So the kitchen building project creeps on. I fretted for so long that it didn’t seem to ever get started, then boom, I got the hole dug, basement poured, walls and roof in place…even windows and the door, AC, rough wiring and light fixtures.
Then of course things ground to a halt again, and I found that I had TWO magnificent practice areas. The basement was sonically the brightest space I’d ever played in…better even than the bathroom with its tile and porcelain. The not-yet-a-kitchen, wasn’t QUITE as bright, and had the advantage of windows and the smell of wood. I even went as far as to invite some friends over to play music here in my not-yet-a-kitchen.
Well, yesterday the insulators came, and now the kitchen is like playing inside a marshmallow. Dead dead dead. Deader than that. Its depressing.
The only saving grace is that we’re doing the flooring in tiles, counter in granite. I should (eventually) have a good room for playing music, especially considering that its seperate enough from the rest of the house that I won’t wake the macaw or the Tyghre during the day while I’m practicing and they’re sleeping.
My living room. Hardwood floor, vaulted ceiling. The only downside is that I can’t use it when my daughters are practicing piano - it’s connected by a large open pass-through to the family room, where the piano sits.
“Wake the Macaw” sounds like a good name for a tune, actually.
I’m with Jeff. The bathroom is definately the best place in my house to play because the acustics are so awesome (of course, my practice time keeps getting interrupted in there sigh
I have high valted ceilings and hardwood floors in my living-room, which is a good sound; but the real reverb chamber in my house is at the top of the stairs. These stairs are hardwood with plain walls and a stone landing. From the ceiling all the way to the stone at the bottom it is 40 feet. It almost echos.
Our house is pretty dead acoustically. I guess the bathroom would be the best place to play, but it’s so tiny, and it’s also right next to our neighbor’s kitchen (houses are really close together here). Usually I play in the living room or outside.
I’ve been told that practicing in a bright room is a bad idea because you think you’re sound is so great. This fellow thinks you should play in a dead room so you really hear what you sound like without the glaze of reverb. He’d LOVE my not-yet-a-kitchen.
Hmmm…there’s a thought…do you know Staten Island Hornpipe? The B part has that great honk of the ferry…truly a macaw sorta sound, but it would have to be three times in a row because when he screams its usually in threes.
(way OT here: I actually have three birds, but Nick, the macaw is senior in the household, and Alice, a smaller parrot called a caique (kah eek) who used to come to work with me every day. When I changed positions and had to leave her at home, she’d rattle and fuss and romp in her cage, and she was NOT quiet about it. Nick was used to quiet time between 9 am and 3 pm, and Alice drove him CRAZY with her carrying on. For about three days this is what we heard:
we finally cut a deal and made Alice commute across the hall during the day and carry on with Ben, the parrotlet, leaving Nick in peace and quiet. Well, now I’m back at the old position, and have the opportunity to bring Alice to work again.)
Oh, a parrotlet! Is it a regular or a Lucida. Does yours talk? We had a parrotlet that we named Buster for a while. He knew quite a few words. The first recognizable words he said were “Hello Buster, how’s it going.” We were blown away, thought it would be great to get one word.
He was quite particular and would REALLY let you know if things were not to his liking. Whenever I was upset he would yell and gripe at Renee because he was VERY SURE it was HER fault.
Hey, us guys have to stick together!
He got just a little too picky and started not even tolerating my “ineptness” of taking care of him so we gave him to my son for breeding. Sad day for me.
anyway, Ben is a normal Pacific parrotlet…and very aggressive around his cage. Once out and on my shoulder he’s a dear, but he often draws blood before I get him away from his home and castle!
I’m with Jeff. The bathroom is definately the best place in my house to play because the acustics are so awesome (of course, my practice time keeps getting interrupted in there sigh
