Day 10 – Unusual Instruments …
Can we play this?
Whenever we see a new instrument, we immediately want to try it out. We have learnt to hold back over time for the sake of keeping some of the increasingly shrinking remaining usable living space in our house. Still, watching other people play and master instruments we sometimes haven’t even heard of is so fun, and we thoroughly enjoyed today’s submissions.
Here are the YouTube links:
Something (The Beatles) on Harpejji G16
Ennio Morricone – The Ecstasy of Gold – Theremin & Voice
Remember, if you can think of anything else you’d like us to check out in the remaining days until Christmas, you can still submit them!
We hope you’ll enjoy your weekend. We are very busy working on a number of projects simultaneously, and the next music video is currently priority number one, apart from the upcoming live stream. We’ve been loving December so far!
We’re looking forward to your comments!
Mona & Lisa
This is several days later. I work weekends, so I binge watch to catch up. To go along with the posts you asked for:
I played piccolo in high school. I play recorder and Native American flute (which
uses the pentatonic scale. pretty cool). tried Hawaiian nose flute. I tried, and still
have Irish tin whistle. I could probably get the knack of it if I’d stick with it. But the
tunings are weird for me.
4.a little violin in high school. unfortunately we had enough cellos.
5.Native American hand-drum.
6.I want to learn bongos. I could’ve from a friend in Hawaii, don’t remember why I
didn’t.
Before I got post-vax covid in summer 2021, I had a really good singing voice too. Lots of range. Now my voice is hoarse all the time.
stayin’ groovy
For the Nerds amongst us, I include myself, the Theramin is used to play the Dr Who music, I think.
As for playing an instrument, at school I was given a violin to learn to play. I wasn’t that good, I had little confidence in myself. Then one evening after school practice I was running for my bus and the case flew open, the violin shot out and the bus ran over it. I took it back into school next morning, needless to say, I wasn’t given another
Interesting videos, though the theremin does seem a bit weird. Ennio Morricone wrote a lot of music for the movies, especially the spaghetti westerns that starred Clint Eastwood.
I took piano lessons a couple years in elementary school, but I didn’t always want to practice when I was supposed to, especially in the summer when I preferred being outside playing baseball or whatever. I wish I had kept up with it, though.
Wow, very interesting. I don’t think I will be trying to learn either instrument, but I loved your video and learning about them. Thank you!!
Ladies the Theramin is not so new. Brian Wilson used this to create Good Vibrations back in the day!! There is a documentary showing him using it originally and he also toured with a similiar one in 1999. The replica was named the Tannerin to honor is the original creator as stated in Wiki.
Cool, never heard of it but love “Good Vibrations” and always wondered how the Beach Boys made that cool sound.
Something, one of the Beatles most romantic songs . Very intriguing video.
The other video very cool also.
I’m afraid I don’t play any instruments,
But would love to play drums.
Both of those videos were really interesting! It is amazing how talented some people are ( I have no talent!). I saw a band in concert once in which one of the players used a Theramin (it was the hard rock band Tesla, believe it or not!) A very curious and somewhat freaky instrument.
I play the drums, guitar, and mandolin. I have been playing the drums since around 1965, the guitar since 1971, and the mandolin since 2005. I want to learn the lap steel one of these days. I have about 3 drum sets (2 electronic and one traditional Ludwig) and I don’t know how many guitars I have (over 20). I love to play and have been playing as an amateur since 1967 or so. Mike.
Both of these instruments were new to me. Very cool indeed. The theremin had me totally baffled. As you said, something akin to witchcraft, or maybe right out of a Star Trek episode? Judging by how intrigued you were with it, something tells me that one might eventually show up in your studio. (As if you weren’t already over your heads in creative endeavors.)
Instruments I learned to play at least to an intermediate level include piano, guitar, tuba, string bass, harmonica and drums. Most of these were played through high school and then mostly just guitar, until I hit my 30’s, and then started playing again when I retired.
Music appreciation and musicianship used to be recognized as extremely important topics in public school when I was growing up, Not so much anymore. That’s a big loss in my view, after all, music and the arts pretty much define in large part what it means to be human.
BTW, loved yesterday’s video and sharing its strong emotional appeal with you both. Thanks to Craig and MLT for re-connecting me to Yusuf/ Cat Stevens. I had such a strong connection to his music in my youth and I had lost track of him. MLT Club is the best!
My brother built a theremin in the 1960s for a school science fair
Really cool instrument
Not sure if it was my dad that gave him the idea or Bob Moog (inventor of the synthesizer)
My brother use to hang out at Bob’s shop in Trumansburg when he was a kid.
Bob loved theremins and sold them in the 60s, and collected them his entire life
That’s a great story! I hope your brother still has the theremin, that would be cool.
In Phoenix the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) is a world class attraction. In addition to an amazing collection of instruments of all types from all over the globe, with accompanying audio, there is a really nice performance space. In one area there is a vintage Theremin that visitors are encouraged to try out. I discovered that the Moog folks produce a version of this 1920’s invention that they call “Theremini”. It is actually considerably more evolved than the original instrument but still exhibits the same basic principles. You don’t actually touch the instrument to play it. It has two antenna and by waving your hands around them you can control pitch (left) and volume (right). The Theremin was used by the Beach Boys to create some of the weird sounds in “Good Vibrations”. I have a Theremini. You could probably make much better use of it than me. Kristi has a keen appreciation for how badly I butcher the Theremini.
https://youtu.be/K6KbEnGnymk
On feature of the Theremini (not found in the original instruments) is a “pitch correction” knob which causes the instrument to hit actual notes, like putting frets on a slide trombone. 😁 It has a slew of scales and the pitch range can be varied from more than 5 octaves down to about one. One octave with pitch correction dramatically simplifies things but also takes away much of the characteristic sound. The Theremini also is a midi device and can be customized programmatically.
That “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” clip was lovely! Yes, it seems so hard to get that thing on pitch but that guy is doing really well! Makes sense why they added that feature to the Theremini though.
They’re such a cool but impractical instruments haha! I had no idea the Beach Boys used it too!
I was never much of a musician, but I was a master lawn mower mechanic when I was little! 😉 All I needed was one of my mom’s pot holders and a rusty gas can. (It’s amazing that I’ve lived so long!)
Well you learn something new everyday! One of our MLT club members mentioned the Moog which reminded me that I once read that the first rock song to use one was “Daily Nightly” by the Monkees. Micky Dolenz owned one. Really enjoying these daily videos!
Yeah, how about the Monkees as rock pioneers? Micky played the Moog on that song, although his technique was limited to flying saucer sounds. On the same album as Daily Nightly was Star Collector, which featured a Moog played more tunefully by Paul Beaver.
I don’t play any exotic instruments. I am trying to learn to play the guitar; emphasis on trying.
I wonder if you ever checked out Justin Johnson’s youtube channel. He is not only a phenomenal guitar player (mostly blues), but he makes,sells and plays a shovel guitar. Also, guitars made from cigar boxers and ammo cans. Really unique.
Stay groovy. Peace be
I’m subscribed to his channel already 🙂 Phenomenal player with very unique guitars!
More on MLT Club’s presentation today of exotic musical instruments —
The following is a brief (90 second) use of the theremin instrument in the classic rock era/genre taken from the 1973 motion picture, The Song Remains the Same.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPhXm-UPfEU
Led Zeppelin and the theremin, who would have thought! Thanks for the link!
I can play harmonica a little bit, I really haven’t played in many years. Honestly I probably couldn’t handle a pitch pipe.
Howdy,
Has the Armonica ever been mentioned in the discussions?
I recently found out that Benjamin Franklin invented it in 1761. It is really cool.
He was such a brilliant man who accomplished so much in his lifetime. He refrained from patenting any of his inventions and did not wish any monetary compensation.
Bobby S.
Benjamin Franklin was the GOAT (Greatest of All Time).
I only recently found out about this when Rob Scallon made a YouTube video about it! Such a fascinating instrument with a crazy history!
Thanks Tom and Jeanette. Both of the clips where very interesting and new to me. As always a great add-on to my day provided by the MLT Club.
I am primarily a guitar player but have dabbled a bit with keyboards and harmonica. I have had the opportunity to play the pipe organ a few times and thats a blast but requires years of practice. Multiple manuals(keyboards) STOPS to pull and peddles to tap dance on!! You are using both hands and both feet all at the same time. I use to have a gaggle of blues harps and a couple chromatics along with a couple of holders (my love of Dylan, Sonny Boy and Little Walter) but through the years my collections has dwindled down to 3 or 4. Currently I have 4 guitars, one amp and multiple harps.
I haven’t ever seen the first instrument played it looked amazing but I couldn’t see myself getting to grips with it. I’m just a humble guitar player and my go to is my gretsch for any electric work. So many talented people out there.
Team Gretsch!! 😀
Absolutely Lisa Gretsch are king in my book although you play yours better than I play mine 😁😁
Just when you think there couldn’t possibly be any musical instrument you haven’t heard of, along come the harpejji and the theremin! I did some reading on the theremin. Apparently its creator, Leon Theremin, who invented the instrument in 1919, is credited with paving the way for the future development of electronic instruments:
Robert Moog, began building theremins in the 1950s, while he was a high-school student. Moog subsequently published a number of articles about building theremins, and sold theremin kits that were intended to be assembled by the customer. Moog credited what he learned from the experience as leading directly to his groundbreaking synthesizer, the Moog. (from Wikipedia)
Here is a short but fascinating clip of Theremin himself demonstrating his instrument:
(2) Leon Theremin playing his own instrument – YouTube
Amazing. It was invented in 1919 and this was from 1954. So he had a little time to master it. But still, for footage like this to have survived and even made it on YouTube is simply miraculous.
That was an interesting and enjoyable video. I have seen these instruments before and these two artists were really super at it.
As so many did, I played the recorder in school (5th grade I think). We had good quality wooden ones (I still have it lol) and not the less expensive plastic ones that were used in later years.
From the 7th-12th grades, I played the trumpet in the school band. We played mostly classical music and show tunes – such as from My Fair Lady, Sound of Music & West Side Story. One of my favorite selections was Leroy Anderson’s tune “Sleigh Ride”.
While in the 9th grade, I had the privilege to play with the Manhattan Boro-Wide Band, where the best school age musicians from all over Manhattan would get together to rehearse for a concert we gave at Carnegie Hall. The only selection I remember playing there was the very popular Beethoven’s 5th. Da-da-da-dum.
I started playing guitar when I was 14 and later the bass. I fooled around on the drums and piano or organ whenever I could. I won’t go into all the details of my groups I played with right now. But just to say, I still have my Harmony Acoustic Guitar, a ’68-’69 Fender Telecaster Bass, a Thomas Organ, my Trumpet, and an Alto Sax (my dad played). Oh and a Tambourine (made of wood).
I recently purchased a Hohner Harmonica (made in Germany).
I am looking forward to tomorrow’s video. The month is going by much too quickly. Soon it will be 2023 – unbelievable.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Bobby S.
Here are a few snapshots of me with instruments, tinkering around though the guitar one is my guitar purse…lol… I have another photo of all my instruments I own, but can’t find it, but whenever I do come across it, I’ll post it .
Nice photos Jacki. It’s good to see you. Thanks for sharing.
You said you play the tambourine, well that is good. Not everyone can play it well.
I always loved to play the tambourine when I was singing and not playing the guitar or drums at the time. You look cool with the guitar.
Thankyou.. Funny thing is, I cannot play the real guitar , My brain/hand/eye co-ordination just cannot connect properly to function to play.. I’m better/efficient at air-guitaring …I have a natural sense of rhythm, so I think that’s why I’m able to play tambourine somewhat ….and it’s easier fir me to grasp the function, etc ….
That’s a fun purse! It’s always great to see you so happy! 🙂
Thankyou Mona….I’ve gotten alot of positive commentary whenever I’ve gone out it and it’s Baby Guitar Purse Sister whom I ” adopted ” while on a daytrip to Kingston, Ontario Pre-Covid, a few years ago
To me, these exotic musical instruments are delightful. It’s like something new.
For instance the simple rain stick instrument (which sounds almost identical to rainfall on a tin roof) is also surprisingly good to record at different levels and channels on ribbon type microphones. It sounds incredible.
That said, I never heard the Harpejji instrument before until now, and Something is a wonderful tune for that exotic musical instrument.
It’s lovely.
There’s this hurdy-gurdy instrument I picked out the other day, (you pretty much get what you pay for with exotic musical instruments) but ran into this same question Mona raises that it seems you have to put a great deal of work into mastering the functionality of the exotic instruments and once you’re fluent, it just consumes you too much to stay expert. You have to practice it a lot on some of the more exotic musical instruments. It’s easy to become a one trick pony.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D9IK7nlb-Qc
Oooohhhh, that was funky cool, seeing today’s submissions, though I cannot really play anything except for tambourine , and to sing, but tinkering around on harmonica, guitar, piano, drums, and the metal prongs instrument (proper name escapes my mind at the moment). The first instrument shown here to me was like a hybrid of a steel/pedal guitar and an autogarp/accordion kinda cross mix of sorts , while the 2 nd video was like a voice manipulator/keyboard hybrid idea, it reminded me of the keyboard manipulator voice thing that you have that Papa Rudi fad used in a few songs (again, proper name escapes me just now ) . Thankyou for today’s submissions, and thoroughly enjoyed watching, listening, and loved your enthusiastic reactions, etc . Day 10 was Music to my Ears and Eyes….
Always been intrigued by the theramin, and I can’t imagine the hours required to master the harpejji! Great vids and reactions!
I’m seriously considering taking up blues harp. Mona, would you please share your favorite make/model, and maybe one that would be newbie-friendly? It’d be beyond groovy if I could play one like yours! Not meaning to leave you out, Lisa, as I know you play, too, but Mona is undeniably more noted for the harp to us clubbers.
Now, then; is there some sort of hair-cutting binge going on in the Wagner household? Are Michaela and PapaRudi in on it, too? No worries, you two can’t go wrong. You’d be gorgeous even if you shaved each other bald! That being said, though you’re obviously beautiful young ladies, nothing rivals the inner beauty you both (all four, actually) radiate spontaneously!
Hi Jeffrey! I’ve only ever played Hohner blues harps which seem to be universally considered the “go to” brand. I’ve got some from the “Marine Band” line and some from the “MS” line. They’re reliable and quite affordable so you can’t really go wrong there. 🙂
If you end up trying it, let us know how it goes!
Haha, I’ve always wanted to get a pixie cut at some point in my life so let’s see! 😉
Thanks, Mona! Sometimes I could tell in some vids you were playing a Hohner but knowing to look for Marine Band and MS models helps a ton! My maternal grandfather played beautifully, though I barely remember as he passed while I was quite young. I remember seeing the word Hohner on his harp, so now I have double the reason to get one. His harps unfortunately were stolen by his unscrupulous second wife’s relatives and lost to me. I don’t value many earthly possessions much, but I sure would have liked to have his harp! Mom says I take after his mannerisms quite heavily!
I admit I was really diggin’ your longer hair, but as I said, you really can’t go wrong!
If anyone wants to do a really deep dive on this topic, check out this lengthy thread in the general discussion forum:
Washboard, Teabox and other unusual instruments – General Discussion – MonaLisa Twins (monalisa-twins.com)
I played the clarinet in grade school and middle school, and taught myself how to play chords on a Bontempi electric organ. Lisa’s work on I Don’t Know Birds That Well inspired me to learn ukulele, but I ended up doing it the lazy way: I lay the instrument on my lap and press straight down on the frets like piano keys. But hey, I’m not trying to impress anyone!
Good morning. Just getting myself ready to drive. 3 miles from Texas border. Going to deliver Monday night in Arlington. Interesting video’s. I know the Theremom. Think I might of saw the other in passing. My instrument are…My mother got gmherself an organ from Montgomery Wards with a learning course. It had 2 tier keyboard and Bass pedals. Also had a bad rhythm machine. While she learned I surpassed her course teaching myself how to read music. I was tinkering in the music room in school on a piano. I had befriended the music teacher. He was saying I don’t know what to do next year! I asked what he meant. He said all the trumpet players were graduating this year. All but 1. I just said to him that I couldn’t promise him anything, but I could take some lessons with him over the summer. This is a very small school. So I did. Then he told me that he put me down on my schedule concert band. And he put me in choir saying it’s good for ear training. I cannot sing well. So that year I’d started to show up, with my fingerings chart, I didn’t know all the notes yet. I learned the art of woodsheding my parts that year. In one year I was better than most players. It was embarrassing to start off that way. 2 years later I was in the Catskill Concervatory and then 2 years later in college. Had to take a piano minor in college. I’d sight read it. Didn’t like it that much. The one course I loved was Keyboard Harmony. We would use lead sheets and orchestrate the song by reading melody and chords. Substitute chords modal influence etc. One of my favorite things I did at home on my mother’s organ was when they would go out and leave me alone, I’d bring down my Black Sabbath and Alice Cooper albums. I’d turn rmeverything on 11( Spinal tap) and play Block chords to my heavier albums. Was fun. Stay safe. Stay Groovy! ❤️🌹🤘
Good morning(well for me it is morning haha)!
Two very unique instruments. I like the sound of the Harpejji, kind of a piano/keyboard-like blend of a guitar and a steel guitar. Reminds me a bit of a dulcimer. There was a string instrument we played in school that we strummed and held dampers down to make different notes but the name now escapes my fading memory.
But the Theremin is really out there. Sort of a conductor and a choir all in one. Although I’m sure someone with a background of synthesizer skills could really go to town with one of these marvels. I can see how very difficult it would be to master though.
I come from a family of piano teachers. My paternal Grandmother taught (I still have her piano, an ancient Gourlay upright that is almost 150 years old) and my 3 Aunts were all professional teachers and concert players. My Dad was an accomplished player but not at the level of his sisters. I played and studied with the Royal Conservatory up to grade 8 certification, but I grew weary of the stringent boundaries of what I called “long hair” classical piano. I longed to be free of restraint and rock & roll was far more “in” as a teenager in school. I played trombone in both concert and stage band through my mid and high school years. Our band leader was a professional jazz sax player and he took us to levels we could have never attained without him. Sadly, I sod my horn when I left school, but I was young and foolish. Of course, after some 50 years, my lip would be gone anyway but it would be nice to still have it. I still love piano but I don’t play much anymore.
My real love has always been guitar and I struggled alone starting about 25 years ago, but didn’t get too far; just some very simple strumming and chording. About 5 years ago I got serious and with the help of a very good professional player, I have managed to develop some decent playing skills and as with all guitar fiends, I have a serious “GAS” problem. I love PRS electrics (I have an SE Custom 24 and a Hollowbody II Piezo…I’m not financially healed enough to own Core models) and I’d have more if I could justify them. I have another electric that I use to play slide with, and 3 acoustics (one is a Seagull S12 that is simply an amazing instrument), a bass and a ukulele. I have a dedicated room in the basement where I play and jam along with songs on Youtube and CDs through my amps. Separating myself from the main part of the house keeps my wife’s sanity, plus it doesn’t annoy the neighbors and I am free to get as crazy as I want down there. My friends bug me constantly to do some gigs, but haven’t tested those waters yet. What I do is too much fun, keeping it small and spontaneous.
Hello Ladies,
Very unusual videos today. Intriguing how they work. I know I would be all over the place trying to play these 😆
I’ve had lessons with the Guitar, and Trombone. I never really got past the intermediate stage. I have trouble with my hands doing different things at the same time.
Thanks for the very entertaining videos. Love this format. It’s like being in the same room with you and reacting to them.
Have a Super Groovy Weekend
Rick Ross
Muriel Anderson plays the guitar harp, I saw her at our local art center a couple of years ago:
Hey Dale, that looks real cool. Would love to hear it.
Bobby
Wow! So cool video today Mona and Lisa! I never knew these intruments excisted. I most enjoyed watching these two videos. So many things each day to learn and this is one of them. My goodness you are outdoing yourself this year with the Advent season, this is such a great idea!! So looking forward to the stream live on the 23rd!
Bill and Maddie
Enjoyed Something more because it is #2 of my all-time favorite Beatles songs. I was listening to the notes of it, and it was about perfect. I am going to have to check into that instrument.
This was different – watching your inquisitive and impressed selves versus the joy and laughter from some previous posts. The Something video was very cool – sort of a guitar/piano vibe. The electronic video honestly freaked me out – when Mona said “looks a little like witchcraft “ – that’s exactly what I was thinking. But of course I’m always so impressed by the talent and practice required to make beautiful sounds. I play electric guitar and have a slight addiction to beautiful instruments – though I enjoy playing, I’m nowhere near as good for the quality and quantity of electric guitars I have…
Seeing you early really makes the day start off great and happy!
This was another fun one – a bit weird, but fun.
As to what instrument I play, there is a comeback that I used to hear and use many years ago: I play the radio.
This Advent season is working out great so far, as it always does.
mostly drums but never no real training just a bunch of us kids making sounds *L* not music, but later did sing in a group from high school going to malls my biggest song to date was a solo of rockin robin, and playing the scarecrow in the wizard of oz and singing that song, have a great day
Hi Mona and Lisa. I am glad you liked the harpejji video, and that you had never heard or seen one before. It is actually a cross between a piano and guitar. It uses guitar strings and if you look at the black and white markings below the strings those are piano notes, which mean nothing to me, but if you play piano it would probably be easier to learn. There are different models of them. Sounds so beautiful!
Way back when I was in school, it was not the recorder, it was the Tonette. My first instrument I learned to play. Then in 5th grade I began learning the Cornet and continued playing that through high school. My Dad played violin and mandolin, and my Brother Bob played guitar. I was the youngest child, so there was always music around our house. I was the black sheep of the family, every one else played country and I fell in love with rock and roll. Starting playing when I was 15. Played in several different bands. I was also the one who was playing drums with my hands on all the furniture. A wannabe drummer. Over the years, guitar my main instrument, I also learned bass, drums, and a one hand keyboard. I retired from playing at 27, and did that thing called life. In 2007, my interest was rekindled and I wrote and recorded 12 cd’s of music between 2007 and 2012. I wore all the hats from musician to recording engineer. My music never went anywhere. I give my cd’s away to friends and relatives if they want it. Right now I have 4 electric guitars, an electric bass, and an electronic drum set. 3 are PRS, one Gretch, and one Line 6 Variax ( which is a modeling guitar and can do 6 and 12 string acoustics, a banjo, and even an electric sitar. Right now still trying to get back into playing shape, hoping there is still some music left inside me. I love your music and also love how you do it together as a family. So very cool! You would say Groovy!
Such cool instruments and performances!!
My main instrument is the accordion and I play a bit of guitar, ukulele and bass as well, and I like to sing (mostly to myself ;-)).
A couple of Christmases ago, my boyfriend and I gave us the present of a Theremin actually! It is so much fun, but also so hard to play. Watching that video really makes me want to set it up again 🙂
Love your reactions to these videos as they really intrigued you both. I did try to play the acoustic guitar when I was young but was pretty rubbish at it! The Something video does seem to lack a little something compared to other versions but that’s probably a limitation of the instrument so I agree with Lisa.
I’ve seen the Theremin used before by rock bands (Evanescence used one on a live album – then sacked the band member who played it!!). You can see her playing it in this video (at 1:24):
https://youtu.be/lfqkUz183xE
Great video and love the Orange themed outfits!
oooh very interesting! I’ve never heard of the harpejji, but I like it a lot, it sounded pretty unique even though it has a lot of similarities to the more common instrument. The theremin I have seen before, very unique sound!
I play the common instruments, drums, piano, guitar, and bass guitar, and my most recent and my most unique instrument is the saxophone which I only started playing about two years ago. I love them all equally and really enjoy playing them when I’ve got the time, and even more, playing with someone else. I’m a little bit jealous, to be honest of how you two always have each other to play with AND made it your job!
Great start to my day again today!
Hi everybody.
I play guitar ( loosely ) lol but am a sucker for wanting to try everything. From being a child my passion has always been to play the drums but was never allowed. My parents bought me a piano only to be told by my teacher that I would never be able to play it because my fingers are too short ! Next came came the guitar. By this time I was getting older (8) and to this day I still play and I’m now 66. Sounds reasonable doesn’t it but if I say I have 7 guitars plus a home made pedal steel, mandolin, banjo, bongos, mouth organ,you can see I just love any musical instrument. At school I had a brief time learning the xylophone too. Oh I almost forgot, on Monas recommendation I purchased a foot tambourine😃 maybe one day I will have a drum kit.
Groovy greetings across the big pond!
I love the creativity that went into making music with these really unique instruments, that Harpejji, and the Theramin, thanks Tom and Jeanette. I really enjoyed watching your reactions Mona and Lisa, and your explaining of how you believed the instruments works. It sounds like you pretty much was right on with the Theramin, with that explanation clip at the end. A little fun fact, there are about 500 Harpejji’s made between 2007 and 2019 in the wild. Another fun fact, the Theramin is used in the Beach Boys Good Vibrations apparently.
The first instrument I learned to play, or tried to play is more accurate, was when I took Band class in grade 8. I remember we were allowed to choose any band instrument we wanted, and I chose the trumpet. I recall seeing a movie, “A young man with a horn”, once where Kirk Douglas played the trumpet and I just thought it looked ultra cool. I also remember the movie where the character played by Kirk Douglas just loved that trumpet, and that was his life, so it resonated with me. It was fun learning to play the trumpet, I remember the trumpet lesson book showed all the notes to play with the finger pattern to use for each note, and learned a little bit of sheet music, basically how long to hold the notes down. I tried my best to keep up with the band class, but my lips just could not hold up. I remember numb lips all day after band practice. By the end of the year, we played some marching band stuff that was fun.
Loving these daily Advent videos and activities. I know one thing, when Dec 24th comes along, I will miss this like the previous Advent Calendars. These are so enjoyable and special each day.
Here is a trailer to that old Kirk Douglas movie in case anyone is interested.
https://youtu.be/rRxcW3-pqc8
I’ve seen that movie…good stuff!
The harpejji and the theremin. Now those are two very unusual instruments. As always, it was great seeing your reactions to the videos. Today was great because you were listening, watching, and responding from a true musician’s standpoint. One can see both of you thinking “how does it works?” and ” how can we incorporate this in our music?”.
Today’s Advent video was thought provoking. Watching two fine musicians analyzing different instruments showed us that your horizons are open to all things musically.
Well done.
Forgot to add…the first instrument that I learned to play was the recorder. My main instrument these days is the guitar. I am getting back at it these days with a Fender Squier Affinity Telecaster.
Hi everyone.
Something would be a great interpretation in bus session.
As for playing an instrument, I don’t think even in my best dream I would make it.
I’m amazed at all the things you get done. There’s always many things in production! Never a dull moment. I am sure you’ll take a few well deserved days to rest for Christmas.
The Mantlepiece is getting nicely decorated too!
I had heard of the Theremin, but never saw it live. I think the biggest drawback it has is that it’s so had to play, and that you need a perfect ear to be able to play it. Like the violin, or probably more so, you need to have a ton of practice before you stop torturing anyone in the vicinity.
As instruments go for me, as you know, the guitar and bass are my main course, with a side of uke and keyboards.
I think that what makes the guitar one of the best instruments, and the most popular, is that you can get pleasant sounds even when you first start off and you can spend your whole life learning and improving on it. There are so many sounds you can get from a guitar, from more “stringy” to more “brassy” sounds, as well as percussive and everything in between. It has the drawback that you can play only 6 notes at a time at most, but it is also very portable.
One instrument that I as a kid I wanted to learn is the Charango. It sort of a South American mandolin. 10 strings and very small. Maybe one day I’ll pick it up.
Thank you!
Great videos!!
I play the flute. But, it has always been my secret dream to play the drums. Never to late!!
I’ve seen a lot of Theremin videos and they all blow my mind. I have played French Horn and piano in a previous life :D, but now just play guitar, ukulele, and soprano, alto, and tenor recorder (but not bass – too expensive and my hands are too small!). and occasionally I’ll play the radio.