Thoughts about stuff. And things.
So, I was thinking about posting about what I've been up to lately but I couldn't recall there being handy specific place in this forum to just post random thoughts about what's on my mind, so here we are. A thread that officially has no topic. Discuss whatever point of interest is on your mind.
Anyhow, I've sorta been away from my computer for like the past week helping my uncle build a shed. Building rafters and putting them up and such. Odd work for a computer geek I guess. It'd be relaxing in a way, but I was really missing my own computer. Using some other persons laptop only serves to remind me how nice my own rig is. I don't think I'll ever settle for a cheap TN panel monitor anymore, and my DSL internet doesn't seem so slow anymore after being limited to some unreliable 4G connection meant for phones.
Also I got an job interview Monday, which naturally they called to set up while I was away from home AND sick. It's like they just KNOW when you are most vulnerable.
Anyhow, I've sorta been away from my computer for like the past week helping my uncle build a shed. Building rafters and putting them up and such. Odd work for a computer geek I guess. It'd be relaxing in a way, but I was really missing my own computer. Using some other persons laptop only serves to remind me how nice my own rig is. I don't think I'll ever settle for a cheap TN panel monitor anymore, and my DSL internet doesn't seem so slow anymore after being limited to some unreliable 4G connection meant for phones.
Also I got an job interview Monday, which naturally they called to set up while I was away from home AND sick. It's like they just KNOW when you are most vulnerable.
Comments
I haven't played in an orchestra since my first semester in college (3 years ago), and I miss having something to practice. It's hit me a lot harder this past semester since my violin decided to crap out on me in the beginning of the year... two strings broke in one week back in February when we had a bout of way colder temperatures that fucked over my instrument, and I didn't have enough money to justify buying a whole new set of strings. When I finally did (months later), the E string (the top string, arguably the most important) broke within a week. It was so aggravating! I've been saving up money for textbooks for this next semester, so I haven't even replaced the string yet. I feel like I've done a pretty decent job of routinely practicing a couple times a month for no reason whatsoever except to play, all up until this past semester. It's been a good 6 months since I played my violin more than twice in a month! That's awful!
Playing the violin used to be such a crucial part of my life! I played at least 3 hours a day in various classes throughout high school, and I practiced for at least an hour besides that every day. I could have gone to college for music, and I confidently feel that if I had I could have made a successful career out of it. I've got a good ear for music, and in all of my violin classes I was keeping up with the same people who had been playing years longer. I chose not to go into music for various reasons (the main one being that I know I could make a nicer paycheck with a different major), but DAMN do I miss it.
I need to find a quartet or orchestra to play in. I've debated joining the university orchestra again, even though the majority of the people in the orchestra can't play their instrument worth shit.
I dunno. I have options. If I really wanted to, I've already been given an offer to play over some original country songs and record some violin/fiddle solos onto an album. I fuckin hate country music though.
Alright, that was my drunkin rant of the evening. Any of you fellow OB members have any bond with playing music like I do?
For some reason, I only ever play it when I'm alone. I don't know why I hate the "Oh you're playing your flute again, that's great" conversation. I just don't like playing alone in front of people.
I should have taken my flute to Austin so Lauren and I could have melted everyones' faces off with a violin/flute duet.
I'll record that album, cuz that's what I do!
That or Keytar
Hopefully it turns out better than the Portsmouth Sinfonia…
I'll give that negative 2 stars. And only that many because it was hilariously atrocious.
And Matt, related to melting people's faces off: nothing is more hilarious than playing classical music in the middle of a Friday night in a bustling apartment complex in the party neighborhood of Austin. People's minds were BLOWN when they realized I was playing a REAL LIFE VIOLIN. I had roughly 30 people come up to me in an hour or so, all of them drunk or high as shit, acting like they had never witnessed such a miraculous event in their entire life. DAMN. Had I not been drunk at the time, I would have put out a tip jar. I could have made bank! Biggest regret of the night, although it was still totally worth it.
As for this "People with a passing interest in music since high school" concert... This could have potential. I'm enough of a music nerd that I feel we could successfully set up some sort of OB web concert by recording over other recordings. It would be like a witch's brew, except instead of adding panels to a comic you play along to whatever is given to you. You can rehearse or whatever before you make a final recording, and then record and pass it along.
The final recording may have really, really shitty sound quality, but hey! I can live with that. Especially since we'd be doing it for shits and grins. Any thoughts? Anyone else amused by this idea?
Of course a lack of good mics could be an issue.
HOLY SHIT WE COULD DO VIDEO GAME MUSIC. I'm sure we could find the appropriate sheet music online. Since the tune is familiar enough, I figure people who prefer using sheet music and people who have no idea how to read music would have an equally fun time playing it. You could also jam out OVER the sheet music, if you figured the regular melody would be too boring. We could just nominate which video game we wanted to play, figure out a good tempo for everyone, figure out a key signature that everyone is comfortable playing in, and then just come up with an order for who plays after who. Someone would start off with the decided guidelines, and then (listening to the recording through headphones to avoid the sound quality issue), you record your part and we can just make a master recording where we throw everyone's parts in together and see what we get.
Anyway, bust out your strings and scratch out some wicked tunes or whatever it is the kids are doing these days. Kinda like this but with more people:
Also, this is how we roll at my place: this is an older video, but it gives you an idea of the crazy shit that happens occasionally!
I save up my poops during the day for a single nightly mega-poo. Feels good, and gives plenty of reading time.
I ought to get a book to read though. Been a while since I had some good reading material.
I'm totally up to jam, I'm still practicing and improving on piano/keyboards. Know all my chords now, all the inversions and whatnot. I'm looking to join a band this year in college, so this sort of thing would be good.
I've got garageband, so I could easily make an MP3 to export to who-ever is putting it together.
Also, sorry I don't post much anymore. Don't have an excuse really. Miss talking to you guys though.