Hi all,
Sorry UD but I too cannot agree with your original statement. For as long as I can remember arranger players have been looked down on and been the but of similar comments, usually from people who consider themelves professional musicians. Basically it is just musical snobbery.

I love to play arrangers. I can read music and can play an acoustic piano should the need or inclination arise. I also play guitar. I do not consider that my arranger is any less of an instrument than my guitar or my piano. I do not consider that either instrument requires more or less musicianship to master. Of course they require a different approach depending on which I decide to play but ultimately all are musical instruments and I can either play them or I can't.

If we as arranger players start to believe the cliche's that are all to often thrown at us then we will never be rid of this 'one finger player' nonsense. My father is an acomplished pianist and church organist. I bought him a KN 920 to play on church visits to old folks homes etc. He usually plays it as a straight piano because the arranger part is too much for him to master to a level where he feels confident to play in public. I have rarely heard anyone who can play piano like my dad and yet he admires MY MUSICIANSHIP when I play for him on the arranger.

It can take years to master an arranger keyboard. God knows I have a long way to go....but that is my point. It took me just as long to master the guitar......I spent hours on end as a kid in piano lessons.

Ultimately it is US that are the musicians, the instrument is just a tool. We either make music or we don't. I really don't care what people use to make their music....from paper and comb to concert grand if your audience likes what you are doing then you are a musician. Don't let anyone ever tell you otherwise.

(Think I went off track a bit there )
ttfn
Tony