Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Music


 
No Fairy tale on today´s theme "music", sadly, sorry, Elle.
I grew up in Seesen.
 
Steinweg pianos were produced there, something very special - my Dad´s Father had one (he passed when my Dad was aged 14 so it feels wrong to call him Grandpa or such).
 
Steinweg - "master of pianos" was not successful in Seesen, went to Braunschweig (hahaha, didn´t we all?!) and later USA, you maybe know Steinway pianos.
 

 
(not our piano in the pic)
My Dad forced me to learn to play the piano on this wonderful piece.
 

 
I didn´t like it much and.... to be honest I only practiced the day I had to ride my bike to the teacher.
It was enough, though!!!!
 

 

My Mum sometimes asked me to play this:

 
But I was never good enough for my Dad - who!!! Couldn´t play at all!

Queen of fast clicks certainly was... too fast, so one day Dad´d had it.
BOOM!

I found one of these on top, a metronome:


I could not cope and quit, thank you, Dad.
 
This one was a pressie from Ingo.
Ingo also bought such a keyboard for me (where you can play with headphones), but I cannot read the notes anymore and...

TEMPO!!!!!!

Yes. The artist writes a piece and gives the tempo.
But... I play(ed) at home, am I not allowed to find my own tempo?

I don´t have patience, my fingers are quick.
And, after a year or such, when you can play a bit, it even is enjoyable.

On your OWN tempo.

It does not matter anymore. I cannot read notes, nor play.

I am sorry, Elle, it is no fairy-tale and a rather sad story, but a story.
 
The piano still stands in Seesen. Room not heated, I think it´s rotten by now.
Ingo wanted to bring it here but we don´t have the space, nor - more important - I don´t wanna bug the neighbors.
You hear plain EVERYTHING here.

Henry 🦁


Sorry, dude, you are late some 20 years....

I also joined Tom with Signs2 btw - it´s about chocolate.



18 comments:

Nancy Chan said...

I have always wanted to play the piano since young but couldn't afford the lessons. I tried to learn to play the keyboard after I retired but without a teacher it was a real struggle. So, I gave up.

Iris Flavia said...

Nancy, my second try years ago failed, too. Sadly.

____

Bertiebo, it became difficult! Maybe if I find time again....

Empire of the Cat said...

Sad that you don't play anymore Iris, I would have loved to learn to play the piano. It's true what you say though about noise and neighbours. I dread anyone taking up a musical instrument as it would come straight through the walls. When I was a kid, my friend took up the Bagpipes!!!! I could hear her practising half a street away, imagine what it was like living next door to that lol. I like your metronome drawing too. Thanks for joining me for the October theme at Art Journal Journey this month Elle/Empire of the Cat xx

Tom said...

...music should be a pleasure of life, not something that you are forced to do.

Iris Flavia said...

Elle, Ingo tried the bagpipe, it was AWFUL!
I gave it to my Thomas who loves that music.
We visited, I asked how it´s going.
Him: "Not at all. I forgot I have two missing fingers and cannot play!"
We laughed so hard.
When we met he always hid that hand until he saw my scars.
To friendship, huh! xx

____

Tom, well. Yes. In the end I liked it (till that metronome came in).

My name is Erika. said...

Stories work for this challenge, and this is a good one. Who doesn't like music? I like your metronome. It was never so much fun to play with one though. Not that my piano playing is very good. (Now I don't even have a piano.) Thanks for sharing for Elle's challenge at AJJ, and enjoy some tunes of any kind today. hugs-Erika

Sami said...

I also learned to play the piano when I was about 5 years old, but of course never followed it up so I can't remember a thing, and now I find it too hard to learn such things.

Iris Flavia said...

Erika, if I had the wish I could start with the keyboard but, ohhh... not now!

____

Sami, same here,I forgot most! I would have to count which note is what!

Iris Flavia said...

Well, yes, Dad made me stop. I´m sad about that now!
My neighbors might be thankful, though ;-)

gigi-hawaii said...

Steinway is supposed to be the best. I had a Yamaha. Gigi hawaii

Iris Flavia said...

Yes, I fear my Brother let it go down the drain.... very sad.

RedPat said...

The memories of how to play are probably still tucked away somewhere in your brain for whenever you have time one day to let them out.

Iris Flavia said...

That would be so great. At the plastic-keyboard it sadly didn´t work...

Bill said...

Maybe you could take piano lessons, I'm sure some of the memories will come back. Did you hear Queen's "new song" that was rediscovered. Here's the link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijj_hheGEi0&list=WL&index=4

Iris Flavia said...

Yes, Bill I shared Queen it already - but thank you!!!!
Oh such a sad song.

Well. I would need time... and motivation for a "piano".
I tried the keyboard but.... my brain refused... when I retire I´ll give it a go, maybe ;-)

Empire of the Cat said...

haha be glad Ingo gave up the bagpipes when he did!

William Kendall said...

My dad played the piano.

At Home In New Zealand said...

When I was growing up I always wanted to learn to play piano but my father used to say he couldn't afford the piano or the lessons. I'd been married for eight years before we bought an old piano and taught myself to play (not very well!!!!). No piano now, and I don't remember any of it either, but I'm glad I got my chance to fill a dream :)