Musical Memory

Today, I have been unable to read music.

Musical ability isn't something that tends to crop up in conversation very often. Sure, we talk about singles and albums and bands and such, but in terms of actually playing a musical instrument or being able to read music, that's not something I could judge of many of my friends. I wonder, upon being told that someone played an instrument, could you tell which one it was? In a rare fleeting mention of musical instruments last year and I revealing my main weapon of skill, someone commented,

"Yeah, you seem like the [insertinstrument] type."

For this reason, I'd be interested to see if you could guess correctly which instrument I speak of (though some readers may already know), and what does the choice of instrument say about a person?

Again, it often comes down to avaliability of opportunities and the type of person someone is. I would not describe myself as particulary musically inclined. I'd like to be able to play music properly, but despite over seven years of private music tution for three different musical instruments, it's shameful how little I have to show for that today.

Now, having vowed to just play a few tunes every now and again, I haven't touched my main instrument since I stopped having lessons. I looked at a simple piece of music the other day, and I realised, I have forgotten what the notes mean. I don't know B from F#; I wouldn't be able to tell the key; I doubt I could even place my hands appropriately. People say it's like learning to ride a bike, or even, learning to read - something that once you learn, you never forget. I wonder if it would all come rushing back to me, that I'm just a bit rusty and after a polish-up, I'd be able to distinguish the crochets on the lines and interpret correctly. I don't know, I haven't tried. It's unfortunate that it's come to this, and while I'm sure my cognitive and cerebral development have vastly improved as a result of playing music in my younger years, it does make me wonder - seven years of learning, I can no longer read music, and I don't even hold the evidence to prove that I once could!? What was the point of those many weeks of misery...?

I reflect too much when I don't have much else to do.

On the jukebox: Edvard Grieg Jerusalem Orchestra ~ In The Hall Of The Mountain King