Hi all, i'm Ollie, i'm 23 and a student in history and education studies at the University of Derby. Trying to pick up an instrument properly for fun and hopefully to end up in teaching it. Planning on doing educational psychology or research later in life, once i've passed my degree. I also teach at a primary school as a kinda voluntary thing...

Basically starting from scratch once i've finalised which instrument i want to learn as i never learnt to read music. Little aprehensive as parents dont think it's a good plan but my father is a music, arts and sweetie nazi anyway - feel sorry for my little sister, no art, no music, no creative stuff and shes only 7.

Anyway! Everybody Smile!!!!!!!!!!!!!

For what it's worth, I started the Piano at 22 (just over a year ago) and am coming along nicely. Jump in there and do it! You won't regret it

Can't think why your parents don't think its a good idea (unless you plan to keep them awake all night practicing Violin)

Welcome I'm sure you'll really enjoy playing an instrument. I couldn't imagine not playing, I have met some many friends this way.

The boards are a really friendly place, and I am sure if you have any questions someone will be able to answer them

One point though, the moderators may not like it if you have your email address in your signature, I am not sure..

I live at university, its my father thats the fun nazi, hes always been against the arts, my parents lived apart and my mother when she was alive encouraged artistic dvelopment and i did photography at college before my A levels - i messed about for 4 years prior to uni, time to get it done now we call it a sabbatical shall we hehehe...

He was always opposed to anything arts based and preferred me to do business, caused no end of family riots but i think i've won the ability to decide for myself. I have a younger brother and sister who both live with him, 7 and 3 and he is very opposed to anything art based. They aren't allowed sweeties, or anything art/music based, ie no crayons, pens, instruments - not even singing. I feel sorry for them.

Thanks Nikki, yeah i already have a couple of people on my msn list from the forums lol, all soooo friendly, shame my local music shop isnt as helpful and friendly. HEHE, whats wrong with email in signiture?

Hi

Perhaps you could consider learning Recorder? It gets a bit of a bad press but is actually a great instrument and would be really useful if you are working in schools. There's some fab music for recorder and it's a good ensemble instrument whilst not being perhaps as technically nightmarish as learning violin from scratch... Just a thought!

Happy playing whatever you decide to do!

Nothing is wrong with having it there, but I know if you put contact details in threads such as email address the moderators tend to edit the posts and say not to put contact information in

Goodness, opposed to anything art based! It sounds awful - I hope you don't mind me saying that.

Are you on your holidays now from university, or is the term still going?

Hi Ollie and welcome. The e-mail thing is only for security reasons I think, not that the mods want to come across all strict or anything, as Nicki said, they just don't usually recommend you posting your e-mail. Anyway wait and see if it gets mentioned.

It's sad your younger brother and sister don't get to play or sing - but good luck with your musical quest and do stay around to let us know how you get on.

I don't get it.................I can't see his email in his signature!!!!!!

Anyway, learn an instrument, learn lots of instruments!! It's fun!! And would be a good release at uni if you are studying something else

No my dad and his wife live in Spain now so I live at university and with my late mothers boyfriend in Sheffield. I'm still here because outside term time i try to work full time.

Yeah I fancy learning the violin properly and also the flute, have a friend who keeps threatening to teach me the flute. HEHE! Although I picked hers up and made a nasty sound with it - but i did make it make a sound!

Yeah thats the idea, i have ADHD - I'm hoping it will help my concentration and also help me destress as the stress causes no end of problems with ADHD (busy brain thing) and would like to be a teacher evenutally before doing educational psychology, or perhaps ill stick to being a teacher. I used to play the recorder soooooo many years ago, i think it would be easy enough to pick up as and when if i could read music....

On with the theory! How would people suggest tackling an instrument? any good book for theory? do you recomend exams in theory and practical?

There really isn't any substitute for a good teacher, because small faults in the early stages (wrong hand position, bad posture, tense shoulders etc) can be corrected or re-routed early on before they become a serious problem.

If looking for a teacher is out of the question, find a friend who is willing to teach you, or a student teacher just starting out who is looking for willing "victims" to help get started and who may charge very little. I had a friend who used to trade a reflexology session for a piano lesson - that worked well, so maybe there's something you could do for a friend or colleague in return for some musical help.

Many people on the forums find that practising / playing, far from being another chore, is actually relaxing and beneficial. Sorry to hear you have ADHD; I wonder whether you have found listening to music helps you, although I have to admit I don't know much about ADHD. It sounds as if you have had a fair bit of disruption in your 23 years - hope you don't mind my saying that.

My daughter's also at uni btw - Lincoln.
Ooh - food is here - gotta go!

Lincoln! It was my backup, hull being my main choice, i ended up at Derby though, hehehehe!

No need to be sorry about ADHD, its a part of life, wouldnt be same without. ADHD is busy brain problem, problems with concentration and stuff. Music does help and listening to it calms me down when I get stressed so hopefully i'll be able to sort myself out bit more and itll be a distraction other than the tv!

I have found a violin teacher, and have a violin although i play very very badly, *screach screach screach* and im told that i could carry that on from basically scratch and learn to read music and do theory, when im upto grade 5 level with that to possibly pick flute up properly and in meantime my friend with take me through kind of learning - shes a flute teacher. She also tells me I need do take theory exams to get out of it what i want. I dont see the point in learning and not doing the exams anymore as they look nice of cv and will assist teaching.

I would recommend that you try to do at least some basic keyboard (in the broadest sense) playing - it's much easier to pick up theory if you are not restricted to a single line instrument. As to choice of instrument - go for something that you really like the sound of, but don't forget to consider the expense of not only getting an instrument, but maintaining it and buying music. I suspect that, as a university student the funds may need watching. The recorder scores well here, and has the advantage of being a great ensemble instrument. Have a look here at the Society of Recorder Players website

Well then the violin or flute it is then, i already have both and ive just fixed the violin, new parts after being damaged by storage (my bad)...

Money is a consideration but not as much as some other students, i have grade 2 music and im going out to get a theory book later. I have in past played piano but im never sure whats what with music hehe.

Flute is a lovely instrument. Of course, I am not biased

Violin is excellent. Not that I'm biased either.....

Just found you here Ollie....

I started to learn violin with no knowledge of music at age 44. I now play in the Chesterfield Symphony Orchestra and am working on Grade 5 practical having got Grade 5 theory last Summer. So it can be done!!

You'll find loads of support here. Don't be afraid to ask anything.

Also I see you are at Derby Uni. (But I guess you are on hols now until after Christmas). Well there's a co-incidence, I work at the Uni part time..... If you want to meet up and talk violin some time let me know. Send me a PM if you want to make contact.

Hi Jane,

Nope only going anywhere for xmas day/boxing day, father lives abroad so here all year round. Wow you must be good to play in an orchastra, I would love to get that involved.

Sending PM....

Ollie - Jane is a really good violinist and I am sure if you met up then she'd be able to help you loads!

Replied to PM
Hmmm.....you've not heard our Orchestra we're not like the LSO....and I mainly sit on the back desk of the 2nds and airbow


Thanks for the vote of confidence Nicki. Not sure I would describe myself as a "really good violinist". John is still trying to convice Archie we have a cat in the house when I practise. I think rather a "really keen violin player who is making slow but steady progress"

You have a better sound than some people I know who are doing Grade 7. You even made me, when I tried, sound not like a squeaky cat!

We'll have to do some more duets sometime

Aww thanks, But I still don't have a decent vibrato...hoping Santa will bring me one for Christmas



Definitely!

Ollie, have you checked out the recordings website? You will be able to check out my standard for real...and Nicki's flute playing which REALLY IS excellent!

Nahhh

Nikki needs a lil more self confidence, where is the recordings website?

www.forumrecordings.co.uk

ditto!! I have grade 4 Violin, but I can play around grade 6 pieces, (I'm pretty awful though!) And i've just started Cello, flute (love it, and I'm finding it pretty easy!), Clarinet, piano and theory lessons!! I'm 19, so, it's never too late! Go for it!!

Kflute - I think he's taken it off

19? You're a babe in arms.