12 Comments
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Wendy Varley's avatar

Hurrah for music! I’ll watch/listen out for you at Waterloo.

My son learned euphonium - picked up the biggest instrument available at primary school. Painful sound at first but got great joy from it, especially in wind bands. The day of his grade 7 exam everything shut for Covid so of course the exam was cancelled and the euphonium has sat in its case ever since. But then he picked up a bass guitar. Musical experience is never wasted.

Lewis Holmes's avatar

I know I ragged on the euph in this piece, but it was fun to play. Brass in general is pretty cool, I think. Hopefully he picks it back up again.

Maureen Susannah's avatar

It’s great to hear about your piano playing. I can’t play but love to listen. Interesting to also hear of its therapeutic effects. I’m sure you’ll get to take that seat at Waterloo one day.

PS problem with typing on black background magically resolved today with no effort from me.

Lewis Holmes's avatar

Thank you Maureen, and I'm glad your visibility issues have been resolved - must have been a Substack issue (as I suspected) all along.

Tamara Casey's avatar

Keep going! Play with different learning styles. It gets better. It gets easier and it eventually just becomes fun.

Lewis Holmes's avatar

Thanks Tamara. It is getting easier/more comfortable - like everything else I need to put the time in.

Joanna Milne 🏺's avatar

Your piano adventure is such a good idea. Coming out the end of a contract and not being sure when I will pick up another one other than scraps, I wonder whether I should become really good at a particular kind of random cookery. I have been finding bread making therapeutic as I can punch down the dough.

I loved the Waterloo bit and the idea of it being a vehicle towards something else - the whole thing made me think of this story :

https://youtu.be/TsgNuAaBloI?feature=shared

Lewis Holmes's avatar

Haha, I love that video.

Bread making is very therapeutic. You have to take it slow and follow the process, it almost forces the brain to reset. Keep going, you'll be on Bake Off before you know it!

Margaret Bennett's avatar

So impressed Lewis. I wanted to learn piano too and the bass guitar. It’s never too late and I’m looking forward to the post about you playing at Waterloo to Zjohn Carpenter fans. 🎹

Swamp Ruby's avatar

Love that you’re doing this, can’t wait for your future post after your first play of the public piano!

LKN's avatar
2dEdited

Oh, my sweet summer child sounds like a good title for your first composition. Glad you’re enjoying your piano time. Please note: I am an oboist.

Andy Carter's avatar

Good on you, Lewis. I think it’s really commendable to take up new things as an adult.

I got to grade 1 piano at primary school but lost my focus with the lure of Mini Boglins and Merlin’s stickers and threw in the towel. Regret it now.