Levels of Education

[Thumpalumpacus]

Part of that whole brute force thing. I really have to make a conscious effort to force myself not to be a closed book. Always boggled my mind, how I can be so extroverted and enjoy being the center of attention, but have this innate desire to be private and have a lot of alone time. Sort of a Jekyll and Hyde thing. I do hope I can overcome it, but I've been this way as long as I can remember and it doesn't seem to be getting better, even with therapy. But Jaysus having a woman in my life that knows me and gets me and has the patience of Job helps a lot.

I totally get that, I'm similar in that I'll get up on stage and sing the most personal things in songs, but individually I'm pretty uncomfortable with opening up unless I really trust someone ... and lordy knows I've chosen the wrong ones to trust often enough.

It's gotten easier for me over the years to be open, especially with the people I love and trust, but with acquaintances and strangers I'm better off behind a microphone holding a guitar.

[rexbeccarox]

Part of that whole brute force thing. I really have to make a conscious effort to force myself not to be a closed book. Always boggled my mind, how I can be so extroverted and enjoy being the center of attention, but have this innate desire to be private and have a lot of alone time. Sort of a Jekyll and Hyde thing. I do hope I can overcome it, but I've been this way as long as I can remember and it doesn't seem to be getting better, even with therapy. But Jaysus having a woman in my life that knows me and gets me and has the patience of Job helps a lot.

I totally get that, I'm similar in that I'll get up on stage and sing the most personal things in songs, but individually I'm pretty uncomfortable with opening up unless I really trust someone ... and lordy knows I've chosen the wrong ones to trust often enough.

It's gotten easier for me over the years to be open, especially with the people I love and trust, but with acquaintances and strangers I'm better off behind a microphone holding a guitar.

Me too.

[Thumpalumpacus]

You're a performer? What field?

[rexbeccarox]

Most of my degrees are performance-related. I spent most of my life performing more than actually living real life. But what's the difference, really?

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I totally get that, I'm similar in that I'll get up on stage and sing the most personal things in songs, but individually I'm pretty uncomfortable with opening up unless I really trust someone ... and lordy knows I've chosen the wrong ones to trust often enough.

It's gotten easier for me over the years to be open, especially with the people I love and trust, but with acquaintances and strangers I'm better off behind a microphone holding a guitar.

I was exactly the opposite when I was performing. I had audiences who wanted to hear songs they already new by heart. Easy peasy.

Boru

[Exian]

A lot of musicians here, too! I never formally studied music, but I consider it my most accomplished, longest living passion and my most complete study.

As an aside without straying too far from the OP, maybe we can name off our musical attributes as well?

As for me, I started playing drums at 8, which I find is as foundational as piano. I moved on to guitar when I was 14, picked up piano at 20, and two years ago started toying around with the banjo (a lot of fingerstyle guitar techniques translated so easily, maybe I shouldn't count that? Lol)

Guitar is my most accomplished instrument. I started out with Metal, moved on to Chicago blues and delta blues (the latter being my favorite style, Mississpi John Hurt anybody?), and about 5 years ago, I started studying classical and flamenco intensely, more so flamenco. From a lot of players I talk to my age, this seems to be a pretty common path.

And man, I'd really love to get a chance to play a cello, erhu, and a koto. About two years ago, I went up to the local Highland games to see my buddy compete, and they had a harp workshop, so I was pretty lucky to get a chance to learn my way around one of those with some guidance.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

As an aside without straying too far from the OP, maybe we can name off our musical attributes as well?

I play guitar, mandolin, banjo (five string long neck), uilleann pipes, pennywhistle and bodhran (for those who don't know, uilleann pipes are Irish bagpipes and the bodhran is a frame drum which looks like an oversized tambourine without the cymblets). I play at piano, hammered dulcimer and Celtic harp.

I started music very young, got a low D pennywhistle for Christmas when I was about five. At seven, my godfather gave me a banjo and taught me some chord progressions. I picked up the other instruments along the way. I had my first professional gig at 13 - as I recall, I was paid £2 and a plate of colcannon.

I was HUGELY fortunate to have come from a very musical family in a part of the world known for music.

Boru

[robvalue]

I hold a BSc in mathematics. It would be cool if it was mine (just kidding). And I'm a trained teacher.

I started a PhD but sadly I was in a bad point in my life and had to give it up.

I've played the piano from an early age, although I never took any grades. I've been asked to play at carol/hymn services (I guess that's pretty hilarious posting this on here.) I'm actually practicing for the next one which is coming up soon. I'm not so repulsed that I would refuse to enter a church and play some tunes for them. I actually find churches quite amazing as buildings, they have a special haunting and awe-inspiring look to them.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

I hold a BSc in mathematics. It would be cool if it was mine (just kidding). And I'm a trained teacher.

I started a PhD but sadly I was in a bad point in my life and had to give it up.

I've played the piano from an early age, although I never took any grades. I've been asked to play at carol/hymn services (I guess that's pretty hilarious posting this on here.) I'm actually practicing for the next one which is coming up soon. I'm not so repulsed that I would refuse to enter a church and play some tunes for them. I actually find churches quite amazing as buildings, they have a special haunting and awe-inspiring look to them.

No worries. I've played more than one church wedding and (once) a folk Mass.

Boru

[The Grand Nudger]

Shot for a bach in Mech. Engi, decided I'd rather play in the dirt. Hard to keep track of professional certs and programs along the way. EPA likes to make a guy jump through hoops. Sick fuckers.

I thought a BSME would be great, I like machines. Turns out I like operating machines more than I like paperwork.