Music

I have a very varied taste in all things musical.  From the types of instruments that I like to listen to too the varied music that I chose to listen too.

Most people have an variable taste in music which goes with the type of person they are and also the experiences that they have had during their life time.

As I have grown older my musical tastes have grown with me.  Music that I disliked when I was younger I know enjoy listening too and this is not just because I'm following a trend but rather than I listen to music differently now than I ever really did.  I studied music in college which I suppose is where my true passion for music started.  However, I have always been involved with music in some shape or form. I always have my MP3 player with me and I'm forever using my laptop as my own disco.  Music is important to me, it reflects my mood and my state of mind.

Each song means something personal to me.  It is my memories, I associate my past with the songs that go with them.  When my nan died when I was 14 years old, the song that was playing on the radio was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.  This song always stirs up emotions for me not only because lyrically it is a beautiful song but because of the tragedy that lies behind it for me personally.

When I got married the song that me and my husband choose was She by Charles Aznavour.  I discovered the song when I saw Notting Hill with my husband.  It was sung by Elvis Costello and although I love Elvis Costello and he has a really nice voice I discovered the original by Charles and feel in love with the song on a whole different level mainly because it is not sung in English which added to the depth of the song.

I can remember watching for the first time the A-HA (Take on me) song.  I hadn't heard it before I saw the video and in my opinion it was one of the best things I had seen ever, bear in mind that at the time I was only 9 years old.  I still listen to the song now and it brings back all those feels of sheer excitement watching that video.  I can't say the same for actually watching it now but the memory lives on.

My musical tastes run from classical music in particular Beethoven and Handel right the way through to heavy metal like AC/DC, Limp Biscuit and Led Zeppelin.  The one band that has never really done it for me is Pink Floyd, I know my husband will go mad at this but I just don't see it.  He loves them, thinks they are better than sliced bread, but I just can't see it.  I have a friend who used to hang with Floyd and was one of their occasional Saxophonists and although I can listen to him play for hours upon hours when I hear the tracks he did with Floyd I just don't get it.   

My one true calling in life is musicals though, it is something that I have been brought up with.  From an early age I have been immersed in musical theatre.  My parents called me Maria because of my dad's favourite musical West Side Story.  My great great nan was on the stage and believed that was where I should be, although I had no intentions of ever going on the stage at the age of 5 years old.  I taught myself to sing with the help from some very inspirational music teachers along the way.  Mr Machin will always be very special to me as he gave me the confidence to sing in the first place.  A small and shy (although you wouldn't believe that now) girl of 10 years old singing in a primary school choir was picked out by Mr Machin to play Oliver in a countywide concert.  "Where is Love" was the first thing I ever sang and my love of singing in front of an audience began.

I stopped singing for a long time after I left Woodlands School and concentrated on other things but it was at college that I met Mr David Woods.  He brought out in me the passion for singing and homed my skills to the point where I could sing the title song from Phantom of the Opera.  A top F#.  The highest that I have ever been able to sing.  I had the pleasure of singing with Damian Starr who, to this day, in my opinion can sing phantom just as well as Michael Crawford.  I can just get that note now.  Although I have spent a lot of my life smoking (which thankfully I don't do anymore) which ruined my voice, it has taken me a long time to get my voice back and occasionally it still leaves me.  

Don't get me wrong I like up to date music as well.  I'm a huge fan of Lady Gaga and Adele as well as Eminem and Snopp Dog.  I've just got into Hugh Laurie and the blues.

I suppose what I am trying to say in my very long winded approach is.......... give all types of music a chance, don't get stuck in a groove explore other artists, other types and genres it helps expand your mind and with any luck your spirit.