I’m not musical. I can’t carry a tune, I can’t count music, and I’m tone deaf. I’m not just saying this: I learned enough to read sheet music in school, but I can’t reproduce it picking on a piano or even in my mind, unless it’s a song I already know. And even then, the beat will be off and if I’m “singing” it, the tune will be off to anyone who hears me. I’ve been asked to stop singing along sometimes because I’m so bad. I also can’t dance very well, probably related to not getting the beat. And I have horrible music memory. I’m good at video trivia, often considered the reference among my friends when trying to think of who played what part in a movie or tv show, even ones I haven’t seen. But I generally can’t recall titles or artists for songs, and it takes me a while to learn a song.
But I enjoy music. I listen to a varied assortment of musical styles and artists. I like concerts. I love movie musicals, even the old kind where they all just burst into song. And I sing along with my albums and the radio when I’m alone. I also know how to pick out the notes on a keyboard. I never studied piano and I can’t play with both hands and all that. I just pick out tunes. One of my treasures is an old toy piano someone gave me in college so I could “play” songs.
I haven’t studied music and I don’t know what makes a well written piece musically. I tend to initially judge a song by the melody and ignore most lyrics at first. I still prefer a song to music without lyrics, though. I can’t explain why I prefer one song or one artist over another very well; I just know I do. I’ve been told I’m wrong, too. But I’m not wrong. I really do like this song and not that song. It’s not wrong. Maybe I have no taste, but I’m not wrong. :-)
It’s a little weird, my lack of music ability. One of my aunts is a concert pianist and other family members have a lot of talent, too. I used to be upset about not having musical ability, but it is what it is. And I enjoy it in the ways that I can. And if I want to sing out, I sing out…at least when I’m not bothering anyone else.
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