* Apparently I can't post a video on the opening message, so the video is in the post under this one.

I am planning to start being more active on YouTube again, and I started today by posting a short improv piano video I did about a week ago.  I began playing piano 2 and a half years ago, right before I transitioned. 
It all started when I moved to Portland, for some unknown reason I became suddenly and completely obsessed with the idea that I could play piano... to the point where the obsession was impairing my life.  So I began to seek out public pianos to teach myself.  Eventually, piano was all I ever thought about, but I rarely had access to one. So, about 6 months later I decided to buy my own piano, as a present to myself for beginning transitioning.  It turned out to be one of the best purchases of my life.
All of my songs I've written are related to my transition... the emotions I feel about it, how I feel day to do, the people I've met, the situations I've encountered and so forth.  I feel I would have been lost in my transition if I didn't have my piano to express my emotions into.  It really helped me find peace within myself and keep my mind from tearing itself apart.  For some reason, when I play piano, it allows me to turn off all the noise in my head (or as my friend describes it, all the little tvs in my head that I'm constantly watching) and focus solely on one thing. 
Anyway, the post below has the link to a new piano video.

Enjoy =)

Quote from: VannaSiamese on June 12, 2011, 06:56:12 PMEnjoy =)

I very much did! I'm not much of a composer myself, especially not for solo piano, so I'm simultaneously impressed and a little bit jealous at how lovely some of the sections were. I subsequently had a little bit of a poke around your Youtube profile (sorry, I'm super-nosey~), and was really moved by the video of your theme song that you posted there. If it's not too weird to have a Scottish girl from halfway around the world playing a theme song you wrote for yourself, might I be so bold as to request sheet music? :'D Or is it only written down in your head?

Also, I wanted to say that I completely sympathise with your feelings about the piano. After I dropped out of high school a number of years back due to severe depression over my gender issues, I too became obsessed with the idea that I would and could learn to play the piano. Since I was very young I've felt as if the piano has spoken to the inner me. It's strange, really, since most of the pianists I really admire are male, but I've always found something very feminine in the sound of the instrument. Something that communicated with the girl that I kept hidden inside me for so long. I wanted to learn for years, but somehow when my gender issues hit breaking point it changed from something I wanted to do to something that I really needed to do. So I saved a couple of months' wages, bought an electric piano, and spent almost every spare moment I had playing it.

Just like you, I quickly found that playing it brought me an immense sense of tranquility. In fact, I'd go one step further and say that not only did it allow me to tune out the noise in my head, but it also enabled me to gradually work through and resolve the issues that were responsible for all that noise. I think that through learning to play the piano, I also learned to accept and even like myself for who I really was, and gained the courage to live my life the way I wanted to. I've never been a fantastic pianist. I probably never will be. Still, I really do credit pretty much all of my current happiness, stability and general well-being to the instrument, and I think I'm probably at my happiest when I'm in front of it.

Anyway, I'm rambling. I just wanted to say that it's nice to see a fellow transgendered girl who shares the same relationship with the instrument that I do. I'll definitely keep an eye on your Youtube channel from now on!

Very nice.    Do you play locally?

Very nice ! I can't believe how good you are after 2 1/2 years. I know a few people that have been playing twice as long and can barely play chop sticks ! (lol)
Not only do you play well , but you look great too !

Jamie

I <3 piano! Very cool.

  For 2 1/2 years, that's very impressive!  I cannot get past the Technik exercise on my many keys less than the old 88 key midi keyboard.  I did have the very neglected and least liked piece in the orchestra, the Viola!  Forced on me by my elementary school music teacher, who was experimenting!  I wanted the Saxophone dang-it!  I may try again soon on that mini midi, but I will have to relearn the chords first.  You are a very talented girl!  Practice, practice. practice!
  Joelene

Quote from: Eleanor on June 12, 2011, 09:14:52 PM
If it's not too weird to have a Scottish girl from halfway around the world playing a theme song you wrote for yourself, might I be so bold as to request sheet music? :'D Or is it only written down in your head?

I will see what I can do =)  My new piano produces the sheet music as I play.... but that means I have to replay that song =P  I tend to avoid playing the whole thing... I intentionally play some of the parts slightly off timing, so I tend to skip over those parts when I play the song now.  The real version of that song is about 8 minutes long, but I shorted it for YouTube purposes =)  You might find it a little annoying and deterring to play
I could easily send you scores for Veritas, Yuki, Haunted castle theme, and Ending Theme... they would be good to start with.  Ending Theme is the last little segment of the video, I almost always end my pieces with that.  I wrote it 4 months into playing piano to teach myself to separate my hands.  It's one of my favorite songs to play because it's fun and still challenging... I think you'll like it =)

Quote from: Janet Lynn on June 12, 2011, 09:20:14 PM
Very nice.    Do you play locally?

No not anymore =)  I use to go to open mic nights to teach myself to play... so I would explain to the audience that I was just learning and basically get up there and practice for 10 minutes or so.  That was the only access I had to a piano before I bought mine.