Were you in school band or if they had an orchestra?

[Christina]

Yes.

[wanton87]

I think I posted this over at Filmboards Christina. But when I was in grade school, we did not have an orchestra. We simply had lessons with the teacher. I seem to recall that at one time, the school had an orchestra, as there seemed to be indicators in the music room to that effect.

Every year the music teacher would come around and distributed those Tonette song flutes to every kid, and gave basic music lessons for a few weeks. At the end of the two weeks, the kids decided if they wished to continue to learn an instrument, and which instrument. I chose the drums (or percussion if you will).

When I got to 7th grade, it was a rude awakening, because I was then thrust right into an orchestra setting; a setting in which I had no prior experience being in

[Christina]

Mar 13, 2021 14:50:06 GMT wanton87 said:

I think I posted this over at Filmboards Christina. But when I was in grade school, we did not have an orchestra. We simply had lessons with the teacher. I seem to recall that at one time, the school had an orchestra, as there seemed to be indicators in the music room to that effect.

Every year the music teacher would come around and distributed those Tonette song flutes to every kid, and gave basic music lessons for a few weeks. At the end of the two weeks, the kids decided if they wished to continue to learn an instrument, and which instrument. I chose the drums (or percussion if you will).

When I got to 7th grade, it was a rude awakening, because I was then thrust right into an orchestra setting; a setting in which I had no prior experience being in

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I was very interested to read this!...

I have a story, too, of course.  We didn't do music in preschool, and I went to preschool!  In kindergarten, I wanted to sing when I saw it.  In 1st grade, I heard of playing music from my grandma and wanted to play violin.  I thought I was in trouble when I got no answer from anyone.  In 5th grade, my teacher's daughter was teaching music, but no violin so I didn't.  In 7th grade, the school band had no violin so no.  I knew I couldn't join the youth orchestra remotely.  High school, I did piano and the band teacher kept trying to recruit me but no violin so no.  All this time I didn't even realize I wanted to play violin because I was traumatized, actually.  I was seriously considering it in high school, though, and couldn't decide between it and viola ... and later wanted an oboe or flute.  I have a flute and piccolo now.  Of course, I've played violin for 6 years, not practicing as much as and how I wanted.  I did it in college (in a group setting, perfect) and started again at age 29, I think a month from turning 30.  I was gonna do singing or if I knew I could rent off an oboe, but I decided against the singing and just did violin rather than both.  I've had 5 teachers.  I majored in Violin online for one semester, too, Spring 2020, at The Baptist College of Florida, but the religion classes some are too hard to pass, maybe as I'm not already Baptist.  I just turned in my audition last night for my first college (Loyola University New Orleans) where I majored in piano in 2004-2005, but I might not make it.  I asked if I could still take music again etc., but no response, must be busy.

I know, I was in University Band and it was my best experience in music.  I was in a community orchestra, but it kinda sucked that it wasn't like that band.  I played bells, of course, melodic percussion and sits close to you or with you!  I also did this in 12th grade at a new school, Catholic, with a new band.  I played at home football games, too.  In the University Band in Spring 2005, it was people blowing their hearts out on their primary instrument or recruits in other majors.  I felt bad in community orchestra, too, as I was intermediate.  I only played part of one song, in the end.  I was good when we were just sight reading.  Those people are so gifted.  Some only played out on the actual performance day and were dazzling in their talent.  What are we gonna do!

[wanton87]

Great story Christina! My mother played both the violin and the piano. I think she gave her old violin to my cousin, who planned on playing it. It’s a pretty old one, having been made around the 1950’s or before. Actually, my mother and I both shared the same music teacher. Mr Williamson was my mother’s high school music teacher. Years later, he was my 7th grade music teacher.

I only knew of one guy that played the Oboe, and that was in high school. Kind of a cool looking, big reed instrument.

That’s right Christina. The bells and the xylophone both fall into the percussion squad. As I recall, the keys are identical to that of a piano. But of course, rather than being pressed with fingers, they are struck with a mallet.

Knowing what I know now, I would have taken a different instrument, and then perhaps moved over to drums. Why? Well, you don’t really learn how read notes with the drums. The only drums that have notes, are the big brass kettle drums (Sometimes called Timpani’s) and the Tri-Toms that you see in the marching bands.

My cousin also played the flute. She later got a piccolo.

Check this girl out. Her name sounds Russian. I subscribed to her just this morning.

[Christina]

Mar 13, 2021 23:41:06 GMT wanton87 said:

Great story Christina! My mother played both the violin and the piano. I think she gave her old violin to my cousin, who planned on playing it. It’s a pretty old one, having been made around the 1950’s or before. Actually, my mother and I both shared the same music teacher. Mr Williamson was my mother’s high school music teacher. Years later, he was my 7th grade music teacher.

I only knew of one guy that played the Oboe, and that was in high school. Kind of a cool looking, big reed instrument.

That’s right Christina. The bells and the xylophone both fall into the percussion squad. As I recall, the keys are identical to that of a piano. But of course, rather than being pressed with fingers, they are struck with a mallet.

Knowing what I know now, I would have taken a different instrument, and then perhaps moved over to drums. Why? Well, you don’t really learn how read notes with the drums. The only drums that have notes, are the big brass kettle drums (Sometimes called Timpani’s) and the Tri-Toms that you see in the marching bands.

My cousin also played the flute. She later got a piccolo.

Check this girl out. Her name sounds Russian. I subscribed to her just this morning.

(video)

I remember going to jazz concerts at Loyola.  I like this one:



That's cool your mom played violin.  My mom's nephew can play the hardest violin literature.  His mom is my mom's sister younger by 9 or 10 years, and she teaches piano, played since she was maybe around 5 or 6.  The husband is Indonesian and he is a violinist, but I'm not sure in what way.

It was fun at football games trying to play, "There's a place in France, where the naked ladies dance..."

[wanton87]

Oh yeah, I remember that one Christina. It looks like Nancy Wilson just died in 2018. I mentioned this before at filmboards, but there were two orchestra’s. There was concert band for less skilled players, and there was symphonic band for the more advanced players. But during football season, both were combined, and were marching band, whether they wanted to be or not.

I remember that one of the pieces that we played, was the theme from the Vegas tv series, that starred Robert Urich. On our way to the field for drills, the percussion squad played a cadence. I tried to find the one that we played, but unfortunately, was unable to. But it was really catchy. It started off with the tri-toms, then the other drums kicked in after a point, and finally the bells/xylophone.

I saw online, that many of the modern marching bands have 5 piece tom tom sets. We just had the tri-toms, and one guy had double toms, or Timbales as they are referred to in technical terms.

[Christina]

Mar 14, 2021 14:46:25 GMT wanton87 said:

Oh yeah, I remember that one Christina. It looks like Nancy Wilson just died in 2018. I mentioned this before at filmboards, but there were two orchestra’s. There was concert band for less skilled players, and there was symphonic band for the more advanced players. But during football season, both were combined, and were marching band, whether they wanted to be or not.

I remember that one of the pieces that we played, was the theme from the Vegas tv series, that starred Robert Urich. On our way to the field for drills, the percussion squad played a cadence. I tried to find the one that we played, but unfortunately, was unable to. But it was really catchy. It started off with the tri-toms, then the other drums kicked in after a point, and finally the bells/xylophone.

I saw online, that many of the modern marching bands have 5 piece tom tom sets. We just had the tri-toms, and one guy had double toms, or Timbales as they are referred to in technical terms.

That's interesting.  I think everyone should try orchestra.  My bands weren't that "big."  The song you played sounds amusing.  It sounds like you had a nice instrument.  Mine was the glockenspiel, called the bells, also can be called glox.  I tell people they are like xylophones.

I miss doing these things now that school is out and I didn't/yet finish a degree in music.

[wanton87]

As I recall, the only difference between the Xylophone and the bells, was the wooden keys? But it’s been a while Christina.

The music and German degree sounds fun Christina, but can you find work, and will it pay the bills? Otherwise you’re stuck with huge student loan debt, and little to no income to survive, and pay it back. You should check into grants. I’ll bet you qualify.

[Christina]

Mar 15, 2021 14:08:58 GMT wanton87 said:

As I recall, the only difference between the Xylophone and the bells, was the wooden keys? But it’s been a while Christina.

The music and German degree sounds fun Christina, but can you find work, and will it pay the bills? Otherwise you’re stuck with huge student loan debt, and little to no income to survive, and pay it back. You should check into grants. I’ll bet you qualify.

I don't know exactly what's different between different models of melodic percussion instruments for different things.

Colleges prepare you to get a job.  It's what it's there for.    I want to move to Germany, so knowing German I can do that.  Hopefully, I can play violin, by then.