The strangest thing
Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Today, for the first time in months, I wanted to play my piano. It was enjoyable. I used headphones so no-one else was subjected to the racket and terrible mistakes I made. Despite all that, I found it relaxing.
I went back into the sitting room – the piano is in the dining room – and returned to my computer to type something and had the oddest feeling. The keyboard suddenly seemed far too small. Surely it should be much wider, and where had all the black notes – the sharps and flats gone? My fingers were searching in vain. Eventually, brain and hands reconnected and I was able to type reasonably competently once more.
Thank goodness it wasn’t a pipe organ with two or three manuals, an array of stops, and a pedalboard for the feet, or I should have been completely at sea, not least because I’ve never learnt to play a pipe organ. 😟
I wonder if the same thing will happen next time. Perhaps I should allow for a period of readjustment before switching between keyboards in future. Maybe my brain is simply addled.
I haven't played my guitar in 4 decades. I wonder if I can remember any of the chords. Good for you to go back to your piano. Music is supposed to be good for our brains.
ReplyDeleteIt's like riding a bicycle - the muscle memory just needs a jolt to pick up again.
DeleteI bet that was a really strange experience!
ReplyDeleteVery odd.
DeleteI must be missing something. How do headphones work with a piano?
ReplyDeleteDigital piano.
DeleteI don't have any musical intruments of any type here, unless you count my Windows Media playlist which requires no skill at all to "play". I suggest a cup of tea in between piano and keyboard.
ReplyDeleteYes, and don't spill it near either of the keyboards.
DeleteThat’s odd. And I had another odd fake smell today. Skunk but not too strong.
ReplyDeleteOur brains play tricks on us, sometimes.
DeleteI've never thought of it, but both are quite similar, whereby your brain is doing a lot of work to control your fingers, mostly using muscle memory but at times thinking at great speed. Humans are just incredibly clever, in some areas.
ReplyDeleteThis human isn't!
DeleteDefinitely a cup of tea in-between!
ReplyDeleteAn interlude of some sort is needed.
DeleteI don't have a musical bone in my body, so enjoy your piano, I'm so jealous.
ReplyDelete😁
DeleteWeird! I must experiment...
ReplyDeleteI'd be interested to hear your experience.
DeleteThe neurons aren't connecting ;) make space for each action. I have it with words. It is better than tripping over or missing the last step, which I did yesterday in front of restaurant crowd. That's embarrassing.
ReplyDeleteOh, dear, I hope you're not badly bruised. It's so easy to misstep.
DeleteI didn't know you could use headphones with a piano. I can see how that would get confusing going from piano to keyboard
ReplyDeleteDigital piano - very clever device. It looks and sounds exactly like an ordinary piano.
DeleteMust have been a very weird feeling. A break in between the two activities does seem like a good idea? I've not played a piano since well before the era of computers, so I think I'll just continue to keep to typing... ;)
ReplyDeleteMost odd!
DeleteAnd did you type any words to go with the piano music that must have been playing in your head? You might have been writing an opera.
ReplyDeleteOh, if only . . .
DeleteI didn’t know about headphones with a piano either. How lovely you play. The brain can play strange tricks on us at times.
ReplyDeleteI've had one or two odd experiences through the decades . . .
DeleteI've never learned to play any musical instrument, and I never knew you could use headphones with a piano. Who knew! An electric keyboard, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteIt's a digital piano, looks and sounds and behaves just like an acoustic piano.
ReplyDeleteThat must have been strange, nice that you can play the piano - so relaxing.
ReplyDeleteAlison in Devon x
Relaxing for me, but not good if anyone has to listen, hence the headphones.
DeleteJust remember the Home keys: ASDF JKL;
ReplyDeleteLOL!!
DeleteCarlos plays piano quite well, and goes nuts whenever we're near a pipe organ.
ReplyDeleteMy father played both, learning as a little boy.
DeleteIt's a little shocking when we are confused for a moment or two. It happens to me and I don't even play the piano.
ReplyDelete🤣😂
Deletemy iPad has a piano key board, have not played with it in a year, forgot it was there. I only play a little by ear, don't know the notes. I used to love sitting at the pump organs in Kentucky as a child.. I am sure anyone close enough to to hear was not happy. I have a regular keyboard on my desk top and most of the time I have my 11 inch Chromebook in my lap. Bob wants me where he can see me. right now there is no room for the desktop in the hospital room. when I try to type on the desktop I type what looks like a typewriter gone mad
ReplyDeleteIt's like driving different cars - you get used to one and then have to think all over again with an unfamiliar model.
ReplyDeleteHappy to hear you felt inclined to play after so many months.
ReplyDeleteIt was good to get back to it.
DeleteI tried learning the piano but it never took for me. I would love to play but not happening.
ReplyDeleteAt least you tried. Many people don't even get that far.
DeleteI've always wanted to learn to play the piano ...
ReplyDeleteMy dear father played the Church Organ and also on one very special occasion the wonderful organ in the Royal Albert Hall ... that was a very special moment and treasured memory.
Have a good week.
Thankfully Storm Amy has moved on.
All the best Jan
What a wonderful experience for your father.
Deleteit’s charming how the mind momentarily lingered on the piano keys before remembering its way back to the computer keyboard
ReplyDeleteI was a little concerned for a while . . .
DeleteMuscle memory...your fingers were not ready to stop playing the piano, sounds like!
ReplyDeleteInteresting thought!
DeleteSounds lovely. Wish I played the piano.
ReplyDeletewell, for brain being addled... how is this for a recent event?
I was going to head to shop the other day and I was looking for my earphones to listen to some music on the way. I was getting frustrated as I couldn't find them.
Guess where they were!!
They were in my ears all that time.
I shocked myself!!
That happens so often - if it's not ear buds, it's glasses on head, or car keys in hand. 😂🤣
DeleteHi Janice - it's interesting ... our U3A here has started offering a group to learn to play the piano, or start again, as such ... a friend of mine is taking the opportunity. I have no sense of rhythm ... so that eliminates me - I'd love to play, as too ride horses ... or paint, or ..... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThere is a school of thought that says that anyone can play a musical instrument and/or sing. I'm sure that's true, with the right teacher.
ReplyDeleteI had some piano lessons when I was a child but didn't practise. Now I wish I could play. That's a lovely piano you have there.
ReplyDeleteWhat a joy it must be to be able to play the piano! As for the keyboard thing, I kind of get it and don't think it's all that strange! xxx
ReplyDelete