It wasn't till I saw a couple of posts here that I heard of "woodshed" as a verb. I'm not sure I like the use, but I *am* sure I need lots of woodshedding.
I'm lucky enough to have an actual woodshed beside my office, so I can sneak out now and then for a little flute time. I like the sound out there -- just enough "feedback" from the walls and ceiling. Unfortunately, it's getting cold out there and my fingers stop cooperating too quickly. (Maybe that's a good thing. Gets me back to my office where I "belong".)
I "work" at home, so when the family leaves in the morning (work and school), I brew up some tea and crack out the instruments and play for hours. Ooops...did I say that out loud?!
No, I usually end up woodshedding in the evenings in the basement bathroom, with the door closed, to cause the least disturbance to the rest of the family. Good, focused acoustics and no distractions. In the summer, sometimes I'll go sit in the garage--the neighbors all say they enjoy hearing the tunes I'm working up.
I also keep a penny whistle with me so I can play tunes at stop lights, or waiting to pick the kids up, etc.
To woodshed is a venerable verb. Websters Third Edition lists woodshed as an intransitive verb meaning "to practice on a musical instrument." It also speaks of "arduous rehearsal," and explains, "woodsheds being formerly used in administering sound parental thrashings."
I used to come to work at night and play in the parking garage on the fourth floor where it joins my office - it's not sealed in - the walls open up onto the city, so the accoustics aren't overpowering, and there are several sweet spots dotted around. Very nice, and the solitude is pleasing.
But that was when I lived in a flat and couldn't really play at home. Now I'm in a house, with a lovely little park just outside, and in summer that's where you'll find me flutering around sunset most days. Possibly on the roundabouty thing, if I can get there before those pesky kids from next door.
How curious that to woodshed is now an intransitive verb, when it previously was used in a transitive sense wrt administering sound parental thrashings.
:~}
I once tried my toolshed in the garden for practicing, but Herself said I could still be heard. I now have official permission to use a lecture theatre at work but don't often do so. There's too much echo. I prefer using a room where sits an underused microscope system, but there are too many other users coming in and out (I'm the governor of the microscopy suite), but when it's quiet, it's a good spot to practice. Consequently I never seem to have enough time for a good blow or squeeze. Grumble grumble...
Being retired, I woodshed in one of the downstairs rooms, but sometimes in the kitchen if it isn't being used and if I want a slightly less absorbent acoustic.
We have an extra bedroom that i can leave all my books scattered about and my stand set up...there's a computer in there too so I can tune in to the Session, look up some tunes, play along and have a jolly old time to myself.
I don't mind if the kids come in, but the cat usually doens' stay too long..the dog seems to enjoy it though.
We had a double garage taking up most of the ground floor of the house, which I partitioned into a workshop and a music room for my daughters grand piano. So woodshedding takes place in the music room, which also sports my sons bicycle repair activities, an indoor washing line, the patio plants that come indoors for the winter, the boiler for the heating.
I cant remember who it was, but I came across someone on the wireless one day talking about how, in his younger days, he used to visit a school friend of his, one Andrew Lloyd Weber. He described how he would arrive at the L-W house to find Andrew in one room belting away at the piano, and Julian in another room sawing away at the cello, and in yet another room would me Mr LW senior, who was (if memory serves) an avid player of some sort of electric keyboard.
Our house is often like that - with Showaddymammy playing baroque guitar in the lounge, the Showaddyladdie with his box in the kitchen, and me with some other noise inducer in the music room. Sometimes when my daughter is home she will be playing the piano too.
Until recently it was Astoria Park in Queens under the big train bridge. Like open air cathedral arches and a nice view. Now in central Jersey I'm in an roomy apartment with a concrete floor and no upstairs neighbors. Also nice but better for cold weather.
I use my bedroom, it is at the top of the house so I can do pretty much what I like but my mum gets cross when I ignore her yelling at me because I have one of my CDs on full blast 8')
I think the use of the word "woodshedding" as a verb comes from Jazz musician Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. He used the term to mean time spent building his "chops", which he spent a lot of time doing.
Freezing in the woodshed
Freezing in the woodshed
It wasn't till I saw a couple of posts here that I heard of "woodshed" as a verb. I'm not sure I like the use, but I *am* sure I need lots of woodshedding.
I'm lucky enough to have an actual woodshed beside my office, so I can sneak out now and then for a little flute time. I like the sound out there -- just enough "feedback" from the walls and ceiling. Unfortunately, it's getting cold out there and my fingers stop cooperating too quickly. (Maybe that's a good thing. Gets me back to my office where I "belong".)
Where do you "woodshed"?
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by scott.r
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
in the coal cellar. :-#
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Bren
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
I "work" at home, so when the family leaves in the morning (work and school), I brew up some tea and crack out the instruments and play for hours. Ooops...did I say that out loud?!
No, I usually end up woodshedding in the evenings in the basement bathroom, with the door closed, to cause the least disturbance to the rest of the family. Good, focused acoustics and no distractions. In the summer, sometimes I'll go sit in the garage--the neighbors all say they enjoy hearing the tunes I'm working up.
I also keep a penny whistle with me so I can play tunes at stop lights, or waiting to pick the kids up, etc.
To woodshed is a venerable verb. Websters Third Edition lists woodshed as an intransitive verb meaning "to practice on a musical instrument." It also speaks of "arduous rehearsal," and explains, "woodsheds being formerly used in administering sound parental thrashings."
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Will Harmon
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
My 'woodshed' is when I'm alone to let rip how I want..to a CD, or a new tune played with knots, warts and all.
My new conservatory has a lovely round sound. I recommend one!!
Sue
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Fiiddle R
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
and I thought "Freezing in the Woodshed" was a tune!
# Posted on November 10th 2004 by Eoino
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
I used to come to work at night and play in the parking garage on the fourth floor where it joins my office - it's not sealed in - the walls open up onto the city, so the accoustics aren't overpowering, and there are several sweet spots dotted around. Very nice, and the solitude is pleasing.
But that was when I lived in a flat and couldn't really play at home. Now I'm in a house, with a lovely little park just outside, and in summer that's where you'll find me flutering around sunset most days. Possibly on the roundabouty thing, if I can get there before those pesky kids from next door.
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by Q
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
How curious that to woodshed is now an intransitive verb, when it previously was used in a transitive sense wrt administering sound parental thrashings.
:~}
I once tried my toolshed in the garden for practicing, but Herself said I could still be heard. I now have official permission to use a lecture theatre at work but don't often do so. There's too much echo. I prefer using a room where sits an underused microscope system, but there are too many other users coming in and out (I'm the governor of the microscopy suite), but when it's quiet, it's a good spot to practice. Consequently I never seem to have enough time for a good blow or squeeze. Grumble grumble...
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by Rudall the time
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
Being retired, I woodshed in one of the downstairs rooms, but sometimes in the kitchen if it isn't being used and if I want a slightly less absorbent acoustic.
Trevor
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by Trevor Jennings
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
Thanks for a good idea, Rab. We've got a microscope-filled room that's often empty, about the right size, and heated.
My woodshed isn't quite "no distractions", Will, but I wish it were. Was?
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by scott.r
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
We have an extra bedroom that i can leave all my books scattered about and my stand set up...there's a computer in there too so I can tune in to the Session, look up some tunes, play along and have a jolly old time to myself.
I don't mind if the kids come in, but the cat usually doens' stay too long..the dog seems to enjoy it though.
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by Sunnybear
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
We had a double garage taking up most of the ground floor of the house, which I partitioned into a workshop and a music room for my daughters grand piano. So woodshedding takes place in the music room, which also sports my sons bicycle repair activities, an indoor washing line, the patio plants that come indoors for the winter, the boiler for the heating.
I cant remember who it was, but I came across someone on the wireless one day talking about how, in his younger days, he used to visit a school friend of his, one Andrew Lloyd Weber. He described how he would arrive at the L-W house to find Andrew in one room belting away at the piano, and Julian in another room sawing away at the cello, and in yet another room would me Mr LW senior, who was (if memory serves) an avid player of some sort of electric keyboard.
Our house is often like that - with Showaddymammy playing baroque guitar in the lounge, the Showaddyladdie with his box in the kitchen, and me with some other noise inducer in the music room. Sometimes when my daughter is home she will be playing the piano too.
"We need a bigger boat."
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by showaddydadito
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
Until recently it was Astoria Park in Queens under the big train bridge. Like open air cathedral arches and a nice view. Now in central Jersey I'm in an roomy apartment with a concrete floor and no upstairs neighbors. Also nice but better for cold weather.
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by Test
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
I use my bedroom, it is at the top of the house so I can do pretty much what I like but my mum gets cross when I ignore her yelling at me because I have one of my CDs on full blast 8')
# Posted on November 11th 2004 by snowyowl
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
The living room. (My husband is patient. *grin*)
# Posted on November 12th 2004 by sara g
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
I think the use of the word "woodshedding" as a verb comes from Jazz musician Charlie "Yardbird" Parker. He used the term to mean time spent building his "chops", which he spent a lot of time doing.
# Posted on November 12th 2004 by Murph
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
I woodshed my clothes if it was warm enough.
I practice in a blue moon, once.
# Posted on November 12th 2004 by Bren
Re: Freezing in the woodshed
Removing apparel is a time-honored precursor to woodshedding for vocalists: Singing in the shower, right?
# Posted on November 12th 2004 by scott.r