I don't think that playing other instruments has hampered my experiance in guitar theory, 'I think it helped with practical musical fluency. That's the thing, it's not cheating, it's overall musical experiance that enhances my guitar playing. I just practiced back and fourth with the guitar and keyboard......I heated up pretty fast. That's what I thrive on, getting the intensity quickly. Think I will play all day today if I don't burn out, but as for musical fluency I keep the keyboard theory and guitar theory seperate. If the two can enmesh conceptually with musical fluency that's what I'm aiming for. It's like two languages that compliment one another and thus deepen my communicative ability. The more you know the more of your brain you use. The more of your brain you use the more fluent you become.

Otherwise it's just a bother to, to study more than one instrument, if you don't have the musical interest to do so. With me that's not the case, and I find it a pleasure, and get a rush out of it. It's like knowing more and having the pure musical capacity in a more amplified sense in my mind. I have more intensity, that's it. I seem to be more awake, and expressive, and I like that alot. I enjoy the musical experiance much more than if I only played the guitar.....
Gary

gary, when did you learn to play all those instruments? i'm thinking about learning to play another instrument but i'm not sure what. flamenco guitar is taking up a lot of my time but i think i've got room for one more. i've got a violin that i don't touch at all. last week, a famous professional violinist came to buy my mini fridge that i had for sale and i brought out my violin and she completely blew me away with it! it was the most attention that little violin ever got now i feel bad and almost want to learn it.

Leo, Decide that you want to learn other instruments and when ever you can aquire one or borrow one, just start right then. The secret is that if you put it off you will face the day when years pass and you could have learned by then if you did it. Learning anything takes iniative. I am always learning new things. I have learned new instruments all thru my life, and the only thing that holds me back is not being able to get to them. If you have a violin, pick it up and start learning and as the years pass and they will you will be able to play it.

The things is, that if you decide that you can't and give up you won't because it's easier to play the instrument that you already play, that is such a denial of your own capabilities. So give it lots of time, and be open to the process, and I'm pretty sure you'll be glad that you did. If I start playing something tomorrow I will be very glad to have the opportunity and that's what it is, a great opportunity. Don't pass up that violin.......

Go to the music store and just look at all of those instruments, and if you wish you had the money to buy every thing in the store you would understand what I am talking about. It's a constant state of renewal and it keeps you sharp, and more able to learn things on your old stand by (instrument) to always be learning something new. It's not about living in the past, it's all about what you can do in the present, although you will be pretty lucky in the future. And I am very sure if you are always learning new things you will have the ability to learn new things on your already learned instrument.

Give that violin a chance and see what happens....
Gary

you're right, gary. people often put too many things off for too long and never get around to doing it. i have a bunch of instruments so i might as well play them right? even if i were to dabble on and off, i'd still be getting somewhere and making some use of it. anyways, five minutes here and there will add up. then it'll be ten minutes. then an hour. maybe more. i'll start a habit then it will basically run on auto pilot. every time i see the violin, i'll want to pick it up.

one day, you may hear of a famous flamenco violinist

this is a great thread. thanks for the inspiration gary!

at_leo_87 wrote:one day, you may hear of a famous flamenco violinist

A little inspiration for you gypsy violinist!!

Leo, that's right! Understanding music is the goal. You may specialize in the flamenco guitar, but every thing helps, no matter at what level. Flamenco is music. Never deny that and you will go farther than figuring it is a different process than any other kind of music, being thus mysterious and demanding a special kind of devotion that is somehow different and on the cult level. Every thing helps that can help. It can't hurt. Just don't forget to practice your flamenco music on the guitar!

The more you practice and explore the more you play. I figure that you are lucky to have that violin and yet, you will always have the flamenco and guitar.
Gary

Gypsy violin sounds great to me!

cool videos! i don't quite sound like that yet. i sound more like a baby ostrich that stubbed a toe.

I learned to play the recorder when I was at infant/ junior school, and still pick it up occasionally now.

The need to breathe really helps with your phrasing.


Alan

Gary,

I was a classical guitar player who switched to the violin and not until long ago started dabbling with flamenco. They compliment each other. Playing flamenco strengthens my fingers and improves dexterity, the violin helps me focus on tone. Flamenco helps me with rhythm and harmony and the violin with melodic structure and the discipline of trying to hear it in your head first before playing. I almost regretted not playing the guitar again. So now I do both, and... No regrets.