Only the Good Friday – Let’s Play

Today, it is about play. Shelly is trying to get more of us involved in talking about Only the Good (on) Fridays. Talking is not defined just as words, but by photos, videos, whatever way we can express it.

Play is healthy! Posting on Good is healthy. Why not join us?!

Yes, I know you may be at work or doing something equally (or more) important, but take a few minutes, at least to play, today. And, tomorrow. And, the next day. Play brings smiles, smiles release chemicals that make you feel good. And if you feel good you don’t snap at me – or anyone else. (Ok, so that is a theory that is smashed sometimes.)

I love play in many forms, NaNoWriMo, for me is play, but yesterday, I chose music: a piano keyboard, a drum set, and an Ocarina — all on my iPhone. Most amazing was the Ocarina, for it truly lets you make music just as you would with the actual instrument. I learned the scale last night and even played Amazing Grace.

Prepare yourselves to see people across the world holding their phone as they would a recorder or the conventional Ocarina while blowing into the microphone built into their iPhones. They will be. And for the current introductory price of 99 cents from the Apple Store, I was only too happy to play.

There are finger patterns for musical scores already on the forum at the software maker site, Smule. There are YouTube videos popping up of people playing well or in learning mode. It is fun – and can be social.

Stairway to Heaven, guitar accompanied by iPhone Ocarinas… Hippie style, you gotta love it. (Only a minute with close ups of the iPhone.

or perhaps, you are more into Amazing Grace? I think Eric got into it!

I just have to question, will continual blowing hot air into the microphone jack eventually damage the iPhone? Guess I’ll find out, because I do like to play, in both senses of the word.

IF YOU TRY THE SOFTWARE: If you, like me, start playing it without reading their website, be aware they warn you to play it over a soft surface, the shape of the iPhone makes it incredibly easy to drop it playing certain notes… I managed to hold on to it, but almost lost it several times – and, no, I was not over a soft surface.