| StoreTags: cello, 30, panic, calm, get over it
Author: Roshi on August 31 2006 Viewed 5204 times. 15 people liked this blog. You can rate it below if you haven't already.
People who enjoyed reading this: jef, FailedSitcom, airliner, SenorFrio, jdg, PAWEL, Zanf, ignatius, energygiant, skab, crabster, p, oxymoron, emulsion, mlbot
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It was with a slight twinge of panic that I realized that I am soon to turn the big 3-0 this labor day. I started worrying about whether I’ve accomplished anything with my life so far.
American society puts such a premium on youth. There are a number of really great young musicians and producers out there who have made me think I’ve wasted my life up to this point. That had I been more dedicated as a youngster I would be further than I am.
Even though I got a relatively late start (I only seriously starting writing music when I was 21), I’d like to think that I have a long-term strategy for being a musician. I think I will be making music for a very long time, hopefully the rest of my life. There’s such a vast field of possibilities to explore. I’m happiest when I’m learning something new about music and applying it, and honestly, I think I’ve only hit the tip of the iceberg.
As part of my committment to learning new things, I have decided to take up the cello. Last Friday I rented a decent one and I’m hopefully starting lessons soon (I already picked out a teacher; we were waiting on the cello). I have loved the sound of the cello and have wanted to take lessons forever. I know it’s going to be an uphill battle, but the sound of the cello fits in very well with what I want to do right now, which is to combine it with shoegaze, distortion and feedback. I also think learning more of the classical repetoire and applying myself is going to help me discipline myself more. We’ll see.
Oh yeah, I also have a new blog up at link . Mostly music for right now. I may cover midget porn, if there is enough demand. | |
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09/01/06
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Roshi
energygiant said: " Roshi said: " energygiant said: "what cello did you get?"
Evidently it's a Sinoman. I don't know much else about it other than that and that it definitely has a pretty decent tone when I'm bowing the open strings."
nice, full size? also, string quality has a lot to do with the tone.
link"
Yep, full size.
I've been browsing that site a lot lately. There was actually an article by ethan winer (can't find it right now) that helped inspire me a lot.
09/01/06
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Roshi
frnortnr said: "happy birthday roshi! cello sounds awesome, i love big stringed instruments, something about the harmonics in those low notes........
that article made me feel a lot better about the fact that i started seriously making music when i was 23. there's hope for me yet.  go experimental innovators! "
Yes, experimentalists 4-evar!
09/01/06
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SenorFrio
Don't forget good ol' Ken! He was 45ish when he started kicking out jamband lics!
Don't listen to people when they say "Act Your Age". You should go to a restaurant and totally act like a 2 year old. Throw some food, slam the table with your hands and scream at the top of your lungs.
09/01/06
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p
glad to see you seem to be better about the age thing. I'd rather be a late bloomer and have some music released with wisdom behind it than have the terrible songs I would've written when I was 19 or 20 come back to haunt me. The importance on youth in america is probably due to entertainment product and the disposable income teenagers are so ready to plunk down for it (the same reason horror movies have all gone pg-13).
and the cello, I love 'em. It's like instant intelectual cred (same as I feel about pianos only more so...plus they have to be my favorite instrument). So congrats and good luck.
and having the day off for a birthday rules!!!
09/01/06
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ricemutt
good luck on that cello... i'm jealous! play some beautiful music.
09/01/06
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LogicFray
i had my times of stress too Roshi, when i realized i should never dwell on the past but always look to the future.
09/01/06
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Roshi
ricemutt said: "good luck on that cello... i'm jealous! play some beautiful music."
Thanks! It's one of my goals to learn and play at least 2 of the 6 Bach Cello Suites.
09/01/06
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Roshi
p said: "The importance on youth in america is probably due to entertainment product and the disposable income teenagers are so ready to plunk down for it (the same reason horror movies have all gone pg-13)."
Djugel (where are you?) had such a good point that there is no real true decent adult contemporary music. Smooth Jazz doesn't count. I don't want to be stuck in the 80's or early 90's, either.
edited: Sep 01 2006
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oxymoron
Happy birthday! I also identified with this blog. I'm about 9 years older and my day job is in an office tower connected to a mall. Great.
Anyway, my thirties were great. Forties will be fine, too, I hope.
My only advice (hard-won, btw) is: don't try to impress the wrong people. Or any people, really, but especially the wrong people. You'll know who they are. Hot young things, careerists, flakes, opportunists, Her Majesty, cool kids (tm), nerds, fanboys, jocks etc. Keep doing what makes you happy.
I love that you're playing the cello (I am an "intermediate" player and I now own an electric cello that sounds like crap but is perfect for practice). Keep learning new things. That's the positive side of youth an it'll carry through to a ripe old age. It may even ward off senilitty in your 80s.
Last, but not least, you'll probably stop dating 21-year-olds sooner or later. Trust me: no loss!
Cheers,
oxy
p.s. thanks for the link the cello samples. Amazing sounds!
edited: Sep 01 2006
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astroid
Roshi said: " astroid said: " jdg said: " Roshi said: " jdg said: "im honestly depressed to be nearing 32.
hows that?"
That is because you will be factorable by 2, 4, and 8. That just sucks."
thats the reason!
prime numbers 4 life"
well then it's slim pickins' for you from here on out."
Actually...37, 41, 43,47, 53, 59, 61, 67, 71, 73, 79, 89, 97, 101, 103 is not too bad. "
compared to 1 2 3 5 7 11 13 17 19 23 29 31? that's like 3/5 the frequency! [snart!]
09/01/06
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tbeals79
27 here. Im catching up.
Any sustaining life is meraculous in my opinion. We all have plenty of opportunities to die instantly / so heres to avioding them for another 70 years. happy birthday. cello = awesomness.
edited: Sep 01 2006
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p
Roshi said: " p said: "The importance on youth in america is probably due to entertainment product and the disposable income teenagers are so ready to plunk down for it (the same reason horror movies have all gone pg-13)."
Djugel (where are you?) had such a good point that there is no real true decent adult contemporary music. Smooth Jazz doesn't count. I don't want to be stuck in the 80's or early 90's, either."
I sometimes wonder whether or not the stuff I didn't get into until after college (the more abstract types of music...ie microsound, lowercase, and certain more chalenging ambient music, pretty much all I listen to now) is sort of an equivalent/replacement to that category. Are there fifteen year olds rocking out to Richard Chartier? I assume the average listener of that stuff is closer to 19 or older. then again I guess that's not really contemporary...what the hell is contemporary anyway??
dictionary says contemporary just means the same age or time period...so now I'm even more clueless about what "adult contemporary" actualy means ... it could translate to "pornographic peer"
09/01/06
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Roshi
"Adult Contemporary" is just double speak for what adults like to listen to. Which station directors assume is Amy Grant or Smooth Jazz.
I guess really the market has gotten so fragmented that there really isn't a Beatles for Adults. Unless you count the Beatles, of course.
09/01/06
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p
or "boards of canada" aparently ( isn't that what got djugel commenting?)
oh yeah I'm offtopic, sorry.
09/01/06
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Roshi
No, I like it when the comments go hilariously off topic.
I try to do as often as possible.
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