Pictures of your instruments

[JMurray]

Mainly I play piano, but I just can't keep my hands off other instruments, too. Here's my most recent family portrait, taken last summer:



I have even added a few new members since then, including this guy:

[page]

Originally Posted by Jeff Smith

Well, I felt like the luckiest man alive when I found this under the tree from my wife and 3 grown kids...sniffle...a true musician's family.

They sound great, Jeff. Lovely instument.

[page]

This one was a handmade gift by my fellow duo-partner long ago. When I got it the deal was to sing a requested song while accompanying myself before I could take it home to keep it. I did, not sure the performance was any good at the time. At the moment the instrument isn't in this state anymore due to circumstances beyond my influence. The only instrument that was made especially for me, a memory I still treasure.

[Tenorman]

Originally Posted by JMurray

Mainly I play piano, but I just can't keep my hands off other instruments, too. Here's my most recent family portrait, taken last summer:



I have even added a few new members since then, including this guy:

You live in Tokyo? Tokyo is infamous for its small flats. Where on earth do you practice war pipes (The great pipes)?
BTW have you ever seen the march of the 1000 pipers at the Cowal Highland Gathering?

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by JMurray

Mainly I play piano, but I just can't keep my hands off other instruments, too. Here's my most recent family portrait, taken last summer:



I have even added a few new members since then, including this guy:

Ye gods!

How long did it take you to learn bicycle wheel?

[engelbach]

My favorite instrument was a tea chest bass.

Mine was camera shy, but it looked exactly like this one.



For best results, play with kazoo.

[Tenorman]

Skiffle!

EDIT Skiffle is a bit obscure. I know it from the British version but it did originate in the early 20th Century in the US

From Wikipaedia

A relatively obscure genre, skiffle might have been largely forgotten if not for its revival in the United Kingdom in the 1950s and the success of its main proponent, Lonnie Donegan. British skiffle grew out of the developing post-war British jazz scene, which saw a move away from swing music and towards authentic trad jazz.[1] Among these bands were Ken Colyer's Jazzmen, whose banjo player Donegan also performed skiffle music during intervals. He would sing and play guitar with accompaniment of two other members, usually on washboard and tea-chest bass. They played a variety of American folk and blues songs, particularly those derived from the recordings of Leadbelly, in a lively style that emulated American jug bands. These were listed on posters as "skiffle" breaks, a name suggested by Ken Colyer's brother Bill after recalling the Dan Burley Skiffle Group.[6] Soon the breaks were as popular as the traditional jazz. After disagreements in 1954, Colyer left to form a new outfit, and the band became Chris Barber's Jazz Band.[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiffle

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by Tenorman

Skiffle!

EDIT Skiffle is a bit obscure. I know it from the British version but it did originate in the early 20th Century in the US

From Wikipaedia


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Skiffle

Yes.

I usually played with a blues harpist and a drummer.

[Tenorman]

It might possibly have been my attempts at tea-chest bass with some mates (of whom I am the only one who plays anything now), that persuaded my parents that an orchestral flute might be a good idea -- especially when they discovered that I was taking chanter lessons from a neighbour. The chanter is business end of Highland bagpipes. It's like a recorder with an oboe double reed attached -- and you know what that leads to -- possibly the loudest known musical instrument

[Tenorman]

I'll have to do a picture of my Malagasy Valiha and bamboo flutes -- the flutes, I can play, the bamboo Valiha has me completely confused

Not mine, but here is a bamboo valiha

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by Tenorman

It might possibly have been my attempts at tea-chest bass with some mates (of whom I am the only one who plays anything now), that persuaded my parents that an orchestral flute might be a good idea -- especially when they discovered that I was taking chanter lessons from a neighbour. The chanter is business end of Highland bagpipes. It's like a recorder with an oboe double reed attached -- and you know what that leads to -- possibly the loudest known musical instrument

I lived with a woman for four years who decided to learn to play the bagpipes.

I love the sound of the pipes. But ...

She got the complex fingering down. But she always ran out of breath before she could finish a tune and she had no sense of timing.

We separated in 1991, but I was happy to come across her in a 2007 article in which she led a homeless march in New York City:



I guess one can improve in 16 years ...

[Tenorman]

I'm due to retire in about 3 years, and I intend to head back up to Scotland, buy a house in the country, pursue landscape photography as a hobby and additional income earner and learn to play the bagpipes. As a Scot, they have been part of my listening background for many years.

And I just love the Red Hot Chilli Pipers

http://www.redhotchillipipers.co.uk/

Check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Ydko...hl=en-GB&gl=GB

[engelbach]

Originally Posted by Tenorman

I'm due to retire in about 3 years, and I intend to head back up to Scotland, buy a house in the country, pursue landscape photography as a hobby and additional income earner and learn to play the bagpipes. As a Scot, they have been part of my listening background for many years.

Wonderful!

Here's an arrangement I wrote a few years ago when I was trying to learn how to orchestrate for synth.

It's a chorus of Wild Mountain Thyme that starts with Highland Laddie on bagpipes.

[bargeon]

Originally Posted by engelbach

Wonderful!

Here's an arrangement I wrote a few years ago when I was trying to learn how to orchestrate for synth.

It's a chorus of Wild Mountain Thyme that starts with Highland Laddie on bagpipes.

You may already know about Rufus Harley, jazz bagpipe player from Philadelphia. Active into the 90s while I lived there (actually lived near him and used to hear him practice). I'm not sure if he is still playing but at the time he was making a pretty good name for himself.

Check him out if you have a minute.

[JMurray]

You live in Tokyo? Tokyo is infamous for its small flats. Where on earth do you practice war pipes (The great pipes)?
BTW have you ever seen the march of the 1000 pipers at the Cowal Highland Gathering?

Tenorman, yes I live just outside Tokyo and my piping chops have suffered greatly since I moved into my small apt. To play them I have to hike to the top of a hill nearby where there are no houses. I do make use of the practice chanters, though, which have a much softer sound.

I just looked up the Cowan gathering. I hope to make it there someday.

How long did it take you to learn bicycle wheel?

A few weeks, but that was with training wheels.

Actually, this is one of my more recent creations. I took a bicycle wheel, ripped all the spokes off and stretched some heavy-duty plastic tarp over it for the drum head. For the shell, I just found a cheap plastic wash tub and fastened the head over it with some twine. I can adjust the tension with one hand as I play it, so the result is kind of a hybrid bass drum/kettle drum sound. Nice and boomy!

You may already know about Rufus Harley, jazz bagpipe player from Philadelphia. Active into the 90s while I lived there (actually lived near him and used to hear him practice). I'm not sure if he is still playing but at the time he was making a pretty good name for himself.

Unfortunately, we lost Mr. Harley a few years ago. Can't help but love the guy.