What’s on your mind?

[Scepticalscribe]

Beer, bills, and Easter are on my mind.

The carer called by earlier today, to pick up some stuff, and with a gift of large packet of what we call crisps and Some People Across the Pond refer to as chips, a term we reserve for a culinary delight that goes by the name of French fries.

Bought some beer, which will be delivered tomorrow.

 

[rm5]

I would expect that you will love university.

I think I will! Like I said, as unprepared as I feel for it right now, I think it will be one of the best experiences I will ever have, hopefully.

When I went out to LA over the summer to do Berklee's Film Scoring program last August, I loved hanging out with not only people my age, but people who loved music. I hope this will be a similar experience.

 

[zach-coleman]

I think I will! Like I said, as unprepared as I feel for it right now, I think it will be one of the best experiences I will ever have, hopefully.

Uni was very rough for me, but I still would do it all again. I struggled to keep up with my peers academically, but I made many of my best friends. It was really surreal to be in school during Covid, maybe it would have been easier without that.

 

[rm5]

Uni was very rough for me, but I still would do it all again. I struggled to keep up with my peers academically, but I made many of my best friends. It was really surreal to be in school during Covid, maybe it would have been easier without that.

Right—I'm sure everyone has different experiences; and I'm so sorry that you didn't have a good experience. But I'm glad you made some of your best friends while there.

I agree that being in school during COVID was very weird, although somehow I kept up fine, and at times, I'm almost nostalgic for such a time, which is very interesting, and I'm not quite sure why. Especially listening to some specific music takes me back to some very specific days—not bad days necessarily, actually, good days for the most part. But at the same time, it seems those days are getting more and more distant—well, because they are. idk what I'm talking about anymore... so anyway, there you go.

 

[DaveFromCampbelltown]

The Weather Dept. has kindly organised severe storms for the Easter period along the east coast of Australia.
So, all those people who left yesterday (it is a tradition here to leave a day early on long weekends...) with their camper-vans and tents are in for an interesting time.

 

[VulchR]

Uni was very rough for me, but I still would do it all again. I struggled to keep up with my peers academically, but I made many of my best friends. It was really surreal to be in school during Covid, maybe it would have been easier without that.

I am a lecturer at a UK university. I deeply admire students for making it through COVID - anybody who successfully navigated education during that time deserves a medal. 🏅

 

[VulchR]

The Weather Dept. has kindly organised severe storms for the Easter period along the east coast of Australia.
So, all those people who left yesterday (it is a tradition here to leave a day early on long weekends...) with their camper-vans and tents are in for an interesting time.

In Scotland we don't let little things like rain, gails, hail, fog, white-out snow, or flooding ruin our time in the outdoors. The fatalities are minimal. Being outdoors among midges and cleg-flies, on the other hand...

 

[Apple fanboy]

In Scotland we don't let little things like rain, gails, hail, fog, white-out snow, or flooding ruin our time in the outdoors. The fatalities are minimal. Being outdoors among midges and cleg-flies, on the other hand...

Yes, but you do have the most beautiful landscapes up there and the native red squirrels that haven’t been killed off by their American cousins.

 

[Rafterman]

In Scotland we don't let little things like rain, gails, hail, fog, white-out snow, or flooding ruin our time in the outdoors. The fatalities are minimal. Being outdoors among midges and cleg-flies, on the other hand...

 

[rm5]

On my mind: I need to get rid of this—it's just an awful chair, as you might be able to tell... So bad that I actually prefer standing up rather than sitting in it.

 

[Rafterman]

On my mind: I need to get rid of this—it's just an awful chair, as you might be able to tell... So bad that I actually prefer standing up rather than sitting in it.View attachment 2185804

And it's busted too.

 

[rm5]

And it's busted too.

Yup! Like I am not kidding, I've had this chair since I was 10 years old, maybe even before that. I dunno how I've survived with it this long. But I've just never bothered to get a new one, but I think it's about time.

 

[MmkLucario]

On my mind: I need to get rid of this—it's just an awful chair, as you might be able to tell... So bad that I actually prefer standing up rather than sitting in it.View attachment 2185804

Ooof. That does not look comfortable, especially with the busted backrest.

 

[MmkLucario]

Hey @rm5, I have a question about playing the piano. Is it better if I bend my thumb while playing, or is it better to keep it straight?

 

[The-Real-Deal82]

That’s how I felt at 15, so I started work. I was never a fan of schools and academic pursuits.
If I had my time over I’d do things different though.

I was the opposite, I didn’t want a real job at the time so did college and University. The funny thing is most of my mates did electrical and plumping apprenticeships and ended up being better off than me by the time I reached 30. Most went on to have their own businesses and bought multiple houses and it took me an extra decade to catch up and pass them financially. University isn’t always the best option but I probably had a better time than they did lol.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Yup! Like I am not kidding, I've had this chair since I was 10 years old, maybe even before that. I dunno how I've survived with it this long. But I've just never bothered to get a new one, but I think it's about time.

So like 8 years? My home office chair needs replacing to. But I think we’ve had it about 20 years. It just squeaks awfully. But I can’t stop it with oiling or tightening up.

 

[Apple fanboy]

I was the opposite, I didn’t want a real job at the time so did college and University. The funny thing is most of my mates did electrical and plumping apprenticeships and ended up being better off than me by the time I reached 30. Most went on to have their own businesses and bought multiple houses and it took me an extra decade to catch up and pass them financially. University isn’t always the best option but I probably had a better time than they did lol.

My plan as it was was to do an apprenticeship. But they all got cancelled the year I was due to start due to cut backs.
But I just carried on working a few dead end jobs until I found my place.

 

[rm5]

Hey @rm5, I have a question about playing the piano. Is it better if I bend my thumb while playing, or is it better to keep it straight?

That's a great question! You should hit the key with the side of your thumb, and keep it slightly bent. And you should also keep your other four fingers bent, too. You should also try and not move your wrists very much—let your fingers "carry the weight," not your wrists/arms. It's really hard to do, but it also makes it easier on you in the end.

Also, as much as possible, keep your thumb only on white notes—there are instances where you can't do this, but generally, to make it flow better, figure out a fingering where you DON'T have to put your thumb on a black note.

Lemme know if you need more help, I love talking about this with people!

 

[MmkLucario]

That's a great question! You should hit the key with the side of your thumb, and keep it slightly bent. And you should also keep your other four fingers bent, too. You should also try and not move your wrists very much—let your fingers "carry the weight," not your wrists/arms. It's really hard to do, but it also makes it easier on you in the end.

Also, as much as possible, keep your thumb only on white notes—there are instances where you can't do this, but generally, to make it flow better, figure out a fingering where you DON'T have to put your thumb on a black note.

Lemme know if you need more help, I love talking about this with people!

Thanks! I guess I’ll do some thumb exercises then, because at a certain position, my right thumb doesn’t want to bend, and instead my whole thumb will move 😅

Also, how do I do arpeggios that start on the black key, like B flat major?

 

[Scepticalscribe]

On my mind: I need to get rid of this—it's just an awful chair, as you might be able to tell... So bad that I actually prefer standing up rather than sitting in it.View attachment 2185804

If you use a particular chair while reading, writing, researching, browsing, practsing, etc - in other words, if you are using a particular chair for several hours a day, I would recommend that you try to buy (acquire) a really good chair, but one that suits your own, specific, subjective, personal needs.

 

[rm5]

Thanks! I guess I’ll do some thumb exercises then, because at a certain position, my right thumb doesn’t want to bend, and instead my whole thumb will move 😅

Also, how do I do arpeggios that start on the black key, like B flat major?

Would some scale sheets be helpful? Here's a PDF I scanned for you with Drop 2 major scales, and major scales/arpeggios in all 12 keys. idk if this is going to help you, but it should be a nice resource for you to look at as you're practicing. I've got some other ones, like major 2-5-1s with their associated scales, but this is a good start for you I think:

Scales and Arpeggios .pdf

drive.google.com

 

[MmkLucario]

Would some scale sheets be helpful for you? Here's a PDF I scanned for you with Drop 2 major scales, and major scales/arpeggios in all 12 keys. idk if this is going to help you, but it should be a nice resource for you to look at as you're practicing.

Scales and Arpeggios .pdf

drive.google.com

Thanks! And, sorry, I should have asked this: How do I play the arpeggios that start on the black keys?

 

[rm5]

Thanks! And, sorry, I should have asked this: How do I play the arpeggios that start on the black keys?

You can start on a different finger other than your thumb; for example, your second finger (right hand) and your third finger (left hand), in the case of B flat major. And then cross to your thumb on the white note. You can reference the PDF I attached for all the other ones. Hope I'm making sense.

 

[MmkLucario]

You can start on a different finger other than your thumb; for example, your second finger (right hand) and your third finger (left hand), in the case of B flat major. And then cross to your thumb on the white note. You can reference the PDF I attached for all the other ones. Hope I'm making sense.

Yeah, I can see doing that. Yes, you are making sense, and your advice is very clear. Thanks! You're very kind and helpful.

 

[MmkLucario]

Moving on, there are three other things on my mind.

One is because of Good Friday, and the meaning and significance of it.

Two is our golden retriever had surgery on Wednesday to remove lipoma, or benign bumps. He is doing well and being himself.

Three is the possibility of the potential of a third party Minecraft Bedrock launcher becoming ARM Mac native.