Good question.

Like Don01 I play music with the main intent to Praise God. That could be at Church or when in the mornings, before I start my regular job I have a moment to Pray and Play.
A difference from a lot of people in SZ, I started late as musician, but I feel peace in understanding that my music have the main intent of pleasing ONE and no multitudes.
It is wonderful feeling that when you play, you have a bunch of brothers an sisters united with the same purpose.

There are very talented people in SZ. I will love to hear DonM or James or any other, play "Amazing Grace".

I will record it for you when I get time. It's an amazing song and I don't do it justice, but who cares.
I was playing at a local Casino a few years ago, and got a request for it. I told the guy it wasn't an appropriate place. He handed me a 100 dollar bill and asked if that it made it more appropriate. Anyway I did it and to my surprise got a standing ovation, at a CASINO.
DonM

[This message has been edited by DonM (edited 05-13-2010).]

i play because i love music & try to emulate songs that i love

Why do I play? Simple. Two reasons, not in any particular order:
1. I just love to play
2. I can't help it
3. I'm driven

I play because I only have so long in this life and I'm lucky/blessed enough to have a skill and a passion for music. I don't want to waste this time doing something else that doesn't touch me like performing does.

When I am performing, I am entertaining myself as much as anyone else in the room. Its very cool to see how whatever emotion I put into a song travels to everyone else in the room and we share the experience. Its why I prefer nursing homes/retirement communities to clubs.

If I could play in the NHL, I'd like to do that...since that's NEVER gonna happen, I'll stick with my music till I can't do it anymore...

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Bill in Dayton

[This message has been edited by Bill in Dayton (edited 05-13-2010).]

Bill, don't give up on the NHL, either. My Oilers will be glad of just about anyone of any skill level.

I'm not in the same league with DonM, but here a link to a version of Amazing Grace that I posted some time ago. It's a midi file that sounds best on a Yamaha keyboard. http://www.psrtutorial.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=7150.0;attach=4211

Gary

I love the elvis version...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3XdXEJEI4E

He was a heck of an arranger player, wasn't he?

Yep, that's a great version, although you can hear that version in practically every Black Baptist church in America. It's a great tune, although I always thought it strange that it is, and always has been, so popular in the Black church, seeing as how it was written by a slave ship captain. I guess the music is strong enough to overcome it's origins. I think we should ALL give it a shot, and see how many different arrangements of it we can come up with. The music is simple enough (although I've heard slight variations of the chord changes) so your skill or playing level shouldn't be a factor, just your creativity. Since it's quite evident where Elvis 'borrowed' his from, you should feel free to do the same.

chas