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Nefir · 01-23-2004, 08:09 AM

I am 22 years old. Ever since I was a teenager, I wanted to learn to play an instrument. For whatever reason, this never came about.

The closest I have gotten to my dream was when I convinced my folks to buy me this $200 Casio keyboard for my birthday (I was 14 or 15 at the time) to learn on. But for some reason I stopped using it before I could learn much. I am still not quite sure why... I just suddenly lost interest in playing an instrument, and the desire sank down into my subconscious, where it became nothing more than a sad memory, until it was completely forgotten.

Since this was a pretty expensive purchase for my family, all future attempts to get stuff that there's even a remote chance of not being used were effectively shot down with a reminder about they keyboard thing.

But lately, this desire has begun surfacing again, and I feel like I may be ready to give it another shot (not a keyboard this time, mind you, something a little different). I am an adult now, and can buy my own stuff without having to ask permission from my parents. This also means that the responsibility rests solely on myself.

One instrument I have been fascinated with over the past couple of years is the Chapman Stick, a fretboard tapping instrument. Its got a long and challenging learning curve, but its also extremely rewarding once you get it. The major problem is that there are no "cheap" sticks for practice, and most people who do play one have had lots of prior knowledge of guitar/bass. This would be a major commitment, and I am not very confident in my musical learning abilities at this point, especially after the keyboard thing, whose dark memory has resurfaced along with the renewed desire to learn to play.

My mind is far from made up. The above is just a possible path that I have opened for myself. I seek guidance from the TFP community in helping me choose the right path, or convincing me to back down.

Any stick players here? What was your learning experience like?
I guess the simplest question to answer is - should I even bother?
A more involved question is, if I do bother, how much of a chance do I stand, given the fact that, for all practical purposes, I have no prior musical training whatsoever?

I work full-time, and have maybe 2-3 hours a day, at most, of free time to spend on practicing.

If anyone has alternate suggestions, that would be extremely appreciated as well. I really feel like I'm missing an important part of my being.

01-23-2004, 08:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Nefir Junkie Location: Louisville, KY	Help me fill a musical hole in my life I am 22 years old. Ever since I was a teenager, I wanted to learn to play an instrument. For whatever reason, this never came about. The closest I have gotten to my dream was when I convinced my folks to buy me this $200 Casio keyboard for my birthday (I was 14 or 15 at the time) to learn on. But for some reason I stopped using it before I could learn much. I am still not quite sure why... I just suddenly lost interest in playing an instrument, and the desire sank down into my subconscious, where it became nothing more than a sad memory, until it was completely forgotten. Since this was a pretty expensive purchase for my family, all future attempts to get stuff that there's even a remote chance of not being used were effectively shot down with a reminder about they keyboard thing. But lately, this desire has begun surfacing again, and I feel like I may be ready to give it another shot (not a keyboard this time, mind you, something a little different). I am an adult now, and can buy my own stuff without having to ask permission from my parents. This also means that the responsibility rests solely on myself. One instrument I have been fascinated with over the past couple of years is the Chapman Stick, a fretboard tapping instrument. Its got a long and challenging learning curve, but its also extremely rewarding once you get it. The major problem is that there are no "cheap" sticks for practice, and most people who do play one have had lots of prior knowledge of guitar/bass. This would be a major commitment, and I am not very confident in my musical learning abilities at this point, especially after the keyboard thing, whose dark memory has resurfaced along with the renewed desire to learn to play. My mind is far from made up. The above is just a possible path that I have opened for myself. I seek guidance from the TFP community in helping me choose the right path, or convincing me to back down. Any stick players here? What was your learning experience like? I guess the simplest question to answer is - should I even bother? A more involved question is, if I do bother, how much of a chance do I stand, given the fact that, for all practical purposes, I have no prior musical training whatsoever? I work full-time, and have maybe 2-3 hours a day, at most, of free time to spend on practicing. If anyone has alternate suggestions, that would be extremely appreciated as well. I really feel like I'm missing an important part of my being. __________________ You do not use a Macintosh, instead you use a Tandy Kompressor break your glowstick, Kompressor eat your candy Kompressor open jaws, Kompressor release ants Kompressor watch you scream, Because Kompressor does not dance Last edited by Nefir; 01-23-2004 at 08:11 AM..