I have learned something new today. | Poal: Say what you want.

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I have mentioned it before, but I will restate it.

I really enjoy it when someone asks me a question, with regards to a subject that I'm either reasonably fluent in or interested in, for which I'm forced to reply, "I don't know. Let me get back to you."

It may sound unusual, but this is something that I truly enjoy - and for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include the question motivating me to learn and the results of that learning broadening my understanding of the given subject. Equally important is that it means the other person is trying to learn and that brings me great joy.

I have a great fondness for people displaying intellectual curiosity. When it's regarding a subject I'm reasonably familiar with, it also usually means that they too share my passion for learning about that subject.

Which is why I place this submission in the Education sub.

The short version, as this is already long enough, is that the Eldest Hoodlum (long story, for those unfamiliar) asked me if pianos ever made use of an alternate tuning. I was familiar with some pianos being tuned to a different A and I was passingly familiar with the historical uses of a different A - but that was not what she meant.

She wanted to know if pianos, which are also a chordophone - just like a guitar, were ever tuned to alternate tunings - for the same reasons we would use alternate tuning for our guitars.

And, I had no clue! I took formal piano lessons, but I'm absolutely not a qualified pianist. I can learn a piece, but it's gonna take me a minute. I can't even sight read and play piano.

Well, it seems that they do actually (very rarely) make use of this! I was able to turn to a search engine, use the appropriate search terms, and dig out a pretty informative page that had citations and some good information.

If you're curious, this is the link that I was able to uncover:

https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/51147/what-are-some-of-the-alternate-tunings-of-a-modern-piano

What really impressed me is that she had a good answer when I asked her why she wanted to know. She said that she heard a piano piece and it sounded like it was being intentionally played on an out-of-tune piano. This means her ear-training is coming along well and, also important, it gave me an excuse to explain that pianos are "out-of-tune" intentionally - but not in the manner she was thinking.

You can read about that here:

http://www.oudforguitarists.com/pianos-are-out-of-tune-equal-temperament-oud-music/

It's not really important - but it's great to see a young mind being so open to learning new things and so inquisitive about such a broad topic. And, really, this is a joy great enough that I would hope we all get to enjoy it.

My love for learning new stuff isn't some noble pursuit. It's just me being a big five year old. I have that same childlike sense of wonderment that your average five year old has. It's not something special, it's just being inquisitive - and continuing to ask why, over and over again. You know, like a five year old.

Anyhow, I wanted to share this - 'cause maybe you'll find it interesting and because I love learning new stuff, even if it's not ever going to be useful to me.

I have mentioned it before, but I will restate it. I really enjoy it when someone asks me a question, with regards to a subject that I'm either reasonably fluent in or interested in, for which I'm forced to reply, "I don't know. Let me get back to you." It may sound unusual, but this is something that I truly enjoy - and for a variety of reasons. Those reasons include the question motivating me to learn and the results of that learning broadening my understanding of the given subject. Equally important is that it means the other person is trying to learn and that brings me great joy. I have a great fondness for people displaying intellectual curiosity. When it's regarding a subject I'm reasonably familiar with, it also usually means that they too share my passion for learning about that subject. Which is why I place this submission in the Education sub. The short version, as this is already long enough, is that the Eldest Hoodlum (long story, for those unfamiliar) asked me if pianos ever made use of an alternate tuning. I was familiar with some pianos being tuned to a different A and I was passingly familiar with the historical uses of a different A - but that was not what she meant. She wanted to know if pianos, which are also a chordophone - just like a guitar, were ever tuned to alternate tunings - for the same reasons we would use alternate tuning for our guitars. And, I had no clue! I took formal piano lessons, but I'm absolutely not a qualified pianist. I can learn a piece, but it's gonna take me a minute. I can't even sight read and play piano. Well, it seems that they *do* actually (very rarely) make use of this! I was able to turn to a search engine, use the appropriate search terms, and dig out a pretty informative page that had citations and some good information. If you're curious, this is the link that I was able to uncover: https://music.stackexchange.com/questions/51147/what-are-some-of-the-alternate-tunings-of-a-modern-piano What really impressed me is that she had a good answer when I asked her why she wanted to know. She said that she heard a piano piece and it sounded like it was being intentionally played on an out-of-tune piano. This means her ear-training is coming along well and, also important, it gave me an excuse to explain that pianos are "out-of-tune" intentionally - but not in the manner she was thinking. You can read about that here: http://www.oudforguitarists.com/pianos-are-out-of-tune-equal-temperament-oud-music/ It's not really important - but it's great to see a young mind being so open to learning new things and so inquisitive about such a broad topic. And, really, this is a joy great enough that I would hope we all get to enjoy it. My love for learning new stuff isn't some noble pursuit. It's just me being a big five year old. I have that same childlike sense of wonderment that your average five year old has. It's not something special, it's just being inquisitive - and continuing to ask why, over and over again. You know, like a five year old. Anyhow, I wanted to share this - 'cause maybe you'll find it interesting and because I love learning new stuff, even if it's not ever going to be useful to me.

[–] • 1 pt

The more you allow us to share in EH's life, the more inspiring and refreshing it is to realise there are still young people who will continue to become a benefit to the world. Her dedications, perseverance, and intellectual curiosity signal hope that the future is indeed worth looking forward to. I have used her story as an inspiration to my grandkids, and my kids (although they're much older). It is fortunate that she is in an environment that fosters those qualities.

She brings me great joy. It's a chance to impact someone in a way that I may never have again, and I'm doing what I can to take full advantage of it - and she's seemingly doing the same. It's very rewarding, for both of us.

It's also great to see her fully realize the potential she has. She's realizing that she can go to college, major in a discipline she enjoys, and become a person that she'd have never really considered before. A comment she made, not too long ago, was pretty telling. She said something along the lines of, "Well, I guess I can dream bigger than getting a job as a waitress."

Which is remarkably profound, I think.

In a recent weekly guitar thread, TheOldMick put it nicely when he said something about how the many claims of guitar being dead to today's youth are obviously not true, as she's clearly demonstrating. Having both the time and means to impart what I know to a very willing and eager mind is absolutely one of the greatest things I'll probably ever experience. I kind of see myself as getting the better part out of this.

If I could try to paraphrase her comment, "Well, I guess I can dream bigger than playing for a few more audiences before I retire." I've had some remarkable good fortune in my life, and this is definitely one of the highlights.

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