Why I started singing | Life as a PhD student #15
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ย. 2024
- I wasn't always musical. And I probably didn't get into it for the reason you expect...
To hear me sing: • What I sing every week...
Music has always formed a large part of my TH-cam output and I wanted to give it a full video to tell this story properly. Covering my parents' musical talents, my childhood influences, learning to play the cornet, the saxophone, and then starting to sing to impress a girl. I realise there's not much
Smith Preces and responses (warning: bad precentor): • Preces & Responses - S...
Howells St Paul (kind of nuts): • Video
Britten Rejoice in the Lamb (NUTS): • King's College Choir -... and • King's College Choir -...
Cello Suite No. 6 (virtuoso nuts): • BWV 1012 - Cello Suite...
Chapel choir fb: / exeteruniversitychapel...
You can support the channel by donating at / simonoxfphys
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Previous vlog: • My worst coding blunde...
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Vlog playlist: • Life as a PhD student
Music by: David Cutter Music - www.davidcuttermusic.co.uk
Filmed on my Canon G7X: bit.ly/simonvlo...
Editing done in Premiere.
Huge thanks to my supporters on Patreon: Samuel Rose, Frederic Ysewijn, Kane Thynne, Eve Dillon, Rowan Gow, Rikke Norgaard Christiansen, Daniel Martin, Matthias Loos, James Bridges, Hanna Scott, James Craig, Angela Cook, Sanaa Al Derei, Mark Anthony Magro, Maddie Sisk, Liam Farrar, Theresa Wang, Hunter Jones, Nathan Smith, Kieran Kelly, Wendover Productions, Kendra Johnson, Caitlin Louise, and Real Engineering.
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I am Simon, a fourth year PhD candidate at the University of Exeter. I upload videos on bits of science which are relevant to what I do, and sometimes just because they're really cool.
Vlogs from Oxford students - / oxvlog
My twitter - / simonoxfphys
My facebook - / youtubesimon
My insta - / simonoxfphys
My goodreads - / simonoxfphys
Thanks to Vlogbrothers for their sponsorship of this video. Money from the Foundation to Decrease Worldsuck contributed to equipment used in this video.
me for my classes: rarely early
me for simon's vlogs: always early
priorities.
As a Music undergrad, I love watching your vlogs as it grounds me and reminds me that music is played and enjoyed by all, not just us snobby music students!
Love your avatar!
Daniel N waste of money
AquaCoyote Cheers man
Actually, with AI and automation likely to take over most technical jobs in our lifetime, maybe the arts aren't such a bad investment after all.
Getting notification for your vids is actually the best
damn you're really pumping these vlogs out fast, keep em coming
Doing a PhD in music, so it's lovely to hear you telling your story :)
Ooo what's your thesis going to be on?
I'm looking into the neglected piano works of Franz Schubert ^_^
The music-related parts of your vlogs are actually my favourite :) I especially enjoyed your performance of Byrd's Ave Verum in your vlog from March 9th. I am myself an 18 year old organist from the Netherlands, and have played the church organ for about 11 years now. Since 2013 I also play church services at my local (Old-Catholic) church, and work with choirs on a regular basis - it's absolutely awesome! Renaissance and Baroque music also hold a special place in my heart (Monteverdi being one of my faves.) I've just finished my exams at school, and if everything turns out alright I will be studying History at UCL starting in September. I hope to find a place as an organist in London as well, but would also like to try singing :)
MONTEVERDI! His vespers are bae
So here's my music story. I started playing piano around age 8 and when I got to grade 5 I started to be interested in composition and had written my first piece (I looked at the piece the other day...it was so bad :D) .
After grade 5, I needed to find a new piano teacher. While searching for a teacher, I came across someone who said that while they didn't really teach piano, they could teach me composition if I was interested. So I started having composition lessons and I quickly started enjoying them more than my piano lessons.
In Year 11 I heard about the Wells Cathedral School. I started having composition lessons there during Sixth Form and they were the highlight of my forenight.
Before I knew it, I had to pick what subject I would be doing at uni. I had to choose between music composition or maths. I really enjoyed both. After looking at the entry requirements for maths at Warwick (A*A*A*/A*A*A) verses music at a London conservatoire (EE) my mind was made up. Music composition. :)
Fast forward to today. I got a place at the Royal College of Music and come September, I'll be studying composition and I'm so glad I didn't apply for Maths. Also, If you're interested i have a couple of my compositions on my channel.
Really enjoyed this vlog - I legitimately believe everyone would benefit so much if they played an instrument or tried singing at some point in their life...
I started with piano lessons as a 6 year old because my parents forced me to. Absolutely hated it but I kept playing against my will. Pretty soon my parents signed me up to the conservatoire for piano lessons alongside music theory lessons, because it was cheaper and just much better.
I ended up being taught by a fantastic piano teacher, who still remains one of my best friends to this day.
Over time I kept enjoying music more and more, and it basically became my 2nd life aside from school. I kept playing at the conservatoire until I was 18, which was when I was about to graduate highschool.
At that point I was torn between choosing to go to Uni for something science-y, or trying out a Royal Conservatory as a pianist to follow music for the rest of my life.
Ended up choosing the former - went to the UK and studied Geography, then mastered in meteorology (just last December!) and now here I am working as a meteorologist in Holland.
I still play the piano whenever I go back home for a visit. It's still there after so many years, very out of tune but going strong! Typically I just end up playing some Chopin or Bach, or maybe some laid-back Bossa Nova.
It's not the same not having lessons, but in a way I'm glad I can enjoy the piano without the stress of auditions or exams. I can just play for myself now :)
Hearing your musical journey was very interesting! I got started singing very young(my dad is excellent but has massive stagefright), and was in the University of Arkansas Children's Choir for a couple of years, and I really enjoyed it! Unfortunately, when I moved to where I live now, my school offered no music department whatsoever. So for the past eight years, the only singing I've been involved in is in the small choir at my church. I really do hope to get involved in some form of singing group when I go off to uni in the fall though! Thanks for the great video again!
I got interested in music by my mother as well, she's a pianist, she used to take me to classical music concerts from very early on when I was 6. Over time I figured I wanted to play the oboe, ended up doing so for 7 years in multiple youth orchestras as well as one proper adult orchestra. Heading into middle school my mother made me audition for a music middle-Highschool, to which I was top 3 to enter, stayed there for the 3 years of middle school (Point Of reference Greece), then decided that I wanted to learn something different so I followed a rogue unplanned idea (...) without making the comment longer xD. Now I am a physics BSc in my 1st year, I don't play the oboe anymore or the guitar or piano or bass I learned how to play in middle school, but this summer I plan to pick up the piano, oboe, and guitar. You really made me want to audition for a choir again and I hopefully will do so next year. :)
Thanks for sharing your story, Simon!
IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS FOR SO LONG! Great video!! I play piano(post grade 8) but its a shame I can't play that uni if I get in for medicine. But music does make my other half and it can be frustrating but rewarding at the same time. I hope to play in more musicals. :)
Haha I'm glad to deliver (at last)! You'd be surprised at what you can squeeze in alongside your degree - and I'd definitely recommend trying to in order to stay sane
You are apparently my life role model Simon! I'm coming to the end of my own Oxford physics degree and have had a great few years singing in my college chapel choir and playing the trumpet in the university symphonic band, both of which are really lovely escapes from all the pressures of academic work :)
I love the mix of music and physics on this channel. I'm a physics undergrad and I recently joined my university choir after realising how much I missed being involved in music after leaving school where I was in two choirs and an orchestra. You're right Simon when you say about how taking a couple of hours out of your week for music can really make a difference!
The music parts of your vids are always interesting. I'm a physics undergrad (rising senior) now, and for many years - ten I think - I played cello and bass: the cello more for orchestra, and the bass for jazz and gigging. Also manned the mixing board at an open mic. Music was honestly a very grounding part of my life, but I haven't had time for it lately. And... my cello needs repairs that I can't afford. :( Keep up the singing dude. Stopping to play is one of those regrets that stays with you for a long time.
Oh, I loved this vlog! Thank you, Simon :) Music-wise, I did quite a lot in the past: clarinet at primary school (which I eventually gave up due to never really feeling as though I had enough puff) then piano pretty much all the way through secondary school. I got to grade 6 but then started to struggle and get discouraged, as I have small hands and started not being able to reach all the intervals in the more advanced music. So that fell by the wayside. I also played the violin for quite some time and even played a solo in a concert, which was very scary!!! Unfortunately I've kind of gone in the opposite direction to you, as now music is barely part of my life at all (even listening to it) but I'd really like to get back into it as, similar to what you said, its mental health boosting properties are definitely something I would benefit from. This vlog has been a timely prod to do so, so thank you :)
YOU'RE TEARING ME APART SIMON with how quick and great these vlogs are being turned out!
I only discovered your channel and love to hear you're in the choir squat! (hope you still are!) I resonate with so many things you said, like I grew up with the classical music taste of my parents and kinda stuck with it and I also never really became a good instrumentalist, but I started singing in a choir when I was a kid and never stopped since! And you're right, choir people are just lovely😊
I'm impressed how you picked singing up so easily, that's amazing! And you can get paid for being in a choir at uni?! Dream job..
I'm a horn player📯! I've been playing for a couple years and I'm finishing up my junior year in high school. I love your videos. You have really sparked my interest in choir music and you've helped me decide I want to pursue physics in college. I love hearing about your research, but I think what keeps me coming back is your segments on the chapel choir!
I've never had a musical background, cant play instruments, cant read music but I love singing. I'm maybe average or slightly above average singing level, but honestly for me it's all about vibing. I love the emotional communication that comes out. This isnt unique to singing, I think it can certainly be enhanced or out matched by instruments, but because a voice is something everyone (or most people) have it does lend a degree more connection to a layman's heart (to put it poetically.
Honestly really loving your videos mate. I'm actually just getting ready to apply for a phd so I've really found you at a good time 👌
I started out in music in my undergrad, as my mom is a piano teacher. But I decided instead I wanted to go into science, and graduated with a degree in mathematical biology. I am now pursuing a phd in pharmaceutical sciences, and recently started singing at the Episcopalian Cathedral here and it’s been absolutely incredible. I also discovered that I couldn’t live without music but I also knew I couldn’t make a career of it like my mom did. I love your videos! So much relate-ability, and continuous encouragement when the research gets tough! Thank you!
I think that it is interesting that my mom and dad both are musical and have been throughout my life. But I have just started in the last year. I have always wanted to get into it but never found the time. Since January of this year I have been taking violin lessons and have been loving it. Music has made much more sense to me. I never thought that I would be able to play music, but I love it and look forward to what i will be able to do.
I'm really glad you did this video! O.O
Also a choral singer, I sing tenor in the local church choir. We're dreadful. But... it's practice enough for sight-reading etc, and this year I'm applying for a choral scholarship at Oxford, and hopefully continue with singing at uni when I go next September.
I really enjoy seeing videos of your choir, those responses were gorgeous also...
I'm an anatomist though actually retraining as a clinical biochemist and I started singing early and my first instrument was also the cornet. Great instrument and a good way to gage how fit you are :) love your videos one of the few things that actually keep me motivated to keep studying!
started drums in year 3, stopped at end of year 6 (regrets), did cello in year 5 and 6 then stopped, start saxophone in year 7 and am still doing it now. i'm not particularly good but i totally get you on the point about helping mental health, it can be so nice to be able to completely forget everything else and focus on something totally different
I love the singing parts of your videos! I started playing violin when I was very little--neither of my parents were musicians, but I begged my parents for one, so they got me a little tenth-size violin when I turned four. I just kind of stuck with it through school (though now I have a full-size violin!). Like you, I started doing choir in college. I love choral music--we just finished learning the Rachmaninoff All-Night Vigil. Choir is even where I met my boyfriend!
Simon, thanks for these 2 vlogs, I enjoy your music Keep up the great work
Really enjoyed this episode. Super interesting, great work, Simon!
Done it all, pretty much, from a young age. Musical theater, orchestra, choir, band. The longest time not doing music was actually a semester abroad at Exeter! I love the opportunities music has given me, not least traveling to ten countries with various choirs through the years. In my first year after a masters course and not currently in a music group. It's the worst.
Yes! My musical journey started with my granny and ever since I loved music. Neither my parents are musical though... So I did piano and theory from 9 years until I left school to go to uni. I haven't played much since. Mostly because my piano is my great granny's and very false, with a cracked board.... But I love to play when a piano present's itself. Piano and Cello is my favourite music to listen to and choral music too. So keep up with the choir pieces. It is great to find other people who appreciate classical music. Thanks for your vlog ;-) PS. We had loads of Jim Reeves and Richard Clayderman tapes in the car.
I love your profile picture...my alma mater
it was so interesting to hear you say that the cornett looked easier to you because it only had three keys. when I was deciding what instrument I wanted to play in middle school I remember being very intimidated by the trumpets/cornetts because it seemed so crazy that you could create every single note with just THREE KEYS!
I ended up choosing the alto sax and the cello (our school had a separate string orchestra as well as a full band). I continued with both for quite a few years and ended up getting pretty good at playing jazz on my sax. I beat out a senior in high school for a spot in our jazz band when I was a freshman! I had a ton of fun with it all through high school but I haven't really played much after graduating in 2012.
I still have all of my instruments with me (I literally packed my cello, my alto and soprano sax, and my keyboard in to my tiny car and drove 5000 miles so I could have them with me when I moved!).
now they serve as decoration in my dorm room and every day I tell myself that I'm going to find a place to practice but I haven't gotten around to it yet. I emailed the music department and asked if I could use their practice rooms as a non major but they said no. I think I'm going to sneak in to them anyway.. I scoped it out a while ago and it never seemed too busy and I never saw any faculty around... there always seemed to be 6 or so empty rooms at any given time so I figure if I just act like I belong there I'll be able to get away with it!
Thanks for sharing your story! Your singing is incredible for not having any lessons!
ps I'm on mobile so forgive me for any weird formatting or any grammatical errors
I've always been interested in music, but was a little intimidated to start getting into it. I tried teaching myself piano in high school but didn't get very far. And despite not taking any lessons for singing ever, I got into a talent show in my senior year of high school performing Valerie by Amy Winehouse. After that, all I've wanted to do was make and share music. I started off on the ukulele about a year ago, now I'm being tutored on the piano and teaching myself guitar! All the while I've been writing my own music, which is my absolute favorite thing to do.
I'm actually getting my Doctorate of Musical Arts. So my story is still going. I found your channel about a week ago. It's really awesome to hear your experience. Thank you for sharing.
Your subtitles: "Playing a Cornet"Me: *freaks out*...I didn't know you were a brass musician as well, if even if you aren't current! I was the same way re: the number of keys, haha. I'm currently about to begin an undergrad in music education while finishing up my undergrad in physics, so I really love and relate to the balance you've found in your life between the two fields!
I'm studying Maths/Music Joint Honours at the University of Birmingham so am really interested in your coding work as well as music performances. But I'm changing to single honours music next year. I was just finding it hard to balance it all with all the extra music stuff I do. So music all the way next year! Keep up the good work Simon :)
I've played piano for years, but I'd love to pick up a more sociable instrument ( or singing) before I go to university next year - it seems like such a nice way to meet people. Also, I completely understand the obsessions with Bach's cello suites ! 😄
The great a Cappella war of 2014, lest we forget 😂
Is that something you can find is his videos or are you aware of inside information that I am not?
+Benedikt Heyl oh she was there. She was there when Horus slew the Emperor
+Simon Clark they were dark times indeed... Imagine if you had made a video about it 😂
+Simon Clark I feel like a game of thrones-esque mini series might do it justice... but then I remember the insanity
Don't get me started...
The most musical I get is playing the ruler on my desk in Spanish lessons
Deténganlo, busquen ayuda.
Hi Simon, I'm a cellist and pianist. I love watching your choral music as it gives me a side to music that I rarely dare to go near! Keep it up :)
I play French horn, trumpet, and a little bit of piano. I also enjoy singing and I did tap dance for a while. I have always been a science/math person, but I love music too!
By the way, I actually found your channel through acapellascience’s William Rowan Hamilton! So I’m glad you sing, or I might not even know about your channel.
Simon, your vlogs are fantastic! Btw, I'm a 2nd year college student studying to get my bachelors degree in Computer Science. Coding is fun 😅😁 Love your videos 👍
I started playing the flute when I was very small, but then my teacher moved away and I didn't see the point in practicing. Also I was very shy to play in front of people, and that over took me a little. But then...
I've been playing the cello for 15 years now. I started out on it because the music shop in my city didn't have a bass. I studied rigorously and was planning on making it a career. But then I overworked my muscles and I was unable to play at the level I needed to be as a professional. I've gotten a few celebrity gigs throughout the years, taught a little, and I get payed to play at ensembles/events. Overall it's a blessing that it is in my life. I honestly can not believe that I can bring to life music that was written so long ago, and each time it is different.
Now a coworker has given me a spinet piano and I'm working toward saving money to get her in tune so I can get at it.
This is me watching this in 2019 love music went on a choral course in Eaton and discovered more than ever my love for choral music. I sing in my school choir and play the flute, people often tell me I sing too loud. I started out as a soprano in year 7 and have sang every pieces in alto, tenor and finally bass although my voice is currently a baritone. I started music more because of my brother than my parents as he is amazing at both piano, horn and he sings as well. I have always felt shadowed by him in my life and it is nice to know that in some ways I am better than him at singing and now at chemistry which I am planning to do at university next year. Love your vlogs Simon hope you are doing well at the moment.
I'm sad you didn't really get into jazz. It's my favorite genre of music by far. I get the same kind of joy out of practicing and playing that music like you do out of classical. However I slowly grow to like the classical stuff to. ^^
Edit: I play piano and bass btw.
Very clever format. Loved it.
I've been singing my whole life, but it was only to fill arts requirements until college, at which point I finally realized how much I love it. I haven't sung with a choir since I graduated last spring and I miss it WAY more than I expected to, so I'm hoping to get involved in another choir soon. As a fellow physics major, I agree that it's a great way to branch out and meet people--and also to use different parts of your brain than you would otherwise.
Damn, I fell in love with Life as a PhD student...I myself am bachelor student and I hope I will do my final exams this year. Love your videos! Even tho I don't understand coding :D Good luck with everything :)
I started singing in junior high school. The first song my choir director put in front of us was "O Bone Jesu" by Palestrina. For a 9th grade boy with no experience whatsoever I thought, "What the hell is this stuff????" But it hooked be for life! I now conduct my own high school choir! I enjoyed this very much- Banging services indeed! So glad that you found the choir! Thank the girl!! :-)
Was a musician for better part of a decade up to the end of high school, however I burned out a little from the organisational stuff (captain) and the insistent practicing that came with it. Since moving across the country for uni, I've stopped both clarinet (yuck) and saxophone (more tolerable :p), and oddly enough that in itself has largely helped with the mental health topic you were discussing.
Also keep up the vlogs Simon - (unfortunately for my exams) I've been binge watching them recently and have loved it!
I began teaching myself Piano when I was in GR8, and got my friend into it merely for the fun of competition (him and I frequently compete over all manner of things, less frequently now though). We are currently in GR12 and funny enough he wants to now go into music production and engineering and I software engineering. I have never seen music as a career option, but would love to continue playing piano as a hobby. My love for it has died down, I believe, but I can't let the flame die.
I first sang karaoke with my family and landed a spot on my town's newspaper in Kindergarten for performing in a talent show. I've been in school and church choir from grade 4-12, sung as cantor for my church and then stopped during my first semester in undergrad. In between 12 year & first semester, I performed in two musicals with a regional theater company.
Nearing the end of the Fall semester, I auditioned for my school choir and I got a spot for the following semester. With weekly memory exams, the director offered me a solo and by the end of my 1st year, I was on a University Chorus CD recording.
Ever since, I've been a part of the chorus and I've even auditioned for a chorus that travels across the globe.
I'm studying prehealth whilst majoring in Biology and minoring in chemistry & mathematics.
I agree that music and artistic outlets maintain a level of sanity during school.
How did I miss this video??
We sung the Smith Responses for our Evensong last month and I agree they are such lovely pieces of music!! As I sang Alto 2 (and now am part of that section) for the Smith Responses I have to say I had a bit of a chuckle when your comment came up on the screen about the Alto's. Also totally agree about Choir friendships! :D I'm an Alto Choral Scholar (as of a week ago) and a Violist whilst studying English Lit and History :-).
I played cello for 3 years from 7-10 and then stopped and played percussion for 2 years then stopped all music. Then I felt like something was missing from my life and picked up the cello again. I'm now off to a prestigious conservatory for my cello playing and hope to one day become a soloist
I spent a long time just listening to music as a child but never took theory or instruments until I turned 17. I talk a lot with people online and in person about music and I'm 18 now and I have a piano, and after watching a lot of theory and practicing it helped me get a grip on things. Plus theory makes things easier to speak on.
I don't know how you do it Simon..juggling between the pressure of being a PhD student and having time for hobby..I hope to learn it too :) love your videos!
I love getting more than one of your videos a week now. I noticed, there was no background/transition music in this one, which is ironic because it was about you being musical. lol. I still loved it though! You always have something interesting to share. :D
So I was in the not-so-brilliant choirs at my school and thought I did alright so I joined the choir at my university. I now sing Alto 2 for the Rhodes University Chamber Choir here in South Africa and it's pretty awesome. We got to compete in a national university choir competition last year which was aired on South African TV so that was an amazing experience. I've had no previous exposure to classical music - I play a bit of guitar and bass (but not classical stuff; I tend to learn whatever music I'm listening to at the time)
I wish my university offered the opportunity to be a choral scholar. To be paid to sing would be a huge validation as to why I should keep doing what I love to do.
Similar to you both of my parents are musical in some fashion. My father sings in the choir at his church, studied music education in University and was a band director for some time. My mother was in choir years ago. In addition to my folks being involved in music, all of my siblings were in band class in either middle or high school. I, personally, was in Orchestra in 6th grade and choir for 7th grade on til I ended up at University.
Unfortunately, I couldn't find time to take Men's Chorus while completing my math degree; however, I did up taking a vocals class as well as a Science of Sound class.
But yeah, I still have most of my sheet music from high school. And a couple songs that we sang can be found on my channel. Probably my top 3 that I sang would have to be Saul by Gustav Holst, Durufle's Requiem by Maurice Durufle, and Vox Populi Vox Dei by Giedrius Svilainis. I would have loved the chance to sing Carl Orff's Carmina Bruana though
I had somewhat similar beginnings as you! Started on the Cornet, then moved to Sax in year 9. Still playing it in the University of Leicester Big Band and loving every minute of it!
I've loved listening to music since I was very little (who didn't?), and my dad showed me lots of different genres and types from all over the world. My mom loved, and still loves, to sing and even writes songs. I was in school choir in 4th/5th grade and in 11th/12th grade. It was fun and when I was in 12th grade, we performed at Disney World (of course we had a lot of fun with the rides, food, games. etc. there). I started to gain interest in guitar and piano in middle school, and got a few "by-ear" guitar lessons from my dad, but it wasn't till college that I took a music class that offered some formal piano lessons. When I transfer this year, I'll start to take the guitar and singing lessons. If I have time, I may even take dance lessons. I'm in school to become a meteorologist, so I have to plan all this (the science vs music classes) carefully!
Hi! I'm 18 and would call myself a musician... My story starts like yours - my mom always wished she had managed to stick with the piano and violin so she started me on piano when I was 7. I played, albeit sometimes reluctantly, for 8 years, and then when I quit it was a mere six months or so before I'd taken up the violin. It's the same violin that my great grandmother, grandfather, and mother have all played, and even though I started when I was 16 and violinists typically start even earlier than I started piano, I think my existing knowledge about music and my love for the instrument have been enough. I also dabble in the ukulele, but that's largely self-taught from TH-cam, and I played the trumpet when I was 10 and 11 (poorly and now apologetically). I also went to summer camp for two weeks for piano and ten days for trumpet. OH and there's an annual three day musical event at my school called Unison which I participated in each year I could, 7 years running, and I was literally every voice part in the choir (apart from bass at least once). And you're right - there's a special something that you share with someone when you've done a performance with them, and I'll always feel at ease around musicians I think. We throw the word "unique" around a lot these days, but I do truly think that what music is and can bring can be described no other way apart from "unique."
I learned reading music earlier than learning to read actual words and sentences. I started singing when I was around the age of 4 and the plays we did in high school were some of the greatest experiences of my highschool years. We did Von Weber's "Der Freischütz" among others, which you should definitely check out if you don't know it already. It's romanticism and I don't know if that's your thing but it taught me a lot about music. How chords can actually be symbols for concepts of the real world. Like how two octaves in sheet music parallel to each other can symbolise eternity in classical music for example.
I adore baroque music as well because I've played the recorder for over 15 years, I know it sounds lame, but playing in a quartet with treble recorder and all that makes it beautiful, especially with a harpsichord. Haven't played it for 5 years now but I still have a baroque tune in my ear most of the time.
Lot's of greetings from Germany! I study Chemistry and English by the way so love your physics content and adore the singing obviously! :)
I think the lesson of your Choral journey is: with great snooky comes great responsibility :p
music is pretty much the only creative pursuit I've not had a handle on, painting, acting, filming, I think I even did pottery for a few afternoons. Music is just something I haven't dabbled in.
I suppose mine would be fairly typical. My parents both love music and had it playing everywhere but no classical really. They then tried to put me through piano lessons for years before I eventually complained enough to be allowed to stop. I then had a couple of years of choirs and decided I wanted to learn piano again and got fairly good with my treble clef but that's as much as I'll probably ever do. However I kept choirs up, doing more and more classical stuff and now at university I'm secretary of the folk society and learning the violin at the age of 21 (only slightly terrifying) :D
You're really creative, Simon. If you decide to leave academia and join industry, I think your skills would be really well suited to digital marketing. With your current CV there would be many companies interested. Just a thought.
Loving the videos, keep them coming!
this is sooo good Simon!
And I'm not musical at all. i like dancing and that's where it ends xD i tried a choir at the age of ten and that was it
haha well that answers the question ;P
I love this vlog format!
I have been playing the violin for basically my hole life and it really got me a lot of great friends and experiences!
Forgive this essay, but music's definitely played a huge role in my life! I really enjoyed this reflective look on how music has shaped you as a person.
When I was around seven, my mum asked if I'd like to learn to play an instrument. Primarily, I had group keyboard lessons, but I hated them so much because of the level of social interaction (yes, really), my mum asked me if I'd prefer individual piano lessons.
So, from the ages of eight to eighteen, I had piano lessons once a week at a nearby piano school. Year after year I had practical exams church performances, and occasional (forced) performances at secondary school, and I was progressing through the grades well, and got to Grade 5 by sixth form. However, at this point, I started doing my theory exams, which I spectacularly failed three times, all by one mark! In response to that hurdle, my piano teacher suggested I switch exam boards from ABRSM to Trinity, so I (somehow) managed to progress further through the grades and pass Grade 8 *just* as I finished my A-Levels. Oh, and thankfully I managed to overcome stage-fright after a good friend of mine put on a production of 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' and asked me to be the pianist. Now I'm at uni, I'm in the piano society, and it's wonderful to have the opportunity to play on a Steinway grand piano in a concert hall several times a term.
Seeing as I've been playing the piano since I was a young child, music's played a key part in my development, particularly for helping manage my mental health. I'm also grateful that I've grown up with a huge appreciation for classical and jazz music - genres I wasn't introduced to by my parents. Nowadays, I particularly love playing and listening to Chopin. Despite that, while visiting Blackwell's in Oxford last summer, I definitely didn't buy a pair of oven gloves which say 'Too Hot to Handel'.
Loved reading this, thank you for the essay!
I was forced to play piano as a kid until it started affecting my studies in high school. I continued to play but then I picked up the guitar, then ukulele as a love.
When covid and working from home policies started I was slowly going mad/sad from staying in the house, and then I happened to pick up the ukulele again to balance out work and music, and it's been great :)
"I was intimidated by the 23 keys on the saxophone" he says, at the piano. No but really lovely video, personally I'm quite musical - I play the tuba in various concert bands and occasionally the piano and drums too :')
I have dyscalculia, which apparently makes it difficult to learn music as well as the usual math, but I've always loved music. I'm determined to try to pick up guitar someday; I think I just need to dedicate some time to sitting down with it until I get it.
Really liking the short vlogs; this one was totally unique.
I began playing music in beginning band (basically a group of young marching band). From there I moved on to playing the drum set and I've been playing that for about 8 years, about as long as I've been in band. I joined marching band in high school and have never looked back. I continued with it and even still am at the university I'm attending.
I look forward to more videos.Keep it up!
I love your music chats man it's so nice that you do that alongside your phd. I have Master's degree in Shipping from Plymouth I miss that place.. And I still play and study guitar for 9 to 10 years now. Who doesn't like music. Sax though omg nice.Hi from Greece.
My parents aren't very musical although I think they just never tried haha but I've always been interested in music. Both my parents love music even though they don't play but my mom loves classical music and my dad is more of a rock fan. I still remember, my dad and I used to watch Santana's performances on DVD which is ultimately what gave me the final push to start playing guitar. I started when I was 9 and my guitar teacher is actually my biggest musical influence and he's always pushed me to do more so naturally, I picked up Banjo and Ukulele. Sadly, my school doesn't offer music as a subject so everything happens in my own free time but yeah I adore music and I hope to further it once I get out of school.
When I used to teach guitar, I used to get my students to learn sax music rather than guitar music as it would put them out of their comfort zone and make them think more about the hows and whys, it was quite a successful teaching tool.
Bass clef FTW
It is great to see that you start to learn a piano. I have always thought that it is too late to learn it.
I have been playing guitar for a decade now starting when I was 7 and have recently finished an demo track and built a website to showcase my band. I'm looking to study engineering at Cambridge hopefully, but will always keep my music as a past time.
Music student/ classical guitarist.. Thanks for the episode!
I've been part of two different orchestras as an undergrad (violinist) and I actually narrowed down my choice of unis for my PhD (in physics) based on their music provision (maybe that's a bit of a spurious reason, but hey, gotta have some criteria, right?). I'm super excited because the main orchestra where I'm going also plays as a pit orchestra, which is something I've always wanted to do!
As per most schools (I assume), we were made to play the recorder and violin during year 5 and 6. I always wanted to play guitar though so I never took a liking to any of it. Fast forward into year 9 where out of nowhere I ask my music teacher if I could get violin lessons. My parents couldn't afford it at all so I just kept asking him until I was allowed. I played for around 4 months until I was forced to go to orchestra and missed out on spending time with my friend's at the time. Because of that I stopped and for the last year and a half (since year 11) I've now been playing guitar. However I really miss the violin and there's something about having given up on that instrument that feels unfulfilling to me. As soon as I can get money together I plan to buy a violin and practice it more than I ever used to.
You know you're spoiled when you laugh at "I wanted to impress a girl but got in too deep 😌 ... too much innuendo bingo
Hi Simon, I'm a choral singer too, but started as a treble aged 8 in a church choir. Never stopped - in fact I'm singing services at Worcester Cathedral this weekend. Really cool that you only started singing at uni - you clearly have a natural talent! My question: as a relatively new singer, what do you find is the most difficult part of singing in a choir?
My musical story is rather long, but I'm going to summarise it. So, fundamentally, my musical journey commenced in primary school whenever I was in the school choir from P5- P7. Then came high school where I commenced engendering my band called, wait for it... The Bobolynes as I was obsessed with English literature and Shakespeare back in 1st year. However, we didn't plenarily form a band until the 3rd year of which we held the concert in our school hall, which let's verbalise weren't the greatest. Once it came to choosing our GCSEs, I chose Music and decided in lieu of Rock & Metal I culled classical and ambient music to study during my GCSE Music. After high school, I passed my Music GCSE with an A grade. However, I endeavoured to compose a band again, and my efforts were futile, to verbally express the least.
now I really want to know what The Great Accapella War of 2017 was
I've always been kind of lucky where music is concerned, I just got my BA in Music. Over the past few years I've arranged and composed, and now one of my works is in the music library where I used to work, and another is performed yearly as the "alma mater" piece. Been very proud of myself lately :')
Cool! Do you have a link to a recording?
The first and only I could find is here, first performance, no prior rehearsal xD --> business.facebook.com/WestfieldStateUniversity/videos/10152438199441656/
i bought a fender squire and started taking guitar lessons at school because i wanted to play in this band my crush was in. However unlike you, after about a year i found out he did not really like me, so i got rid of the guitar and never did anything vaguely musical after that. Though i really did enjoy the feeling of gradually but noticeably getting better over time and it did make for some fun after school practices.
I Play violin which is interesting and playing The Game of Thrones theme I cannot figure that out. My mum and dad were the ones who put me in Violin Academy which from there Im enjoying playing it with other instruments.
So glad you exist.
Love Over Gold by Dire Straits is one of the pillars in my collection. It's a beautiful album tbh.
SO underrated! Telegraph Road is one of my all time faves
awesome video man
I play guitar and banjo and I'm in my high school's show choir. My favorite part of the vlogs are the music
I'm 17 and I play guitar since 14!! Shotout from Brazil
Very Cool!
I spent most of my life as a physicist, electronics technician, now IT specialist.
Recently, after 30+ years, returned to singing. Why did I ever let it go?
Played the piano for over a decade and did choir as an alto in secondary school from years 9-13 really enjoyed it. Then came to uni did choir again for about 4 months and then decided that particular choir wasn't for me. Now I fence but I do miss being musical. However the music societies here aren't really for me.
I have to say, I don't normally comment on videos but I have to say you're an incredibly inspirational person in so many areas as well as being incredibly grounded and humble to decrease worldsuck which is really nice to see. Your videos are so informative and hopefully there are many more to come! (They were practically a lifeline during a levels!) Personally despite a few attempts I couldn't call myself a musician but I do love to sing. However I wanted to ask how you learned to sight sing for your choral works. I know fear over it had kept me from auditioning for choirs in the past. Frankly, the only reason I'm in any choir now is because the man taking the audition seemed to be willing to ignore my dreadful sight singing and woeful attempts. Inspired by your determination and diligence however, I want to push myself to fix this so I don't have to be afraid to try out for choral groups any more! Do you have any tips for improving this skill?Once again thanks so much for the videos!
As with so many things with music the answer is simple but not the one you want to hear - practise makes perfect! The more pieces you try and sight read (and then compare your effort to a piano) the better you'll get :)
Thanks so much! I can't believe you actually replied! I guess I'll just keep powering through. No pain, no musical gain. :)
So if the Tudor Era starts in about 1485 according to Google, how do you feel about early Renaissance (1400-1485) music? (or in other words early Byrd haha). Seeing Britten at 5:00 made my brain go 'rip Simon'.
As for my story, I started pretty late (about 12 and a half). My parents aren't musical but they are both very appreciative of music (more popular than classical, although my dad is a great Mozart fan). I've played the piano for about 5 years now (almost grade 8 standard woo!), percussion for almost a year and am an intermediate choir at the local music centre. One of the most amazing things to come from this is 5 university offers to study music! I never thought I'd be able to go from playing around at the piano to actually studying in a top uni for 3 years and hopefully getting many more performance opportunities, all because one teacher said 'oh your kid is actually pretty good'.
I currently sing and play the clarinet and hope to keep it up as much as possible when I go to uni although the idea of 4 services a week (which it is at some places) as a choral scholar seems very daunting