Can a squid play the piano?

[ahmedito]

Ive got a depressed squid that wants to learn how to play. What do you suggest?

[rachfan]

Where he has tentacles, I'd teach him the tenuto touch first.  

[dinosaurtales]

is the squid alive or dead?  that'll make a difference.  not many squids live long enough to really get the hang of it.

[eddie92099]

A valid point DinosaurTales, but shouldn't the speed at which the squid learns new tasks be proportional to its life expectancy? It may be, in human terms, a real child prodigy - Ahmedito, please keep us updated on its progress,
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

You are right. It's possible they learn very quickly.  I've never worked with a squid.  Yes definitely keep us informed on its progress!

[ahmedito]

Right now, im having 3 problems. How to prop him up on the chair, how to make him reach the pedals, and the suckers on his tentacles keep sticking to the keys.

One more thing, Ive got a spray bottle with me, cause if I dont keep him humid he dies on me...

[eddie92099]

But is he enjoying it?
Ed

[NetherMagic]

dude you gotta talk to him, get some communication going!  Even if you don't dry him to death, he'll be bored to death before long

[allchopin]

my god, how long are you gonna keep this up

[TwinkleFingers]

something smells fishy in this forum

[xenon]

Don't let him squirt on you!  That woudn't be pretty.

I had a hamster that played the piano.  He was great at modal scales.  Too bad he didn't stick around long enough.    He would've love to play a duet with your squid.

[TwinkleFingers]

how did the hamster die? how many keys could he span with his little hand?  or did he just do glissandos up and down the keyboard?  

[ahmedito]

The squid is having the time of his life.... he was depressed because he wanted to learn how to play...
Ive solved some of the problems...

I solved problems 1 and dryness by putting him in a fish tank on the piano stool and having his tentacles stick out.

I still dont know how to get him to reach the pedals.
I solved the sucker problem by showing him how to play with his tentacles backwards...

At this point, he knows which note is which on the piano, although he is VERY slow... it takes his tentacles about 5 seconds to get from his fishtank to the keys...

Any good adagios anyone???

[dinosaurtales]

I guess that would limit the kinds of music you could assign to him - I wouldn't give him any Lizst, for example!

[eddie92099]

How about the Trout quintet?
Ed

[xenon]

Ed> LOL, good one

Ahmedito> Perhaps, if you play a duet w/ the squid, you can play an arrangement of Pachabel's Canon with the squid playing main melodic "pedal" notes, when you play more active notes.

TwinkleFingers>Fraiser, my hamster died of natural causes, at the age of 4 yrs (which is good for a hamster).  He would scurry around the keyboard.  He could reach a +6th by stretching.  It's a good think hamsters don't shed easily

[rachfan]

My ferrett can play the Scriabin Etude in 9ths better than I can right now.  But that's another story.

Getting back to the squid, why not assign him Debussy's "Poissons d'ors"?  He'd find it upscale.  Plus he could learn some French at the same time.

[TwinkleFingers]

maybe spounge bob square pants could hug the squid all over and then he would be moist for sure completly voiding the use of a fish tank on the bench.  after 15 minutes or so give him a break and let them both soak a little

[ahmedito]

I liked the canon idea.

he is currently playing the pedal notes, and Im playing the upper part.... he still wants something more challenging though, the probem is that it has to be real slow. Im surprised with his expresiveness.... he has a lot of potential...

[xenon]

If you take the introduction to Beethoven's Sonata Pathetique Op 13 1st mvt slowly enough, I think that your squid could play it with great expressitivity and emotion.  

[NetherMagic]

how bout you and your squid both play Chopin's Prelude no.4 Opus 24? (I'm not sure about the numbers)

You can handle the accompaniment while your squid slowly presses the melody notes

[dinosaurtales]

Uh oh.  

http://www.cnn.com/2003/TECH/science/09/17/spain.squid.reut/index.html

[ahmedito]

We are currently working on Pachelbels Cannon.

My squid is over joyed, my turtle wants to learn how to play too. One problem, when I place her on the keys, she can play a major third... thats about it. Any ideas?

[eddie92099]

Maybe the piano is not the best instrument for her - may I suggest a book I read called "The right instrument for you child",
Ed

[ahmedito]

The problem is she has her heart set on playing the piano. She is already a trombone virtuoso....

anyway, Im trying to find something that they can both play. so far were working on Pachelbel's Cannon with great results. The squid plays the pdal notes, I play the melody and the turtle jumps up and down on the sustain pedal.... We should take our act on the road.

[rachfan]

The turtle might want to perform at the Hatch "Shell" at the Esplanade in Boston, although perhaps the squid would hold out for the New England Aquarium as the recital venue.  That would leave you with the deciding vote.

[ahmedito]

Sadly, a squid's life expectancy is not very long, and, as he is indisposed and pretty week, he has stopped playing te piano...

Morbidly enough, my turtle and I have started working on Chopins funeral march (Shes playing the sustain pedal)...

[eddie92099]

I am sorry to hear that he is on his last tentacles,
Ed

[dinosaurtales]

Bummer about the squid.

[rachfan]

Hopefully the squid in inking his will as this is all being written and has bequeathed the piano to you.

And a passing thought: Once the squid goes on to his reward, will you be playing Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Squid" in remembrance?

[eddie92099]

Once the squid goes on to his reward, will you be playing Copland's "Fanfare for the Common Squid" in remembrance?

Common? How many squids do you know that can play the piano?
Ed

[rachfan]

Ed, probably what you could do is play the same music, but bill it as "Fanfare for the Uncommon Squid" if that would be more appropriate.

[eddie92099]

Quite,
Ed