Who here plays a musical instrument? | Arthritis Information

Anybody play or use to play ( RA ) any instument. I play GuitarI play guitar too...HGtrumpet, French horn, baritone, flute, saxophone, keyboards Does the cd player count??
I took a year or so of piano lessons as a young girl but wouldn't consider myself an expert player. When I have the opportunity I love to sit down and play a little if there aren't too many sharps or flats. Keyboard and ther drums very badly....the sticks keep flying out of my hands...lol my son keeps trying to teach me still..I play Rockband. Does that count?
I'm totally inept.

Jasmine, You are very talented to play all those

I have played the violin, viola, piano, guitar and recorder. [QUOTE=6t5frlane]

Jasmine, You are very talented to play all those

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Nope, just years of experience. I grew up in a family of nightclub-band musicians and singers. Classical music, band and orchestra were part of my escape from the madness at home, and also my rebellion against the "establishment"[QUOTE=hiking_gal]I play guitar too...HG[/QUOTE]

HG What kind of guitars do you have ?

I have a Guild 6 string. I have owned it for over 25 years now and it gets sweeter sounding each year it gets older. What do you play? Hiking_gal[QUOTE=hiking_gal]I have a Guild 6 string. I have owned it for over 25 years now and it gets sweeter sounding each year it gets older. What do you play? Hiking_gal[/QUOTE]

Well Well, I have a 1978 D-35 Guild 6 string !!

Hi All - Great topic for me! I play piano.........actually I taught music in public schools for 20 years, and then taught piano privately, for 5 years after that. When I was a little girl, and diagnosed w/RA, the doc told my parents to find something to help keep my fingers limber: that Christmas I received a spinet organ, and began taking lessons, and continued studying all through high school and college. I LOVED teaching, and if I do say so myself, I was a good music and piano teacher. I've played in rock bands when I was in college, played for many churches - Sunday services, weddings and funerals, and still play for the occasional wedding Cocktail Hour or party when asked. A few days ago there was a thread re "What RA has given/taken from me.........". Sure, there are many things RA has taken from me over the past 50 years, but I feel it has GIVEN me the opportunity to explore the gift of music, that has truly changed my life...... Thanks for listening - it feels good to "talk about" positive things for a change! For the others who play, what type of music do you enjoy playing the most? At this point, aside from playing/singing "fun songs" w/my little grandson, I'd have to say Jazz.................sorry this response is so long!!!

Blessings...........
Dogmom
Dogmom..you sound truly talented..how wonderful to have such a gift for playing..I love the piano . I also like Jazz, we went to a wonderful jazz club when we visited New yorkI am a cellist. I played violin as a kid. I always wanted to play cello, but couldn't carry the darn thing to and from school, so I had to " settle" for the violin. One day I realized " hey, I'm an adult now, I can put the cello in my CAR!" I haven't been practicing much lately due to pain... But I hope that will change soon.
I am also the resident rockband godess... but I won't mention that because I don't like to brag. Thanks Mrs. Pincushion and Snow Owl!!! (Not sure if I'm talented or just persistent!!) Snow: Enjoy that keyboard!! That's what counts, right?? Take it slow and at your own pace, and don't be afraid to sign up for a few lessons if you want to. When I was teaching piano privately, I wasn't trying to create concert pianists: parents could take their children to a conservatory for that.......I just wanted the kids to have fun learning and to be able to do something that made them feel good about themselves: maybe they weren't academic genius',or athletic phenoms, but by gosh if they could play 3 chorus' of "Jingle Bells" for grandma and grandpa at the holidays, HERE was something they could be proud of!! Pinny: what jazz club did you go to? Tell me about it!! Due to mobility issues, I haven't done that in years.........glad you enjoyed it!

Dogmom Piano and trumpet for me!!6t5, That it something. We have the same guitar. Do you like yours? I wouldn't get rid of mine no matter what. I was recently looking at the Shenandoah guitars. They are a hit among bluegrass musicians. My husband was planning on buying me one but I told him I don't play as often as I used to and I really love my guild. HGBass Clarinet, B falt Clarinet(I own a Buffet B10), Baritone Saxophone, a bit of flute, E falt soporano, basically anything wood windy I play it or have played it :)

A bit of apain those early am band practises beacuse thats when I'm most stiff however I don't mind when we go on trips not being allowd to cary stuff my job is to order people around and make sure it all gets there :)

I really wanted to play the saxophone in elem school but couldn't blow right and ended up playing the clarinet. I only did it in 5th and 6th grade and can't even remember how to read music now. I love to play rock band but I'm the singer. LOL

Well…they taught us to play the recorder and guitar in the eight grade many many moons ago. Does that count? LOL! Haven't played since but..

used to listen to Yani to stay in touch with my musical side.:)

oh, I forgot......I played chimes in church with a bunch of kids. I was the only adult. It's all color coded and very easy but I kept screwing up so the chime leader put a 7 year old in my place. How embarrassing!

I was a guitar player of 16 years until 8 months ago. Now I haven't the strength or flexibility to play anymore. I just look at my boys and cry from time to time. I just bought a new one not 2 months before this flare started as a college graduation gift to myself. Sucks huh?

Bob

Aw Bob, that does suck. My beautiful Ifshin cello is sitting 5 feet from me as I type, but my shoulders hurt too much to even think about bowing. I'm so sorry, but I want you to know that I know how you feel.
[QUOTE=hiking_gal]6t5, That it something. We have the same guitar. Do you like yours? I wouldn't get rid of mine no matter what. I was recently looking at the Shenandoah guitars. They are a hit among bluegrass musicians. My husband was planning on buying me one but I told him I don't play as often as I used to and I really love my guild. HG[/QUOTE]

I too would not trade it for anything. Bought it new and have played in bands and written all my music on it. I also have a Alvarez 12 string, Fender Stratacaster, Ibanez rs1010. I do not play blue grass and will have to look into the Shenandoah line.

[QUOTE=bob_h76]

Bob

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Bob, I'll bet you will play again. Once the RA is somewhat under control the urge will come to you. I play in pain all the time

Hey Bob,

I agree with 6t5frlne, once your RA is under control you will have the urge to play. I know it is tough right now and it's difficult seeing that it will get better. I am just so glad to see that you are posting and still hangin' out with us. Hiking_gal

I played alto sax from 5th grade until 11th grade. I had to stop because of my jaw (pre-RA dx). It would get to where I could open it about a half-inch! I was first chair, but I was always too shy to try out for the regional bands! I played some piano during that time but have lost most of those skills.

I also played handbells at church from a young age, stopped, and had started up again right before my RA flare in my wrist. I love handbells but I won't ever do it again unless with mallets. I had just been dx with tendonitis and I was on steroids, and I played in our christmas performance because I didn't want to drop out (and I just wanted to). That was what started the most ridiculously massive flare, I had so much joint fluid in there that I couldn't stand for my fingers to point down, the pressure was ridiculous. My hand looked like it was made of wax. But that was before NSAIDs!

For now I just like to sing, I may try to learn another instrument in a few years. I'd love to be able to play a string instrument. I have tried to play guitar before but I am NOT a natural at that! Maybe piano, or just singing.

I now know with the fibromyalgia I never should have played violin/viola, totally wrong position. Live and learn.

A friend was a jazz musician but because of the heavy drinking and drugging associated with alot of jazz, he changed careers and worked in construction. May have saved his life.

I never played the flute but like it alot, i.e. James Galway.

Just in case anyone asks I have three electrics an Ibanez Jem 7DBK, and Ibanez RG-7 string and an Ernie Ball Music Man John Petrucci signature model with a piezo pickup in the bridge. That was the last one I got and is my favorite as it changes colors depending on viewing angle. It also sounds nearly exactly like a nice hollow bodied acoustic when run through the PA of a club. For an amp, I have a Mesa/Boogie Rect-O-Verb combo. Killer sounds are possible with this bad boy. I love it, my neighbors don't! Loud is not the word and when I play I'm obligated to crank it up....with earplugs in of course I don't need to be deaf too.

Bob

San Francisco Mandolin Orchestra...our next concert is in April...been practicing Mozart tonight. I play with a brace on my left wrist to alleviate the stress and spent some time in physical therapy to learn how to loosen up my fingers and keep the joints as healthy as I can. Here's a picture of the orchestra.

That's me in the middle with the octave mandolin!

Alan

Alan-

Nice picture. Concert sounds good.

I play a mountain dulcimer and an autoharp--not well, but play I do for my own amusement and entertainment. Like Alan, I brace my wrists. I recently sold my drum kit, it was just too painful to be either amusing or entertaining.

Great discussion!
I have a six-string, unison bass, JC Stockwell Kentucky hourglass dulcimer that is a treasure. The wood is satiny smooth, the frets adjusted to my reach, the soundholes shaped like four-leaf clovers. As you say, just looking at it is loverly.

My autoharp is one that I picked up years ago at a flea market and had a local cabinet maker refurbish. It is badly in need of a restringing, but I guarantee that new, properly tuned strings will not improve my playing. And, then you should hear the dogs howl when I (ahem) sing...
My mom had illusions about me playing piano when I was a kid and I took lessons for 2 years. I still think about my poor piano teacher, Mrs. Howard, and see she must have been really desperate for money to try and teach me piano for that long. Poor woman. Then, in middle school, I decided I wanted to play clarinet. My mom had played clarinet and I guess I was trying to make up for the piano lessons. Well that didn't go well either, the band needed percussionist so I switched. I stuck with that until high school ended, but never really played much after that. I had an old upright years later that I use to plunk on, but really only made the dog howl. (If there was a howling icon, I would put it here)

After my first RA lung bout 5 years ago, a real sweety of a friend made me a digeridoo. I went on line and found exercises on how to play... so this is my instrument. Not much call for it in my tiny, little town and passers buy wonder what I am doing to the cat, I am sure. But I don't much care... keeps my lungs working.
Snow, my dh "plays the violin.... by ear"! (When our sons were younger, the best way to get them outside was for Pops to "play") We are a pair, he on his violin and me first chair didg! So far, knock on wood instruments, no domestic violence calls to the police for noise! Well, I sort of play piano, if I only clump chords with my left hand. I can play about 6 songs. My mother (88), who lives nearly 2hours away, and I are teaching ourselves! She's progressing along faster than me. She plays more than 6 songs and is now rolling the chords which sounds much fancier. I never play more than 10-15min so my hands tolerate it fine. Mostly, I'm a huge fan of my hubby (piano,guitar) and one daughter (mostly violin & piano, also folk harp, flute...)... oops, and now, my mom!

CathyMarieLet's see. YEars ago in highschool....Saxaphone, piano and trumpet. Nowadays...just the preschool type of pianos that automatically play the tune for you with lights to go with the music (big grin)

I sing offkey so always try to maneuver myself beside a person who is a good vocalist then mouth the words....the only people that might enjoy my singing voice is my grandson...my daughter is used to my offkeyisms and does not comment or criticize me for it...she is such a sweety, I taught her well (wink).

I always enjoyed the piano, but D piano lessons with a passion......oh that is such a bad memory trace there.I love listening to someone play the guitar, it is always so soothing...when they are not "JAMMING" of course.I used to play the viola, but haven't touched it in ages.
I keep saying that I'm going to take up the cello one of these days.....
[QUOTE=jodejjr]I love listening to someone play the guitar, it is always so soothing...when they are not "JAMMING" of course.[/QUOTE]

I love the guitar too. I don't play but my son does and I always love to listen to him play.

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