My New Decoding Project

 

This is the new project I’ve embarked on: to break what is for me the impenetrable code that is written music. To be more precise, my challenge is:

1)      To be able to read these unfamiliar symbols, this foreign language,

2)      To translate it into notes     and

3)      To be able to play these notes on the keyboard.

That’s my aim – no exams to be sat, no levels to be attained, just these three abilities to some extent.

Now, when I use the particle ‘just’, I by no means wish to imply this is simple. From my eight lessons so far, I know this is certainly not the case. I am involved in complexity. So, every Thursday, I make my way to the music school Crescendo in the nearby village of Souroti, along with lotsa little ankle-biters! 😊 The school is owned by Loukia and is tastefully decorated with notes and other musical symbols, which contribute to a cheerful atmosphere.

  Here’s the welcoming outer-door design.                                                

 The 45-minute lesson comprises:

Theory – where I grapple with new symbols and concepts

Solfez - which must be the Greek equivalent of the French term solfege - which relates to the musical quality of each note     and

Keyboard practice which is self-explanatory.

 

 Here it should be noted that I’m following the course in the Greek language. I started out at least feeling a little familiar with school-day memories of where the notes were placed on the pentogram with the use of the mnemonics EGBDF (every good boy deserves favour) and FACE, for the lines and the spaces, respectively.  Alas, here the notes positions are rendered differently: do re mi fa sol la si do.  So back to square one to commit new mnemonics to memory☹ - and to refer to the good Julie Andrews from time to time.  😊

You might be wondering why at this late stage I’m taking up music. It all goes back to the time when I was working in Yemen. I had a lot of spare time on my hands and decided I would try to learn to sketch. This was a skill I yearned to develop but always thought it was way beyond me. The Art teacher in Tarbert further confirmed my doubts to be reality-based! :( But then I found this wonderful book ‘Drawing on the Right Side of the Brain’ by Dr Betty Edwards. The blurb describes it as a life-changing book and for me it was. It is fascinating and I can’t recommend it highly enough. I managed to produce images I was happy with – and isn’t that all that matters? Fired up with this success I then turned my attention to music and bought a mini-electric keyboard. But I was moved to a new BC management post in Kuwait which was much more time-demanding, so that lyrical dream was shelved.                                                   

Back to the now. With the move to our new home, I have more free time and while unpacking I came across a box unopened since the 1980s. With a little bit of tinkering from an electrician friend, my long-abandoned keyboard burst into sound! :O

I tracked down the music school in a nearby village and they were ready to enrol this oldie! 😊 And things got even better. A friend of ours, hearing about my new venture, gifted me a wonderful Yamaha keyboard- he’d bought it for his daughter who showed no interest at all. It’s magic! It comes with all sorts of facilities, including an attached music stand- which kind of implies the user can actually read music. :o                                                

I started out the lessons with a friend but she decided to drop out. Kind of scary to go to my first solo lesson last week – I really need to prepare my homework very carefully now.

 I love my teacher and I enjoy the fact that I can feel I’m making progress- albeit slow. I’m actually beginning to use the left hand as well but my middle and ring fingers find it a bit hard going.

 And I think it’s gonna be a long, long time before Elton Joan emerges!