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Have You Seen This? The chopstick piano
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You can make just about anything an instrument if you really want to. My proof? This chopstick piano. - photo by John Clyde


FUNKY INSTRUMENT TOWN I love music. I love to listen to music, I love to see music played live, and I love to pretend to know how to play music.

For these reasons, I am often drawn to these videos that showcase some impressive musical skills. The general public usually isn't quite so interested based off the lower page views these stories get but I have a feeling you're going to like this one.

Sami Elu plays a beautiful tune on recycled instruments and chopsticks. Yes, chopsticks.

The piano he's playing is a chopstick piano and despite what you think it sounds amazing. Elu is playing more beautiful music with used eating utensils than I can with a $12,000 guitar.

The song is hypnotic and you'll think your eyes are playing tricks on you because there is no way that beautiful melodic tune is coming from that "junk." Well deal with it, because it totally is.

Check out this video and start saving those used chopsticks because that's a lot cheaper than a baby grand.
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Have You Seen This? Street musician slays with clarinet
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Better than almost every face-melting guitar or drum solo. - photo by Facebook video screenshot

THE BIG EASY — Yeah, yeah, we all know that New Orleans is stuffed to the gills will incredible musicians.

But knowing that fact and then hearing that fact are two different things. You can step into any number of jazz clubs on any given night on Bourbon Street, and you’ll probably be impressed with virtually every act. Or you can sit at home on your comfy couch and watch this featured video.

In the video, you’ll see a woman who is in the groove. She is swinging hard, and wailing on her clarinet with a practiced expertise that makes it sounds so easy.

From note one you’ll be drawn in; your appreciation will grow with every second, and then your face will melt off when you realize how incredible she really is.

If you’ve never played a woodwind or a brass, you may not know everything that comes with a performance like this. Lung capacity and breath control are huge factors in keeping your notes clear and loud, and hitting those high notes is especially difficult.

So when this woman hits that high note and holds it for several seconds, you know you’re dealing with an exceptional musician. It means she has worked hard for years to develop skill on top of her natural talent, and we get to benefit.

It kinda makes you wonder how we let people get away with mumble rap and autotune when talent like this exists in the world.

I wish this video were longer, and I wish I had more information about this woman, but as it is, we’ll just have to appreciate the little flavor of New Orleans jazz posted by the Facebook group Clarinet Life.

Martha Ostergar is a writer who delights in the ridiculous that internet serves up, which means she's more than grateful that she gets to cruise the web for amazing videos to highlight for your viewing pleasure.
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