Music is my boyfriend
I heard another song on CBC radio with this title. Apparently, upon a youtube search for the old iPod commercial version by CSS I learnt there a few songs with this song title. Coincidentally, Justin Bieber was in Canadian studios recently so he's on all the Canadian channels this week (Global, CTV, CBC). Of course, he's promoting his upcoming movie which features clips of him as a toddler playing the guitar and drums, exhibiting how music was always his life and passion. This is somewhat true to me.
When I was a child (say 9), my brother was was introduced into a pilot program in school where they introduced the student to orchestral instruments. I begged to try his trumpet the first time he brought home. By the time I was in grade 6, I chose the trumpet as well and brought it home all the time. That same year, our family moved out of the city to the "sticks" on the lake. I had a hard time making new friends so I practiced that much more. We also had an electric church organ that I dabbled with often.
I started playing songs by ear, mainly Nintendo theme songs and and the odd Depeche Mode song here and there, but the majority of the music I played I learnt in school, or wrote myself. I was avid to learn more, so I joined the school band(s) from grade 8 to 12 and was awarded the Music Award for Grade 8 grad as well as Grade 10.
In 9th grade, I arranged a piece (Pipeline by Depeche Mode) for an entire 100 piece concert band, transpositions and all. I messed up converting to key of F (for french horn, which oddly was MY instrument at the time) but other than that it was in sync and meshed well with my choice of instruments for which parts. We played it maybe 3 times, but the notations were too complicated and my master's copy was a bit of a mess so our director had issues with it. It was still an accomplishment.
By 2001, I bought my first house. I had since stayed a little from my music at this point. Coincidentally, my cousin from Florida called me on my land line a few days after I moved in. He was my first incoming call at my house. He was mainly calling to ask if I was still planning to come to Orlando to visit since I had 2 weeks of vacation. I took the call as a sign and booked my flights. While I was there, I got to see my cousin's home studio, mainly a collection of modest equipment all tied into his PC. I was enlightening.
My roomate and best friend were learning the guitar at the time as well. After several attempts to jam with them with my keyboard and being denied to participate, I bought a guitar so i could join them. I learnt quickly. A year after I bought my house, I went back to Orlando to visit. When I got back, I discovered that my VAIO had similar software pre-installed on it to compose music electronically. So off I went to compose my own stuff. Off the wall yes, but I was still engaged in the creative process. I even posted a few of my earlier works online and called myself "Off Tipple" (an unrelated term from work - long story).
In 2003, after a bitter 3 month strike at work, I moved to Edmonton to check out the grass on the other side of the fence. While I was there, I met The SOS and joined their band (don't google them, they broke up in '04). I also discovered a love for kareoke. I also met a half of dozen bands including Trapt and The Watchmen. Something happened after I moved back to Sudbury. I lost my love for concerts. Mostly. I just thought it was a waste of time to pay to see these regular people play when I was surrounded by talented people.
So between 2005 and now, I stayed far enough from my music that we developed an estranged relationship. I was more involved with the natural arts of life, with love, exploration and self discovery outside my bounds of music. I was hypnotized for a few years by dance and pop music they played at the bars to a point where I noticed I wasn't noticing the beauty of DIY music or that of friend. I wasn't sharing anymore so I was craving it and sought it where I could find it between adventures. I get it.
Last night, my friend messaged me on facebook to ask me if I would teach her a song on the guitar. I looked up the song and found the tab and played it a few times off of youtube. I pulled out my guitar to attempt a few of the chords. I then broke into some random mix of songs I wrote back in 2002 and got carried away until my finger tips hurt. My voice carried a rare vibrato that doesn't typically express while I sing as I am usually drunk at kareoke. I was home, a home I left by choice by accident.
I realize I have said in the past that I want to get back to my arts, but I never get to it. I have been long distracted from any other activities other than sex, adventure and weekend debauchery. Work even became secondary in my list of priorities. Now, as I finally settle into my 30's with the opportunity to live a regular scheduled life, I need to say goodbye to my 20's. I now need to choose to schedule in some regular time with my music, and make it part of my me time.
I need to choose to rekindle my long neglected relationship with him.
When I was a child (say 9), my brother was was introduced into a pilot program in school where they introduced the student to orchestral instruments. I begged to try his trumpet the first time he brought home. By the time I was in grade 6, I chose the trumpet as well and brought it home all the time. That same year, our family moved out of the city to the "sticks" on the lake. I had a hard time making new friends so I practiced that much more. We also had an electric church organ that I dabbled with often.
I started playing songs by ear, mainly Nintendo theme songs and and the odd Depeche Mode song here and there, but the majority of the music I played I learnt in school, or wrote myself. I was avid to learn more, so I joined the school band(s) from grade 8 to 12 and was awarded the Music Award for Grade 8 grad as well as Grade 10.
In 9th grade, I arranged a piece (Pipeline by Depeche Mode) for an entire 100 piece concert band, transpositions and all. I messed up converting to key of F (for french horn, which oddly was MY instrument at the time) but other than that it was in sync and meshed well with my choice of instruments for which parts. We played it maybe 3 times, but the notations were too complicated and my master's copy was a bit of a mess so our director had issues with it. It was still an accomplishment.
By 2001, I bought my first house. I had since stayed a little from my music at this point. Coincidentally, my cousin from Florida called me on my land line a few days after I moved in. He was my first incoming call at my house. He was mainly calling to ask if I was still planning to come to Orlando to visit since I had 2 weeks of vacation. I took the call as a sign and booked my flights. While I was there, I got to see my cousin's home studio, mainly a collection of modest equipment all tied into his PC. I was enlightening.
My roomate and best friend were learning the guitar at the time as well. After several attempts to jam with them with my keyboard and being denied to participate, I bought a guitar so i could join them. I learnt quickly. A year after I bought my house, I went back to Orlando to visit. When I got back, I discovered that my VAIO had similar software pre-installed on it to compose music electronically. So off I went to compose my own stuff. Off the wall yes, but I was still engaged in the creative process. I even posted a few of my earlier works online and called myself "Off Tipple" (an unrelated term from work - long story).
In 2003, after a bitter 3 month strike at work, I moved to Edmonton to check out the grass on the other side of the fence. While I was there, I met The SOS and joined their band (don't google them, they broke up in '04). I also discovered a love for kareoke. I also met a half of dozen bands including Trapt and The Watchmen. Something happened after I moved back to Sudbury. I lost my love for concerts. Mostly. I just thought it was a waste of time to pay to see these regular people play when I was surrounded by talented people.
So between 2005 and now, I stayed far enough from my music that we developed an estranged relationship. I was more involved with the natural arts of life, with love, exploration and self discovery outside my bounds of music. I was hypnotized for a few years by dance and pop music they played at the bars to a point where I noticed I wasn't noticing the beauty of DIY music or that of friend. I wasn't sharing anymore so I was craving it and sought it where I could find it between adventures. I get it.
Last night, my friend messaged me on facebook to ask me if I would teach her a song on the guitar. I looked up the song and found the tab and played it a few times off of youtube. I pulled out my guitar to attempt a few of the chords. I then broke into some random mix of songs I wrote back in 2002 and got carried away until my finger tips hurt. My voice carried a rare vibrato that doesn't typically express while I sing as I am usually drunk at kareoke. I was home, a home I left by choice by accident.
I realize I have said in the past that I want to get back to my arts, but I never get to it. I have been long distracted from any other activities other than sex, adventure and weekend debauchery. Work even became secondary in my list of priorities. Now, as I finally settle into my 30's with the opportunity to live a regular scheduled life, I need to say goodbye to my 20's. I now need to choose to schedule in some regular time with my music, and make it part of my me time.
I need to choose to rekindle my long neglected relationship with him.