Final state
I've not written much about my niece or nephew lately with no reason for it other than that I've not wanted to share much about their lives on the internet. We're in constant communication though and most of those leave me laughing, happy to have them in my life and very proud to be their uncle and of their achievements; both of them are cool little people who have worked hard at the things they do.
Interestingly, both have taken to music as if born to it.
I started playing the piano prior to turning five years old and played for many years working through all my grades until I attained a high level of competency. My niece, @smallsteps, is doing the same, I'm proud to say she's just started at a music school and from what I know about playing the piano (which is a lot) she's displaying some extraordinary skills.
My nephew, @mrbonkers, is displaying the same talent albeit it with a different instrument.
State Finals
He began playing the violin at a young age - and it sounded like a dying possum with covid-19 and terrible constipation - and has progressed to the point where he plays well though; so well in fact that he made it to the State String Finals recently. I know nothing about the violin other than that it looks like a totally fucken weird guitar and can sound shit or amazing, but I know that he's worked hard at it and that I'm a very happy and proud uncle.
As a younger man, I complimented my piano skills by learning to play the trumpet and bass guitar - I was in a jazz band for a time - but slowly those things began to take a back seat to others that rose in importance. The thing I carried forward though, the thing that has helped me to create a really excellent life is:
Ownership, effort, discipline, persistence and consistency, ability to fail and learn from it, ability to succeed and win with humility, finding hidden reserves of energy when I want to give up - the never-quit ethos, to see difficult things as a challenge to overcome not an insurmountable obstacle and...loads of things besides.
Yeah, I know that's not just one thing and if I'm honest it wasn't just one thing or aspect of my life that taught me these things but certainly my musical journey was one such element.
Final State
I don't know what my "final state" will be as a human man, I change all the time which is how it's supposed to be.
I don't know that of my niece or nephew either but I know what my journey to today, this moment, has been like and it's that which will carry forward as I lean into what I know will be my final years of life. My niece and nephew have a longer path ahead and who knows where their respective journey's will take them but for sure I can sit here now and feel confident that they are the sort of people who will walk their paths with a view to attaining results they can be proud of...and which I'll be proud of when I'm dead - a ghost haunting people just for fun.
Design and create your ideal life, tomorrow isn't promised - galenkp
[Original and AI free]
Image(s) in this post are my own
I never knew you played the piano. Learn something new everyday. I picked up a digital piano when I was still at my old house. I took lessons for a year. I learned a few songs, and learned how to poorly read sheet music. I'm not a virtuoso, but it is amazing how a little education on an instrument, and a little persistence makes people think you're some sort of wizard.
In regards to final state, I know that I'll be an inanimate hunk of organic matter, hopefully donated to other bodies (in part) that can still use my remains, and the rest can go decompose in a forest to teach the next generation of forensics what a body looks like at x days, y days, etc.
I won't care, because I won't be around to.
I've never played a digital piano, I guess that's because I prefer the traditional piano and have my own so there's been no need. My eldest brother got into the synthesizer keyboard thing but I think they sound shit - he still plays it, makes music for Spotify actually...and it all sounds like shit.
I think my own "final state" is going to be as a ghost and that I'll be haunting people until they themselves die (or go mad). I have a list.
The digital piano I got has the full key layout, and is weighted just like a real board, but I will absolutely agree that a "real" one sounds a heck of a lot better, and is way less forgiving on bad habits. Analogue is certainly better, but I didn't have the budget, or the space at the time for a small upright (like a Kawaii, or Yamaha) - so I've got my digital one which I haven't played in I don't know how fkn long!
This is my boring office :)
I imagine you there, playing a video game and then getting burnout so you get on that axe and start carving it up and then decide you want to get in touch with your softer side so begin to play some classical guitar like Pepe Romero. Then back to your video game.
I haven't had a "proper" video game session(s), I feel since Clair Obscura: Expedition 33, which had a fantastic storyline - each year, a number is painted on a monolith, and each year, people above that age die.
They're making a film adaptation of it - hopefully it is good, because the game was haunting, one of the best I've ever played. In the game, you investigate why and how. It was a really poignant story about mortality, loss, and how everything is never really what it seems. It also has an amazing soundtrack, too. Like, really incredible.
I am a very bad guitarist, the best I can do is string together a few scale progressions. I just don't want to learn chords if I do, I'll have to neglect something else. Maybe I'll sell my guitars. Chords are easier on the piano.
I spend most of my days writing recently, making some solid progress on my fiction anthology, and joined the local writers group.
And of course, you probably see the product I spew forth onto Hive daily.
The last video game I played was Ghost Recon in 2001 - I don't miss it. That one you mention sounds interesting, well a movie of it sounds interesting, zero interest in gaming for me.
Anyway, even a bad guitarist can bring enjoyment to a campfire gathering, a few chords and some singing...always a good time. Failing the guitar, keep writing I guess as it's just as enjoyable.
That’s cool. Both my daughters started piano but lost interest rather quickly. They are more interested in painting
This my older, since she was much younger she loves the works of Georgia O'Keeffe ..
She sends me this last night saying “work in progress”
It's not for everyone I guess. My dad was an artist and my artistic skill in minimal at best and bloody tragic if I'm totally honest. My creative flair came out in other ways like music I suppose.
Work in progress huh? Had I painted that I'd be calling it a bloody masterpiece already!
I know you have talked about your piano skills before, but trumpet? And bass? Three completely different instruments. Do you play any of these any more? I used to have some fiddle chops, then dropped the instrument entirely for 25 years. I am now trying to find a teacher who will help me be able to jam with other fiddle players, if only to lay down the rhythm in chords. This has been very difficult to find! I want to play by ear, and improvisationally. If you are not longer playing anything, you have that to look forward to in your older age.
Yeah, I don't say much about it here (or anywhere) as it's a part of my life that I feel is personal to me and that I don't need to go on about too much. I have a strong musical background and for me it made sense (being in a jazz band and all) that I add to my piano skills with the trumpet which I really enjoyed. The bass guitar came later and both of those I was only average-skilled at best.
I do not play the bass or trumpet and more (me on the trumpet now might sound like a hippopotamus with a tooth ache and bad diarrhea), but probably could make them sound ok after some effort. I have a piano and play it regularly.
Good luck finding that teacher, I think there's a lot to be said for a life in which music exists at more than just a listening aspect.
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STOPPiano, Saxophone and now bass guitar here. I got stuck on the bass, I really like that instrument. But when I'm in my moms house, I always play a little piano. When I went with Lily last year, it was the first time for her to really hear me play. It seems like I'm still good enough for her, as she was listening very quietly. She started taking lessons now, too, while I'm doing an effort to re-animate the jamsessions that once were THE event every weekend. Takes time to do so, but the last 5 weeks of getting back to playing were wonderful.
I've never been a great musician, though I do know a thing or two. I lack the talent, though I could make up for quite a bit through practice. But, priorities... For now, it's just the fun.
You're quite musical and I think you've probably gained a lot of value by being so. Well done. I feel people who have music intrinsically linked to their lives are happier people.
I'm sure of that. It wires the brain differently, and is a great tool to express as well as a great way to channel all kinds of emotional energy, turning them into something different or something memorable, depending on the emotion.
Us people leaving long comments and writing things all seem to have the piano in common. :D
Uh oh. That can't be right. But it's intriguing, from now on, I'll ask every author of interesting comments if they play an instrument, and if so, which.
I'm glad your niece and nephew are doing well with music like you did before now. I must say, people around you are great lovers of music.
For sure.
I'm just starting to figure out what I want to get good at, but seeing how your niece and nephew worked hard at their instruments really motivates me.
Art manifests itself in many ways. I'm sure your nephews will be great at whatever they do in music, just like their uncle, no matter what instrument they play. I love the violin first and then the piano, but I'm good at painting. No one in my family is an artist, and I think that talent will die with me, but I'm happy with my brushes and canvases!
Nephew, the other is my niece which means a girl. A nephew is male.
Yes, I know, but when there is a boy and a girl, they are both included in the word sobrinos in Spanish, and the translator does not separate them.
I hope you had a great day!
RoFL that's a description XD that poor fictitious possum XD Well done to MrBonkers for getting into the State String Finals!
I see your last section and all I can think of is that stupid "this isn't even my final form" meme, but I guess that's kind of accurate.
I was hopiysomkne would get a laugh out of that. Poor possum indeed.
How about @mrbonkers? Pretty nifty huh?
I've always loved music, but I never really had a talent for it. I was in band during school as part of the percussion section, but I wish I could focus enough to learn guitar or something cool like that.
Maybe one day you'll find the motivation to learn.
I hope so!
Greetings @galenkp, I didn't know you played the piano. With discipline and perseverance, you can achieve your goals. I'm sure your nephews will make significant progress in music. I found the comparison of the sound of the violin to a dying opossum funny. I imagine it's something very out of tune.
Kudos to your niece and nephew! I remember reading about @smallsteps being accepted into the music school. That's a big step for her as is @mrbonkers getting to the State String Finals. Music must run in the family. Either that or they just want to be like Uncle Bonkers 😃
They'll be better than I could ever be, those two kids are awesome little tackers all round.
They may be better than you could ever be, but they wouldn't be who they are without your influence. They would still be awesome, but not as bonkers 😄
Less bonkers for sure.
I saw a video of my my nephew on a slip and slide out on the lawn today (very hot in the tropical north of Australia despite it being winter.) Funny little guy, you should have seen him try and stand up! 🤣
Hahaaa..they don't call it a slip n' slide for nothing!
That's what makes it fun. Seeing kids just being kids, not worried about a thing, just having fun. That's making good memories right there 😃
My coconuts suffered a lot on those slides when I was a kid.
Ooooh, hopefully you didn't try dry sliding?? You had none of those special coconut holders? Ouch!
All sorts of fuckery was tried, I was adventurous as a kid.
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