Old Boyfriends

[nfotxn]

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When I get down in the dumps I play the viola. I used to be really good at it too, back in the day. Then I think life got in the way and I didn't stop caring but stopped allowing the music to flow out of me. In my old age I get too impatient, too upset too easily to really focus. Maybe I'm actually just continuing to lose my mind and I just don't notice it.

I miss playing in ensemble and that incomparable high you get when sound and time come together. And I don't think I can go on any longer pretending that I am a laptop musician or bass player in a punk band. Fun distractions but not exactly musically deep. It's just not where my heart really is.

Often at work I have parents who's children I once taught ask me if I still play. Or when I'm going to start playing again. Clearly this is one of the best things I've ever done in my life. It's nothing short of a great love in my life. Something that brings me a lot of joy. And something I tried to forget, for reasons I do not even know why.

Comments

[beingmee67.livejournal.com]

Sounds like you need to go back to your chords... :-)

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

Root of my chords even!

[aadroma.livejournal.com]

That's really a beautiful picture -- I so adore it.

You once again need to find the passion for unlesashing that music; you have the passion of what it felt like in the past, but now, the challenge is to find a away to unleash that passion again. Anything else would be a poor attempt to carbon copy the past.

[abbazabba.livejournal.com]

As someone older...don't let those things you love go. They can be very difficult to reclaim later.

[satarnion.livejournal.com]

I played the piano for nine years, and the last time I tried to sit down and play some of my favorite memorized songs, I could barely get through some of the first measures. It really upset me to realize that I had lost such a great source of emotional release because of neglect.

I've always had a good ear, but I never learned to actually read music fluently in those nine years. As a result, re-learning those songs is going to be difficult. It would be nice to have my hands on a piano, too. I miss it, terribly.

[xkot.livejournal.com]

[shallow] That picture makes me want to lick you. [/shallow]

[kmon.livejournal.com]

You've pretty accurately described the relationship I've had with viola over the years, too. We're pretty happy right now meeting semi-regularly for McPhee and knowing that, should we need each other in between, we are only a few rooms apart...

And I still find pictures of you and your viola particularly hot. The one above makes me want to make with you and your viola.

[zbear20.livejournal.com]

Hot pic...do you ever take a bad picture? If we could put your pic in a little blue pill, we could give the Viagra people some competition

[jongrizzman.livejournal.com]

Well done pic bud. Even if the colouring is not intentional, i think the green tint gives it an archived feel. I like, very much. ;)

[nfotxn.livejournal.com]

It wasn't intentional at all but I love the effect as well!

[diesel-pioneer.livejournal.com]

i used to play the violin, but unfortunately i never got particularly good at it. it's the same with several other instruments too.. despite having a good set of ears, i've never stuck with one instrument long enough to learn to play it to a reasonable standard, except maybe singing. but singing is *so* august 18th 1997.
and that photo is purdy. mhmm.

[diesel-pioneer.livejournal.com]

another thought - maybe combine viola with laptop? *or* even get a pickup for it and run it through a distortion pedal and create a new breed of viola-punk?
actually, didn't the velvet underground use an electric viola a fair bit... hmm...

[trachalio.livejournal.com]

Well I think it's time to pick it back up now isn't it my friend? If being in a punk band isn't giving you that connection with your music that you miss, then why are you allowing yourself to miss it?

I just wish I could do the same. I've got a flute, a guitar, and a synth. Unfortunately I just can't seem to find the drive to learn them. Hell I was even thinking of taking vocal lessons but haven't gotten around to that either :(

Back to you however... get off yer duff and follow what your heart is telling you, or I'll slap you silly come March when I'm in TO :)

[abearius.livejournal.com]

That's a mighty fancy woody you're sporting there, lad. Mighty fancy, indeed.

[iahklu.livejournal.com]

i want to kiss your cheek.

[beg1n.livejournal.com]

I need to get my violin and french horn out and dust them off...

[dogdaze1980.livejournal.com]

I could tell from reading your old entries that the viola truly was a great love of yours. Speaking as someone who has never heard your playing before, I would like to hear you play again. I'm certain that you'll rediscover your inspiration someday soon.

[keanubear.livejournal.com]

Why not get a quartet together?

Maybe a once a week thing. Put an ad in the free art rag, or online somewhere, and get the buzz of playing that music again?

[indeterminacy.livejournal.com]

my john fahey of viola

[pizzapotcub.livejournal.com]

i'm so late in commenting that I can only echo other people's thoughts. you should work on relearning what you've forgotten, since it'll be a great vent to your passion and stress.

and that's an awesome picture. is there a 'lickable' setting that you set your camera to?

Smitten

[poodler.livejournal.com]

Now I'm smitten. I've always preferred the rich sound of the viola to the violin. You MUST find a way to post you playing this fine instrument. I often fantasize about how great it would be to play in a chamber ensemble.

Create & Be

[perkk.livejournal.com]

That's a lovely picture. Now I have "I sing the body electric" floating in my head. Not that I could really see you singing Irena Cara and dancing in the streets of New York; well okay, maybe the dancing part. But the song returns to my mind when there is art to be expressed. The Fame of LJ is already becoming your with that video you did. First steps...

Be strange, but don't be a stranger.

LJ still catching up on LJ.