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blogging101, GLADvent 2016, Journaling, Music Clips, Reflections, Uncategorized, Writing 101, Writing Prompts
Harula’s GLADvent Calendar Day 7
December 7
Music
Music expresses that which cannot be put into words, and that which cannot remain silent. (Victor Hugo)
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This is one of my favorite Victor Hugo quotes. It is the very reason I wanted to learn to play the piano all my life. But growing up I never had the opportunity to take lessons. When my mom passed away not long after my dad (I was 51), I took some of the money she left me and bought a 1927 upright Kimball piano. Gorgeous thing! I had it refinished (it was black when I bought it for $500) and brought home. I was sooo excited! I wanted to play because I felt like I would finally have an outlet for exactly what Hugo said, to express the feelings I couldn’t put into words but which would not remain silent.
Fast forward two years’ worth of piano lessons later, and I knew I had waited too long. It sucks being a bit of a perfectionist when you’re trying to learn to play an instrument. That’s why it’s MUCH better to learn as a child. And there I was, so flippin’ bull-headed that if I made a mistake in the piece I was playing I insisted on stopping and starting all over again. Needless to say, you can’t learn to play an instrument without screwing up so you’d best learn to get past it and move on. But I couldn’t.
So recorded music ended up being my usual outlet. If I was sad, I listened to sad music. If I was angry, I listened to something angry sounding. If I was feeling creative I usually listened to “Conan the Barbarian!”. 😀 Well you get my drift.
So if I love music all that much, why is it I struggled all day with writing this post for Harula’s GLADvent Calendar? Well, it’s because all of a sudden I’ve found myself at a place in my life where I don’t WANT to listen to music. What I WANT is SILENCE. No, what I NEED is silence. Our house is so small that sound carries like crazy. If I’m not home alone, there is always, ALWAYS a ton of background noise. And for some reason that constant din under everything I’m doing is making me nuts. The truth is, right now I really ENJOY the silence. I find it very healing.
But it IS nearly Christmas, however, so at least for this month I’m listening to a lot of my favorite sounds of the season. The Bar-J Wranglers, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams, Elvis Presley, Bing Crosby, and a lot of albums of Christmas hymns — especially love Michael Crawford’s Christmas album. So I guess in the long run music is a part of my life again for the moment. And who knows… Come January I may feel totally different about it. I’m weird that way!
Here’s one of my favorite Christmas videos! It’s Will Ferrell and John C. Riley spoofing one of my favorite Christmas duets by Bing Crosby and David Bowie. How’s THAT for being musically eclectic?
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They did such an amazing job! But if you want to see the original, here it is as well… (There’s about 10 seconds of Crosby foolin’ around on the first of this one for some reason!)
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As a side note, Bowie and Crosby nearly didn’t sing this duet as David Bowie HATED the song. For the “behind the scenes” story go HERE! I did a post on it last year…
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Picture Sources:
Stocking — Harula
Piano — personal
Conan — The Serious Work Of Play – WordPress.com
Wow, love that video of Bowie and Bing! Totally new to me, and a real treat. I value silence a lot too – and it’s often in short supply at this time of year, but I seek it out when necessary. Thanks for this thoughtful post, and I do hope you haven’t given up on the piano entirely…. Blessings, Harula xx
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Yep, I have. I opted for fingernails instead! 😀
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Continue with the music for Christmas. It’s nice. Peaceful.
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Thanks, Oneta. Glad you like it. How are you?
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I’m making progress. Not walking independently yet but moving from the walker to a cane. That will be good. Thank you.
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Have prayed for you, hon. Hang in there…
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I love this song by Bowie and Bing. But then I’m a Christmas music kind pf person. One of my fave’s is Mary’s Boy Child by Boney M.
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Wow! That versions got a REALLY great rhythm! Loved it. I like that song, too. As well as “Mary Did You Know.”
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Thanks so much for this. As a mom who has a 5/6 year old learning violin (and a husband who teaches music), I am surprised to find it is actually harder for little kids to learn music than adults. We think that if only we had started as a kid. He doesn’t have the dexterity and he gets really mad! I think what kids have is parents who push or encourage them and a learning culture. Kids are expected to study for 5-6 years and still be pretty bad. Adults get really frustrated with that. Really enjoying your blog!
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Good point about the parents, Jessica. I have no clue how young kids should start, though my grandsons 5/7 are both playing piano. My son started playing trumpet in 9th grade. Picked it up really quickly. He could already sing and read music. In 10th grade he was in the orchestra in high school and had also begun playing French horn (which I LOVE). Probably knowing how to read music was a help. He was a cantor at the main Catholic church in Ogden, Utah for six years. I guess I’ve always figured kids that start at a young age haven’t developed those perfectionistic attitudes yet. Or am I wrong about that? I’d be curious what your hubby thinks since Ethan and Liam are learning.
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One of my favourites 🙂
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I’ve loved that song for years. Truth is, though, I almost like the SNL version best! LOL!
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