National Service
here in greece we men have a huge problem. we have to do national service for 1 year once we finish school. if you want to go study a degree you can first go to the university and then do your national service. i am 25 at the moment with a degree in prosthetics and orthotics, which has to do with artificial limbs and high tech orthopaedic devices for children with special needs. i quite hate the fact that i have to go to the army and it quite depresses me as well. it is a complete waste of time. it depresses me that everything i've been doing up to now will have to be on halt for 12 months. personally, what depresses me most of all is that this crap will keep me away from the piano. i've been playing the piano for two years, long enough to play quite good (at least to my closed ones but to me this doesn't count). these twelve moths will be like a knife in the heart. i mean i gave a lot of effort to learn what i know on the piano and one year on ice probably will make me forget most of it.
i don't know why i am telling this to you guys. i am too proud to say this to anyone else . i don't think anyone would understand this anyway (regarding my piano thoughts that is). i just wanted to say this to someone. maybe you 'll tell me to join the army band to keep me near the piano but this require very good sight - reading skills which i don't have. that is why i developed quite a good memory when playing. maybe you ‘ll tell me to stop being a sissy and that this is a stupid problem or maybe you won't be bothered. anyway i just wanted to say this to someone.
cheers
chris
p.s. i may sound like a sad lonely bastard but this is hardly the case. this is a delicate matter and requires people like you to talk to ;).
i don't know why i am telling this to you guys. i am too proud to say this to anyone else . i don't think anyone would understand this anyway (regarding my piano thoughts that is). i just wanted to say this to someone. maybe you 'll tell me to join the army band to keep me near the piano but this require very good sight - reading skills which i don't have. that is why i developed quite a good memory when playing. maybe you ‘ll tell me to stop being a sissy and that this is a stupid problem or maybe you won't be bothered. anyway i just wanted to say this to someone.
cheers
chris
p.s. i may sound like a sad lonely bastard but this is hardly the case. this is a delicate matter and requires people like you to talk to ;).
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wow...i wish i had some advice...that definitely sucks...maybe you should try to get in the band -it's worth a shot...
this might be a good thread in the "politics room"
this might be a good thread in the "politics room"
my sympathy to you. makes my problems seem small for the moment.
it seems unlikely they will let you in the band if you sight reading is that bad but if you can get in, that to me is obviously the way to go.
if i were you i would do anything to get in that band. beg, borrow, cheat or steal. start working on your reading today. any little bit you can improve before someone tests you on it there will help. and when they asking to join the band and thay ask if you can read lie.
or you will not get in. and when you are on the spot for the first time and expected to read fake it as best you can pretend you are reading everything just fine, and hope no else no knows any better.
it seems unlikely they will let you in the band if you sight reading is that bad but if you can get in, that to me is obviously the way to go.
if i were you i would do anything to get in that band. beg, borrow, cheat or steal. start working on your reading today. any little bit you can improve before someone tests you on it there will help. and when they asking to join the band and thay ask if you can read lie.
or you will not get in. and when you are on the spot for the first time and expected to read fake it as best you can pretend you are reading everything just fine, and hope no else no knows any better.
chris,
don't despair. try mike's advice. if you don't get in the band then try to spend as much time as available on your music. a lot can be learned away from the keyboard. at your age a year seems like a lot. but, believe me it isn't. a quick review of the lives of accomplished, successful musicians reveal how many years were wasted, in military service, on drugs, in prison, working at menial jobs. if they could do it so can you.
study theory. commit it all the memory. regarding reading; again, a lot can be learnd away from the keyboard. work on rhythm as separate from the actual notes. then work on note recognition by letter and imagine the keys and your fingers on them (visualization).
this can be a year you develop the most importan human ability, self discipline. don't waste it in self pity.
and remember you are serving your country, your homeland. not a bad thing at all.
i wish all the best for you.
joe
don't despair. try mike's advice. if you don't get in the band then try to spend as much time as available on your music. a lot can be learned away from the keyboard. at your age a year seems like a lot. but, believe me it isn't. a quick review of the lives of accomplished, successful musicians reveal how many years were wasted, in military service, on drugs, in prison, working at menial jobs. if they could do it so can you.
study theory. commit it all the memory. regarding reading; again, a lot can be learnd away from the keyboard. work on rhythm as separate from the actual notes. then work on note recognition by letter and imagine the keys and your fingers on them (visualization).
this can be a year you develop the most importan human ability, self discipline. don't waste it in self pity.
and remember you are serving your country, your homeland. not a bad thing at all.
i wish all the best for you.
joe
hey chris-what about getting a little electric keyboard with headphones and keeping it either in your space in the barracks or even taking it with you(pick up a couple,one full size and one of those little ones that'll probably fit in your knapsack)...i wouldn't trip re-having to stop dealing with the music....
hello chris:
you are now in a difficult moment but world is not finished yet.
some events in life are not easy to accept but one must have a positive attitude in confronting them. think in million of guys that are now defending their countries around the world, and take it as an honor.
other posts have recommended you to try to enter in military band. in many quarters there are piano or any keyboard… offer yourself to play it. learn now your national anthem and some marches… and your will be a special soldier with a lot of privileges.
so you will play in ceremonies and in all parade acts… and so you will get more time for practicing in keyboard. try it and you will be happy there.
read my essay over subconscious in music at albetan’s area, and there you will find some tips for playing at sight…
all ljp partners wish for you good luck in your new military way of life!
you are now in a difficult moment but world is not finished yet.
some events in life are not easy to accept but one must have a positive attitude in confronting them. think in million of guys that are now defending their countries around the world, and take it as an honor.
other posts have recommended you to try to enter in military band. in many quarters there are piano or any keyboard… offer yourself to play it. learn now your national anthem and some marches… and your will be a special soldier with a lot of privileges.
so you will play in ceremonies and in all parade acts… and so you will get more time for practicing in keyboard. try it and you will be happy there.
read my essay over subconscious in music at albetan’s area, and there you will find some tips for playing at sight…
all ljp partners wish for you good luck in your new military way of life!
thanks all for the support. i'll try and follow your advices. i did think about everything you proposed but i wanted to listen this from other people as well especially pianists like you.
chris
chris
scot,
i just had a post disappear from this thread (and it wasn't due to log out). it went something like this:
one of the reasons i got so good at various intsruments was because often in my life i was deprived of my main instrument. consequently i was obliged to put my musical energies into whatever instrument was at hand.
check into the rules and regulations about what musical instruments can be brought on board. if they say guitar, flute or saxophone is ok - get one.
as far as worrying about losing your chops is concerned - don't. they'll come back a lot easier than you think. after all they will have had all that time to stew in your subconscious.
as far as the military is concerned, i'd be more upset about a year without sex than a year without music.
7
i just had a post disappear from this thread (and it wasn't due to log out). it went something like this:
one of the reasons i got so good at various intsruments was because often in my life i was deprived of my main instrument. consequently i was obliged to put my musical energies into whatever instrument was at hand.
check into the rules and regulations about what musical instruments can be brought on board. if they say guitar, flute or saxophone is ok - get one.
as far as worrying about losing your chops is concerned - don't. they'll come back a lot easier than you think. after all they will have had all that time to stew in your subconscious.
as far as the military is concerned, i'd be more upset about a year without sex than a year without music.
7
sex? can you explain?
whacky - that's when two people get together and do stuff naked.
i want to second 7's suggestion about other instruments, if a small keyboard is not an option. if all else fails, learn the harmonica - it has melody, rhythm and portability.
i want to second 7's suggestion about other instruments, if a small keyboard is not an option. if all else fails, learn the harmonica - it has melody, rhythm and portability.
hahaha. maybe they'll send me on a mountain or something like that. there are many sheeps there so.... as far as the keyboard is concerned i don't think it is allowed. a guitar or a harmonica is allowed so i may give it a try. i am trying to see it from a positive view. 3 years ago national service was 18 months! what i hate the most is that many politicians managed to avoid the army and now they say that we got to and learn how to defend our country. many people say that i should be proud of doing this. and why is that? being proud of learning how to kill people. there is this hostility between the turks and the greeks. but none the turks nor the greeks have any problems between them. it is all because of politics. keep a couple of countries in trance so that more money is spent on weapons. i know most of the people here are americans and believe me guys i have nothing to separate with you but the american government controls everything. it does keep the hostility between the countries so more weapons are bought. and of course it is easier to control the area as well. it is the same with israel. i know that most of the israelis do not hate palestinians. who wants to kill children and women anyway? but the israeli government doesn't give a shit. the same is with usa. usa attacked serbia because didn't like its president. what about israel? israel has the power to stop everything but it doesn't. and usa has the power to stop israel but it doesn't. usa only asks israel to stop the hostility but israel just doesn't give a shit. and why usa doesn't do anything? well that is what we call interests. in a few words. i consider myself a citizen of the world. i travel a lot and i've been in many countries. some of my best friends are israelis, turks and english. all people with common interests just happened to born in different parts of the world.
i was watching black hawk down yesterday (for like the 5th time), and this movie puts it down quite nice. when in war you don't think about your country, you don't think about politics, about who is bad or good. you are fighting for your life and for the life of the one that is near you. and that's it. instead of playing music, baseball, basketball, with their children or having sex with their wives they are in somalia for a reason that their government told them and they kill strange people in a strange land trying not to be blown into pieces. the same with iraq. american soldiers are there at the moment. one american soldier is getting killed there every day. and his family mourns. why?
my profession is to heal people and not to kill. americans, greeks, turks, cubans, israelis are all the same to me.
i was watching black hawk down yesterday (for like the 5th time), and this movie puts it down quite nice. when in war you don't think about your country, you don't think about politics, about who is bad or good. you are fighting for your life and for the life of the one that is near you. and that's it. instead of playing music, baseball, basketball, with their children or having sex with their wives they are in somalia for a reason that their government told them and they kill strange people in a strange land trying not to be blown into pieces. the same with iraq. american soldiers are there at the moment. one american soldier is getting killed there every day. and his family mourns. why?
my profession is to heal people and not to kill. americans, greeks, turks, cubans, israelis are all the same to me.
if it's any consolation, my experience is that playing the piano is a lot like riding a bike - once you've learnt you never really forget it. so i would say one year without being able to play won't set you back too much. sounds like a real pain in the arse having to do military service though.
not to appear to be overstating this but-
a few years ago i was in a situation where i had no access to a keyboard and was dealing with a living arrangement where personal space was limited....i picked up one of those 16 inch keyboards they sell at radio shack and was able to use it to figure out some stuff,compose etc.granted the action is somewhat less sensitive than a bosendorfer.the keys are real small,you only have about 2.5 octaves but....it is a keyboard,you can keep the cognitive/aural involvement alive and if they'll permit a guitar or a harmonica size-wise this will undoubtably be acceptable as well,plus: if you get a supply of batteries and a headset,while other soldiers are reading,writing letters home you're dealing with comping,playing "well you needn't",etc....don't forget to pick up some plastic bubble wrap....these are the size i'd recommend re-knapsacks but if you can find one of those ones that are a little bigger you might be able to get full-size keys..i'm talking about these type of practice keyboards they sell,maybe the same octave range...check around....
a few years ago i was in a situation where i had no access to a keyboard and was dealing with a living arrangement where personal space was limited....i picked up one of those 16 inch keyboards they sell at radio shack and was able to use it to figure out some stuff,compose etc.granted the action is somewhat less sensitive than a bosendorfer.the keys are real small,you only have about 2.5 octaves but....it is a keyboard,you can keep the cognitive/aural involvement alive and if they'll permit a guitar or a harmonica size-wise this will undoubtably be acceptable as well,plus: if you get a supply of batteries and a headset,while other soldiers are reading,writing letters home you're dealing with comping,playing "well you needn't",etc....don't forget to pick up some plastic bubble wrap....these are the size i'd recommend re-knapsacks but if you can find one of those ones that are a little bigger you might be able to get full-size keys..i'm talking about these type of practice keyboards they sell,maybe the same octave range...check around....
sorry to be the pessimist, but my experience has been that it is not at all like riding a bike. for example: i assigned a student the maple leaf rag last week which i was once able to play in my sleep. i ventured to play a little of it for him. i made a fool of myself. not having played it in years i could not get the first measure out. i am struggling this week hoping to relearn it at a pace that keeps up with how this talented student is learning it for the first time.
however if you read through written music imagining playing even with out being at a keyboard that would do much to keep you skills in tact.
but if you just stop playing and thinking music for a year you will deteorate significantly and it will not be like steping back on a bike unfortunately. you do need a plan. a minimalist plan will be a regimin of reading thru music without an instrument.
however if you read through written music imagining playing even with out being at a keyboard that would do much to keep you skills in tact.
but if you just stop playing and thinking music for a year you will deteorate significantly and it will not be like steping back on a bike unfortunately. you do need a plan. a minimalist plan will be a regimin of reading thru music without an instrument.
i speak from experience i quit my instrument for a year once out of frustration.
it's true, if you don't use it you'll lose it...the whole eye-hand coordination thing requred to read music, goes out the window pretty quickly. like mike, i too have difficulty reading things i played in college...why? becuase i don't read as much as i used to. it's the same with playing jazz. if i go a few weeks without playing a jazz gig, my fingers have a hard time executing the ideas that are in my head...
but, on the bright side, it usually doesn't take very long to get it back....it's just that sometimes it's frustrating to be working on maintenance rather than improvement...just keep your head in it! i think that year will pass sooner than you think...in fact, the past 25 years seem to be a flash for me...i'm shooting to live to the age of 125, so i wouldn't consider a year that big of a deal (easy for me to say:)
but, on the bright side, it usually doesn't take very long to get it back....it's just that sometimes it's frustrating to be working on maintenance rather than improvement...just keep your head in it! i think that year will pass sooner than you think...in fact, the past 25 years seem to be a flash for me...i'm shooting to live to the age of 125, so i wouldn't consider a year that big of a deal (easy for me to say:)
i found that set pieces (maple leaf rag, et al) do have a tendency to fade.
but the improv techniques still fall under the "riding a bike" category.
in other words if i memorized a poem in french, i might not be able to reproduce it word for word after a year or so if i didn't keep rehearsing it, but i still am totally able to speak french fluently.
get it?
7
i know what you mean guys. for about three months, i didn't play any piano because i was thinking 'what is the point? i am gonna stop playing for good when i'll go to the army'. so i was very depressed and decided to quit. to do something to reorganize my life and to make plans of starting my life after that year. but you know how it is. it is the bug. you can't be listening to music, people like mccoy, mal waldron, oscar and the other guys, having the piano and not using it. so one day i sat once again in front of the piano. first, there was no timing on my fingers. felt them so heavy and unflexible. then i forgot most of the tunes i knew. not really forget them. but you know. not able to play them properly. it took me a couple of months to relearn what i had forgotten in only three months. and not all of it! but i did it and so here iam facing again an empty year of my life starting this may. i don't think is like riding the bike. and that is especially when you only have two years of experience in playing the piano. it is not like i've been playing for 12 years or something. i mean i am still learning basic things like upper strusture and block chords.
fuck it. i am moaning a lot it's pathetic. time will show. i'll try and figure out what my real options are. probably i will forget most of the things i know but i think is true what 7 says. improv techniques does fall under the riding a bike category. and anyway after my time in the army will end i don't think i won't start playing again. not with a piano around my house. unless if i throw it away!
fuck it. i am moaning a lot it's pathetic. time will show. i'll try and figure out what my real options are. probably i will forget most of the things i know but i think is true what 7 says. improv techniques does fall under the riding a bike category. and anyway after my time in the army will end i don't think i won't start playing again. not with a piano around my house. unless if i throw it away!
it's funny. i found a book of simple classical pieces from when i was 10 (i am 23 now) and i remembered them and could play them far better than if i was just sight reading (my sight reading is a bit dodgy). i'd be amazed if i remembered a piece of literature i'd read that long ago so well. then again, if you're talking about the really fine motor skill of piano playing, then that probably will fade quite rapidly, and no amount of looking at music will help, you have to repeat the actual motor action to maintain it. but the grammar of the music will remain.
amen...i was talking about motor skill and endurance...
aahh shit. that sounds quite bad.
some years ago i was very obsessed with working out in the gym, doing sports e.g basketball, swimming and following a very good diet although i was smoting 30 cigs a day. i can say that i managed to build a very presentable body. one day my back start aching and voila! a major lower back problem appeared. according to the doctors it had nothing to do with all this exercise. i was extra careful as well. solution. stop doing everything...forever. this whole thing of quitting from things i love starts pissing me off a lot. i am thinking of immigrating to india! i have quite good memories from this country. oh... i forgot.. i can't go out of the country.. everyone with military obliqations have his passport cancelled.
some years ago i was very obsessed with working out in the gym, doing sports e.g basketball, swimming and following a very good diet although i was smoting 30 cigs a day. i can say that i managed to build a very presentable body. one day my back start aching and voila! a major lower back problem appeared. according to the doctors it had nothing to do with all this exercise. i was extra careful as well. solution. stop doing everything...forever. this whole thing of quitting from things i love starts pissing me off a lot. i am thinking of immigrating to india! i have quite good memories from this country. oh... i forgot.. i can't go out of the country.. everyone with military obliqations have his passport cancelled.
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