Actually after reading over my post, if I had the time, patience, desire etc, I would learn the piano style left hand. Because in the real world, away from the nice arranger style backrounds, (even with the backrounds), your music will sound better, being able to add stuff that will make it sound richer.

I really wish now I would have continued with my piano lessons. But after two years (3rd and 4th grade) with a nun as a teacher (she didn't use a ruler on my hands, but she sure had a mouth), that was all I could take. So, what if I was in 3rd grade and told the nun I wanted to learn how to play swing music? True story, I think you know where that went.

I am first a trumpet player and decided that the left hand was made to hold a trumpet and to hold chords in the left hand organ style.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Scott