LDT Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 I thought I'd start a new thread as I think is an interesting discussion Do musical instruments have to 'earn their keep'? What do you think? In my mind an instrument is worth it if I can play meaningfully for longer than it took to save up to buy it.
Hereward Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 I thought I'd start a new thread as I think is an interesting discussion Do musical instruments have to 'earn their keep'? What do you think? In my mind an instrument is worth it if I can play meaningfully for longer than it took to save up to buy it. Now that I have a first-rate Wheatsone (according to Chris Algar who should know) I would reverse this and believe that I have to earn the right to keep it by learning to play it as best I can and looking after it for the next generation (hopefully a long way off though). Is this just sophistry though? Ian
Chris Timson Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 Do musical instruments have to 'earn their keep'? No. Chris PS again, to expand on my brevity, with the current economic outlook being what it is and unemployment rising all the time I think it would be most regrettable if lots of musical instruments suddenly appeared in the marketplace competing for our jobs. Musical instruments should know their place - in the home or the concert hall or pub - and keep out of our offices, factories and farms. Hmph!
drbones Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 Do musical instruments have to 'earn their keep'? No. Chris PS again, to expand on my brevity, with the current economic outlook being what it is and unemployment rising all the time I think it would be most regrettable if lots of musical instruments suddenly appeared in the marketplace competing for our jobs. Musical instruments should know their place - in the home or the concert hall or pub - and keep out of our offices, factories and farms. Hmph! Damned concertinas, comin' over here, takin' American jobs.
Greg Jowaisas Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 (edited) I think of it in terms of amortization: $5000. over five years of playing (an average span of intense preoccupation) is less than I spend on the electric bill per year. Or, if you stick with it, $5000. over 7 years is less than some people's morning coffee bill per year. A great concertina will cost considerably less than a new car and after 10 years will hold its value while the car is rusty scrap. And no matter how you conceptualize it: Enjoyment of a good concertina? Priceless! Greg Edited January 28, 2009 by Greg Jowaisas
Ken_Coles Posted January 28, 2009 Posted January 28, 2009 I know when I was young like LDT, I didn't buy instruments at all. No money! Too bad, in NYC in the 1970s I bet there were some cheapies. Heck, Jim Lucas was probably at the Eagle Tavern the nights I was there listening! The fun part about gray-haired middle age (if you don't have dependents) is you buy stuff. Maybe that's not so good...But when I go to music schools, I buy someone a drink and learn that, like me, they often have a pile of unlearned instruments and undone self-teaching projects at home. Hey that's life. Some day I'll give them all to kids or open a pub and hang them on the walls (not the conertinas, though). Ken
Mikefule Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Quite the opposite for me: I put pressure on myself to practise by spending a lot more than I could really afford. I had to earn the concertina, retrospectively. It's impossible to say how much it helped, but the fact is that it's the first instrument I've practised hard day after day for years. Unlike the harmonica, penny whistle, 2 row melodeon, trumpet, cornet, glockenspiel (I couldn't afford a vibraphone!), 1 row melodeon, guitar, piano, and (very briefly indeed) fife.
Fergus_fiddler Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 I think of it in terms of amortization: $5000. over five years of playing (an average span of intense preoccupation) is less than I spend on the electric bill per year. Or, if you stick with it, $5000. over 7 years is less than some people's morning coffee bill per year. A great concertina will cost considerably less than a new car and after 10 years will hold its value while the car is rusty scrap. And no matter how you conceptualize it: Enjoyment of a good concertina? Priceless! Greg It's exactly what I pointed in another thread. And concertinas - and fiddles, and generally speaking good vintage instruments - keep their value; you'll never sell a good instrument for less money than you paid for it. Some of my uilleann pipers friends told me even that, after the death of the maker Alain Froment, his sets's prices went up to the ceiling!! Anyway, when I think about the amount of money I spent in the past in smoking - yep, I confess -, going out to the pub with the lads and a lot of silly things; I reckon that the money spent in my concertina is really well worthy. Cheers
Hereward Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 Anyway, when I think about the amount of money I spent in the past in smoking - yep, I confess -, going out to the pub with the lads and a lot of silly things; I reckon that the money spent in my concertina is really well worthy. Cheers I have spent loads on what a notorious chap who shall remain nameless called the Three Kings: Smoking, Drinking and ......... The rest I wasted (the old ones are the best). Ian
Chris Timson Posted January 29, 2009 Posted January 29, 2009 To misquote the late, great Viv Stanshall: If I had all the money I spent on concertinas, I'd spend it on concertinas. Chris
Chris Drinkwater Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 A fool and his money are soon parted.......except on a fruitful visit to Chris Algar! Chris
Hereward Posted January 30, 2009 Posted January 30, 2009 A fool and his money are soon parted.......except on a fruitful visit to Chris Algar! Chris Well said Chris. I just visited Chris Algar and upgraded my instrument; unfortunately, downgrading my bank balance rather painfully at the same time. The more observant amongst you will perhaps have noted that my avatar has transmogrified (how's that for a word?) into something Chris was impressed with and he passed on his excitement to me. Ian
LDT Posted January 30, 2009 Author Posted January 30, 2009 (edited) If I didn't use my money on buying a concertina..it would go on clothes and shoes..and maybe learning to drive. Actually I think learning the concertina is a better investment for me than driving....and better for everyone else, though some would disagree. lol! Edited January 30, 2009 by LDT
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