Do I belong here?

[lucy in the sky]

Greetings, All,

I found out about this forum from a post on another forum. 

I don't think that I meet any of the criteria set by the moderator and so this will probably be up about five minutes . 

I am certainly not a professional pianist.  Middle aged adult beginner is more like it.  I don't have the correct university affiliation, either.  I teach post-docs but in a field afar from music.

Oh, well, for at least as long as this thing stays up:   I bought a piano a couple of years ago for my husband, not knowing that I would end up taking lessons.  I have one husband, one kid and two brilliant Tonkinese cats.  I live in New York City in an apartment that defies cleaning.  I am a compulsive reader.

I play piano because it makes me happy.  I have no real goals such as where I want to be in terms of my repertoire this time next year. 

I haven't visited the other forum much lately because in the wake of a personal loss I didn't feel I could stand to witness people tearing each other apart.  That didn't happen all of the time over there, and never once to me, but it was getting to me.  I have realized that I like discussion a lot more than I like debate. 

Ok, enough about me.  I'd like to learn more about the people who post here.

All of the best, Lucy in the Sky

[Ed Thomas]

Lucy:  It sounds like you clearly qualify under the "student" category.     Don't we all?

Welcome.  I certainly do understand what you mean about the destructiveness in forums.   I hope that it continues to be kept to a minimum here.  Music, and the love of piano playing, should be shared.   There sure is a lot to learn here.   I've been here about 9 months... and have gained years and years of insight and understanding.  I hope you feel the same way.  Merry Christmas.

[Floristan]

Anyone with a serious interest in piano studies belongs here.  Like Ed, I've learned so much in a very short time at this forum -- very detailed information about pedagogy, performance, repertoire, etc.  You don't need to know a lot about these topics to belong, just the desire to know more.  This is a "serious" piano forum in that its members are classical (and some jazz) pianists who want to share their experience about their passion for the piano.  People who have only a casual interest in the piano don't tend to hang around because they find PF boring.  If you find it very interesting as opposed to boring, then you probably belong!

[m1469]

Greetings, All,

I found out about this forum from a post on another forum. 

I don't think that I meet any of the criteria set by the moderator and so this will probably be up about five minutes . 

I am certainly not a professional pianist.  Middle aged adult beginner is more like it.  I don't have the correct university affiliation, either.  I teach post-docs but in a field afar from music.

Greetings to you lucy in the sky (with diamonds  )!  You are most welcome here!  There are a number of adult beginners here, and probably even more that only lurk around and never post.  It takes courage, so congratulations on that!  What field do you teach in?

Oh, well, for at least as long as this thing stays up:   I bought a piano a couple of years ago for my husband, not knowing that I would end up taking lessons.  I have one husband, one kid and two brilliant Tonkinese cats.  I live in New York City in an apartment that defies cleaning.  I am a compulsive reader.

Perhaps the piano was secretly meant for you.  It is so great that you are taking lessons, what gave you the impulse to begin?  (My living space also seems to defy cleaning  ).  As a compulsive reader, you are at a great advantage here because there are many, many helpful threads and posts here to read.  Perhaps you would enjoy this one (if you have not already read)?

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,1759.msg13695.html#msg13695
(your practice drive)

I play piano because it makes me happy.  I have no real goals such as where I want to be in terms of my repertoire this time next year. 

Perhaps you would like to set some goals? 

I haven't visited the other forum much lately because in the wake of a personal loss I didn't feel I could stand to witness people tearing each other apart.  That didn't happen all of the time over there, and never once to me, but it was getting to me.  I have realized that I like discussion a lot more than I like debate. 

Yes, this forum seems to maintain a very civil and positive tone.  Very conducive to learning. 

I'd like to learn more about the people who post here.

You will learn a lot about the people who post here through reading their posts   .  Happy reading and happy practicing!

All the best,
m1469 Fox

[chickering9]

Lucy,

I hope you will stick around here.  I was happy to hear your voice in another room this morning and hoped you'd find your way over here.  Now that you have, please do stay.  I know that with your very busy life we may not hear from you often, but it would be nice to know that we might have the unexpected pleasure once in a while.

[lucy in the sky]

Wow!  One of my favorite people, ChickGrand(pa) and some new names as well.  ChickGrand--is the grandpa part new?  If so, congratulations!  You sent me the most tender message after my mom died.  I printed it and saved it.  I couldn't figure out how to get back in touch with you to thank you; thus, a belated but very heartfelt thank you!   

m1469 and others, thank you for your welcomes and suggestions.   m1469, I am enjoying the Zen of Piano Practice  .  It's unusual for me not to have some deadline to meet or some catastrophe on my hands.  And so I am letting my studies take me wherever they lead me and at whatever pace.  I started taking lessons with my daughter's teacher and he understands this completely.  Still, I hope that I will be able to play pieces that are currently far from my reach . . . someday.

The happiest of holidays to all, Lucy 

[teachum]

I wondered about the "standards" to post here too, Lucy.  I am not affiliated with a university or school, but am certainly a student of music. No one's told me to go away yet.  I also am a teacher - elementary school.   Music was always my biggest love when I was in school.  I remember when your mother died  because your story made me bittersweet sad/happy.  My mom died 4 years ago and we always struggled with our relationship.  Nice to see you. 

Merry CHristmas!

[Egon von Sprocket]

ChickGrand--is the grandpa part new?  If so, congratulations! 

That is a bit confusing--Chick, you don't seem much like a "grandpa" to me.  Maybe you've moved to Pennsylvania!   

[chickering9]

Wow!  One of my favorite people, ChickGrand(pa) and some new names as well.  ChickGrand--is the grandpa part new?  If so, congratulations! 

OH, Heavens No!  But thank you all the same.  It's just that after I read a fair percentage of profiles and ages, I felt compelled.   

[Egon von Sprocket]

I have realized that I like discussion a lot more than I like debate. 

Me too.

[annabell]

I don't know if I belong here.  I miss the people from the other room who have asked me not to come.  They were my friends I thought.

Such is life, I guess

[Egon von Sprocket]

I don't know if I belong here.  I miss the people from the other room who have asked me not to come.  They were my friends I thought.

Such is life, I guess

Dearest Anabell: your "friends" are blips on a screen.  To be used, manipulated, squeezed and chortled, to your whims desire.

Think nothing more of them.

Egon

[teachum]

Annabell - True friends are very hard to find. I think as adults if we can count the really true, life-long ones on one hand, we are extremely fortunate.  Life doesn't seem to lend itself to life-long friends anymore.     Sad, but seemingly true.  It would certainly be rare to find a real one on the internet.  We are.....never mind - too many corny cliches coming to mind

[Egon von Sprocket]

It would certainly be rare to find a real one on the internet. 

I doubt any of us ever will.    

[ted]

Lucy:

I seem to remember you were on the other forum when I started there, and that was over three years ago. As I recall, your posts were always pretty interesting. I still post everywhere and just ignore all the nonsense that goes on. The trick is, as you implicitly say, to go for a search for truth rather than a debate. Certain posters on both forums are first class musicians in their own way - they soon stand out - these are the ones I am interested in, and by and large they are also the ones who avoid abusive debate.

[Jack Appleseed]

Doesn't that just about sum up Tom to a tee.?

jf

Dearest Anabell: your "friends" are blips on a screen.  To be used, manipulated, squeezed and chortled, to your whims desire.

Think nothing more of them.

Egon

[lucy in the sky]

Tom . . . Tom . . . WHICH Tom, Johnnie Frost-Appleseed, Jack in the Beanstalk or whoever you are?  What am I missing?  I thought I had come to Switzerland.  Oh, do I have my bearings off again?  I always HAVE been something of a space cadet (or so they say).  Then again, maybe its just the Mouton Cadet that I have been drinking or the cute little delusional cadets up the river at Westpoint .  He-he-he .

Cheers, Lucy

[Hmoll]

Hi Lucy,

I've been postng here for a long time.
You are most welcome here.

[lucy in the sky]

Thank you.  Thank you.  Thank you!!!

Lucy

[Hmoll]

Dearest Anabell: your "friends" are blips on a screen.  To be used, manipulated, squeezed and chortled, to your whims desire.

Think nothing more of them.

Egon

Actually there is always an actual human being behind all of those "blips on the screen," so they are not at your or anyone else's whim.

 

[Jack Appleseed]

Tom . . . Tom . . . WHICH Tom, Johnnie Frost-Appleseed, Jack in the Beanstalk or whoever you are?  What am I missing?  I thought I had come to Switzerland.  Oh, do I have my bearings off again?  I always HAVE been something of a space cadet (or so they say).  Then again, maybe its just the Mouton Cadet that I have been drinking or the cute little delusional cadets up the river at Westpoint .  He-he-he .

Cheers, Lucy

Lucy,

Jack is Jack and Egon is Tom.

I am NOT Tom.

ja

[lucy in the sky]

Whew!  Thank you for clarifying this for me!

Lucy

[Egon von Sprocket]

Obviously, Jack and I are different people, but we are similar in LOTS of ways.

[Egon von Sprocket]

But anyway--we're all different people her than we are in "The Other Place."  All kinder and gentler and squishishy and nice.

[Egon von Sprocket]

Lucy,

Jack is Jack and Egon is Tom.

I am NOT Tom.

ja

Reminds me of the time I used to say I am NOT Improv.  That that you believed me. 

At least Luct is a reasonable human being.  Unlike others.....

[Egon von Sprocket]

Reminds me of the time I used to say I am NOT Improv.  You didn't believed me. 

At least Lucy is a reasonable human being.  Unlike others you and another.....

[lucy in the sky]

Egon,

I thought that YOU were Improv???  Must have been my evil twin !

Lucy

[Egon von Sprocket]

Egon,

I thought that YOU were Improv???  Must have been my evil twin !

Lucy

LIES, I TELL YOU, ALL LIES!   

Oh no, not me
The secret of Improv was a mystery
Oh no, not me
But me and him together you will never see.

Oh no, not me
He's a funny guy as there will ever be
Oh no, not me
I cannot be him and he's not me

Oh  no, not me
The story of Improv is just history
Oh no, not me
He and I together you will NEVER see!

[Jack Appleseed]

So, Lucy, welcome!

ja


frost appleseed beanstalk....whatever

[annabell]

I like the way you bestow welcomes Mr. APPLE - steal my name - seed.

[Jack Appleseed]

I like the way you bestow welcomes Mr. APPLE - steal my name - seed.

I thought you were probably Apple...not steal.  My name is a variation on my name and a tribute to you, my FRIEND.

Welcome, Annabelle

jf

[annabell]

you always sow seeds of friendship      (now that's a real nice kissing smiley)

[lucy in the sky]

Dear Egon, Jack and Annabell,

MY EVIL TWIN not Egon's!  Now whether Egan has one is another story .

Lucy

[phykell]

Hi Lucy, nice to see another friendly face over here (well not "see", but you know what I mean). Hope the cats are well