Thursday, November 7, 2013

30 Songs in 30 Days, Day 26 - A song that you can play on an instrument


When we first got our piano, it was just like Christmas for me, no pun intended. I can be obsessive with my new things, and wow!, my piano and I became fast friends.

As soon as I taught myself to play, I set aside all my piano how-to books and started with my 'fake' music. I knew 'fake' music well from playing my guitar, so I was having all kinds of fun! 

If you don't know about 'fake' music, it's essentially cheating. It gives you the melody only, with chord suggestions. You can play the chords however you want. 

But my mom brought home a little Christmas book of songs she thought I might like. NOT fake music.

Anyway, 'O, Holy Night' was in there, taking up I don't know how many pages, and it's such a beautiful song - and VERY difficult to play properly.

So I practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced, and practiced...you get the idea, right? LOLOL...

I'm proud to say I that can play O, Holy Night, properly, on the piano.


30 comments:

  1. I love the sound of a piano :) I've had some lessons when I was little but it just wasn't for me I suppose, haha. You're talented for knowing how to play oh holy night! Haha :)

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  2. That's one of my top three favorite Christmas songs. I love the Mariah Carey version.

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    1. Mine too, I also love 'I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day'...and while it's not exactly a classic, I love 'Where Are You Christmas?'

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  3. My daughter is picking up the piano as she learns the accordion. Yes, she's that strong. :P

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  4. I applaud and admire your dedication to musicianship. Although I love music, carrying a tune has always been a great burden to me. Happily, my kids took after their mother in that regard..

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    1. I love music, and while I may be able to play a tune, and maybe whistle a tune, I can't necessarily carry a tune. Especially in high registers. Chelsea always asks me to stop.

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  5. Oh, wonderful song! It really is best in French, too. When I hear a recording the first time, I'm always curious to know if the singer's going to wimp out on the last high note - so enthralling if they sing it, such a let down when they don't.

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    1. SO true! I never even thought about it like that until you said it!

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    2. My very favorite performance was by a girl I knew in high school. She was the soloist when the all-county chorus had their holiday concert at the Kennedy Center. She sang the high note - oh my, how she sang it!

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    3. I've only heard it sung live once, at the National Quartet Convention. Gerald Wolfe with Greater Vision sang it so beautifully during their set, he was asked to come back at the end of the show and do it again.

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  6. I want to hear you!!!

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    1. But that would mean I would have to start playing again. My piano's been sold. My keyboard is very comfy over there in the corner. I look it at every day. I have keyboard, stand, and violin in one corner, and guitar in the other. They kind of mock me. I can hear their merciless whispering, 'Play me play me play me play me...: LOLOL!

      Soon, maybe!

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  7. One more song than me, i can't even play chopsticks

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    1. Actually I never learned that, I know it's a starter song but, weirdly enough, none of my books had it in them. When Chelsea started her lessons, though, it was in her child's learn-to-play-piano books.

      If I ever start playing again, I'll have to dig that book out and make sure I learn it just so I can say I know it. Or just in case I randomly come across a huge floor piano in the biggest toy store in Manhattan and start jumping on the keys and then start playing it as a duet with the head of a large toy corporation.

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  8. I'm so jealous! Since I can't play anything, I struck this one from my list and replaced it with something else. In fact, I think I did that with several days.

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    1. I might have to do that with the 'song that makes me feel guilty' day...I can't think of one. I have plenty of guilt, I don't need a song to remind me of it, lol.

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  9. I love this post for so many reasons.
    1. O Holy Night is the only song I attempt to sing every Christmas. My voice is awful and everybody always laughs, which I am completely ok with.

    2. The only song I can pick out on a guitar (and John has more than a dozen guitars b/c he is a musician) is Michael Row the Boat Ashore. I'm terrible, but who cares.

    3. I know what a "fake book" is. It's something you should be proud of.

    4. I can imagine you playing this & hope you do it this Christmas.

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    1. Oh, thank you so much!
      Maybe this Christmas...we'll see. :)

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  10. I am impressed by anyone who can play an instrument. I have tried many times, starting with the euphonium as a lad, then harmonica, guitar, and penny whistle. I haven't totally given up and, at the moment, I'm persevering with the ocarina. It must be lovely to let music flow out of you.

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    1. Yes, keep practicing! I would play and play...song after song; it was a wonderful time for me.

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  11. Mmm. A wonderful selection. I'm totally about faking it--I mean, I'm a composer. =) But that said, some arrangements are sheer genius. I adore this song and have performed it as a vocalist more times than I can count, but it still gets me ever time. In fact, maybe that's the one I'll sing for Christmas this year.

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    1. I wish I could you hear you sing it, I looove this song. This is the only Christmas song I keep on my playlist year-round. :)

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    1. Well, if you say so, LOL. Comparatively, I think it is... My shoes are size 10, I hate it!

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  13. Please post a video of you singing O, Holy Night.

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    1. I can't sing at all! I can play piano, but no singing!, trust me, you wouldn't want me too, lolol...

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    1. Maybe soon...I haven't played any of my instruments for about four years now. There's a lot of things I quit doing in 2009 when my life stopped, I'm trying hard to get back into things.

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