Aa
Brand new hobby since DX?
Some of you already know that I'm learning to play the upright bass. What's strange is that this is a little out of character for me.
Where this started was at Scarborough Faire, right before my diagnosis. After the faire shuts down, everybody gathers for a musical jam, and somebody had a washtub bass. I started playing it, and really enjoyed it. As soon as I went home, I built one of my own. Then I built a bigger one, and started playing it at parties. Then a couple of my friends needed a bass player, so I started playing with them. It wasn't long before I started wishing for something with more notes... so I started learning to play the upright bass.
I've always loved music. But playing with other people, in a band, playing at parties - all this is very new to me, and I have to wonder if it has something to do with brain damage. Before, I would have been too nervous to even participate. Now, it's like that switch has been turned off.
Years ago, I listened to a radio show called RadioLab, about a woman who had suffered a small stroke. After the stroke, her daughter said she was a different person. She sang more, would do small dances, was more cheerful - very different from the person she was before the stroke.
So my question to all you fine folks is: Have you started a new hobby since your diagnosis? Or do you feel like you're a different person?
Where this started was at Scarborough Faire, right before my diagnosis. After the faire shuts down, everybody gathers for a musical jam, and somebody had a washtub bass. I started playing it, and really enjoyed it. As soon as I went home, I built one of my own. Then I built a bigger one, and started playing it at parties. Then a couple of my friends needed a bass player, so I started playing with them. It wasn't long before I started wishing for something with more notes... so I started learning to play the upright bass.
I've always loved music. But playing with other people, in a band, playing at parties - all this is very new to me, and I have to wonder if it has something to do with brain damage. Before, I would have been too nervous to even participate. Now, it's like that switch has been turned off.
Years ago, I listened to a radio show called RadioLab, about a woman who had suffered a small stroke. After the stroke, her daughter said she was a different person. She sang more, would do small dances, was more cheerful - very different from the person she was before the stroke.
So my question to all you fine folks is: Have you started a new hobby since your diagnosis? Or do you feel like you're a different person?
The biggest problem I have is double vision - sometimes the strings double up, and I can't see which one I should be hitting. And then my hands get weak, and stop cooperating. On my good days I feel like I'm learning, and on my bad ones I get a little depressed... but then I have another good day, so I don't stay depressed for long.
That sound great
I wish I could read music, but I can't focus.
I wish I could play piano but hands won't cooperate LOL
Oh well Dream
Linda
I wish I could read music, but I can't focus.
I wish I could play piano but hands won't cooperate LOL
Oh well Dream
Linda
I picked up my guitar this morning before I went to work, and played a little. It's been about four years since I was really practicing, but the bits are still there - not everything is gone!
It's empowering to know you can learn a new thing and do it, even though you have some obvious deficits.
It's empowering to know you can learn a new thing and do it, even though you have some obvious deficits.
I SANG ON A CHRISTIAN COUNTRY BAND FOR 20 YEARS AND I MISS IT.
I WAS JUST TELLING MY HUSBAND I HAVEN'T PICKED UP MY GUITAR IN AT LEAST A YEAR. IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE BEEN CHECKING OUT THE OMNI CHORD ON E-BAY. I WOULD LIKE TO GET ONE WHEN I GET RICH!!!! :)
I WAS JUST TELLING MY HUSBAND I HAVEN'T PICKED UP MY GUITAR IN AT LEAST A YEAR. IT WOULD BE HARD FOR ME RIGHT NOW, BUT I HAVE BEEN CHECKING OUT THE OMNI CHORD ON E-BAY. I WOULD LIKE TO GET ONE WHEN I GET RICH!!!! :)
My biggest change (of course, I'm still undx, so maybe this is superfluous) has been the amount of time I spend conversing with folks online. Good folks.
No, seriously, I've been doing that for years.
Hey, I'm no musician, but I love the upright bass. Check out the efforts of Ben Isaacs of the family bluegrass Gospel group "The Isaacs" (A personal favorite. Probably at Isaacs.com, but we won;t tell the MedHelp screener).
No, seriously, I've been doing that for years.
Hey, I'm no musician, but I love the upright bass. Check out the efforts of Ben Isaacs of the family bluegrass Gospel group "The Isaacs" (A personal favorite. Probably at Isaacs.com, but we won;t tell the MedHelp screener).
I think ANY kind of creative outlet or volunteer activity is so good for us. It allows us to get out of our own heads and troubles and give to others - the gift of music, art, writing, any help we can volunteer... My music has been my life since I was a wee baby, but yesterday I helped re-wire a portion of the antenna array at the old Point Reyes RCA Ship - to - Shore receiving station, which is now part of the Marine Radio Historical Society. The volunteers for this project are HAM radio operators (me and hubby), Greenpeace radio operators, park rangers, retired RCA/Ciivil Defense folks, etc. Quite the diverse group!
Yeah, I was in pain at the end of the day, and used my stick to tramp up and down the field with the antennae, but it was fun, I contributed, got some exercise, and got out of own head.
Bass, horses, art - its all good! And horses exercise our balance and core muscles -great stuff!
Cheers,
Guitar_grrrl
Yeah, I was in pain at the end of the day, and used my stick to tramp up and down the field with the antennae, but it was fun, I contributed, got some exercise, and got out of own head.
Bass, horses, art - its all good! And horses exercise our balance and core muscles -great stuff!
Cheers,
Guitar_grrrl
Hi,
I think a MS diagnosis makes you approach life differently. I was told I had MS by a MS Specialist years ago (but obviously he was wrong), but it changed my outlook completely to life. I decided that I needed to do what I wanted now just in case I couldn't do it later. None of us know what card we will get dealt in life even without a MS diagnosis, so I within reason try to do what I want now.
This is why I bought my beloved horses that you see on my profile, I always wanted a foal and I always wanted to learn to ride and when I got told I had TM, second time round MS scare, I decided to do it NOW! And it is the best thing I could have done, I love it. As for confidence I think as we mature and become at peace with our selves and who we are our confidence grows but also because we have been around that bit longer we also are not afraid to say what we are feeling and thinking... that's my take on it all.
Good on you for learning Bass, I would like to learn piano but I need to buy one first.
Udkas.
I think a MS diagnosis makes you approach life differently. I was told I had MS by a MS Specialist years ago (but obviously he was wrong), but it changed my outlook completely to life. I decided that I needed to do what I wanted now just in case I couldn't do it later. None of us know what card we will get dealt in life even without a MS diagnosis, so I within reason try to do what I want now.
This is why I bought my beloved horses that you see on my profile, I always wanted a foal and I always wanted to learn to ride and when I got told I had TM, second time round MS scare, I decided to do it NOW! And it is the best thing I could have done, I love it. As for confidence I think as we mature and become at peace with our selves and who we are our confidence grows but also because we have been around that bit longer we also are not afraid to say what we are feeling and thinking... that's my take on it all.
Good on you for learning Bass, I would like to learn piano but I need to buy one first.
Udkas.
it's good to find something.. I'm just painting little Xmas figurines... like santa, sleigh.. my sister in law bought it at a craft store and brought it over..
I used to love to paint and haven't in years, so I'm trying this.. it's not the best work I've seen, but as long as you don't look to close at them it's fine..
so I've been busy with that.. it does help to keep your mind busy.
take care and enjoy yourself
wobbly
I used to love to paint and haven't in years, so I'm trying this.. it's not the best work I've seen, but as long as you don't look to close at them it's fine..
so I've been busy with that.. it does help to keep your mind busy.
take care and enjoy yourself
wobbly
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