Chas, I'm sorry but this smacks of musical snobbery to me. As long as arrangers have been around there has been this fear that they somehow negate the skill of percieved 'real' musicians.

It amazes me how many musicians have this real fear that should the label on their board read Tyros instead of Motif or PA instead of Triton it takes away something from their own musical ability, or worse still is seen as a 'cop out' by their peers.

It is not the silly graphics above the keys or the lack of depth and 'tweakiness' that prevents arrangers being seen in more of your top 20 clubs, it is musicians who would rather miss out on the technology and options that modern TOTL arrangers offer than have anyone in any doubt about their abilities to do it for 'real'

I must have spent a massive part of my teens practicing my scales at the behest of a dragon in the guise of a sweet old piano teacher. Of course now I am glad I was subjected to such torture....but I certainly don't think that this makes me any more of a musician than someone who learns chords and has only ever played an arranger. In fact there are many people I know who had no formal musical training who could whoop my proverbial on anything with keys.

I have never understood why someones musicianship is somehow related to their choice of instrument, and why these petty distinctions are made only by fellow musicians. Surely it is the creation of music that matters, not what we create it on?

My first 'arranger' was a very basic casio. It was basic because that is all you could get then, I saved my paper round money for months to get it. It made music come alive for me after years of doing it 'for real' in the dragons den! When I was done with this 'toy' I passed it on to my mates little brother who had never shown the slightest interest in music, or instruments of any description. He just thought it was cool. These days he is a session musician and probably one of the best pianists I have ever heard.

David Bowie was performing on TV a couple of years ago and in an instrumental part of his song he picked up a Stylophone (remember them?) and used it.

My point is that it should be less about the tools and more about the music. Anything that inspires people to create music should be welcomed and not feared by those who think that a few bells and whistles challenge their own abilities.

Ten years time?.....we will still be having the same discussion because human beings have a desperate need to promote their own skills and abilities by trampling on those of their fellows.

Apologies for the verbose post. Bet you wish I had stayed in lurkers corner now
Best wishes
Tony x