'interviewed' by St. Margarets
I was delayed in responding owing to crappy connection, but here are my answers.
1. When did you learn to play music? Did you pick it up easily or did you struggle?
I started playing percussion when I was 10 and kept at it for several years, but for a long time knew absolutely nothing about the rest of music. I started taking music theory junior year in high school when it was offered for the first time, simply because I wanted to know what all the other musicians were doing. For several months I did not connect with it all that well, and basic concepts such as scales and key signatures and chords seemed bewildering and kind of intimidating. The rhythm aspect I already knew, of course, and I wouldn't say that I 'struggled', exactly, but none of it really came to me naturally.
After a while, though (I don't remember precisely when) something just clicked on in my head, and I started to really excel at the subject. I suppose it was probably because I have a fairly analytical yet abstract way of thinking that goes well with mathematics and so forth, and once the basic concepts had been absorbed well enough, the ideas of music theory started to make sense in a similar sort of way. It quickly became my passion and joy, and certainly the class I looked forward to the most. I started composing short pieces, both for assignments and on the side for my own benefit, and while most of these early efforts were not particularly great, they paved the way for much better work to follow later. I was enthralled with the subject and seriously considered making it a career. One of my greatest compositions, and still my favourite to date, was played at our high school graduation.
Eventually, however, I came to the unfortunate realisation that I was considerably hampered by having started so late. For a while I had been writing music without always knowing exactly how it would sound, simply going by the theoretical concepts and an intuitive grasp of what would work. To combat this I was learning sight-singing and later started taking organ lessons, and while this helped me a great deal, it just wasn't enough. I was in the very odd position of having a good ear and aural memory but still unable to easily distinguish various notes, simply because I hadn't had the years of ear training from an early age that most musicians have. I hit a wall in how far I could get without putting forth a tremendous amount of effort to advance, and for various unrelated reasons wasn't able to provide that effort. I could still get back into it, I'm sure, but it hasn't happened yet . . . hmm.
2. It's time to pack for the deserted island. You can take five items above and beyond your survival gear. What are they?
Crud, I never know how to answer questions like this. lol I guess I'd have to say some books, like Lord of the Rings since that is one of my all-time favourites, an iPod if it could somehow run forever without needing to recharge . . . oh heck, I can't think of stuff off the top of my head. I have a block on answering some things, it's the same problem when I'm asked what I want from the store or where I want to go to eat. I am monumentally indecisive!
3. What's always in your fridge?
We're usually pretty well stocked on soda of various kinds, and there is often frozen pizza and ice cream, though not always.
4. Your best friend at Hogwarts is . . .
James and Sirius, hopefully? I have a feeling I might have been the Remus of the group, because I loved to screw around but was rather wary of breaking rules in any big sort of way, but wouldn't tell anyone off for doing so either. I was always very clever and get excellent grades in every class, but could never manage their sort of effortless brilliance--it always took me forever to get my work done.
5. Xbox or Playstation?
Neither. I am a Nintendo man through and through. ;) Partially because my best friend mainly had Nintendo, back before I owned any video games myself, and partially because I really just prefer the kinds of games and characters they have. Games like Donkey Kong Country 2, Super Mario RPG, Star Fox, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and GoldenEye 007 captured my imagination far more than the wretched scraps from their competitors, and that instinctive loyalty continues to this day, even though I don't really play as often or as obsessively as I once did.