It isn't just a matter of learning more about your instrument, although that might be helpful to some. What happens when you exceed your keyboard's capabilities? It seems to me that everytime I sit down to practice with my Yamaha keyboards, I'll be working smoothly then suddenly I'll run into a "gotcha" - some aspect of the keyboard's design or support that forces me to compromise in some way. And it keeps happening, especially with the 9000 Pro. It's very frustrating - so many aspects of the 9000 Pro fit my live performing needs so well yet the limitations are all too apparent.

I have this illusion that Yamaha or Korg or Roland is planning on coming out with a breakthrough pro-level arranger that will fulfill both my professional needs and their promises, but the evidence is to the contrary.

My plan is to continue to use my two 9000 Pros until either a company comes forth with a suitable replacement instrument or I can design my own, the latter of which is the most probable occurance. That's why softsynths and customizable host instruments that support them look so promising - no one company would be able to hold it's customers hostage to their own poor standards.

The lessons we've learned over the past ten and twenty years as digital keyboard consumers have taught us not to rely too heavily on any one company or instrument for our livelihoods. It's only now becoming a reality that we can effectively change this... and it won't be a moment too soon IMHO.