I just found some words I agree with when considering buying a digital piano for your children to study piano on:
http://www.piano-tuners.org/piano-forums/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=102
and
http://www.opusmusiceducation.com/blog/2012/06/pianos-vs-digital-pianos-vs-keyboards-how-to-choose-the-right-instrument-for-you/
I believe you can find a used acoustic upright (even a spinet piano) that costs the same as a digital and you will have a better instrument to develop a better technique.
Cheers, Bill
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Friday, August 31, 2012
Cremation Association of North America (Gig #2101)
Interesting gig. On Wednesday, August 15th 2012, the CANA had my jazz trio playing for the trade show portion of their weekend in British Columbia at the Westin Bayshore Inn Vancouver. (see youtube video of their weekend: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DdtCR3E_gk&feature=player_embedded ) I see Jack Stafford and his trio enjoyed playing for them as well.
Thank-you to Noteable Entertainment for setting us up with CANA. They were very nice people, and we had a fun afternoon. Thanks to Ron Samworth (guitar), and Tim Stacey (Acoustic Bass).
Thank-you to Noteable Entertainment for setting us up with CANA. They were very nice people, and we had a fun afternoon. Thanks to Ron Samworth (guitar), and Tim Stacey (Acoustic Bass).
Sunday, April 15, 2012
Gig number classification
I want to number my professional gigs. I'm never going to know exactly how many gigs I have played, but I'm going to count them roughly, and then from now on count every one. At least, that's the plan.
So, my first gig was around 1976. It was a "sock hop" for my former elementary school (Seaview) in the gym. Murray Mclauchlan, vocals (my neighbour, not the famous one). Ken Lonie, guitar, Rob Clarke, bass, Glen Santics, drums and yours truly on electric piano (Rhodes 73). I distinctly remember singing background to "Blue Suede Shoes", and we probably played "Monster Mash", and "Eight Days A Week". We will call this gig #1.
Since gig #1, I played about 60 gigs with Royal Flush from 1977 to 1979 as well as with the Nanaimo Musician's Stage band. Also, there were gigs with Peter Long (I remember a duo at the Nanaimo keg), and in about '79, there was a week at the Cowichan Valley Inn playing for "The Platters". Also, lots of solo piano gigs in and around Nanaimo at pubs and bars etc. Let's say I played 150 gigs in Nanaimo.
I went away to school in Texas in 1981, and then there was UBC in 1982 - 1986. I played in the UBC Jazz Band #1 (and the 9 o'clock band at North Texas State University) Let's add another 50 gigs here. Don't forget the cruise ship I played for 11 weeks in the Caribbean in 1985. (66 there). Then there was the Yukon, and general gigs around Vancouver and Toronto. Five months a year 6 days a week in the Yukon for 8 years, and slower amounts of gigs in the winter around this time. By 1996 I had probably played 1200 gigs. That was in 20 years. (60 gigs/year). That sounds about right. Fifteen years later, lets keep this average going, so the total to date is approximately 2100 gigs.
I think it will be fun to number my gigs as I talk about them in the past and present. Hopefully I won't have to shift all the numbers around as gigs occur to me. (For example, forgetting a series of gigs from an unpleasant era). They all count!
So, my first gig was around 1976. It was a "sock hop" for my former elementary school (Seaview) in the gym. Murray Mclauchlan, vocals (my neighbour, not the famous one). Ken Lonie, guitar, Rob Clarke, bass, Glen Santics, drums and yours truly on electric piano (Rhodes 73). I distinctly remember singing background to "Blue Suede Shoes", and we probably played "Monster Mash", and "Eight Days A Week". We will call this gig #1.
Since gig #1, I played about 60 gigs with Royal Flush from 1977 to 1979 as well as with the Nanaimo Musician's Stage band. Also, there were gigs with Peter Long (I remember a duo at the Nanaimo keg), and in about '79, there was a week at the Cowichan Valley Inn playing for "The Platters". Also, lots of solo piano gigs in and around Nanaimo at pubs and bars etc. Let's say I played 150 gigs in Nanaimo.
I went away to school in Texas in 1981, and then there was UBC in 1982 - 1986. I played in the UBC Jazz Band #1 (and the 9 o'clock band at North Texas State University) Let's add another 50 gigs here. Don't forget the cruise ship I played for 11 weeks in the Caribbean in 1985. (66 there). Then there was the Yukon, and general gigs around Vancouver and Toronto. Five months a year 6 days a week in the Yukon for 8 years, and slower amounts of gigs in the winter around this time. By 1996 I had probably played 1200 gigs. That was in 20 years. (60 gigs/year). That sounds about right. Fifteen years later, lets keep this average going, so the total to date is approximately 2100 gigs.
I think it will be fun to number my gigs as I talk about them in the past and present. Hopefully I won't have to shift all the numbers around as gigs occur to me. (For example, forgetting a series of gigs from an unpleasant era). They all count!
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