My musical cv

in answer to Sarah

recorder. Started this at school shortly after I’d been off for a while due to, I think, an operation on my adenoids and to put grommets in my ear. Didn’t work, I’m still deaf. Didn’t play it for any length of time, but can still just about remember the fingering!

Violin. This is a particularly foolish choice for a child suffering from the deafness indicated in my previous comment. I played it for a long time, about 9 years I think, and progressed all the way to Grade 3(? might have taken 4, but certainly no higher). I also played in the orchestra as lead violin at junior school, probably because I was the oldest! and as a lowly second violin second row at senior school. Don’t recall ever performing with either orchestra, though I’m not quite sure how I would achieve escaping that. I now *hate* the violin.

Piano We got a piano when I was about 10 I think, maybe a little younger, and I loved it very much. I remember teaching myself a tune out of our tune a day guitar book (no I don’t know why we had a guitar book at that point, but we did), which was Old Black Joe. Turned out to be a really good choice, not, as I learnt it while my parents were away at my grandad’s funeral. Funny the things you remember eh?

On a lighter note I also remember learning to play Fur Elise as a Christmas present for my stepfather one year – practising while he was at work, and hiding the music. Must be my favourite piece, although I don’t play it very well at all. Reached about Grade 3 with lessons, although gave up when I was doing O levels. Also did Grade 1 theory at some point, though don’t quite remember when.

Guitar Only instrument I sort of play that was self taught. I have an acoustic and an electric and barely play either – I recall being taught Sweet Child O’Mine by my first boyfriend. Hm. And watching him play my acoustic in a concert while desperately wondering what had happened to his best friend, who I *much* preferred (long story, started out going out with both of them, but they got antsy about other ppl’s opinion and made me choose, chose the wrong one, oh not such a long story after all….), who had contrived to blow himself up while setting up special effects for the aforementioned concert. Which was all on the day I’d had my interview at Cambridge – my stepfather drove really quite fast to get me back for the concert – he’s rather a nice chap really ;). Didn’t get into Cambridge, broke up with the boyfriend, what a night that was. He’s now married to the girl I set him up with next, who had been one of my friends. But for some reason after A levels never spoke to me again. 🙁 And I didn’t get to be a vet either.

Bet that was a bit more than you were anticipating, eh Sarah?