Wow...interesting responses to my thread.

A couple of thoughts.

First, I was really after finding out if other types of keyboards(other than arrangers and keyboards like the Clavanova) played styles. I think Don did give me an answer there.

I really like what Ian has to say here...very true.

Some "pros" aren't even advanced players, but, due to a combination of "entertainer" skills, and, either being able to play enough good basic chords in one key (and use the transposer), or use SMF for most of the performance, they certainly manage to get paid (and sometimes very well) for their work and are quite successful.


If there's one thing I've learned helping to manage/book for our Dalton Opera house is that the one skill a pro really needs is the ability to entertain folks. The folks that we booked, that brought the biggest ticket sales/at the highest prices were folks that could really 'entertain' the crowd and most just used Karoke..and no one cared.

Re: keyboard skills. I'm one of those basic players that Ian mentioned...most folks I know have more skills than me. I'm a basic chord person.

Here's the interesting thing to me. I get more jobs playing the Tyros with my basic skills than I do playing mandolin and/or guitar. And I've been playing those two instruments most of my life.

I know the difference between a skilled keyboard player and a rookie. My brother has been playing piano as a teacher since he was a kid and now he is in his 60's. He does perform with his choirs but isn't interested in playing to other types of crowds...he can play circles around me.

So am I a professional keyboard player? If you count making money with it...maybe yes? In my mind I'm not a pro but my audiences sure don't seem to care.

What I have always been able to do(I believe anyway)is entertain and that's what gets you jobs in my book.

Recently I was asked to play a gig. I told the folks that I would be playing keyboard. They hesitated. "That's fine", I heard over the phone. "However, we want entertainment and singing". "We get all kinds of folks who just play keyboard".

So, in my book, regardless of instrument played or skill level, the pro's are the ones who are very skilled at entertaining.

Thanks for the thoughts.