With what I consider some terrific backgrounds and great stories here I've been reluctant to post. My story doesn't hold a candle to the great talent here who have told their stories. Mine is more of the approach it's never too late to do or try anything in life.

I started taking piano lessons at age 11 for a couple of years. I never excelled at it and had to be pushed to practice. I had this habit of telling my folks I practiced when I didn't, it was easy to fool them, I'd just move the books around the piano to look like I had been practicing. That didn't last long since when the teacher came to the house every week he could easily tell I hadn't touched the piano, every week there was a ruckus when the teacher showed up. I quit at age 14. Somewhere around 17 years of age I loved what I heard people like Keith Emerson and Rick Wakeman doing, so I got a bit serious about learning piano. I wanted to play like Emerson or Wakeman. I stayed home and practiced most weekend days when my friends were at the beach or skiing during the winter. I also went to work at the local Steinway and Hammond Organ dealer got my hands on some very nice instruments I would have never been able to play otherwise. I did make a lot of progress in 4 years, but I got caught up in life and took the wrong path and for the next 15 plus years took a path that nearly cost me my life. There were a number of factors that set me straight and at 32 I put my life back together. I re-entered sales this time around working for a national company and had a succesful career that put some nice things in my life, Hammond B3, a Samick 6 foot grand piano, plus a string of other instruments. Once I purchased the Samick grand I started playing/practicing again. Fast forward to 2002 when I purchased a Clavinova CVP107 and discovered how much music that an arranger could make. I started recording CDs and handed them out to friends, a number of people asked why aren't you out playing every weekend? Because I have a day job. (but I'd think to myself well I can't play like the pros so I'll just play for my own enjoyment.) One day about 4 years ago a friend who's a pro musician and a booking agent needed someone to play piano solo ala wallpaper music at a Christmas cocktail hour. I took the gig and enjoyed it. So my first paid gig in public was at 55 years old. Shortly after I found SZ and have been visiting trying to learn all I can from those who have done this for many years. I have taken many of the suggestions and put them to use, except maybe for someone who suggested that I play gigs for no fee. NOT going to happen my time is more valuable and I'm not that needy to have to play for the bubble. I know I won't be able to quit my day job until I'm ready for retirement from the 9 to 5 routine, but I'm having some fun playing 2 or 3 gigs per month, more around certain seasons of the year. I'm having fun and it proves it's really never too late to try something even though the chances are I'll never be in the same musical class that many of you who visit here are.



[This message has been edited by Stephenm52 (edited 05-07-2010).]