Lately, in the last few months, I have become even more annoyed by radio DJ's rabbiting on and on, even on the alternative rock station I used to enjoy listening to. So, when I am driving I now tune to the Classic FM station (ABC radio in Oz).

Sometimes they play music I don't like at all, sometimes it's just not my favourite type of classical music, but sometimes the music is outstanding. "Chicken skin musc". I found out recently from a Mudcat thread what that means - always wondered. Music to give you goosebumps.

Anyway - this is actually on topic - when I first started regularly listening to this station I would find myself thinking, unconsciously, "Oh no, here comes some piano music! How boring!"

But now I am beginning to realise how fantastic the piano can be, in the right hands. Some pianists are a bit too focused on the technicalities, to the detriment of the wider, broader conceptual expression of the music. But some pianists and some of the pieces just amaze me. And listening to different pieces, with different "flavours" of music, and different pianists interpreting these pieces....wow!

And the variations in the type of music which can be played, and especially to the way that the music can be played. I am in awe.

I had planned to go and ...[I just made a typo which was a pun in the Oz context ....I typed "goan.." instead of "go and". In Oz a common slang term for a "pi-anner" is "goanna" pronounced Go An'na, which is a large reptile here]...sorry, back to what I was saying: I had planned to go and get piano lessons this year because Hubby's Mum gave us her goanna and I want to learn some proper theory and arranging to help with my Celtic harp playing, but there aren't any folk harp teachers here. But working life has gotten in the way. I think I'll find a teacher and see if I can start lessons now.

There is a local fiddler who is now nationally known, called Chris Duncan, and he used to play at the Newcastle Folk Club with a piano player, called Peter, I think. Always a wonderful experience hearing those two play.

Thanks for this thread, Tunesmith.

Helen