Fellow Musicians?

[The_Martyr]

Anyone else here a musician? I'm wondering how many people here listen to this music and go "that would be AWESOME to play!". I have a habit of listening to music and analyzing chord structures and such. Ex-music major. I play oboe, flute, piccolo, vocal, piano, violin, viola, cello and bass. haha.

Anyway. So, what do all of you fellow musicians play? Ever play any sort of video game music before? What's your favorite thing to play?

[Myrph]

I do believe at the very least this thread (http://www.videogameslive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15352) and this thread (http://www.videogameslive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15094) pretty adequately sum up what you're interested in knowing, but as both of them seem to have a slightly different slant to them compared to this one, I'll humour you for the time being.

When I was about 7 I learnt to play the recorder, which was okay, stuck with it for a couple of years, but got bored fairly quickly as I was never a huge fan of breaking it out and practising stuff on it.
Fast forward a few years and I started getting into playing piano/keyboard. This wasn't anything serious, more just the odd tinkle of the ivories and nothing much more than that. Somewhere along the line, however, I decided to make it slightly more serious and took up lessons. In addition I started studying music academically and needed a more formal musical training to assist in that, so I started learning to play properly. In addition to this, I discovered video game music MIDI files on the internet, particularly MIDIs which were piano arrangements of some of my favourite tracks from my favourite games. Pair this with a piece of software that turned MIDI files into sheet music and I suddenly had a bank of music which I enjoyed playing that I could then teach myself to play.

Unfortunately, as soon as my music course ended I dropped the piano lessons (they weren't cheap and I didn't really need them any more), so I reverted back to my just playing once in a while to amuse myself. Last October I then started at University, left my keyboard at home and haven't played much since. Every so often when I do go home, I like to play the odd piece from Final Fantasy (Man with a Machine Gun from FF8 is a particular favourite of mine) or something like that, but unfortunately the thing is fairly neglected now, which is a shame, because its a wonderful little instrument.

[Terraguy]

Do you still play all those instruments? Frequently? That's a lot of them.

[RetroVortex]

I do believe at the very least this thread (http://www.videogameslive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15352) and this thread (http://www.videogameslive.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15094) pretty adequately sum up what you're interested in knowing, but as both of them seem to have a slightly different slant to them compared to this one, I'll humour you for the time being.

When I was about 7 I learnt to play the recorder, which was okay, stuck with it for a couple of years, but got bored fairly quickly as I was never a huge fan of breaking it out and practising stuff on it.
Fast forward a few years and I started getting into playing piano/keyboard. This wasn't anything serious, more just the odd tinkle of the ivories and nothing much more than that. Somewhere along the line, however, I decided to make it slightly more serious and took up lessons. In addition I started studying music academically and needed a more formal musical training to assist in that, so I started learning to play properly. In addition to this, I discovered video game music MIDI files on the internet, particularly MIDIs which were piano arrangements of some of my favourite tracks from my favourite games. Pair this with a piece of software that turned MIDI files into sheet music and I suddenly had a bank of music which I enjoyed playing that I could then teach myself to play.

Unfortunately, as soon as my music course ended I dropped the piano lessons (they weren't cheap and I didn't really need them any more), so I reverted back to my just playing once in a while to amuse myself. Last October I then started at University, left my keyboard at home and haven't played much since. Every so often when I do go home, I like to play the odd piece from Final Fantasy (Man with a Machine Gun from FF8 is a particular favourite of mine) or something like that, but unfortunately the thing is fairly neglected now, which is a shame, because its a wonderful little instrument.

Maybe you should try to tinker around with a decent music arrangement software, (like FL Studio or something).
I thought Scott had a peice of software that you might find handy.

EDIT: As for me, my discipline is the guitar!

Its quite a good fit actually, as I never really seriously got back into music, until fairly recently.When I was little, I was a good little chior singer, (enough to solo at the beginning of the christmas performance! XD), and I did learn the recorder, (but I sucked at it! XD), but i think I was put of it, when I was at a talent show, and I think I was singing "Angels" by Robbie Williams, but I couldn't use the mic properly so no one could hear me, and I lost...
I was supposed to have singing lessons at secondary school to, but I wasn't able to figure out where I was supposed to go, and gave up in the end.

After that, I was just a regular average joe at music, certainly not good enough for our music teacher, (but I did try though!).

The main turning point was around the last year of the six form, Scott (my best friend) offered me his old guitar (since he had a new one that was far more suited to him).
Since I thought the guitar was a pretty cool instrument, (funnily enough, I think guitar hero was another influencer in the decision), I accepted.
Even then, I didn't really sit down with it, and learn it, until I got my own room at uni.
In this little bubble of mine, I can dedicate at least an hour or two to practicing and learning, and I'm loving it! (Experimenting with music is sooo fun! :D)

I wanna write my own music, so that I could put it into a videogame, (maybe I should pick up game maker again....).

Its such a shame I didn't get into music any earlier though, I'd imagine I might be really good at my age (19) XD

[Myrph]

Maybe you should try to tinker around with a decent music arrangement software, (like FL Studio or something).
I thought Scott had a peice of software that you might find handy.

If I was still doing that sort of stuff, I probably would, I just haven't done it in such a long time that it probably isn't worth it at the moment. The fact I don't have my keyboard around either means I can't play with one hand and put it into the computer with the other, plus uni has been really intensive so yeah, it would be somewhat redundant at the moment.

Maybe when I've got some more time to do stuff over the summer I might look into it, or when I see you guys in a couple of weeks time!

[DancingFlameDragon]

I play a few instruments, but it's mainly for fun. I was an alto saxophonist in my junior high school and high school bands, and I also play a bit of piano (rediscovered it a few years ago and trying to get better at playing it now). I have a soprano saxophone that I love, I play a little bit of trumpet (barely), and I'm teaching myself how to play the flute. I've tried a little bit of guitar and banjo, but they don't seem to like me very much :rolleyes:
Not particularly gifted at any of those instruments and I'm not too well versed in the really technical aspects of music, but I enjoy playing them!

[Terraguy]

I'm a violist (yes, I get a lot of Viola jokes... sigh). It's the only instrument I actually know how to play decently. I can also tap notes on the piano, but I definitely can't string melodies together (which makes all of the Piano Collections sheet music I have pretty much worthless).

[Swish]

I used to play the violin, but then defected to the piano because it's more fun.

[Brainiac]

I'm a violist (yes, I get a lot of Viola jokes... sigh).

I used to play the violin, but then defected to the piano because it's more fun.

Cellist and pianist (though I haven't played either in a while) in addition to a vocalist. Shall we form the VGL String Trio (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_trio)? If we can find another violinist, a bassist, and/or another pianist, we can form other variants (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/String_quartet#Background) of the quartet and quintet.

[DancingFlameDragon]

I'm a violist (yes, I get a lot of Viola jokes... sigh).
What's the difference between a viola and an onion?
You cry when you cut an onion open! Hahahaha!!

Actually, I really do like the viola! I give anyone who can play a string instrument credit (well I do play some piano, but that's sort of in between strings and percussion...)

[The_Snow_Storm]

I am a violinst and a pianist, but i have been more focus on the violin in the last year

[Gypsyninja]

I'm mainly vocal writing and teaching, but I also play piano(self-taught) and am learning woodwinds.

[wareagle884]

Seems I'm going to be the unique one in this thread since the only thing I play is drums, which I've been doing for about ten years now.