 A cheery wave from Warsaw..., ...by a Scottish Varsovian. |
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| A cheery wave from Warsaw..., ...by a Scottish Varsovian. |
| NMilton |
 Feb 24 2011, 03:30 PM
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#1
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Hi all.
So, by way of an introduction I should say I'm a 31 year old Scot living in Warsaw in Poland. I've been playing guitar (self-taught mind you) since I was 15 and have performed in bands throughout my 20s. Through that, I did a course in Music Business and started my own record label. In 2009, I began messing around with piano and chamber composition, writing several pieces for piano and string quartet. At the same time, I began experimenting with electronic music again and am very interested in sound synthesis and experimentation. I'm much more on the John Cage / Steve Reich / Karlheinz Stockhausen end of the spectrum than say, I dunno, trance. As you'd expect I'm a huge music fan with some of my favourite bands being Radiohead, Sigur r?s and Mogwai. I also love classical and modern-classical music. I moved to Warsaw last year at the very beginning of Chopin's 200th anniversary year. By far my favourite composer, it was entirely coincidental - though entirely fortunate - that I landed here in 2010 to enjoy all the anniversary celebrations. Towards the end of 2010 I decided I'd like to play piano to a much higher level than I imagine I'd reach teaching myself, so I wrote to the ABRSM coordinator over here and found myself a teacher. In June, I'll be starting the piano grade exams at grade 2 but I've rarely felt so driven to improve with something as I do with piano so I hope to push myself as far as grade 8 (I'm an optimist, I grant you) in the next 10 years. Who knows though... ten years is a long time and anything could happen. Right now though, I'm just enjoying the process. As you'll no doubt guess from the above, I'm pretty chatty. You'll probably find me hanging around the Adult Learner's forum from time to time. Right, that'll do for now. N. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
 
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| KatieS |
Feb 24 2011, 05:00 PM
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#2
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Advanced Member  Group: Members Posts: 305 Joined: 21-February 11 From: Birmingham West Midlands Member No.: 213703 |
Hey (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) and welcome to the forum NMilton! Nice to meet you (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) *cheery wave from me*
It's good to be chatty on here! There are loads of great people to talk to and get to know! So what made you move to Poland??? are you excited to start your lessons?? katie (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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| barry-clari |
Feb 24 2011, 05:03 PM
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#3
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Maestro Group: Members Posts: 40572 Joined: 10-January 06 From: South East London Member No.: 5804 |
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/welcome.gif) to the forums, NMilton! First forumite based in Poland, I think...
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| Clarimoo |
Feb 24 2011, 05:07 PM
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#4
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Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1457 Joined: 31-July 09 From: The Shire, Middle Earth Member No.: 71829 |
Hello and welcome NMilton. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)
Best wishes for your piano studies, stay optimistic and there's no reason why you shouldn't get what you want. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) |
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| Organistin |
Feb 24 2011, 07:24 PM
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#5
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Welcome to the forum. Good luck with the piano. Pop into Viva Piano as well as adult learners - there's loads of interesting discussion on there.
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| stetenorve |
Feb 25 2011, 07:22 AM
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#6
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Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 2773 Joined: 25-March 09 From: Born and bred in Derby. Now living on the outskirts of Chesterfield. Member No.: 60099 |
Welcome to the forums! I'm a late piano learner too, so I look forward to checking your progress!
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| maggiemay |
Feb 25 2011, 09:36 AM
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#7
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Maestro Group: Members Posts: 18069 Joined: 12-January 04 From: S E England Member No.: 413 |
*waves* hello, and welcome to the forums!
I'll pose a typically British question and ask what the weather is like over there at the moment ! |
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| NMilton |
Feb 25 2011, 09:50 AM
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#8
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Hi all,
Thanks for your warm welcome... Maggiemay, the weather over here right now is -14... I was swimming this morning at 6:30 then came home for an hour of piano practice before work. My wee fingers were almost dropping off before I got back to the warmth. Stetenorve: ...and I yours. Good luck with grade 4 this year. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Organistin: I'll be popping into Viva Piano too, definitely. Hope to see you in there. Clarimoo: fingers crossed. I'm an optimistic sort. Barry-clari: well, it's an honour to fill Warsaw's boots on these forums (if somewhat from a Scottish perspective). KatieS: I moved to Poland with my girlfriend who is originally from Warsaw. She moved to Scotland for a couple of years after 2 years of long distance. She got homesick and so here we are. I love it though. The home of Chopin. Brilliant. |
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| muzikalbadger |
Feb 25 2011, 01:25 PM
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#9
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Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1425 Joined: 18-May 09 From: Scotland Member No.: 65753 |
A cheery wave back from SUNNY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Scotland!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif)
How is Poland??!! I have a few friends from over there (who now live here) and it sounds like an amazing country!! |
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| NMilton |
Feb 25 2011, 01:34 PM
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#10
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QUOTE(muzikalbadger @ Feb 25 2011, 02:25 PM)  A cheery wave back from SUNNY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Scotland!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) How is Poland??!! I have a few friends from over there (who now live here) and it sounds like an amazing country!! I love it here. I do miss Scotland sometimes, but Warsaw is beautiful and you know what? Last week, I found Irn Bru! Only one place here sells it, a proper fish and chips shop too. May to September, every Sunday at Łazienki park, there are also Chopin recitals. There's little better than stretching out on the grass after a couple of hours practice to hear the piano played 'properly' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Last year I recorded a wee short bit for a video blog I was doing - Chopin Recital in Warsaw. Now, you're from North Lanarkshire? I'm originally from Airdrie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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| muzikalbadger |
Feb 25 2011, 01:42 PM
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#11
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Prodigy Group: Members Posts: 1425 Joined: 18-May 09 From: Scotland Member No.: 65753 |
QUOTE(NMilton @ Feb 25 2011, 01:34 PM) QUOTE(muzikalbadger @ Feb 25 2011, 02:25 PM) A cheery wave back from SUNNY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Scotland!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) How is Poland??!! I have a few friends from over there (who now live here) and it sounds like an amazing country!! I love it here. I do miss Scotland sometimes, but Warsaw is beautiful and you know what? Last week, I found Irn Bru! Only one place here sells it, a proper fish and chips shop too. May to September, every Sunday at Łazienki park, there are also Chopin recitals. There's little better than stretching out on the grass after a couple of hours practice to hear the piano played 'properly' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Last year I recorded a wee short bit for a video blog I was doing - Chopin Recital in Warsaw. Now, you're from North Lanarkshire? I'm originally from Airdrie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm impressed!! Irn Bru and fish and chips... lol. You sounds like a true Scot!! Chopin recitals sound AMAZING... he is one of my all time favourite composers! Loads of my pupils are from Airdrie!! Im based in Bellshill!! :-) |
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| NMilton |
Feb 25 2011, 01:50 PM
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#12
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QUOTE(muzikalbadger @ Feb 25 2011, 02:42 PM) QUOTE(NMilton @ Feb 25 2011, 01:34 PM) QUOTE(muzikalbadger @ Feb 25 2011, 02:25 PM) A cheery wave back from SUNNY (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif) Scotland!!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wave.gif) How is Poland??!! I have a few friends from over there (who now live here) and it sounds like an amazing country!! I love it here. I do miss Scotland sometimes, but Warsaw is beautiful and you know what? Last week, I found Irn Bru! Only one place here sells it, a proper fish and chips shop too. May to September, every Sunday at Łazienki park, there are also Chopin recitals. There's little better than stretching out on the grass after a couple of hours practice to hear the piano played 'properly' (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Last year I recorded a wee short bit for a video blog I was doing - Chopin Recital in Warsaw. Now, you're from North Lanarkshire? I'm originally from Airdrie! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) I'm impressed!! Irn Bru and fish and chips... lol. You sounds like a true Scot!! Chopin recitals sound AMAZING... he is one of my all time favourite composers! Loads of my pupils are from Airdrie!! Im based in Bellshill!! :-) Yeah, mine too. Spending his 200th anniversary here last year was so cool. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) Ahh Bellshill, the place that when mentioned, most of my peer group would say "I was born there". (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif) And the home of the mighty Teenage Fanclub, of course. |
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| Benjy |
Feb 25 2011, 02:05 PM
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#13
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Advanced Member Group: Members Posts: 261 Joined: 5-January 10 From: UK Member No.: 86293 |
QUOTE(NMilton @ Feb 24 2011, 03:30 PM) In June, I'll be starting the piano grade exams at grade 2 but I've rarely felt so driven to improve with something as I do with piano so I hope to push myself as far as grade 8 (I'm an optimist, I grant you) in the next 10 years. Who knows though... ten years is a long time and anything could happen. Right now though, I'm just enjoying the process. Excellent, I have the utmost admiration for adults who start from scratch, and I'm sure you will enjoy it. I feel myself to be a slightly fraudulent adult learner having done a lot of the work as a child, and then restarting after a 20 year gap. I will be in Warsaw next month on the way back from Belarus. Any recommendations for beer emporia?? Jon |
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| Sunrise |
Feb 25 2011, 02:13 PM
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#14
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Virtuoso Group: Members Posts: 3389 Joined: 7-June 10 From: Gibraltar Member No.: 106844 |
Welcome to the Forums, hope you enjoy your time here....
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| NMilton |
Feb 25 2011, 02:20 PM
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#15
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QUOTE(Benjy @ Feb 25 2011, 03:05 PM) QUOTE(NMilton @ Feb 24 2011, 03:30 PM) In June, I'll be starting the piano grade exams at grade 2 but I've rarely felt so driven to improve with something as I do with piano so I hope to push myself as far as grade 8 (I'm an optimist, I grant you) in the next 10 years. Who knows though... ten years is a long time and anything could happen. Right now though, I'm just enjoying the process. Excellent, I have the utmost admiration for adults who start from scratch, and I'm sure you will enjoy it. I feel myself to be a slightly fraudulent adult learner having done a lot of the work as a child, and then restarting after a 20 year gap. I will be in Warsaw next month on the way back from Belarus. Any recommendations for beer emporia?? Jon I'm more of a cafe type of guy than a beer drinker (if I'm honest, I'm more or less tee-total and for a Scot this is almost unheard of) but my favourite bar to go is a place on Nowy Świat called Brave New World (Nowy Wspanialy Swiat). For what it's worth, I've heard that Tyskie and Żywiec beers are quite good. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) QUOTE(Dawnmc71 @ Feb 25 2011, 03:13 PM) Welcome to the Forums, hope you enjoy your time here.... Thanks Dawn (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif) |
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