Bill, that is an interesting reading.
I started playing the violin at 5. Didn't like it too much - I got easily tired by holding the violin. On the other hand, I liked the acoustic piano very much. The most important feature of the piano was thet I could never play it out of tune.

Later, I replaced the violin with viola (some call it Bradth) because I grew tall and my hands got too long to hold the violin.

I used to take lessons in Theory of Music, Harmony and Polyfony in the local school of music.However, the matter of subjects was not so interesing to me. That was one of the reasons I decided to give up my career in music. The other reason was that I could not play music instruments as well as the other guys of my age.

So, in 1995 (I was 17 by then) I discontinued my exersises in music. I did not have any time to practise music while I was in the University.

After graduating I had hard times finding a good job. In the end I was hired as a computer programmer in a newly founded company - I was the 5th employee in the company, including our Boss. 2 years later there are 22 employees in the company.

I decided to take up playing piano again because playing music is a very good way to relax from the busy day. Therefore most of my compositions are lyric pieces or ballads.

My first electronic keyboard was the pityful PSR-260, which I bought for the stunning $250 in 2001. It was not until Dec 2005 when I got rid of it for $100.

In Dec 2004 I bought a Yam DGX-305. I have spent many happy hours playing it.
I think I will never get back to playing an acoustic piano. Electronic keyboards are easier to keep, do not need tuning, easy for transport, many sounds, styles, fun and so on. Last but not least, people get impressed when they enter my room and see Yamaha. They would be even more impressed I had a Roland.
I do miss the hammer action of a real piano but I think it won't be long when hammer-weighted keyboards in my price range will appear.

Wish you all the best. This was my longest posting on the Synthzone.

George

[This message has been edited by George V (edited 01-16-2006).]