musicians roll call

[linear]

In the "What do you wish you were good at?" thread,a lot of people piped up with playing some instrument.

How many of us BT3ers play? What do you play, how long have you been at it?

I played piano professionally (made my living playing) for 11 years before eventually becoming a responsible adult. Mostly I played within the Jazz/Soul/R&B vein but I'd play whatever paid the bills. I've done gigs with a few jazz greats, and I've worked with Elvis impersonators. Corporate events. Cocktail hour. A lot of outdoor festivals. I've been in the service entrance of every hotel and country club in town. And tons of weddings.

[ironhat]

Nothing professional here. I always wanted to play the trumpet but my sister soured my Dad on music when she wanted a piano and on a meager salary he bought one. She quit before a year was up and lost his shirt on the instrument. So, they bought me one of those plastic Emenee trumpets with four valves. I wore the thing out but he wasn't convinced until I killed a second one. He sprung for a rental trumpet whenI was in the 6th grade and I took to it quite well playing first trumpet and frequently first chair thru high school and college. I also taught myself enough finger picking guitar at age 13 to be a refuge for me to this day (56). I frequently play just before bed to soothe my soul. Sorry that that got so long.

[dkerfoot]

I have played Bass and Guitar for about 25 years. I own several. I pick them up sometimes. I am a least as good as most people are after playing 6 months.

I have resigned myself to being a collector of musical instruments.

[siliconbauhaus]

ex drummer.....some day when I have spare cash I'll invest in a small kit to practise on.....havent played in about 10 years though

[JSUPreston]

Okay, former music ed major here, before getting into computers. Here's the list of what I have played with some proficiency and have performed on publicly:
Trumpet (original instrument-major instrument in college)
Horn in F (made all county several years)
Trombone & Bass Trombone (only in college, helped out a friend's HS band one year on it)
Tuba (BBb - all county for 3 years; nearly made all state, missed it by "that much")
Baritone/Euphonium
Alto, Tenor & Bari Sax (only at church in worship teams - should be able to play others)
Flute
Piano
Upright Bass and Electric Bass
Voice - High Tenor

Some that I learned that either I have forgotton or absolutely sucked!
Clarinet (I can lip trill on it! )
Guitar
Drums
Violin
Cello
Guitar

I've been so busy with life, work and school that I don't get to do much music any more. Some days, I do miss it.

[bmyers]

I would say that mostly, I'm a guitar man. I have many guitars including electric and acoustic, 12 string and 6 string, Fender to Yamaha. Been playing for 25 years or so there. It's all been Pro Bono. (not the guy from U2) I play folk songs on the acoutsic for the kids and Voodoo Chile on the Mesa Boogie when they go to grandma's

In HS band I was the "we-need-one-of-these-for-this-song" kid and played a tenor sax too. Boy was my mom thrilled when they needed a tuba for 1 song. She had to drive me to school, it wouldn't fit on the bus.. Also played French Horn for a while. Mom didn't have to drive me to school with that so she liked that more I think.

Also travelled around with a HS Jazz band and my sax. Didn't know how big-a-tight wads the regular band was until I joined jazz band.

I'd like to learn to play a drum kit some day. I think it's like patting your head and rubbing your belly but with bass drum and hi-hat keeping time.

Would like to build an acoustic 6 string someday. Maybe just a Grizzly kit would be suffice rather than having to do EVERYTHING myself..

If you've had the chops to play for money my hats off to you!

Bill

[jking]

I've played drums & percussion since the mid-80's. I had a break for about 8 years where I didn't play anything at all. Now, I primarily play drum set at church. I wish I had the time to practice like I should. I looked back at some of my instruction books from high school & couldn't believe that used be able to sight read some of that stuff.

Never played professionally.

[crokett]

What do you mean by play? I took piano lessons for a few years as a teenager. I can still do scales and play a lot by year. I can sight read fairly well and play with either hand but putting the two together is where I have problems.

[pierhogunn]

French Horn, and Recorder

enjoy both

[BadeMillsap]

... since I was about 12 ... that was 1964 ...

Guitar ... garage band that played regularly at dances and parties while I was in High School

Taught myself to be a "hack" on the Mandolin back in the middle 1980's

Still play (for fun) and collect ... have 15+ guitars, a banjo, 3 mandolins, a fiddle, and an autoharp

Have built several flat top "Dreadnaught style" guitars a few solid body electrics and have two mandolins ("A" style and "F" style) under my belt.

[kirkroy]

I started on clarinet in 4th grade since the girl down the street was playing that. I quit once I got to high school and they made us do marching band. I can still make some noise on a clarinet (one of my kids is now playing) but the physical demands are so great to make any kind of a decent sound...

In 78 my Mom bought a piano and all of us kids had to learn to play. I was the only one who was any good so I had to stick with it. I actually did piano performance for my first year of college before my father 'convinced' me that I should do something practical in school. I ended up not even finishing college. If I had stuck with a music degree I would have at least finished, even if the degree itself lacked some practicality. I can carry myself ok on the piano still, including playing relatively simple stuff like mozart's sonata in C and stuff but my technique is long gone after nearly 20 years of not practicing.

In high school I got an electric guitar and played it from the time I got home from school until I went to bed everyday. I used to go and jam with friends a lot. This is the most fun instrument to me...

Just after high school I got a tenor sax (not too different from a clarinet) and played it 2-3 hours a day everyday. Once I switched my major from music to accounting to skipped class everyday and went to the practice rooms on campus with my sax. It's no wonder I dropped out. Once I got married I stopped playing (wasn't too compatible with apartment living) and made the mistake of lending it to my bro in law who lent it to his uncle who pawned it.

Finally I traded some junk for a bass my brother had bought. I play that at church every sunday. I'm not a good bass player (tiny hands). I'm hoping someone else comes along to play bass so I can play lead guitar instead...

[gsmittle]

I did percussion all through elementary, jr. high, high school and college. Drum set, mallets, tympani (my favorite), pretty much anything you strike to make a sound. I wrote a couple of percussion pieces in college, two of which were used in stage productions as incidental music.

I don't play at all now, except once once in a while when I find the trap set in the band room empty.

Actually, I find that as I teach drama I use a lot of musical terms and examples, especially rhythmic examples. Go figure.

I was a music minor in college. Don't ask me about my Class Piano trauma...

g.

[bluzcat]

Although I've been playing guitar off and on for 25 years, I should still post this in the "What do you wish you were good at" thread. I really enjoy the guitar; repairing, modifying, playing, collecting....whatever. Should spend more time practicing, but with a full-time day job and three kids, time is precious. I don't want to be a great guitarist, just good enough to blow the roof at a blues jam night with tight 3 song set. Knock 'em dead and leave 'em wantin' more!!

[billwmeyer]

Music

I always wanted to play the drums, but I played the tuba in high school band. I still remember a parade in Tulsa, Ok. I was carrying a brass, not fiberglass tuba, and the wind was very strong. It seemed like that parade was endless. Tubas were also the favorite target for pea shooters.

Bill

[LCHIEN]

i took up violin when i started jr. high and played all thru High school.
I could never really make it past 1st Violin, 2nd chair... I toyed with playing in college but I went to a tough engineering school and just didn't have the time for it.
Had a lot of fun though and a good classical music exposure.