basic fingering excercises this morning. Wow, I've got a long way to go to train the twigs to have the 'muscle memory' for keyboard..! They're great on the computer keyboard and my instruments... but piano? LOL. A LOT of work to do.

Gotta borrow from old Treebeard this morning regarding an Ent's take on music:

"It is a lovely language. But it takes a very long time to play anything in it, because we do not play anything in it unless it is worth taking a very long time to play, and to listen to."

 

[Sword&Sorcery]

I would like to congratulate you on your musical endeavour!

My dad played trumpet when I was young, as such I was taught sheet music, transcription and ultimately learned piano. Later in life I moved to other instruments but always return to my first love of piano. It is a great foundational instrument to music, both practical and theoretical. I now teach my children to play when possible and our home is always full of music. That combined with our love of food and you could say we’re quite hobbit like.

It can be a daunting prospect learning notes, chords, key signatures, scales… but it’s always enjoyable so long as you play from the heart, irrelevant of your experience or ability. Reading music, especially earlier on, always helps though you can achieve so much through muscle memory and playing by ear. A combination of the two always helps in my opinion. Daily exercises to help with finger dexterity (patterns, scales) and keeping a good posture will only add to your success and enjoyment.

I wish you all the best with your hobby and every success in the future! If you have any questions or if I can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to ask.

Luke

 

[Ent]

Why thank you sir @Sword&Sorcery. What a kind note of encouragement, and generous offer..!

Don't be surprised if I come out of the forest seeking assistance, asking questions, or such.
In fact, here's the first one... Is there a particular 'beginners book on Piano' you would recommend, and if so, why is it good in your view?

I also plan on writing out some of my own daily exercises as time goes on, to get back into writing music... especially inclusive of stuff I find a bit more difficult than other stuff. (I may do an entire composition of particular "Entish Difficulties" at some point, so I can pick it up to cover a range of 'issues.'

Meanwhile: The keyboard and stand are actually shown as 'Out for Delivery' now. Woo hoo. I've only ever had 2 packages mis-delivred, and 2 others later listed as 'delayed in delivery,' only to be lost somehow in the vast Amazon sea of undelivered goods. So I'm very hopeful, and (almost) uncontrollably excited.

(The other 3 training books are supposed to come today too, but as yet they're still reflecting 'being sorted in the delivery facility,' so I'm not spinning out of control over those yet.)

 

[Ent]

Oh my, I lied.

I failed to notice Amazon had turned these 2 bigger items over to the USPS for delivery. So they've already "attempted delivery" which means they're back in the morass of USPS parcels to be moved to yet another destination.
There, I've lost 4 items, never to be recovered.

That said, IF the packages escape the USPS VOID, surviving the resorting process and arrive at the local post office for pickup, it won't be until tomorrow, or even Thursday. A minor delay.

And, being in the hands of the USPS at any time, is like having them being handled by trolls - ones of questionable training and skills. Not the best place for electronics of any kind, much less larger ones like this.

Risk level multiplied by a significant factor.
Sigh. It is what it is. We shall see.

 

[Ent]

Well. Got the Electronic Piano with Hammer-action Keys and the stand into my branches today. Got the stand set up... it was quick. Won't put the Piano up until after the doctor appointment today...
Have all the music books and piano training books in now too, except three great-looking ones I ordered this morning. A set from beginning keyboard through intermediate level practice exercises, training in all the key signatures, transposition, theory, and more. (And, a LOT of 'classical' music favorites in the last book... a bit simplified for the intermediate level of course.)

SO... I'm hopeful later tonight I can start practicing.
I'll start with stroking on the middle C-key with the right branch. Maybe by tomorrow I can add the D-key, and the next day I can try doing C-D one after the other. At that rate, since there are 12 keys in an octave, it should only take me 24 days to get through the first octave. (We must not be hasty..!)

Really looking forward to this..!!

 

[Maedhros_Nelyafinwë]

I picked up my violin again today before I went to the office! Two times in a week, whoa!

I guess I'm finding myself suddenly motivated to want to be able to play the 1st violin part for Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony, which is my all-time favorite symphony. It's very difficult to play. I was pleased with the tiny bit of progress I did today working out some fingerings and practicing some of the difficult passages slowly.

 

[Andromadus the Invictus]

Me and a group of other members of my church are preparing a performance of an arrangement I created of Valhalla Calling by Miracle of Sound to enter into a talent show in a couple of weeks.

 

[Ent]

an arrangement I created

Ooohhhhh.... I like this. You do a bit of composing then? Exciting..!

 

[Ent]

Well, I started tinkling the keys for a little bit last night - first time..!

This first 'beginners program' I've started on though, actually wanted me to learn middle C and D right away. No C only for it..!! What a tyrant..!
And then, to do it with both the right hand, and then the left....then, by the end of the page, to do them alternatingly in the same piece.
It was proceeding at a frightfully hasty pace..!! I was terrified.

(Actually, just a little before that, I was practicing some of my 'pass under' and 'over' with both hands (not at the same time) a little bit, so I'm exaggerating just ever so slightly... but only ever so!)

But I can certainly see the reasoning for its approach. It's teaching multiple things at the same time, including finger strength, even stroke, pacing, reading base and treble clef simultaneously, etc. in a (hasty but) simple and useful way, right from the start.
I have extremely fast and strong fingers from years of typewriter and computer keyboarding, but this is a whole different ballgame..!! I'm really going to enjoy learning 'the right way'. (According to this one book. As I understand it, there are different ways to do different things in various teachers' and players' opinions, so well... there it is.)

(I'm also accumulating simple songs written in simple arrangement to start with, after about a week of just exercises. Mostly hymns and such of course, but a couple of the classics with easier central themes as well. And I'll no doubt start laying in a few traditional Christmas songs too. (Note I said 'traditional' ones.))

I can't wait for next year at about this time.
"It's a brave new world."

 

[Andromadus the Invictus]

Ooohhhhh.... I like this. You do a bit of composing then? Exciting..!

Yeah... Mostly just arranging, but I have been working on an original piece, although it's quality is certainly debatable. 😂