Your Musical Background

[crimson]

Pardon me if this kind of thread has been done already, but I thought it would be nice to have a place where everyone could tell about their musical backgrounds. Which of you started listening, playing, or even composing music already in childhood? What was your first instrument? Your first CD/tape? What about your first idol? Did you go to any music schools? I'll start with my own history.

I did not have a very musical childhood as our family did not listen to much music back then. We didn't have any instruments except for a cheap hardware synthesizer that none of us could play and it didn't see much use. I was bad at music in the elementary school and didn't care much for music lessons.

I was about 13 or 14 yr old when I really started listening to music and bought my first CD (it was Metallica's Fuel). The next year I had gotten so interested in music that I bought an electric guitar and started to play along Metallica's tracks by looking up tablatures from the internet.

In upper secondary high school I took a beginner course in guitar and got the highest grade (although I think that every student who went to the lessons and tried to learn got it, too).

About a year ago I decided to have a go at composition, bought some software and equipment, and wondered for half a year about how I'd actually go about composing something that doesn't sound like garbage. Then there was a small break-through and I was able to understand some of the theory and composed my first non-sickening scribbles. From there we get to this point

So, let's hear about your backgrounds, people!

[Joshua Yu]

I did not receive any musical training properly. When I was still a toddler, I went to a music theory class and eventually quited without learning a single note. In the primary school (6 - 11), I hate music the most and couldn't know what is useful to know music.

Then at the secondary school (12 - 19), the first year, I received lessons of trumpet as our school forced us to do so. Then I self-study French horn the next year. I started playing violin at the forth year. Anyway, I got into the Hong Kong Children Symphony Orchestra as a trumpeter at secondary 3. I played for two years and dropped due to public exams. Now I'm Secondary 7 and waiting to go to college.

Anyway, I started listening to music CDs at late Secondary 3. Now I have got about 118 CDs of classic music. A total playing time of 5 days 14 hours 27 minutes and 17 seconds. I just keen on classic music so much and started thinking of composing two years ago. I always have melodies in my mind but just lack of experience to do the dictation. The only instrument for me to test the note is my violin. So I can't do the dictation as soon as the melodies come to my mind. Just got all of them wasted.

Further more, I learned to sing as a bass four years ago at my church. Anyway, I don't manage to sing it well. I also self-studied the music theory of Royal Music Level 5 four years ago and Level 8 two years ago. But I didn't do any exams on it. So I am just lack of momentum to compose a note.......

Born in a non-musical family, both of my parents don't understand music. And I don't have a single friend know any classic music except the ones met in the orchestra. What can you ask for more backgrounds?

[MaestroX]

Born in a non-musical family, both of my parents don't understand music.

Ditto!

I don't know if my musical background is interesting but here goes...

When I was younger I never really liked music, but I showed enough interest (and I suppose I was good enough) at it for my parents to buy me a keyboard and lessons. When I was 9 in my class at school everyone was given a music test. From the results I was given the choice of playing clarinet or flute. I choose Clarinet

Throughout this time I almost never practiced or shown any deep interest. I played because I was given te opotunity to.

My composing interests began when I was 13. I messed about with melodies and eventualy bought some midi cables and Cubase and began making music every now and then. At this time I cared nothing for classical music or music theory. My interests were film music, game music and club/dace music.

I suppose you could say that there was a moment in my life where a switch was turned on. Two and a half years ago I got a new clarinet teacher. She was a professional double bassist and played flute, clarinet and sax. She introduced me to classical music, music theory, conducting the works and it just clicked. She gave me the idea to go to music college, which beforehand I never even thought about, I didn't know where I was going to go in life. She introduced me to a local music teacher, pianist conductor and composer (an amazing guy) which has been teaching me ever since.

Firstly basic theory leading to harmony, counterpoint etc. From there things just grew, I got more involved in both playing music, composing music and understanding music.

From my composing point of view I started to come out with more solid stuff and for the first time ever I liked music theory (I still do). I understood its importance. As with all young composers I came out with Mozartian stuff (I did untill about 8 months ago) until I realised that what I thought was classical music (indeed it was) but it was 200 years old. It was way behind on the times. Ever since I've been looking at new ways to expand my ideas and enjoy the freedom (or the challenges) of less rules, more creativity. I was very lucky to have my first commision last year and get my work performed by an orchestra. At that time it was amazing, I got onto newspapers, radio and t.v hailed as a prodigy! (Good times (I don't consider myself one))

I'm now ready to go to a top conservatoire in the UK in september to study composition and music at degree level (with honors).

[Ron Ofir]

Wow! That was an interesting read, MaestorX! Same goes for Joshua Yu and crimson, of course!

I think mine is much more dull: I was never really interested in music up until 6th grade when my brother bought The Beatles 1. That was the first time I actually listened to music, though I do remember sitting by my bigger brother when he listened to his music, especially one song by Bewitched called Blame it on The Weatherman. However, I did study keyboard at school for one year at the age of 7, and after that recorder (school too) for one year, and was one of few (along with my twin and older brother) to continue for a second year. I still remember some tunes!

Anyway, I was lucky enough that my parents wanted us to study music, so when my brother wanted to buy an electric guitard (he was also the one who introduced to metal and rock music), they agreed. About half a year later, he sold that guitard (BC Rich Warlock) for an Ibanez bass and started learning with a private teacher. A year later (3 years ago), he managed to arouse my interest enough to pick up an electric guitard and study with the same teacher (we had a double lesson, I was first and then him so I always listened while he was studying. great fun!). About one year later, he started theory and sitting next to him while the teacher showed him scales, intervals and so on. I got interested as well, so when it was time for me to start theory (I pushed my teacher to start a bit earlier ), I already knew some basics and had a great desire for more. Ever since I've been working on improving my technique, studying theory (books and teacher) and also looking for new things (recentley started learning Jazz). Other than that, I have yet to play with a band (I jammed with a pianist once, and had a few sessions with sop and alt saxes, a trumpet and sometimes even recorders, clarinet and a choir)and am still looking for some serious musicians to compose and play with.

[jvalentino]

I was never really into music until the year before I went to junior high, and I then wanted to be in choir. After hearing the junior high choir I decided against it, and made the decision to join the band instead. I wanted to play the saxophone, but the director told me there were already too many and put me on trombone.

I really liked the trombone and seemed pretty good at it, so I continued with it through junior high to the shock of my parents. I also started attempting to write music at around that time too, which lead me to start playing the piano and to mess around with other instruments as well.

I continued playing and composing through high school, won various awards, got into jazz, and decided when I was a senior that I wanted to go to college to major in both trombone performance and composition.

In college I wrote a lot of music, did the classes, played principle in all the ensembles, and attempted to make a living by teaching trombone lessons. By the end of my first year I came the harsh realization that all of the ensembles (most of which I was forced to particiapte in) were taking all of my time forcing me to skip work to study, which made me run out of money real fast.

My sophomore year I dropped the axe on marching band, because it wasn't applicable to me as a performer and was taking more of my time than anything else. By then I had given up of the unsteady paycheck of teaching lessons. Kids, pay your lesson teachers, they use that money to survive. One of my music scholarships required me to be in marching band, but I got another one for jazz to keep me at the school.

I later took a third job as an attendant in the music lab and continued studying music exclusively until I had a revelation as a Junior: I am not going to be a band director, performing gigs are few and far between, even less is available for composition, and teaching lessons wasn't for me. At that point I decided to start another degree in computer science since I was almost done with music and could finish it easily, so that I could pay the bills when I graduated. This revelation was also the result of complete burnout.

Some more years passed by, I won various awards for composition and performance, and I graduated with all those degrees and then went into software development. I still compose and play in a few local ensembles (jazz and wind symphony).

[Joshua Yu]

Originally Posted by Ron Ofir

Wow! That was an interesting read, MaestorX! Same goes for Joshua Yu and crimson, of course!

I am not sure this will happen. There is absolutely no one love classical in my community. Anyway, if I really want to success in music, I have to start composing symphonies. Or maybe starting from overture first. Then ask some one willing to risk the try to perform it. Or maybe I should take the exams first and then go learn the basics of conducting and...... I really don't know.

[Drego]

I started in 3rd grade with Violin, then a little bit of Percussion in 4th, then Saxophone in 5th. I had group with Mr. Thayer: me and my friend, but I never practiced. Over the summer, I had nearly forgotten entirely how to play. In 6th grade, I really didn't like Band. When I did show up, I usually fell asleep or just pretended to play. Mr. Thayer was also my BD (Band Director) in sixth grade, but he announced that next year, he would be retiring. I think these two things, along with the fact that my friend quit band after 5th grade - he said it was too hard - are what persuaded me to quit Band altogether. The next two years, nothing Musical happened to me at all, but at the end of 8th grade I decided I would go back into Band (Percussion) in 9th- only for one year, though; then I would take other music classes geared more towards Rock. Well, something happened that year that made me the opposite of my former self. One year later, and I'm still in band, this time playing Euphomium even joined Marching Band this year, and already playing Percussion, Euphonium, Bass Guitar for Jazz, a little bit of Guitar by myself (writing a peice for classical guitar quartet), and started to learn Cello.

As for composition... I don't recall when or how I got interested, (these things just sneak up on you, I guess lol) but last year I downloaded Anvil Studio, and began writing out melodies... countermelodies, harmonies, etc. - mostly for just Wind Ens., but I eventually want to write for video games (mostly fantasy). Most of my... "songs" sound like they fit Video games more thatn anything else.



- Autobiography of a band geek

[Dave C]

When I was about 7 years old, I had gotten a cheap guitar for Christmas, but was never too seriouse.

I started playing the snare drum in 5th grade. After ta couple of years playing in my schools band, I found the drum set they had in storage. I set it up and practice on that any free period I had.

I started listening to Sublime in 6th grade. That made me want to play the bass. I didnt even know what a bass was, but I quickley found out. I was listening to a song called "40oz. to Freedom" and heard a cool groove going on in the backround. So I got a Ibanez sound gear pack. I learned a song by ear the first 2 days I had it, called "Badfish" by Sublime.

So I found lessons at this music shop. My teacher was incredibly good. His name was Mike. He taught me all the basics, notes, scales, etc... Then he started teaching me theory and what-not. He introduced me to slap bass, bass chords, etc... After having a lot of knowledge about my newly found instrument, He started giving me songs to learn. I remember a few names, The Real Me by The Who, Black Dog by Zeppelin, and Run Around by The Blues Travelers. I learned those songs in like 3 days, and knew every single note.

Then I started learning songs off of my Sublime albums. Make a long story short, I know how to play every single song by Sublime, even rare ones.

That music shop I took lessons at closed down and I didnt find Mike until about 4 months later. During that time, I started jamming with my friend Zach. He was pretty bad when we began, so we just jammed some punk songs with basic power chords.

I found Mike 4 months later teaching at a little shop in Greensburg, PA. I signed back up for lessons. He introduced me to Jaco Pastorius (spelling?). I LOVED it. I learned how to play Teen Town and was so happy. After a couple of months taking lessons, Mike and I felt that it wasnt necessary anymore.

After that, my taste in music changed for better and for worse. I started a pretty good punk band and we were pretty known around our school and neighboring districts. We mainly played covers, but wrote some originals. I dont mean to brag, but alot of people came to our shows to hear me play bass. I added elaborate things to simple 4/4 power chord songs, and played a lot of good songs by Rancid. I like Rancid, there bassist Matt Friedmen is so damn good. One of our most famous covers was Maxwell Murder by Rancid. It had a bass solo in it. I learned it note for note.

After being in that band for a year, we decided to get recorded. We went to this guy my moms boyfriend knew named Dave Granati(http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm...did=405 34284). He has a band called the Granati brothers.It was a very professional studio.

After another year with that band, I was frustrated. I quit the band and went off on my own. I met this guy named Tim afterwards. Tim was very good at guitar. He loved Randy Rhoads and Zakk Wylde (do I need to name his favorite band? haha). He knew how to play the Crazy Train song and solo note for note. I started a band with him that never left the practice room.

Me (on drums now) and Zach got back together and made a cover band that played birthday parties. We had alot of good songs under our belt, but our bassist's parents held us back, so thats no more.

So again, my taste changed. I started listening to metal. I always liked metal music, but I never had an appriciation for it until know. I was 15 years old and was heavily listening to Pantera. Then I went to Ozzfest 06 and found a bunch of new bands that amazed me. So I found this kid I know named Kevin in the halls at my Technical school as I was skipping Algebra, haha. I gave him my number.

After that, me, Tim, Kevin, and Kevins freind named Dave (a drummer) started a band. We made some really good songs. As of right now, we havent practiced in a while. Kevin is getting a new PA sytem and our drummer Dave is getting a new set and pedal (his broke).

So until then, here I am. Now I love all of those bands, but I still love Sublime. They are and always will be my favorite band.

Sorry I typed so much.

[ttw]

My mother was a concert pianist, so I had some exposure to music from an early age. (She studied with Joseph and Rosina Lhevine among others.) I learned to play piano and read music about age 5 or 6 (but I wasn't any prodigy.) Later (about 5th grade) I took up accordion (self-study, not too hard). In high school, I took bass and clarinet lessons and played in the stage band and marching bands. I helped my mother run a music kindergarten for several years.

I did figure out how to listen to popular music on the radio and learn the pieces so I could play them.

I continued music as a hobby (never that good on any instrument, but I could play Beethoven's op13 sonata at one time.) Of course, grad school (chemistry, computer science) interferred. While I was a professor, I started a couple of western-swing dance bands and improved on the accordion.

Later I left teaching (a tenured position even) to work in the computer industry and didn't do much music for about 20 years (lost all the chops). Later I worked for the Govermnent (doing math, physics, and computer research.) A few years ago, I decided to write music during retirement so I started reading some theory books, reading scores, listening, and started writing.

Mostly, I'm just an amateur, but I do have fun.

[Andy]

Originally Posted by ttw

My mother was a concert pianist, so I had some exposure to music from an early age. (She studied with Joseph and Rosina Lhevine among others.) I learned to play piano and read music about age 5 or 6 (but I wasn't any prodigy.) Later (about 5th grade) I took up accordion (self-study, not too hard). In high school, I took bass and clarinet lessons and played in the stage band and marching bands. I helped my mother run a music kindergarten for several years.

I did figure out how to listen to popular music on the radio and learn the pieces so I could play them.

I continued music as a hobby (never that good on any instrument, but I could play Beethoven's op13 sonata at one time.) Of course, grad school (chemistry, computer science) interferred. While I was a professor, I started a couple of western-swing dance bands and improved on the accordion.

Later I left teaching (a tenured position even) to work in the computer industry and didn't do much music for about 20 years (lost all the chops). Later I worked for the Govermnent (doing math, physics, and computer research.) A few years ago, I decided to write music during retirement so I started reading some theory books, reading scores, listening, and started writing.

Mostly, I'm just an amateur, but I do have fun.

what a marvelous background. i too, am an amatuer... music is my therapy...or escape from the burdens of the world.

my dad discouraged me from a career in music...which he much later, regretted. i am content, now as an Electrical Engineer....with music as my avocation. haha at least i can find work!

andy

continue the fun?

andy