Xylophonist
Predictable? I could have chosen x-ray technician or x-rated something!! But this seemed the (dare I say) easiest. It is nearly the end of the alphabet after all.
Why this job?
If you have read any of my other posts in this challenge then you will know that I love music (I've just booked tickets to see Skunk Anansie in December, Wahoo! and will be seeing Foster the People this weekend - they are both quite different to each other, check them out.) I also have a very foolish brain that is telling me that percussion instruments are a whole lot easier than others. I need to check if a xylophone counts as percussion, one sec... OK, it is. I think I am attracted to it because, good xylophonists are pretty impressive. In addition the astronomer Patrick Moore was a self-taught xylophonist. I feel some affiliation towards him simply because my degree is in Physics. But bear in mind that he taught himself pretty much everything he knows, here is a sound clip of him playing his own composition. I think what amazes me is the speed with which you have to play. Anyone else think this sounds like it should have been a piece of music for an animation - I am thinking a scene in Fantasia?
Why I would be good at this job?
It only requires the use of two hands and not all ten fingers. I would be quite a fun and enthusiastic player, mainly due to being thrilled that I was playing an instrument and also because its such a physical instrument and requires a lot of energy. You may not necessarily have to read music, it seems more of a playing by ear instrument.
Why I wouldn't be good at this job?
Well, all that standing up and waving your arms about (although anyone who read the 'U' post will know I have some arm flailing experience!). Performances might take place at night. I would get bored pretty easily of lugging the xylophone around, its not as easy as a penny whistle or a triangle! I am likely to add in extra doo-dee-doo-dee-doops where there aren't any.
What percussion instrument is calling out your name? Have you ever wondered if playing the triangle is as easy as it looks?
I'm a great fan of Evelyn Glennie, a Scottish percussionist, who in addition to being a world class xylophonist, is also profoundly deaf. Great player.
ReplyDeleteThere are some truly amazing people. I will check her out. Thanks
ReplyDeleteXcellent post for a very difficult letter.
ReplyDeleteYvonne.
Yes, I have wondered about playing a triangle! And the xylophone is sort of like playing a windchime. Good X word.
ReplyDeleteI love windchimes too! Maybe you are on to something - now all I want to do is go home and play the windchime :)
DeleteDrums, the drums! And I have never heard of either of those bands...but I am olddddd
ReplyDeletelol! Skunk Anansie have been around since 1996! The drums would be good, but again its flailing arms syndrome in abundance. Thanks for stopping by.
ReplyDeleteLove the sound of a xylophone!
ReplyDeleteOne time I tried the tambourine. I looked like an spastic honey badger on crack. Not pretty. I'm leaving that to the professionals from now on.
I would like to see that! Lol
DeleteHA! I don't even know how to reply to this one! I've heard a xylophone, but I've never seen one (small Arkansas town...NO culture!). I just always pictured huge guys playing those things!
ReplyDeleteQue? Free tickets to my first concert for you then!
Deletei used to play the tambourine :)
ReplyDeleteHaha! Let's start a band!
DeleteWhen I was a kid, I had to quit playing clarinet because my fingers where to short to cover all the holes. I have shied away from musical instruments ever since. I do have a secrete desire to be an harmonica player thought. They all just seem so cool. :)
ReplyDelete-Debbie
They do!
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