Following on from the previous post, one thing I do slightly regret is not keeping up an instrument, which is partly because the instruments I played when I was younger (violin and then flute) were not really top of my wish-list. From what I can recall my primary school offered different instruments to different age groups, and violin and viola were the ones available at the youngest age. Then I took up flute at secondary school because it was the most interesting to me of those in the orchestra. I was relatively good at both, but once I got started on A-levels I didn't really have the time, and I haven't played either since.
Instruments I would definitely be interested in learning obviously include the guitar, which I have dabbled with on occasion but never actually made a proper effort with, and the piano, which I think really requires owning one to become anywhere near good.
When I was in Singapore last year I went to see the Singapore Chinese Orchestra in concert, which was a really fantastic experience as it included lots of traditional instruments I'd never even heard of before, let alone seen. One which I had heard of but wasn't that familiar with is the yangqin, which we know as the hammered dulcimer, and I found it especially captivating (not least due to the boyish enthusiasm of the happy fat man playing it). I can't find any performances specifically by that orchestra online, but there are loads on Youtube under two broad categories:
- the westernised hammered dulcimer clips, which are often very fast and technically proficient:
- the oriental yangqin clips, which are more traditional and poised:
I suspect this is an instrument that takes a lifetime of learning so I will probably never get the chance. I also did a little research into their prices and they're not cheap ...
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