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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 0:08:08 GMT
DH and I both feel strongly that it's important to keep learning throughout our lives, to keep our brains from turning to mush as we age. As a musician, I'm constantly aware of the vast body of Musical Things I Do Not Know. I trained as an opera singer and choral singer/conductor. I play piano, not very well. I sang some a cappella in college. That's about it. There's a whole world out there in which I have zero experience. But I love rock and pop music, and over the past few years, I've been getting into folk, folk rock, bluegrass/newgrass style music. I have tried playing the guitar in the past, but it never felt comfortable to me. So I got a mandolin for Mother's Day! I love the sound of the mandolin, and the smaller size works better for me. I'm proud to say that I can play four chords with a variety of strumming patterns, and (really badly) a few scales.  Along the same lines, a couple of friends of ours (guitarist and drummer) have been looking for a singer to jam with. This is not the style I'm trained in, but I've been singing along with the radio for all of my 45 years, so I'm giving it a try. We're working on three songs right now and I'm so excited to get together with them for the first time. Maybe down the road, I'll be good enough on the mandolin to bring that in as well.  So what are you learning, peas? |
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Post by originalvanillabean on Jun 12, 2018 0:09:56 GMT
I'm teaching myself how to build websites |
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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 0:11:17 GMT
I'm teaching myself how to build websites Fantastic! A very useful skill these days. |
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Post by pierogi on Jun 12, 2018 0:27:23 GMT
This is not so useful, but I completed another level of the Irish language. I really love it, and use it when I’m over the pond.
Thanks for this thread. I need inspiration. 😊
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 12, 2018 0:28:28 GMT
I just bought a ukulele and I'm going to learn to play!
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Post by bc2ca on Jun 12, 2018 0:28:40 GMT
It's not completely new to me, but I've been brushing up on reading Greek. It is a very phonetic language and I'd learned the alphabet and a few grammar basics before DH and I took our first trip to Greece a couple of decades ago. He can speak Greek but not read it, so if I could sound out the words, he knew what I was saying when reading maps, ferry schedules, etc. We made quite the pair.  |
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jun 12, 2018 0:33:54 GMT
I tried to learn guitar but it seemed large and uncomfortable. What's the difference between a mandolin and a ukulele?
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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 0:38:04 GMT
I just bought a ukulele and I'm going to learn to play! Yay! Maybe we can meet somewhere in the middle and jam. |
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sharlag
Drama Llama
I like my artsy with a little bit of fartsy.
Posts: 6,586
Location: Kansas
Jun 26, 2014 12:57:48 GMT
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Post by sharlag on Jun 12, 2018 0:39:13 GMT
I haven’t been working on a new skill, but have been listening to podcasts like How Stuff Works, etc., so I AM learning new information. Roughly 31% of my sentences now start with the phrase “I heard in a podcast...”.
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Post by kernriver on Jun 12, 2018 0:40:16 GMT
I’m keeping current on my Italian during the summer school break (I’m a college senior).
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PrettyInPeank
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,691 
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Post by PrettyInPeank on Jun 12, 2018 0:41:15 GMT
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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 0:42:49 GMT
I tried to learn guitar but it seemed large and uncomfortable. What's the difference between a mandolin and a ukulele? I had the same problem with the guitar. Short arms. Even with a smaller model, it just didn't work. A mandolin has eight strings, tuned in four pairs (so two Gs, two Ds and so on). It's a little bigger than a ukulele (at least a soprano uke - my daughter has a baritone uke that is about the same size as my mandolin). It has a very full sound. A ukulele has four strings. It's a lighter sound. You can see and hear the difference best in videos - check out YouTube if you're interested. |
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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 0:43:35 GMT
It's not completely new to me, but I've been brushing up on reading Greek. It is a very phonetic language and I'd learned the alphabet and a few grammar basics before DH and I took our first trip to Greece a couple of decades ago. He can speak Greek but not read it, so if I could sound out the words, he knew what I was saying when reading maps, ferry schedules, etc. We made quite the pair. How cool is that? The peas are so smart. |
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Judy26
Pearl Clutcher
MOTFY Bitchy Nursemaid
Posts: 2,974
Location: NW PA
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Post by Judy26 on Jun 12, 2018 0:45:07 GMT
I’m learning that no matter how much you wish for it, people really don’t change their spots. Now I need to learn how to live with this without losing myself in the process. Sometimes life is hard.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Jun 12, 2018 0:45:21 GMT
This is going to be my new thing to learn! I had thought about it but not seriously until this thread!
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Post by Delta Dawn on Jun 12, 2018 0:47:43 GMT
I am learning how to crochet and after that I will start learning Italian. I can't imagine it will be all that hard. I just have to think how i learned the other languages I know and implement the skills.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 7,317
Location: PNW
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Post by breetheflea on Jun 12, 2018 0:51:53 GMT
Not at the moment but starting in July I will be learning how to be treasurer for the place I volunteer. Apparently they usually don't have treasurers who have no treasurer experience... Also the person who talked me into it ("all you do is go to meetings and write checks") failed to mention a couple of things... but it will be good to dust off my math skills and do something out of my comfort zone...
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janeliz
Drama Llama
I'm the Wiz and nobody beats me.
Posts: 5,666
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Post by janeliz on Jun 12, 2018 0:55:30 GMT
Ah, I love the mandolin. That’s very cool.
I’m training to be a swim meet referee this summer. Our summer swim season is pretty short, so I figure it could take years for me to not feel like I’m faking my way through. I agree, though, that it’s important to keep learning new things. I get stuck in a rut if I don’t challenge myself now and then.
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kelly8875
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,448
Location: Lost in my supplies...
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Post by kelly8875 on Jun 12, 2018 1:02:56 GMT
I’m learning how to handle hundreds of boxes without papercuts. Packing them and unpacking them....yep, we just moved. And then after their unpacked, I’ve learned box management so they don’t take over my life 😂
But while unpacking, I found my French textbook....so I saved it out, and think I’m gonna give it a swing again to learn French. I have no trips, no one to talk to, or any really reason to want to learn the language other than I want to! I only know enough to understand when I see it written how to kind of pronounce it with the cut off tones and nasal tone anyway....
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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 1:04:47 GMT
I really admire all of you who are learning or brushing up on languages. I have no facility with that.
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ginacivey
Pearl Clutcher
refupea #2 in southeast missouri
Posts: 4,685
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Post by ginacivey on Jun 12, 2018 1:04:51 GMT
i'm learning to knit
and i am going to try free-motion quilting
gina
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Post by clarencelynn on Jun 12, 2018 1:08:50 GMT
I'm learning how to knit on a loom. I've been watching youtube videos and reading blogs, etc. I've finished two scarves, two baby blankets and one wrap/lap blanket. I'm starting on a pillow cover in some really cool yarn that will match my living room décor.
I had (jokingly) been telling my son that I was going to become a Candy Crush professional, however I've since changed my future profession to professional loomer. I figure when the zombies come I can loom blankets and such but Candy Crush really won't get me too far.
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AmandaA
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,502
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Post by AmandaA on Jun 12, 2018 1:12:40 GMT
Suddenly I feel like a sloth just mindlessly passing my time on the boards here 🙄. The best thing I have for now is working on puzzles with my 7 year old. I have never loved doing puzzles, but he does so we have gotten several bigger ones to work on for the summer. It definitely challenges my brain at the end of the day.
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Post by hop2 on Jun 12, 2018 1:15:35 GMT
I’m relearning how to be independent
I’m learning how expensive housing is
I’m learning what amazing beings my young adults are becoming
AND ( maybe more appropriate to this thread ) I’m learnung about stocks & investing. And I have a lot to learn
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Post by hop2 on Jun 12, 2018 1:18:02 GMT
I really admire all of you who are learning or brushing up on languages. I have no facility with that. Sure you do. Music |
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Post by mom on Jun 12, 2018 1:21:53 GMT
I haven't started yet since we just got home from vacation, but on my list to learn in the fall (when the class starts) is upholstery. I *can* upholster simple things, but I want to learn how to 1) do it the right way and 2) learn how to handle more complicated pieces.
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leeny
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,009
Location: Northern California
Site Supporter
Jun 27, 2014 1:55:53 GMT
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Post by leeny on Jun 12, 2018 1:36:05 GMT
I played violin in the third grade and gave it up after just that one year. I've been thinking an awful lot about it lately, so I haven't yet made the decision, but am considering giving it a whirl again 50 years later!
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Post by lisae on Jun 12, 2018 1:44:07 GMT
I love the sound of the mandolin, too.
I am learning to free motion quilt. It is something I've always wanted to master and never gave it more than a few minutes time in the past. Imagine drawing by having a pen held upright and steady and you guide the paper underneath to make your image. You do the same thing with fabric, moving it to determine the design and stitch length as the machine sews. It's challenging and addictive.
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Post by Merge on Jun 12, 2018 1:47:41 GMT
Suddenly I feel like a sloth just mindlessly passing my time on the boards here 🙄. The best thing I have for now is working on puzzles with my 7 year old. I have never loved doing puzzles, but he does so we have gotten several bigger ones to work on for the summer. It definitely challenges my brain at the end of the day. You know, I think during the years that we're raising small kids, that's all the day to day learning most of us can handle. I'm not going to say that teens are easy, but they do leave the house periodically and you have ... time to yourself! It's a novel concept. |
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Post by malibou on Jun 12, 2018 1:49:04 GMT
In the fall I'm taking a German class at the community college. And today I signed dh up for a mountain biking jumping skills class for his birthday. He is going to be so excited.
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