Hello

Just thought I should post a little introduction. As my signature says, I'm mostly a lapsed musician!! I played violin and piano from the ages of 8 to 18 reaching grade 7 violin and grade 6 piano (failed grade 7 piano as I decided that taking both grade 7 exams in the same session was a good idea - to try and get them out of the way before A-levels). Since leaving school (8 years ago) playing music has fallen by the wayside mostly. I think I felt fed up and put off by endless lessons and the exam treadmill. It's taken me this long to come back to playing music just for myself to enjoy.

We now have an electric piano, a rather expensive one that my boyfriend uses for gigs. He is a completely instinctual musician, can't read music, but plays percussion, guitar and 'keys' in various bands regularly. We're complete opposites - I'm completely trained and a sight-reader, he's completely natural and plays by ear. I recently went out and bought myself some grade 6-ish piano books and have been very much enjoying rediscovering piano, and have been lurking here picking up ideas.

And then a few days ago, I rather suddenly decided to spend some 'birthday money' from my gran on a clarinet!!! Which was a bit out of the blue. I always wanted to learn sax or clarinet at school but my parents didn't want me to take up a third instrument and I didn't want to give up violin or piano.

So that's me, I look forward to chatting to other musical people on this site!! I hope to find some inspiration as to what to do with this clarinet when it arrives!!

Hello Eirlys, and welcome to the forums

Do have a look round and make yourself at home....

Advice on what to do when this clarinet arrives? Do try the Viva Woodwind forum. Want to compare notes on what it's like learning as an adult? Visit the Adult Learners' Forum. Want to hang out and chat to like-minded people? That's what the Cafe's for.

Maybe check out the Events sub-forum, to find opportunities to play your clarinet (or re-awaken your violin or piano skills) with others.

Cheers

Katyjay

Yay, clarinet and piano! You have impeccable taste, eirlys

How do you pronounce your username by the way, and is it a real name - it sounds a bit Gaelic...?

Hope you enjoy yourself here, and find it useful


skylark

Welcome!

Welcome

eirlys is a welsh name (which means 'snowdrop') not my real name but just one of my favourites

Thanks for the welcome everyone!!

to the forum!

A very warm welcome!

Thanks all I love it here already!

Hello, just wanted to introduce myself after joining yesterday.

I started piano lessons in February this year with no musical background, other than the bits I learned many moons ago at school!

I realise my name Jazz Chicken does suggest I am somewhat into Jazz music, but it's really just a quote from a comedian I saw recently which made me laugh at the time and I thought fitted in as a good name on the forums.

Anyway progressing kind of ok, I think at the moment. Did Grade 1 theory in November (oldest in the room doing such a low grade but I figured you have to start somewhere). Got my results last night 98%, so not too shabby for start.

Just working on the exam pieces and deliberating whether or not to go for Grade 1 in March. Confidence is a little shaky at the moment, but will try to put lots of work in over the Christmas break and make the final decision after then.

Got to say starting piano lessons is one of the best things I have ever done, my husband says he wonders what I used to talk about beforehand. Think I must be boring him a bit! Anyway loving it and hoping to carry on loving it for years to come. Look forward to speaking to you all.