Stupid things non-musicians say to us

[j_menz]

So they're gonna feel salty if they hear the same stuff again.  

Screw 'em. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

Screw 'em. 

Sorry, but I'm not a  kid, so I can't really do that with style.

[davidjosepha]

Sorry, but I'm not a  kid, so I can't really do that with style.

Fake it till you make it. You are now a kid

[j_menz]

Sorry, but I'm not a  kid.

You so are. You just don't know it yet. 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

You so are. You just don't know it yet. 

I'm not a freaking kid!!!


ANYWAYS, my mom got mad at me because I  was complaining about how cold my hands were when playing the piano.  She told me that it doesn't matter whether or not your hands are cold.

WHAT THE FREAKING HECK?!!??!

[davidjosepha]

ANYWAYS, my mom got mad at me because I  was complaining about how cold my hands were when playing the piano.  She told me that it doesn't matter whether or not your hands are cold.

WHAT THE FREAKING HECK?!!??!

Cold hands make it very hard for me to play technical music. Sometimes, if even after warming up my hands are still cold (I keep my house as cold as I am able to reasonably, even in winter) I will run them under the hottest water my faucet can produce until my hands hurt enough I have to pull them out. Sounds silly, but this loosens up my hand so much and I am able to play so much better and with tons less stress.

[j_menz]

Cold hands

My solution is to live somewhere warm.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

My solution is to live somewhere warm.

Or have parents who are rich enough to afford to move to somewhere warm for the sake of your piano playing.

[davidjosepha]

My solution is to live somewhere warm.

You live somewhere with no seasons. I live somewhere where one of the seasons is warm, another is cold, and the other two are transitions.

Minnesota has snow

[ajspiano]

ANYWAYS, my mom got mad at me because I  was complaining about how cold my hands were when playing the piano.  She told me that it doesn't matter whether or not your hands are cold.

WHAT THE FREAKING HECK?!!??!

You can tell your mum I said she's a she-douche. If it turns out she was trolling you tell her I said "well done".

[j_menz]

You live somewhere with no seasons.

Not true. We get a warm summer, a cool winter and a couple of weeks in between where it can be either on any given day before it makes up its mind.

[davidjosepha]

Not true. We get a warm summer, a cool winter and a couple of weeks in between where it can be either on any given day before it makes up its mind.

winter = snow

proof? I looked through the first 10 pages of google image results for "winter" and it wasn't until the 9th page that I saw a single photograph without snow in it.

[j_menz]

winter = snow

Only in disadvantaged parts of the world.  We get snow relatively nearby, should one actually wish to see it, but not close enough to have to shovel.

I looked through the first 10 pages of google image results .....

You have waaay to much time on your hands. 

[ajspiano]

winter = snow

proof? I looked through the first 10 pages of google image results for "winter" and it wasn't until the 9th page that I saw a single photograph without snow in it.

of course if you'd googled "define winter" it'd just say "the coldest season of the year" as the first result...   personally in melbourne's winter I been know to brave the world with 3 shirts, 2 jumpers and a jacket, beanie, gloves..   I should buy some thicker clothes.

[rachmaninoff_forever]

proof? I looked through the first 10 pages of google image results for "winter" and it wasn't until the 9th page that I saw a single photograph without snow in it.

Dude that's freaking half an hour of practice time there!!!

[davidjosepha]

of course if you'd googled "define winter" it'd just say "the coldest season of the year"

And if you googled "define music" you'd get "The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion" but that hardly begins to describe what music really is and does, doesn't it?

Dude that's freaking half an hour of practice time there!!!

The "pages" are actually just one page with infinite scrolling split up arbitrarily, so it took like 30 seconds, but yeh...30 seconds of practice time gone

[ajspiano]

And if you googled "define music" you'd get "The art or science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion" but that hardly begins to describe what music really is and does, doesn't it?

two examples of music can be VERY different in appearance/sound and still both be music...  still fitting the definition.

[davidjosepha]

two examples of music can be VERY different in appearance/sound and still both be music...  still fitting the definition.

Yes, and my view of winter still fits the definition of "the coldest season of the year", but includes so much more than that as well. Sure, winter can exist without snow, but when you think of winter, there's snow. Here are a few representations of the seasons found on the first page of the google image search "the seasons"...








Notice the representations of winter? They all have snow.

QED

[ajspiano]

Thats because it snows in winter where you grew up, and where a lot of people grew up.

I do not think of snow when I think of winter..  winter does not mean snow..   and I suspect that would be true for a number of other people who grew up in australia.. and whom have quite possible never seen snow in their life if they haven't traveled.

..same way as I think of christmas as meaning, hot, sunny, cricket, barbeques...   not cold or snow, or "white" Christmas as is the case for many americans.

[j_menz]

but when you think of winter, there's snow.

I don't get snow when I think of winter. I think hot chocolate.

You probably think of snow when you think of Christmas, too.  

[davidjosepha]

Thats because it snows in winter where you grew up, and where a lot of people grew up.

Succumb to the collective consciousness

[j_menz]

Succumb to the collective consciousness

The collective consciousness is, sadly for you, a little more tropical.

[ajspiano]

The collective consciousness is, sadly for you, a little more tropical.

I thought the USA was the only country in the world... 

[davidjosepha]

The collective consciousness is, sadly for you, a little more tropical.

Population density is offset by latitudinal diameter ratios. (the equator is longer than the 45th parallel, so each person at the 45th gets more representation)

Also, first world nations only, for some arbitrary reason.

I thought the USA was the only country in the world... 

We've got you beat in pretty much every way, although I'll give you this--as impressive as the size of our prison system is, yours is even bigger

[j_menz]

Also, first world nations only, for some arbitrary reason.

So Minnesota is excluded then.

We've got you beat in pretty much every way, although I'll give you this--as impressive as the size of our prison system is, yours is even bigger

Not even close. Numerically or proportionately.

[ajspiano]

We've got you beat in pretty much every way.

..we were first to have a female head of state.

..we also have a higher percentage of non-religious people.

..for me this makes our country a significant winner..  of course others may feel very strongly the opposite..  ofcourse in order to say so they'll have to declare themselves sexist.. 

I also like my summer in december.

[davidjosepha]

Not even close. Numerically or proportionately.

A reference to your proud history

..we were first to have a female head of state.

First black etc.

Plus, it doesn't really matter--missing the point of equality and all-

..we also have a higher percentage of non-religious people.

We have a higher percentage of Italians, what's it to ya?

I also like my summer in december.

Shitty time of year for December. How do you feel listening to all the music composed about the seasons and having no idea what they're about?

[j_menz]

A reference to your proud history

Haha. Britain shipped more convicts to the US than they ever did to Australia.  It was the sudden unavailability of the US for that purpose after some minor colonial skirmish that lead them to a better place.

[ajspiano]

First black etc.

Plus, it doesn't really matter--missing the point of equality and all-

I know, i wasn't aware this argument contained valid points exclusively..

We have a higher percentage of Italians, what's it to ya?

As a non-believer I have a range of values that are generally (and that is a generalisation, not an absolute at all) shared with other non-believers.. and that are generally not-shared with believers. Since I'm in a minority my voice is largely not heard over the much larger voice of the other 80+% of our country...   

All around the world there are a large groups of people jumping up and down for their beliefs..  which run contrary to mine..  its seems natural to prefer a situation where more people think in a similar way to oneself. I obviously don't find it difficult to get on with people generally..  but I will almost always get on better with another atheist, in much the same way as I usually get on better with musicians... and we want the same things collectively.

Shitty time of year for December. How do you feel listening to all the music composed about the seasons and having no idea what they're about?

wait, what?  I don't know what the differences between seasons are because I don't live somewhere that it snows? You think winter is that much different..? that we don't have our own winter customs and culture that are specific to that season? ..

[davidjosepha]

Haha. Britain shipped more convicts to the US than they ever did to Australia.  It was the sudden unavailability of the US for that purpose after some minor colonial skirmish that lead them to a better place.

They're all in Georgia though, if I remember correctly.

As a non-believer I have a range of values that are generally (and that is a generalisation, not an absolute at all) shared with other non-believers.. and that are generally not-shared with believers. Since I'm in a minority my voice is largely not heard over the much larger voice of the other 80+% of our country...   

All around the world there are a large groups of people jumping up and down for their beliefs..  which run contrary to mine..  its seems natural to prefer a situation where more people think in a similar way to oneself. I obviously don't find it difficult to get on with people generally..  but I will almost always get on better with another atheist.

Makes sense, although in my experience, the youth of the US mostly identify as either atheist, or "Christian", but hold the name simply out of tradition and do not necessarily follow Christianity religiously or follow any of its moral guidelines. As for older people, yes, many do, although many more are the "Christians in name only" type described earlier, at least in Minnesota.

wait, what?  I don't know what the differences between seasons are because I don't live somewhere that it snows? You think winter is that much different..? that we don't have our own winter customs and culture that are specific to that season? ..

I'm just messing around! But snow, man...snow.

[ajspiano]

Makes sense, although in my experience, the youth of the US mostly identify as either atheist, or "Christian", but hold the name simply out of tradition and do not necessarily follow Christianity religiously or follow any of its moral guidelines. As for older people, yes, many do, although many more are the "Christians in name only" type described earlier, at least in Minnesota.

That's probably true here too..  the only part that makes it a real point for me is how it reflects on the country as a whole in terms of equal rights, and the necessity of the larger group to place its values on the whole of society.

also for a believer vs non-believer comparison - if i was jewish say.. an employer would be legally obliged to allow me certain days off for religious holidays..  atheists don't have this option because we dont have religious holidays.. and if we collectively petitioned to allow a set series of days off to say, celebrate the standard model of the universe, we'd be laughed out of parliament faster than.. well..  you get it..

[davidjosepha]

parliament

That's the biggest joke here!

You can still take Christian holidays off, can't you? unless you had some objection to identifying with Christianity in any way, even for the sake of days off of work (which would make you just as irrational as many atheists consider Christians)

[ajspiano]

You can still take Christian holidays off, can't you? unless you had some objection to identifying with Christianity in any way, even for the sake of days off of work (which would make you just as irrational as many atheists consider Christians)

Yeh ofcourse, and anyone who objected to that would be as irrational as you suggest... Plus I doubt any atheist would want to do that anyway.. Atleast I doubt we could collectively agree on it because we'd all want days that suit us individually and have no reason to get together to say "yay atheism" at a set time every year.. That's just weird.

It was just a comparison..

Incidentally, I do think christian holidays are pretty weird - despite conforming to them. As an employer it would also frustrate me to have to give someone the Christian ones, and the other ones associated with their specific belief. Also in my non-piano teaching business the Christian holidays are the busiest times and while right now we don't employ anyone other than ourselves the day is coming when its going to be a right pain the arse having to pay extra to have people work those days.. Or pay them to not work.. When we'd be totally happy to give heaps of time off on another week...  presents a problem because we're too close to a borderline where the service will fail if someone can't work and we can't financially justify over staffing to solve it..

Such is life..  Here's hoping we grow quickly

[outin]

Ridiculous discussion...Winter starts when it snows and it stays for more than a day. Everyone knows that 

Ok, maybe not everyone...like those who do not actually have a winter 

[black_keys]

ANYWAYS, my mom got mad at me because I  was complaining about how cold my hands were when playing the piano.  She told me that it doesn't matter whether or not your hands are cold.

WHAT THE FREAKING HECK?!!??!

Put your hands in hot water about 30 min before playing , to make it warm from the INSIDE .

[teran]

The best "remedy" for cold hands is regular exercise, a good diet, and good posture (lowers tension).

Of course when it's freezing cold your hands are going to get cold anyway (wear gloves!), but yeah I mean some people have icy hands even in more temperate months, so just saying it might be good to keep your circulation strong.

But yeah people seem to think cold hands is just some cheap cop out, when it really really hampers playing. You may even be able to hit every note without much problem in less technically challenging pieces, but you lose a lot of the fine control with regards to finger motion, so you can royally screw up dynamics etc.

Not good. ;_;

[slane]

..we were first to have a female head of state.

LOL! I'd never thought of that. But surely equal first with the Canadians, Indians, Jamaicans etc?
We are also, technically, a religious state since our head of state is also the head of the COE.
BTW - I say Prince Harry for King! And no I'm not a monarchist. I voted yes to the republic!

Anyhoo - back to the subject. It did actually snow here this winter. I was standing in the street, big floaty bits of dandruff falling down around me, saying "OMG!".  It was amazing.

And to keep my hands warm I usually have a wheat bag on my lap to roll my hands in and I have made my myself "piano" mits.

A bit cumbersome but they do the job most of the time. I have to roll the ends back a bit.

[zezhyrule]

I thought people were exaggerating the whole thing where 'non-musicians' think Fur Elise is the most difficult piece of music ever. And then it happened to me.

I played the Chopin Nocturne I'm working on for some people I know. After it was over they all said nice things, best they could I imagine, but then one dude said something like "Oh dude you're so good, I'd really like to hear you play Fur Elise though if you know it." I was like u_u and in my head was thinking "I learned that bagatelle when I was like 5 and haven't touched it since" but all I said was "oh I don't know that one sorry." At least it was the truth  I loved the way he turned away with a look as if his entire opinion of me dropped when he realized I couldn't play it. Oh well.

I sound like a music snob now, oh no 

Hey dude that was a great hammerklavier fugue but can you play fur elise!

[vsrinivasa]

Ridiculous discussion...Winter starts when it snows and it stays for more than a day. Everyone knows that 

Ok, maybe not everyone...like those who do not actually have a winter 

Here in Texas, 45 degrees is abnormally cold.

[vsrinivasa]

I played Chopin's Nocturne in D-flat Op. 27 No.2 for a non-musician friend of mine, and she said something like "That must be an easy piece. Can you play Fur Elise or something harder? I understand if that's too hard for you though." I was just thinking in my head "That nocturne is actually quite difficult. And I learned Fur Elise when I was 8. Really? Why does everyone think it's the hardest piece ever?" So then I played Fur Elise at 4 times the normal speed and she was speechless for five minutes or so. Then I played the first movement of the Pathetique Sonata. I think that was too much for her.

[chopin2015]

Or have parents who are rich enough to afford to move to somewhere warm for the sake of your piano playing.

 I did not have a piano for many years, but I took piano lessons since I was a kid, thanks to russian education. Mom got a spinet piano but it was out of tune for 7 years and I tuned it (by ear) myself. It is not fun at all. I bought myself a weighted keyboard very recently. THEN I bought myself a baby grand with ivory keys after hustling some vintage electronic equipment. I love it, I still try to hustle stuff here and there, but to my advantage, it is rare equipment.

PS I am selling a vintage moog opus 3. Great for electronic performances of Bach.

[j_menz]

PS I am selling a vintage moog opus 3. Great for electronic performances of Bach.

 

[rachmaninoff_forever]

PS I am selling a vintage moog opus 3. Great for electronic performances of Bach.

Eew...

[chopin2015]

what? you never nerd out on synthesizers? *starts sweating in nervousness*

[perprocrastinate]

Eew...

Sorry chopin2015, I second this.

[chopin2015]

 I am the only one of my kind on this planet

[j_menz]

I am the only one of my kind on this planet

Haha, so is everyone. 

I'd forgotten about the spaghetti on those things.  Hasn't everyone gone digital now?

** waits to be slapped **

[chopin2015]

Haha, so is everyone. 

I'd forgotten about the spaghetti on those things.  Hasn't everyone gone digital now?

** waits to be slapped **

haha have you seen Emerson, Lake and Palmer now? They're digital now... their music got worse, man!

[j_menz]

haha have you seen Emerson, Lake and Palmer now? They're digital now... their music got worse, man!

I wasn't actually aware they  were still going. 

[chopin2015]

I dunno about now, but they were in like 2010. Crazy, I know!