All of us have x-amount of time that we devote to music. But how much of that time is actually devoted to music and how much is devoted to ......TECHNOLOGY. Researching it (what's the latest, greatest technological 'gadget' that's going to magically make me a better musician?), learning it (a time-consuming challenge for all of us, especially the technology-challenged OLD farts among us), making it usable and reliable in a 'live' environment, and finally, how to make our audiences think that it's US (meaning our raw talent and hard-earned musical skill) and not the technology.

Funny how the worlds best musicians play pianos and flutes andf oboes (and yeah, even guitars ) and NOT synths, workstations, and arrangers. Most have chosen one or more ACOUSTIC instruments, stuck to that/those, and devoted the bulk of their time to the task of becoming MUSICIANS. That would include mastering their instrument/s, learning music composition, theory, and performance........and finding a day job....oops, sorry, the devil made me say that .

Now I'm not saying that we should ditch the technology (in fact, it DOES make most of us sound better ). I'm just saying that perhaps we should de-emphasize the technology a little more and concentrate more on the music side of things. There is never more excitement on the board than when a new 'toy' shows up, and we anticipate the NAAMM and Mus...uh, the Frankfurt event (can't spell it ) like it was the second coming. Almost no one will disagree that most of us have barely scratched the surface of the potential of our current boards while heartily lusting after it's not-yet-announced replacement (which we will ALSO never scratch the surface of).

Now don't get me wrong, I love and am amazed by technology. I may be the oldest living 'geek' and have spent a career in an industry driven by technology. But while I understand how art and science can not only co-exist, but actually compliment each other, I also understand that one should not compromise the other.

My own journey has taken me back to my roots, the 'Hammond' organ, and these days 90% of my playing and 98% of my love is now directed to this one instrument. I'm going back and listening to the old masters and also the new (like Cory Henry) and getting a lot of pleasure out of trying new things that I never did before in 40 years of organ playing. The result; I'm having a ball and no longer suffer from GAS.

chas