@Holly Saunders Thanks for that link. I knew both these amazing gentlemen were highly accomplished. Franks machine work is amazing. I had a neighbor once that built scale trains so I know the work, tools, and knowledge it takes. Hal interest, talents, and collections are amazing. I have a wide variety of interest and hobbies, but the level I have accomplished them, is nothing compared to these two talents.
View attachment 31330 My collection of Musical Instruments:B This is the Conn 3-manual Theatre Organ I had for a few years until I sold it to make room for my Parlor Grand Piano.
Faye, that guitar is a Yamaha, and I don't have any audio-video clips of my playing because I hesitate to record any of my performances which are not perfect. I recall the amplifiers which used 6L6 tubes in the final! 5881 tubes were used in the more powerful tube amps. Without frets you can do glissandos! Hal
I play several instruments: Brass, Woodwind, String, Keyboard, and Percussion. I have authority only on Piano, Bass, Clarinet, Sax, & Guitar. On other instruments, I just "fool around", with no real competance. I don't read music, only Chord Progressions, and play from Memory in all other cases. My musical tastes are almost exactly like those of Faye Fox, with the addition of Classical Music.
I played trumpet from the time I was 9 years old until I was in my 30s. I was not that good, but I enjoyed it. I played the usual stuff through high school: symphonic/classical, marching band, pep band, brass choir, jazz band, etc. After that I played in a couple of local rock bands just for fun. I also played for my own relaxation. It gave me an appreciation for about every genre of music, especially jazz and classical. Later on I had a friend who built a small recording studio in his basement. He would record his own backup music (think "Music Minus One," for those in the know), mix it onto a cassette, then take it to the lounges of Holiday Inns and such, and sing/play lead guitar. I would help record and mix a lot of his stuff. It's fascinating how you can change the feel and mood of a tune by the way you mix the various tracks. I would have enjoyed doing that for a living. I also want to take piano lessons in my retirement, mainly so I can learn to read bass clef. I have 5 siblings, we all played an instrument. One brother who was a mechanic and owned his own shop was truly a virtuoso trombone player, sitting first chair as a teenager in local big bands (much to the chagrin of the older guys.) My older brother also played trombone, he was career Army Band until he retired. Had pics of him with Reagan, Nixon, Humphrey, etc. He also played herald trumpet, so would be at the red carpet playing when dignitaries would fly into the country and the president would arrive for special events.
Made my living playing bass guitar, auxiliary percussion (congas, bongos, doumbek, tablas), singing lead, leading bands, for thirty years. Booked 90% of my gigs, myself. I hustled. Played all styles of music, from Rock to Reggae, Jazz to Swing, Country to Cumbias, Polkas to Waltzes, etc.
@John Brunner, before my daughter Tania ever played Fiddle, she played Violin in the Symphonic Orchestra of Cal State College. Fiddle came later as a fun way to get together with small musical groups who played Irish folk tunes. Then she picked up the Mandolin and the Electric Bass, because I played one! She also plays Violin and Bass in her Church musical ensemble. (Here I am on Electric Bass in our old Apple Valley Senior Citizens Dance Band...myself and the Lady Drummer are the only ones still living.) Hal
I may have mentioned that I have 5 siblings, and we all played an instrument. The 2 girls played piano, clarinet and flute. The 4 boys played brass instruments (2 played trombone and 2 played trumpet.) My older brother made a career out of trombone and herald trumpet in the Army Band. As you know, music is so important in one's life. That's nice you and your daughter have such a connection. Job well done, Sir.
To the last one you just posted in post #15 which shows you playing the guitar (bass guitar I suppose, another instrument you can play besides the piano) and which shows the date January 2010.
For Thomas Stearn's interest: My favorite songs and tunes are from the Great American Composers, who happen to be nearly all of Russian Jewish ancestry. Composers such as George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Irving Berlin, Victor Herbert, and Johnny Mercer. (I'm currently polishing up Cole Porter's "Anything Goes") This is a list of their songs that I play (by ear) on the piano, many of them from Broadway Musicals. Since I'm a self-taught pianist, I play only in the keys that I learned to play in, mostly C and F. You want it in C# or Ab? Forget it...I'm no professional! Hal