But my real dream is to get a baby-grand piano...the real thing, but for now a digital piano will be a better move for me since it can replicate sound for sound the deep rich and rewarding sound of a baby grand, concert grand, upright piano (the old saloon type rinky dink sound), and even a Harpsichord. Nothing fancy. Just piano sounds and I'll be a happy camper. A good digital piano that looks like a regular, wood semi-upright piano. Not the cheapo kinds that stand alone where you can put it on a table. I wouldn't mind getting myself a mini-baby grand digital piano. Am willing to spend 3 or 4 thousands dollars for a nice digital piano.
Just to let you know I've been playing the piano since I was seven and I haven't stopped.
I am learning to play a piano piece by Jelly Roll Morton called "Fingerbuster." Click on the name to listen to it (require Realtime player). And there's a reason why the piece is called "Fingerbuster". It's a super fast music. Excellent early Jazz piece. You can listen to the piece if you can or get your friends to hear it and watch their faces (sorry for those who cannot hear but I'm trying to be gracious here and blogging for own peace of mind, I'm hard of hearing, y'know). And I'm also learning to play Morton's piece called "Perfect Ragtime" (Click to listen). Very nice, fast piece, but not fast like Fingerbuster. You can listen to many of Morton's pieces in the Jelly Roll Morton link above by scrolling past the bio of Jelly Roll Morton.
You see, I love playing ragtime and early jazz pieces. But the problem is that I have a piano and it is called a Melodigrand. Unfortunately it has only 64 keys (a mini-spinet piano, bleh). Woefully short of the needed 88 keys in a full keyboard length piano. A needed requisite when playing ragtime and early jazz pieces when I do my stride playing hitting the high and low octave notes. My Melodigrand is outrageously out of tune, and the damper peddle does not work while the sustain does. And it was given to me for free by a generous woman, who, incidentally, never played a piano in her life. Met her at church one time and she learned about my piano playing skills. This "piano" drives me nuts and has somewhat prevented me from practicing the thing I love. I want the rich sounds. The full length keyboard. The ability to play and do realtime recording for my own composition (maybe put it on the internet). And to play it anytime I want without disturbing anybody, even while my hearing kids are watching TV. All I have to do is wear a head phone and practice to my hearts content. My source of relaxation. And when I say practice it's usually about 2 hours. What relaxation to hear crisp, clean sound coming from my own fingers! How many deaf/hard of hearing pianist have you met in your life? I haven't met anyone yet.
What to do? A digital piano or a lap top computer? The answer? Well after thinking about it and since I already have a computer, I think I will get myself a digital piano (perhaps get myself a laptop later on in 2005, so much for decisions, eh?). Makes perfect sense. And in a few months, the time will be right to get myself something that I always wanted (aside from getting a real baby grand piano) and that is to get the next best thing to progress further into my piano playing hobby. I've played in a few gigs. My sister's wedding. Even did a demo at the theater of Gallaudet University for those who appreciated Ragtime or piano music (fyi, I played "Maple Leaf Rag" and the all-time favorite, "The Entertainer"). You can listen to Maple Leaf Rag here. Or "The Entertainer" here. But it's time to get serious and get my fingers all limbered up for "The Fingerbuster" piece. And maybe get back into these fun gigs I can do.
Let 'er rip!
So much for a start about my creativity. Some people have no idea on what creativity means, literally clueless, and even more so when it comes to appreciating music. Real music, to me. You can certainly see why I enjoy playing the piano, especially ragtime and early jazz pieces. Real foot stompin' music makes ya want to tap your foot and shake your head to and fro. And for those with Cochlear Implants or hearing aids, you'll love these Ragtime and early Jazz pieces. Now, classical music is good. Play it right, the sounds will carry you away. Some pieces if played right could even make you cry when they can emanate the reminiscing feelings of yore and regrets. Music is powerful stuff. I even played the violin when I was little. Taught myself to play the saxophone and was good enough to be in a Middle School symphony band. And played the drums for several years ending up in high school with the marching band and had fun going to those marching band competitions in Georgia, North Carolina, and Florida. Whether you can feel it or hear it, it can get you going in all the right places. Evelyn Glennie, is the world's best known fulltime professional deaf percussion soloist (i.e. drums, cymbals, bells etc) is a fine example of how deaf (and hard of hearing) people can use music to define themselves and enjoy.
Here's another deaf group called "Beethoven's Nightmare." I've never heard this group play but they are an example of what deaf and hard of hearing people can do when it comes to music. Certainly the group "Beethoven's Nightmare" (I love the name! So funny..and sooo right) has been gaining in popularity and are in demand.
“We love music. And we want to show America and the world that being deaf doesn’t exclude you from loving and performing music,” deaf-guitarist Steve Longo said on behalf of the all-deaf trio. “We want to dispel the mystery and myths about deafness and deliver our work of art that we’d like to believe Ludwig Van Beethoven would have found intriguing.” Beethoven’s birthday is Dec. 17.
For those who insist on looking down on deaf or hard of hearing people who enjoy listening and/or performing music need to rethink their positions on their ability to hear (or feel) music for their own personal enjoyment. After all, who gives a fig about what other people feel when it is the person him/herself that counts when it comes to enjoying and making music.
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