for lo, the internet knows ALL.

[agentotter]

Good day to you, online journaling friends. How are you this fine Friday? Good, I hope. I'm SUPER, thanks for asking.

Today I have random questions for you, all of which are related to goals I've had forever and would like to actually one day do something about? Yeah, those ones.

* I really would like to learn Spanish. Like a lot. I was very good at it in high school but haven't had a lick of it since. Do any of you have a favored method for learning a foreign language? Assume that I can't do a community college class or private lessons (with my work schedule and budget, these aren't really workable). Any home-study programs you've had particular success with.

* I also have a (not very) sekrit dream to learn to play an instrument. I made my first attempt on the harmonica mostly because I liked it and it's cheap, but was not very good at it. Basically I'm ruling out anything that involves breath control. I can has none of that. I reckon the three options I have that are a) something I'd like to learn and b) something I can probably pick up used on craigslist without breaking the bank are the guitar, the violin, or the piano (well, keyboard, if you're me). Any guesses on which might work best for somebody with no musical talent to speak of and no previous experience with an instrument?

I... had something more to say and then it went. Just like that. It just flew straight out of my brains. I've been told that new languages and learning a musical instrument are two important ways to keep your mind active into old age. Clearly I need these things pronto.

Comments

[agentotter]

A friend of mine once told me that learning violin was actually really simple. She wasn't great on the violin either though, so I suspect she was a lying liar who lied. ;D

A few lessons is a good idea; I might see if there's anything budget-priced as far as like group lessons or something at a local music store. I hesitate to find a teacher elsewhere because this is pot country and basically full of hippies who think they can play guitar. ;D

I don't know how to read music, so that's really good to know about chord charts. I'm basically at the point where I can kind of tell when something sounds wrong, but I don't know what pitch and things like that actually mean. My musical experience is limited to a passion for singing along to the radio. ;D I was sort of traumatized by my junior high music teacher who essentially wrote me off within the first week of classes and made my life hell. :-/

[princessofgeeks]

I think the guitar would be a great choice for you. Guitar chord charts are very straightforward and have nothing to do with reading sheet music. A piano teacher (unless they are a very esoteric kind of piano teacher) is going to get you to start reading music too, and you might find a traditional piano lesson course very slow and frustrating.

Once you learn about four chords on the guitar, you can sing along and really have a great deal of fun very soon. But a half dozen lessons would be great and group lessons are also a great idea.

Happy exploring.