Does anyone else have physical / mental / emotional symptoms of wanting to play their instrument?
Mine: I get some kind of sensori-motor phenomenom in my finger tips when I feel like playing the guitar. I will rub my fingernails across my thumb, checking the shape and smoothness of the nails to see if they are right for playing. It's like a hunger pang, my fingers want to feel the guitar strings being plucked. These symptoms almost always occur about 2 minutes after I finish eating, (yes, every meal, every day) even if I am not consciously thinking about playing the guitar, and also occur while driving to work, and while working on the computer at work.
I know what you mean Kerry. I joined the AA (Accordionists Anonymous), it got so bad. Of course, as soon as I stood up and said "My name's Conán and I'm a piano accordion player", I was no longer anonymous, so that wasn't much use.
As I've just returned to my work pc after biking home in the rain, playing the fiddle for an hour and biking back again I can't say that my deprivation symptoms are kicking in yet, but I do have my ukelele banjo close by in the cupboard where I hide broken laptops should I get desperate. At home, symptoms include taking my mandolin from room to room with me at all times and leaning it close to hand at bedtime - wouldn't want to wake up and have to go and find it.
nowadays, with having a family and all, i think i can control it, but in my first years, i had my flute with me AT ALL TIMES.
it was on my drawing table, next to the drawing pens...
next to the cutting knife when making models...
and even next to my pillow when asleep, i used to grab it and play some tunes whenever i would awake in the middle of the night.
with the kids arround, it isn't as safe to have flutes laying about anymore...
whenever i go where there might be other musos, i do take my instrument with me, you never know there might be a session or something ...
i would hate to miss the opportunity to play due to not having my gear with me.
Even if I am going to the theatre or cinema, I have to restrain myself from taking an instrument just in case I miss out on a session that I might come across somewhere along the way (You just never know!)
- That one time I don't take it will be the one time that the Ennis Cross-Cultural Music Apreciation Society has it's annual trip to London, and the half time interval in Lucia di Lammermoor finds the Royal Opera House host to a legendary Irish session in the foyer.
When I'm travelling (usually work), after three days I get a longing for guitar, which turns into pining on the fifth day. Makes concentration difficult. That's why I'm considering getting a mandolin, which is much easier to carry on a plane.
And yes, I get the same thing as Conan when attending sessions (which is usually when I am travelling, hence no instrument).
Conan and BegF,
The late Alex Campbell(Scottish folk singer) had a great put down line for hecklers like yourselves.
"Back home, we refer to hecklers at "baiters" and you are a master!"
Here's a symptom: I was extremely high all week-end, thinking I would crash and burn at the end of the Folk Alliance (which would definitely qualify as an overdose), but the groove lasted until the end of yesterday. After the conference, I decided to go into the production business, found a partner, planned a website, made an appointment to confirm a video production partnership, secured a contribution to the start-up cost of my company, and asked the first band I'd like to book for a quote for a show at a mini-festival so I could begin making a budget and applying for grant money (I couldn't get one, as he insisted on doing for free and providing all the sound equipment too). Then I updated a friend's website and went to a session until 3AM.
Now today I feel completely normal and relaxed again, the high has faded off, but there's no way I can get out of this wacky idea of mine, because in just one day on a music overdose high, I have gone too far and involved too many other people to stop.
Sounds like a productive Day/ Night Kerri....But I agree with you on the crash and burn symptom...I call it my "come down".
I get it when after all of the tunes an the craic - when everything seemed to make sense and fit into place, you wake up and realise you have to go back to the mundane and all the negative things come back....
Negative memories....like when you were eighteen and you couldnt play with yourself......
O, shame and severe looks upon you all. Here's Cecil asking a perfectly serious question and you guys bring your lack of sex into it. Have you no shame? No sense of propriety?
Hold up, there, I forgot who I was talking to. *smirk*
Kerri, chaos is my middle name. You can have mine, I'm too old to truly enjoy it anymore, I'm thinking. After too many years of theatre, opera, and other performing events, I don't miss it at all. Which is not a good way to go into March in the US, if you're into the Irish thing. Suddenly, we have gigs everywhere. I haven't dared to count it up yet, but I suspect there's well over 20 performances on the calendar, most, thankfully, with the dance school.
So, for me, the symptom of MPA is mainly exhaustion.
Surely boarding school guaranteed a steady stream of friends to play with you?
Sorry to hear about the purgery to your sole Conán - that must make it a nightmare with a heavy instrument like yours on your lap...
OK back to the thread! Symptoms I've noticed with other musicians:
Carrying a book of tunes everywhere.
Ditto minidisc recorder.
Never going to gigs (too busy playing at sessions).
Drinking water (ugh) for fear of making a mistake
Waiting to the end of a session before using the jacks.
Incredibly muscular lips (OK with one female flute player I noticed this)
Spending excessive time on thesession.org
"I get it when after all of the tunes an the craic - when everything seemed to make sense and fit into place, you wake up and realise you have to go back to the mundane and all the negative things come back...."
So you know what I went through. All day yesterday I was absolutely desperate not to let "reality" come crashing back. I saw it coming, and I forced myself to write down exactly how real the high was and exactly how I felt at the time so that when the buzz died I would have some proof that I was perfectly alive and awake for a while, functioning at full capacity.
Then I had a nap and woke up miserable because I had to go back to work the next day. Then I got a few excellent ideas for collaborative concerts and realized I could keep the buzz going by always looking forward to the next thing instead of lingering on the last thing.
Anyway, yesterday's flurry of activity ensured that now that the negativity has found me again and I am thoroughly bleak and discouraged I can look at what I've started as just another boring list of things to do. I do feel much better than I did before, though. I was *even more* bored with life before I did this job. Now I am only slightly bored and a little teensy bit optimistic that I won't have to do this job until I die.
Well, you can take solace that you don't have to walk past the Thomas St. Crack heads, on your way home from work, and be happy for me that I'm going to play this evening and drink........tea!
(I'm beginning to act on the theory I've had for years that maybe the pints have something to do with this "come down"!!)
I appreciate the relevant replies. While an occasional tangent fits into most threads, the direction this thread got hijacked doesn't belong on this web site, IMHO.
Plucker, When my Dad visited us a couple of years ago, he was amused to no end that he found at least 3 guitars in every room in the house. (ok, not the bathrooms, kitchen, closets).
Also, I remember reading a long time ago some advice from an old guitar player to keep your guitar right beside your bed and make sure that playing it was the last thing you did at night, and the first thing that you did when you woke up. I thought it to be such a good idea that I generally followed it, until I got married, of course.
Kerri, best wishes on your new ventures.....maybe they could eventually work you out of the job you dread.
Conan, interesting observations. What does drinking water have to do with making mistakes?
I think he just means drinking water as opposed to beer and whiskey, not just the idea that drinking water itself will prevent mistakes(!)
And I think that the onanistic references were absolutely outrageous and disgusting (if you can't even use the word 'instrument' on this site without provoking sniggering where does that leave us?) - But I totally blame Stefanpaz for bringing up the subject by whinging about breaking his wrists - and begF for coming on the raw prawn, as our recently very quiet Aussie contingent might say (and if that's not a cue for another irrelevant hijack.... )
Mark
Thanks for the well-wishing. Actually, I know they will work out. I've let lots of things flop in my life due to this boredom and apathy I get after the super-charged high of thinking something up, but yesterday I got the job half done in a day of explosive energy. Now that I have involved a bunch of my friends I have absolutely no excuse to procrastinate.
So even though I was probably completely whacked out on sleep deprivation when I sucked everybody in, I managed to generate enough momentum to give myself a neverending list of things to do, so I won't have time to wallow.
Hopefully in a year or two I will be able to afford a full time craic addiction.
Yes apologies for the immature moments, it was ALL Conans fault, but I can't help but feel partly responsible.
And to keep it relevent , to the 3 guitars in every room, my wife regularly complains that she keeps falling over my instruments (I'm biting my tongue Ottery!).
I spend far too much time than is healthy on music (the results don't prove this unfortunatly) this site adds to the addiction, it ensures that I'm thinking about music when I should be doing my exciting work!
I have a whistle next to the computer, one on the dining table, one on the coffee table, one in the kitchen, one in the car and one in my purse (you just never know when you're going to want to whistle, and who wants to walk all the way over to the piano and pick on out from the...er...collection there when the urge is on you?
The three longest days of my life was when I'd overplayed learning a new tune on my Burke and got tendonitis in my left hand. It took me three days to figure out that my Busman is considerably lighter than my Burke (and my "mystery" whistle, made of plastic tubing, is lighter still), so I could still play if I was careful. How do you spell relief? ;)
Aussie Hijack! woohooo.
IMHO this thread is hilarious. A hijack here and there is what makes these threads interesting.
If this site was all serious discussions about music all of the time then I think I would just cry because it would be Boring. There is plenty of time for serious music discussions at Ceoltas (Sp?)
So thank god that some of you have a sense of humour about things (even if it does tend to be in the gutter sometimes)
Anyhow having said that. One time I was playing in a session and my string broke and I didnt have a spare, granted it was late and I was tired. (was at a festival and had about 4 hours sleep over 4 nights) Anyhow I just burst into tears and everybody just came to a grinding halt. Pretty embarrassing.
hahaha - your very funny Donough. At the risk of another high jack...
How is perth???
The National is coming up in three weeks time, you going? Its going to be a good one this year I'm thinking.
HiJack alarm! - not not Gilder
I regret that I won't make it to the National this year though I had hoped to. Next year I will try and make sure in advance that I am free to go to the National.
Perth is good but not enough visiting musicians of late. We need some new blood here.
I am no more addicted than a bird or a whale. Music is life, life is music and even the spheres sing.
The primary physical / mental / emotional symptom of wanting to play an instrument that I exhibit is playing an instrument, but I have the advantage of being a singer who considers his voice to be an instrument. I am liable to apply it where and when the mood strikes me. . .
Which I admit has gotten me some looks in the middle of the peleton.
In reply to cecilguitar's last posting, I thought I'd compile a brief inventory to see if I qualify as addicted. In my small house we have 1 piano, 7 guitars (3 electric), 4 guitar amps, 1 dilapidated partial drum kit, 2 mandolins, 1 banjo mandolin, 1 zither banjo, 4 fiddles, at least 4 recorders, miscellaneous whistles, loads of harmonicas (and I mean loads!), tambourines, other percussive bits and pieces, 1 uke, 1ukelele banjo - must've missed a few things - my wife is not amused by this collection!
The inventory thing is a bit scary. Our house 'boasts' (to use Estate Agent's parlance), in descending order of musical importance (my son may disagree with this) A wooden flute, 4 whistles, a couple of bamboo flutes, a low whistle, a mandolin, an acoustic guitar, a double bass, an electric bass guitar, an acoustic bass guitar, an electronic keyboard, a metal flute, a clarinet, a home-made balalaika, 2 fiddles, a couple of mouth organs, a digeridoo, a plastic fife, two shaky eggs, a triangle, (and a whole draw full of spoons!)
Yeah sorry if anyone was offended. Kerri's right about my reference to water or indeed soft drinks. I know plenty of people who would quite happily spend a night on the booze only to hit the sparkling water whenever there are tunes in the offing. I don't see anything particularly wrong with this; depends on whether or not the session is trying to maintain a certain standard of music.
Stefan, I think you know I was joking...
That's the trouble with a site like this as a form of communication - it's TOO big and efficient. If someone makes a throwaway jest like "Sponer rhymes with..."
It will be read by:
People who understand it, and laugh because it tickles their childlike sense of humour.
People who understand it, smile briefly, and carry on.
People who understand it, and think, "how sad", and carry on,
People who understand it and think "That's rude, I don't approve, but what the hell, it's no big deal."
People who understand it and think, "That's disgusting, it's rude and unsuitable to make jokes on a sexual theme on this message board!"
... and that's even before you get to the
People who DON'T understand it.
And it will be read by a mixture of adolescents, young adults, middle aged people, old people, people who think of themselves as grown-ups, people who, despite their advanced years will never grow up, people who take themselves seriously, people who take nothing seriously, people who believe in various deities, people who are athiests, people who are pretending to be something different from what they are in real life, people who wouldn't be on here at all if it wasn't for the fact that otherwise they would have to get on with their work .....
But at the same time, part of the fun of a site like this is watching that clash of cultures unfold.
And it's remarkable how civil we manage to be with each other most of the time, considering...
(Does this constitute an acceptable hijack?)
Busy day @ work today, finally a 1st chance to check thesession.
It looks to me like this thread grew into 3 discussions:
1. the original discussion, which now could spawn a new thread on "what instruments are in your home?". I may try that, if no one else starts it first, but will probably check the archives first. All of this if time permits, which it may not, at least not today.
2. The sexual asides.
3. The discussion of whether or not the sexual asides were appropriate. This site is open to whatever Jeremy allows. For my own taste, a tangent joke or 2 interspersed into our discussions is acceptable. More than that seems inappropriate, regardless of the subject of the "hijack". If a new topic is that significant, why not start a new thread? In regards to sex jokes, If a person is THAT much into sex jokes that they feel compelled to go on and on, perhaps they should be at a web site discussion forum for sex jokes.
Sorry, I suppose I started thing off. I had only originally intended to make a "one off" quip which I hoped would be taken in fun. However, the discussion was perpetuated by some others who attempted to feign "innocence" in these matters.
I agree that things may have got out of hand.
Re: musical addiction and instrument stashes. The sheer number and variety of instruments in my home attest to the depravity of my (and my family's) addiction: 11 fiddles, 2 five string banjos, 1 tenor banjo, 1 mandolin, 1 classical guitar, 2 acoustic 6 string guitars, 2 electric guitars, 1 electric bass, 1 electronic keyboard, 1 upright grand piano, 1 practice set of uilleann pipes, 3 keyless flutes, 1 low D whistle, 10 assorted D, C, Bb, and A whistles, 2 harmonicas, and 1 ocarina. On any given day, our living room looks like a music shop.
My collection is dispersed a little at the moment, but it includes a fiddle, acoustic guitar, mandolin, Celtic harp (nylon strings), shuttle pipes, a hammered dulcimer, several whistles, a bodhran, two djembes, a dumbek, a didjeridoo (synthetic, but with a perfect "D" pitch), and a native flute. I aspire to one day rival Will's collection, but it's not easy to do when I keep moving around like this.
ok, now this IS the "what musical instruments do you have in your home" thread. -
We have 1 piano, 1 steel pan drum, several whistles, 1 bass guitar, and 13 guitars. We had a few more guitars before my oldest son moved out on his own, taking his with him, of course. This is not to mention numerous amps, effects units, mics etc etc.
I would still like to buy 2 or 3 more guitars, though.........
3 harps, 3 guitars, 1 flute (terrible quality), 1 pvc flute, um, an assortment of whistles (mainly Shannon Heaton handmedowns), a bodhran, a mandolin, an octave zouk, two fiddles, a tenor banjo...I think that's it.
I think this is all. These are divided (unequally) among three people.
3 steel string guitars
3 classical guitars
electric guitar
12-string guitar
$15 1957 Stella guitar formerly used as Hawaiian lap steel
2 fiddles
2 mandolins
5-string banjo
2 autoharps
harp
piano
foot-pump reed organ
small standalone keyboard
keyboard controller with outboard modules
small sampling keyboard synth
2 bowed psalterys
3 mbiras
several small ocarinas
unknown number of whistles
unknown number of recorders
unknown number of harmonicas
pan pipes
bamboo flute
“Native American” flute
2 djembes
bodhran
tongue drum
bongo set
tambourine
triangle (for Cajun music)
hammer dulcimer
lap dulcimer
strum stick (dulcimer)
balalaika
zither
I just scrolled up and noticed how long the list is. Now I'm embarrassed. The sad part is that there are probably more that I just don't remember right now.
Yeah, these lists aren't necessarily something to be proud of--I mean, who needs *11* fiddles?!
But it is fun to have a variety of voices on hand, and different things your kids can try out on their own musical journey. My rock n' roll 15 yearold guitarist occasionally picks up the mandolin and plays punk-grunge on it--I'm just impressed that he figured out the fingering in less than 5 minutes. And we all pretend to play the piano, which holds down one end of the living room.
That'd be me all right--always squirting clouds of ink, a tentacle in every crevice, and prone to grandiose, doomed assaults on whale-sized projects.Just call me Squidley....
At my house, a lot of the instruments are small relatively cheap things – whistles, harmonicas and plastic recorders are cheap. Okay, except for the Copeland whistle. You should see what a couple of my buddies have. Actually, I’ve never seen it all. One of them has about fifteen guitars that I’ve seen and three or four more that I’ve only heard about, plus a few banjos, a fiddle, mandola, mandolin.
The other guy has a shop out back where he does occasional repair jobs and builds one or two guitars a year, but it’s really just a cover for his Instrument Acquisition Syndrome. If you call it a shop, it’s okay to have dozens of instruments hanging on the wall. Last time I was in the “shop”, I counted fourteen fiddles and sixteen guitars, but I know he keeps his favorite and most valuable instruments in the house, so that’s probably at least three or four more fiddles and at least five more guitars. And some mandolins, banjos, a dobro and I don’t know what else. This is not a wealthy guy. He’s just a savvy trader and he’s been at it for a long time.
symptoms of music playing addiciton
symptoms of music playing addiciton
Does anyone else have physical / mental / emotional symptoms of wanting to play their instrument?
Mine: I get some kind of sensori-motor phenomenom in my finger tips when I feel like playing the guitar. I will rub my fingernails across my thumb, checking the shape and smoothness of the nails to see if they are right for playing. It's like a hunger pang, my fingers want to feel the guitar strings being plucked. These symptoms almost always occur about 2 minutes after I finish eating, (yes, every meal, every day) even if I am not consciously thinking about playing the guitar, and also occur while driving to work, and while working on the computer at work.
OK, 'fess up. What are your symptoms?
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
If I go to a pub and there's a session I feel I would fit in with, and I don't have an instrument, I get depressed.
:¬(
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I can't separate the symptoms of my music playing addiction from those of my alcoholism.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I know what you mean Kerry. I joined the AA (Accordionists Anonymous), it got so bad. Of course, as soon as I stood up and said "My name's Conán and I'm a piano accordion player", I was no longer anonymous, so that wasn't much use.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
As I've just returned to my work pc after biking home in the rain, playing the fiddle for an hour and biking back again I can't say that my deprivation symptoms are kicking in yet, but I do have my ukelele banjo close by in the cupboard where I hide broken laptops should I get desperate. At home, symptoms include taking my mandolin from room to room with me at all times and leaning it close to hand at bedtime - wouldn't want to wake up and have to go and find it.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by RichardB
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
It reminds me of this old thread: http://thesession.org/discussions/display.php/288
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by slainte
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
nowadays, with having a family and all, i think i can control it, but in my first years, i had my flute with me AT ALL TIMES.
it was on my drawing table, next to the drawing pens...
next to the cutting knife when making models...
and even next to my pillow when asleep, i used to grab it and play some tunes whenever i would awake in the middle of the night.
with the kids arround, it isn't as safe to have flutes laying about anymore...
whenever i go where there might be other musos, i do take my instrument with me, you never know there might be a session or something ...
i would hate to miss the opportunity to play due to not having my gear with me.
mm
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by MM
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I broke both my wrists jumping down steps on a skateboard a few years ago. No music, no work, no drawing.... nothing!
That sucked, cause even when I was unemployed I had the instruments.....
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
What's more your sex life was ruined as well.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I didnt have a sex life, I still don't.
I play ITM thats not cool in the city dawg.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Even if I am going to the theatre or cinema, I have to restrain myself from taking an instrument just in case I miss out on a session that I might come across somewhere along the way (You just never know!)
- That one time I don't take it will be the one time that the Ennis Cross-Cultural Music Apreciation Society has it's annual trip to London, and the half time interval in Lucia di Lammermoor finds the Royal Opera House host to a legendary Irish session in the foyer.
Sad, isn't it....
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Ottery
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
John, naughty, naughty!
When I'm travelling (usually work), after three days I get a longing for guitar, which turns into pining on the fifth day. Makes concentration difficult. That's why I'm considering getting a mandolin, which is much easier to carry on a plane.
And yes, I get the same thing as Conan when attending sessions (which is usually when I am travelling, hence no instrument).
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by EastPole
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
(don't worry John, I got it. It's very funny.)
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Unfortunately, Stefan admits that he still doesn't.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I didn't get it, explain John why he would have no sex life if his wrists were broken ...I can't think what you could be referring to.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Erm, 'cause it would be hard for him to undress??
Yes, let's hear it JohnJ
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Conan and BegF,
The late Alex Campbell(Scottish folk singer) had a great put down line for hecklers like yourselves.
"Back home, we refer to hecklers at "baiters" and you are a master!"
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I should also add that I wasn't trying to be mean to Stefan. It was just a little bit of fun.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Ok, so we are Master baiters.
No..... still don't get it.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
As the late Mr William Archibald Sponer used to say, you're a shining wit JohnJ.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Sponer? I meant Spooner of course. Or did I? Because of course, Sponer rhymes with...
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
...with what ?
You didn't finish the sentence, you just tailed off.
Why is everyone doing that ????
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Oh, the pain of purgery upon my sole
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
ha ha, sole rhymes with......
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Here's a symptom: I was extremely high all week-end, thinking I would crash and burn at the end of the Folk Alliance (which would definitely qualify as an overdose), but the groove lasted until the end of yesterday. After the conference, I decided to go into the production business, found a partner, planned a website, made an appointment to confirm a video production partnership, secured a contribution to the start-up cost of my company, and asked the first band I'd like to book for a quote for a show at a mini-festival so I could begin making a budget and applying for grant money (I couldn't get one, as he insisted on doing for free and providing all the sound equipment too). Then I updated a friend's website and went to a session until 3AM.
Now today I feel completely normal and relaxed again, the high has faded off, but there's no way I can get out of this wacky idea of mine, because in just one day on a music overdose high, I have gone too far and involved too many other people to stop.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
My word how it has grown.
The thread.
Oh memories I was at the time - living in Boarding school...it was extremely difficult for a 18 year old boy with no wrists.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Oh you were 18, I get all those Master Baits jokes now.
Yes yes, indeed, I too stopped all that nonsense when I was 18, ho ho...ahem.
Anyway. So there you are.
Back to your question, these days I can't leave down my mandolin without wanting to pick it up again, so now I'm a Master Beater.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Maybe all these comments should have gone in the "How old were you when you started?" thread.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Or the Liz Carroll Worship thread....
Sounds like a productive Day/ Night Kerri....But I agree with you on the crash and burn symptom...I call it my "come down".
I get it when after all of the tunes an the craic - when everything seemed to make sense and fit into place, you wake up and realise you have to go back to the mundane and all the negative things come back....
Negative memories....like when you were eighteen and you couldnt play with yourself......
Cause Instruments were banned in boarding school.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Maybe we could get an emoticon for a Master Baiter ???
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
O, shame and severe looks upon you all. Here's Cecil asking a perfectly serious question and you guys bring your lack of sex into it. Have you no shame? No sense of propriety?
Hold up, there, I forgot who I was talking to. *smirk*
Kerri, chaos is my middle name. You can have mine, I'm too old to truly enjoy it anymore, I'm thinking. After too many years of theatre, opera, and other performing events, I don't miss it at all. Which is not a good way to go into March in the US, if you're into the Irish thing. Suddenly, we have gigs everywhere. I haven't dared to count it up yet, but I suspect there's well over 20 performances on the calendar, most, thankfully, with the dance school.
So, for me, the symptom of MPA is mainly exhaustion.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Surely boarding school guaranteed a steady stream of friends to play with you?
Sorry to hear about the purgery to your sole Conán - that must make it a nightmare with a heavy instrument like yours on your lap...
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Ottery
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Thanks for understanding, Ottery!
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Oh the pain of surgery upon your ho..
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
No BegF, there's no "h"! Just a p
:¬)
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
HEHE HEH HEH HE HEHEHE
...........I don't get it.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Ach stop pulling my leg!! :¬/
It's meant to read "The strain of splurgeony anon my stole"
geez do I have to constantly spell it out to you?? Huh?
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
You're weird.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
OK back to the thread! Symptoms I've noticed with other musicians:
Carrying a book of tunes everywhere.
Ditto minidisc recorder.
Never going to gigs (too busy playing at sessions).
Drinking water (ugh) for fear of making a mistake
Waiting to the end of a session before using the jacks.
Incredibly muscular lips (OK with one female flute player I noticed this)
Spending excessive time on thesession.org
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
BegF, is your surname Tefal? As in kettle?
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I'm not going to like this am I ?
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Well it was just a little pot and kettle reference. Nothing to worry about, weirdo!!
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I almost always need to have at least one of my instruments out, and it's usually the whistle. So convenient! Carry it everywhere.. Damn...
cheers,
Armand
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by fiddlinviolinin
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
"I get it when after all of the tunes an the craic - when everything seemed to make sense and fit into place, you wake up and realise you have to go back to the mundane and all the negative things come back...."
So you know what I went through. All day yesterday I was absolutely desperate not to let "reality" come crashing back. I saw it coming, and I forced myself to write down exactly how real the high was and exactly how I felt at the time so that when the buzz died I would have some proof that I was perfectly alive and awake for a while, functioning at full capacity.
Then I had a nap and woke up miserable because I had to go back to work the next day. Then I got a few excellent ideas for collaborative concerts and realized I could keep the buzz going by always looking forward to the next thing instead of lingering on the last thing.
Anyway, yesterday's flurry of activity ensured that now that the negativity has found me again and I am thoroughly bleak and discouraged I can look at what I've started as just another boring list of things to do. I do feel much better than I did before, though. I was *even more* bored with life before I did this job. Now I am only slightly bored and a little teensy bit optimistic that I won't have to do this job until I die.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Well, you can take solace that you don't have to walk past the Thomas St. Crack heads, on your way home from work, and be happy for me that I'm going to play this evening and drink........tea!
(I'm beginning to act on the theory I've had for years that maybe the pints have something to do with this "come down"!!)
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Interesting theory. Maybe I'll try that tonight myself. No, actually, I probably won't. But I could start with TWO pints instead of 3.
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I appreciate the relevant replies. While an occasional tangent fits into most threads, the direction this thread got hijacked doesn't belong on this web site, IMHO.
Plucker, When my Dad visited us a couple of years ago, he was amused to no end that he found at least 3 guitars in every room in the house. (ok, not the bathrooms, kitchen, closets).
Also, I remember reading a long time ago some advice from an old guitar player to keep your guitar right beside your bed and make sure that playing it was the last thing you did at night, and the first thing that you did when you woke up. I thought it to be such a good idea that I generally followed it, until I got married, of course.
Kerri, best wishes on your new ventures.....maybe they could eventually work you out of the job you dread.
Conan, interesting observations. What does drinking water have to do with making mistakes?
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I think he just means drinking water as opposed to beer and whiskey, not just the idea that drinking water itself will prevent mistakes(!)
And I think that the onanistic references were absolutely outrageous and disgusting (if you can't even use the word 'instrument' on this site without provoking sniggering where does that leave us?) - But I totally blame Stefanpaz for bringing up the subject by whinging about breaking his wrists - and begF for coming on the raw prawn, as our recently very quiet Aussie contingent might say (and if that's not a cue for another irrelevant hijack.... )
Mark
# Posted on March 1st 2005 by Ottery
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Thanks for the well-wishing. Actually, I know they will work out. I've let lots of things flop in my life due to this boredom and apathy I get after the super-charged high of thinking something up, but yesterday I got the job half done in a day of explosive energy. Now that I have involved a bunch of my friends I have absolutely no excuse to procrastinate.
So even though I was probably completely whacked out on sleep deprivation when I sucked everybody in, I managed to generate enough momentum to give myself a neverending list of things to do, so I won't have time to wallow.
Hopefully in a year or two I will be able to afford a full time craic addiction.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Yes apologies for the immature moments, it was ALL Conans fault, but I can't help but feel partly responsible.
And to keep it relevent , to the 3 guitars in every room, my wife regularly complains that she keeps falling over my instruments (I'm biting my tongue Ottery!).
I spend far too much time than is healthy on music (the results don't prove this unfortunatly) this site adds to the addiction, it ensures that I'm thinking about music when I should be doing my exciting work!
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addicTION !!
It's spelt ADDICTION.
See me afterwards, all of you.
And, Plectrum, stop playing with it.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Guernsey Pete
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
ottery - your little friend comment was pretty bad (haha, i was gonna say the same thing tho).
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by daiv
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I have a whistle next to the computer, one on the dining table, one on the coffee table, one in the kitchen, one in the car and one in my purse (you just never know when you're going to want to whistle, and who wants to walk all the way over to the piano and pick on out from the...er...collection there when the urge is on you?
The three longest days of my life was when I'd overplayed learning a new tune on my Burke and got tendonitis in my left hand. It took me three days to figure out that my Busman is considerably lighter than my Burke (and my "mystery" whistle, made of plastic tubing, is lighter still), so I could still play if I was careful. How do you spell relief? ;)
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by MacTireRua
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Aussie Hijack! woohooo.
IMHO this thread is hilarious. A hijack here and there is what makes these threads interesting.
If this site was all serious discussions about music all of the time then I think I would just cry because it would be Boring. There is plenty of time for serious music discussions at Ceoltas (Sp?)
So thank god that some of you have a sense of humour about things (even if it does tend to be in the gutter sometimes)
Anyhow having said that. One time I was playing in a session and my string broke and I didnt have a spare, granted it was late and I was tired. (was at a festival and had about 4 hours sleep over 4 nights) Anyhow I just burst into tears and everybody just came to a grinding halt. Pretty embarrassing.
PS - I blame Conan too
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by bb
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Well hello there bb!
What gutter would that be?
Wasn't by any chance your G String??
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Donough
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
hahaha - your very funny Donough. At the risk of another high jack...
How is perth???
The National is coming up in three weeks time, you going? Its going to be a good one this year I'm thinking.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by bb
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
HiJack alarm! - not not Gilder
I regret that I won't make it to the National this year though I had hoped to. Next year I will try and make sure in advance that I am free to go to the National.
Perth is good but not enough visiting musicians of late. We need some new blood here.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Donough
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I am no more addicted than a bird or a whale. Music is life, life is music and even the spheres sing.
The primary physical / mental / emotional symptom of wanting to play an instrument that I exhibit is playing an instrument, but I have the advantage of being a singer who considers his voice to be an instrument. I am liable to apply it where and when the mood strikes me. . .
Which I admit has gotten me some looks in the middle of the peleton.
KFG
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by KFG
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
In reply to cecilguitar's last posting, I thought I'd compile a brief inventory to see if I qualify as addicted. In my small house we have 1 piano, 7 guitars (3 electric), 4 guitar amps, 1 dilapidated partial drum kit, 2 mandolins, 1 banjo mandolin, 1 zither banjo, 4 fiddles, at least 4 recorders, miscellaneous whistles, loads of harmonicas (and I mean loads!), tambourines, other percussive bits and pieces, 1 uke, 1ukelele banjo - must've missed a few things - my wife is not amused by this collection!
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by RichardB
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
The inventory thing is a bit scary. Our house 'boasts' (to use Estate Agent's parlance), in descending order of musical importance (my son may disagree with this) A wooden flute, 4 whistles, a couple of bamboo flutes, a low whistle, a mandolin, an acoustic guitar, a double bass, an electric bass guitar, an acoustic bass guitar, an electronic keyboard, a metal flute, a clarinet, a home-made balalaika, 2 fiddles, a couple of mouth organs, a digeridoo, a plastic fife, two shaky eggs, a triangle, (and a whole draw full of spoons!)
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Ottery
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Sorry Cecil if my post encouraged that - not intentional!
I hope you were jokin Ottery....
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Yeah sorry if anyone was offended. Kerri's right about my reference to water or indeed soft drinks. I know plenty of people who would quite happily spend a night on the booze only to hit the sparkling water whenever there are tunes in the offing. I don't see anything particularly wrong with this; depends on whether or not the session is trying to maintain a certain standard of music.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Stefan, I think you know I was joking...
That's the trouble with a site like this as a form of communication - it's TOO big and efficient. If someone makes a throwaway jest like "Sponer rhymes with..."
It will be read by:
People who understand it, and laugh because it tickles their childlike sense of humour.
People who understand it, smile briefly, and carry on.
People who understand it, and think, "how sad", and carry on,
People who understand it and think "That's rude, I don't approve, but what the hell, it's no big deal."
People who understand it and think, "That's disgusting, it's rude and unsuitable to make jokes on a sexual theme on this message board!"
... and that's even before you get to the
People who DON'T understand it.
And it will be read by a mixture of adolescents, young adults, middle aged people, old people, people who think of themselves as grown-ups, people who, despite their advanced years will never grow up, people who take themselves seriously, people who take nothing seriously, people who believe in various deities, people who are athiests, people who are pretending to be something different from what they are in real life, people who wouldn't be on here at all if it wasn't for the fact that otherwise they would have to get on with their work .....
But at the same time, part of the fun of a site like this is watching that clash of cultures unfold.
And it's remarkable how civil we manage to be with each other most of the time, considering...
(Does this constitute an acceptable hijack?)
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Ottery
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Before anyone else notices, I've just realised I got Kerri and Ottery mixed up. Must be due to the remarkable resemblance...
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
It's the teeth...
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Ottery
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
i'm afraid to say anything now.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by BegF
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Mime instead.
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Conán McDonnell
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I HOPE UR JOKING OTTERY
# Posted on March 2nd 2005 by Hugo Chavez
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Busy day @ work today, finally a 1st chance to check thesession.
It looks to me like this thread grew into 3 discussions:
1. the original discussion, which now could spawn a new thread on "what instruments are in your home?". I may try that, if no one else starts it first, but will probably check the archives first. All of this if time permits, which it may not, at least not today.
2. The sexual asides.
3. The discussion of whether or not the sexual asides were appropriate. This site is open to whatever Jeremy allows. For my own taste, a tangent joke or 2 interspersed into our discussions is acceptable. More than that seems inappropriate, regardless of the subject of the "hijack". If a new topic is that significant, why not start a new thread? In regards to sex jokes, If a person is THAT much into sex jokes that they feel compelled to go on and on, perhaps they should be at a web site discussion forum for sex jokes.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Sorry, I suppose I started thing off. I had only originally intended to make a "one off" quip which I hoped would be taken in fun. However, the discussion was perpetuated by some others who attempted to feign "innocence" in these matters.
I agree that things may have got out of hand.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Aargh. *looks for something to throw*
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Sorry again! I honestly didn't mean anything with that last sentence, Zina.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Re: musical addiction and instrument stashes. The sheer number and variety of instruments in my home attest to the depravity of my (and my family's) addiction: 11 fiddles, 2 five string banjos, 1 tenor banjo, 1 mandolin, 1 classical guitar, 2 acoustic 6 string guitars, 2 electric guitars, 1 electric bass, 1 electronic keyboard, 1 upright grand piano, 1 practice set of uilleann pipes, 3 keyless flutes, 1 low D whistle, 10 assorted D, C, Bb, and A whistles, 2 harmonicas, and 1 ocarina. On any given day, our living room looks like a music shop.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Very impressive collection, Will. I'll forgive you for the ocarina.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by John J Returns
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
My collection is dispersed a little at the moment, but it includes a fiddle, acoustic guitar, mandolin, Celtic harp (nylon strings), shuttle pipes, a hammered dulcimer, several whistles, a bodhran, two djembes, a dumbek, a didjeridoo (synthetic, but with a perfect "D" pitch), and a native flute. I aspire to one day rival Will's collection, but it's not easy to do when I keep moving around like this.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
ok, now this IS the "what musical instruments do you have in your home" thread. -
We have 1 piano, 1 steel pan drum, several whistles, 1 bass guitar, and 13 guitars. We had a few more guitars before my oldest son moved out on his own, taking his with him, of course. This is not to mention numerous amps, effects units, mics etc etc.
I would still like to buy 2 or 3 more guitars, though.........
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
3 harps, 3 guitars, 1 flute (terrible quality), 1 pvc flute, um, an assortment of whistles (mainly Shannon Heaton handmedowns), a bodhran, a mandolin, an octave zouk, two fiddles, a tenor banjo...I think that's it.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Zina Lee
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I think this is all. These are divided (unequally) among three people.
3 steel string guitars
3 classical guitars
electric guitar
12-string guitar
$15 1957 Stella guitar formerly used as Hawaiian lap steel
2 fiddles
2 mandolins
5-string banjo
2 autoharps
harp
piano
foot-pump reed organ
small standalone keyboard
keyboard controller with outboard modules
small sampling keyboard synth
2 bowed psalterys
3 mbiras
several small ocarinas
unknown number of whistles
unknown number of recorders
unknown number of harmonicas
pan pipes
bamboo flute
“Native American” flute
2 djembes
bodhran
tongue drum
bongo set
tambourine
triangle (for Cajun music)
hammer dulcimer
lap dulcimer
strum stick (dulcimer)
balalaika
zither
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Bob himself
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Bob: WoW!
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by ceciltguitar
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
I just scrolled up and noticed how long the list is. Now I'm embarrassed. The sad part is that there are probably more that I just don't remember right now.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Bob himself
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Yeah, but Bob, sooner or later they're going to find out you've been squatting in the basement of the shop and call the police.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
They'll never take me alive!
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Bob himself
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
Yeah, these lists aren't necessarily something to be proud of--I mean, who needs *11* fiddles?!
But it is fun to have a variety of voices on hand, and different things your kids can try out on their own musical journey. My rock n' roll 15 yearold guitarist occasionally picks up the mandolin and plays punk-grunge on it--I'm just impressed that he figured out the fingering in less than 5 minutes. And we all pretend to play the piano, which holds down one end of the living room.
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
"who needs 11 fiddles"
2 very musical squid? (With one left over - always worthwhile to have a spare.)
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Kerri Brown
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
That'd be me all right--always squirting clouds of ink, a tentacle in every crevice, and prone to grandiose, doomed assaults on whale-sized projects.Just call me Squidley....
# Posted on March 3rd 2005 by Miss Lonelyhearts
Re: symptoms of music playing addiciton
At my house, a lot of the instruments are small relatively cheap things – whistles, harmonicas and plastic recorders are cheap. Okay, except for the Copeland whistle. You should see what a couple of my buddies have. Actually, I’ve never seen it all. One of them has about fifteen guitars that I’ve seen and three or four more that I’ve only heard about, plus a few banjos, a fiddle, mandola, mandolin.
The other guy has a shop out back where he does occasional repair jobs and builds one or two guitars a year, but it’s really just a cover for his Instrument Acquisition Syndrome. If you call it a shop, it’s okay to have dozens of instruments hanging on the wall. Last time I was in the “shop”, I counted fourteen fiddles and sixteen guitars, but I know he keeps his favorite and most valuable instruments in the house, so that’s probably at least three or four more fiddles and at least five more guitars. And some mandolins, banjos, a dobro and I don’t know what else. This is not a wealthy guy. He’s just a savvy trader and he’s been at it for a long time.
So, you see, I’m really a rank amateur.
# Posted on March 4th 2005 by Bob himself