Anyone else play a musical instrument?

[sdsures]

I've been playing the piano since I was 5 or 6 (I'm 25 now), and if i can't sleep (due to my chronic headaches or my meds, I stay up and play. Does ayone else find that music helps them cope? :)

[Ingwaz]

I bought myself a Violin (4/4th) for my 20th birthday (21 now) but I haven't had any real big lessons yet. I had a teacher but she passed away shortly after starting...it will take me much time to learn to play, I think, because I am older though.

I do write, draw, and sing alot (though singing, not very well: I sound like a kid, ha, ha, ha!) and I feel it helps me with my Tourettes/ticcing, and it just makes me feel so so happy. Happiness is a big deal for me! It's hard to keep happy but if I have hobbies and do them, I feel so much more relieved :)

[Ingwaz]

I just wanted to add that I am a huge believer in musical therapy. I listen to music to help me through hard times, and it even helps me with my other artistic hobbies!! Music really is universal, I think..I have lots of World music and though I can't understand the words, I understand the emotion behind the music and that's what I love the best :)

Cheers~!!

Ingi :)

[sdsures]

Music therapy is a big thing for me as well! :D I'm an opera nerd, musical theatre, movies... ;)

I played violin (Suzuki method) from about age 5-10. Let me know how it goes for you. :)

[Deborah Lee]

I started playing the violin when I was 10. My dad played lead guitar in a country band. He taught me guitar and bass. I play bass and sing in a country band with my husband. It's a mental medication for me.

[Cry Tears]

Music has always been a part of my life.
My voice is very mediocre, but I did have professional voice lessons and was told I had a special talant and with some training I'd be pretty good.
I was taking lessons a few years ago just prior to my body falling completly apart. My voice muscles were weak and I'd often sound like I had a sore throat. Pretty soon my vocal cords were too weak to even whisper.
Doctors couldn't figure out what was/is wrong. Some say its from having auto-immune thyroid disease, Hashi Motos.
Now my voice cracks and is often raspy.
This has broken my heart as singing was always a part of me.
Something so basic, so important to me.
It has caused me a lot of emotional pain to no longer be able to sing even a simple tune.
I sang in the Singing Christmas Tree for 6 years and had to quit due to my voice problems. I really miss singing with chiors.
10 years ago I sang in a chior with Michael Card....a musical performance called "The Promise".
That was an awesome experience. He's a very wonderful and talented man.
I also play the piano...but only elementary level....could never play in front of anyone without messing up. I did play a few songs at a large care facility.
My audience consisted of about 100 near deaf and senile people. They gave me a standing ovation! Now that really made me feel good...but felt silly because I know I'm not that good at playing the keyboard.
I used to play the pipe organ....I loved that....but very hard work.
It hurts my back and arms to play very long...this really discouraged me from long hours of practice it takes to play, learn.
I wanted piano lessons from the time I was age 4....always begged for a piano...anytime I got around one I'd make up songs.
Thats all I asked for all the time...but sadly, my needs weren't important to my folks.
I made sure my son who is very musically talented got music lessons starting when he was just 3 years old. He plays all the time, mostly for himself...he finds this good therapy for his depression.
I hope I dont sound like I'm bragging....I just wanted to share how music has been part of me. I'd just about give anything to have my voice back, but sadly its been years and I've quit being hopeful...and I've quit begging God to heal me.
Cheryl
Here's a link to the Singing Christmas Tree web site.
I'm somewhere in the photos....but everyone looks the same.
I sewed several of the costumes...the best one is worn by the gal in the wheel chair next to the sleigh.
http://www.singingchristmastree.org/Home/

[marijo]

I started learning piano at five, but my mum and dad made me give it up at eleven, because I was not working very hard at it. I know why. I changed teachers when I went to secondary school, and I loathed my new teaCHER WHOSE BREATH STANK OF GARLIC, AND SHE WOULD SIT BEHIND ME BREATHING GARLIC (oops caps lock) fumes all over me, and filing her horrible long nails. I took it up again at 28, and taught myself up to grade 8, but couldnt understand the theory, so I can play reasonably, but it takes me ages to learn something new. When I was 27, my husband bought me a violin for my birthday. I never did anything with it for years, until my own son wanted to learn, and I learned with him. I was never going to be concert standard, but I play at coelidhs, with friends, and we have entertained at family gatherings. When I inherited a bit of money, I spent some of it on a decent grand piano, and an electric violin, which is much more fun than a conventional, for someone like me who is not very good. I play the tin whistle, which is fun to take on holiday, and a bit of guitar, and the spoons. I'll try anything. Music is great therapy.

[Ingwaz]

so far I haven't played my Violin again; I can't get the tempo right. But I've purchased a pennywhistle (Irish "tinwhistle") and for only been playing for 6 actual days, I'm getting the hang of it and am pretty good! I really love it! Inspires me to get better and buy a flute--or a clairenet--someday in the future!

I really do like the sound of the tinwhistle better than a flute tho, I think I'll stick with it :cool:

[Christine]

Trumpet - age 10
French Horn - age 13
Guitar - age 13
Flute - age 15
Oboe - age 15

I contracted the Guillain-Barre Syndrome at the age of 18. The illness is evil. It left me with a scar to end all scars... a partially paralyzed face. My ombisure was g-o-n-e... and so was my ability to play brass and woodwinds. :(

My oboe. Gone... :( and I loved the craftiness housed within a double reed.

I fell straight into my guitar(s)... a 6 and a 12 string. Old Epiphones.

Then I bought my Roland Synthesizer with an on-board sequencer, and I've been playing keyboards ever since.

Without my musical escape, pain would rule my roost. No question about it. I'm 53 years old and 43 of them have been roosting in the sanctuary of music. 35 out of 53 of those years have had tears of pain quelled through the meditative power of music. ;)

Take care,
Christine ;)

[Jacquie]

I was always afraid to take piano lessons as a kid, I was afraid at not being good enough - and there was my sister - who was so good at everything! I was also a tomboy, and didn't want to have to commit to practicing (inside) all the time. But, my sister did teach me how to read notes ('cause I really did love the piano). At age 46 I just had my first song copyrighted and recorded (private use, not out on the open market yet).

I love music - my regret is that I didn't take lessons younger. With visual problems, tremmors, muscle spasms, etc. - things just aren't as easy now! But yes, music is wonderful ...

[Salsa]

I play the guitar, banjo, and piano.

[AllUpInMyHead]

I used to play the trumpet (1995-1999), then dropped it when I got braces in 1999. I finished the whole braces thing in 2001, and I should have picked trumpet up again, but I didn't. My embouchure (lip muscle tone) is now weak and it'd take me 6 months of practice, minimum, to get it back up to how it was in 1999 (I used to be a statewide-ranked trumpet player back then).

Now I use a synthesizer, though - this time, to compose music. Rarely on an actual keyboard, since my tremor gets in the way... instead, I use the "piano roll" function in my synthesizer software (Apple's GarageBand) to "paint" notes onto a musical score.

[Corky]

I played French Horn back in grade school & jr. high which was many a moons ago! LOL After that it was just A Capella choir, have continued the singing with being in church choir which has included many solos. I've got a trombone, clarinet, tenor saxaphone sitting here that kids played if anyone's interested ?? LOL:p

[Moderator #12]

It is wonderful to see how music plays such an important part of our life .It is there when we are walking in nature ,birds are singning for us in their own range ,and frequency.We learn very young how to appreciate music because it does have a suithing effect on us .....it changes our moods .Even in total silence we hear the music of our heart beating like a wonderful aboriginal drum.....i love listening to the wind or the rain falling....they produce such an interesting sound....When we simplify our lives we hear a much different music ,one that is pure ,one that we appreciate .Music and art therapy are meant to express ourselves and to receive the unconditional as well .We are blessed to pay attention to this awareness in our lives.

[Black57]

I am a musician and music teacher by profession. I am a musician because it is who I am. Creation, healing, life, death,birth, joy, peace,love, hate. Music is humanity. Music is medicine that has power only when it heard. I am now playing music with braces...I am a flutist. I teach the flute and I have a flute choir.I had tossed around the idea of becoming a music therapist but there was no school , close enough, that offered that major. However, I taught the deaf to play music and I enjoy working with deaf children. I am presently reading the book Musicophilia.

[haplycarlessdave]

Yes, I have a similar experience. I play music all night long sometimes; I can't sleep til I get all those noites out of my head! If I do sleep early inevitably I wake up and need to play or write music.
I'm just about to start now....
BCDave

[cprick]

I play the piano and I know how to play the guitar a little as well. I took piano lessons when I was about 8 until 12 and yes, it gives me a wonderful feeling every time I’m able to play the instrument. My father bought a piano for me and my siblings and it’s still playing well. Great instrument!