I really didn't post my remarks to be mean-spirited. My intention was to help make newbie keyboard players aware that what you see is not always what it appears to be. Hopefully keep them from getting unnecessarily discouraged like I did.

In my early years, I was "intimidated" by so many players I encountered who seemed to be world-class....then came the Internet and it got even more confusing. Many will portray themselves off as "fully-developed" musicians anxious to get a slice of the adulation pie! Presto, zippo....make a video with your I-phone, put it on Youtube and proudly show it to family, neighbors, friends, co-workers, your dog, etc

I still have to remind myself, when I watch someone on a video, that maybe the song/songs this person plays were the only 6 songs he knows and plays them daily, morning, noon and night, and once more before he goes to bed! But the performer forgot to mention that.

Honestly, if I were just starting out today playing an instrument, I'd take one look at all these deceptive video's and maybe pack it in and switch careers. There should be qualifiers that go with all these Youtube shots. In Tommy's case it would be something like: "Don't get discouraged by what you hear....keep in mind this is my own style, I practice everything this way, and I can't play in any other key but C.


Reference....this trend to praise everyone who posts a demo, not just here but other groups too. I never understood why everyone feels obligated to dish out those remarks: "great job" "thanks for posting this" "keep 'em coming," etc. Many I think truly deserve such remarks, but there are just as many who should be advised they are not quite up to snuff and to go back to the drawing boards!

When I was learning (and playing out), I couldn't give two hoots about positive comments. I went out of my way to ask friends, audience members, even the club owners NOT what was right about my performance, but what was WRONG....what could I improve on, did I make obvious mistakes, how is my own personal style coming across to the audience, can you think of other songs I should be playing, OR.....songs I should NOT be playing, etc? And I used the feedback to get progressively better.

Now, if everyone is "good" then there is no "bad" to benchmark it against. "Good" becomes meaningless because it exists in a vacuum by itself. It's like "beautiful" and "ugly." How can "beautiful" exist if there is no "ugly" to compare it with.

I think anyone who is good, just knows by instinct they are "good!" Why would you need to hear it again from someone else?


But...I have to say, I do admire those folks who do dish out the compliments. I think they are genuinely caring people out to encourage others (who they recognize NEED encouragement)!