I couldn't have said it better myself, t

And Bill, your comments are spot on for me too.

Really now, yesterday a had a man with an amputated leg sitting right in front of me. He sat most the hour without a single facial movement. But near the end of my performance I played "Have I Told You Lately" and "Have I Told You Lately" I saw him mouthing the words and a tear was in his eye. Then I did an unexpected encore and played "It's Five O'Clock Somewhere" He was just beaming. As soon as I stopped playing he wheeled himself up to my keyboard and said, "You come back at 5 o'clock, OK." Then he gave me a big smile and a head shake of approval.

THAT IS WHY I PLAY!

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 05-14-2010).]

Overall a feeling of satisfaction and escape from all the BS that goes on in the world. Today music is my drink of choice, there's no substitute for it.

Cass I share your thoughts on the NH circuit. Lots of smiles come on faces of those who are confined to a wheel chair or even those who are wheeled into a room in a hospital bed. Some can't move much but what I see in their eyes is very moving.

Easy choice for me - God gave me a talent and asked me to use it wisely. I really never had a choice - MUSIC chose me, and there are not enough hours in a day to get it all in. Even now, teaching kids during the day - I'm using the music skills I've mastered during my playing years ... I perform regularly with the kids and I love it. Last night one of my seniors came out to see me at a little Italian place I do and she sat in ... just like an adult. I remember sitting in with older guys when I was in high school - best on the job training you can ask for! I'm so proud that I can share this gift with others, and what I get back is at least 100 times what I put out.

I am an amateur and am a singer and have not taken money for performance during my 76 years.

I muck around with the keyboard because I love the thrill of changing those dots in a sheet of music to a melody and there is a good chance that I will never play in public

I did not take basic lessons untill about 15 years ago as there was always something in the road.

I have sung in choirs and the biggest thrill was when I sang in the Tasmanian Conservatoriun Choir performing the Messiah with the Tasmanian Synphony Orchestra.

I enjoy the physical and mental experience of singing as well as the the pleasure it gives to others.

Cousin Ken

Tasmania is such a beautiful place. Years ago when I was young I remember taking the Princess Of Tasmania boat trip across Bass Strait from Melbourne and doing the drive from Devenport to Hobart and back. What an awesome countryside it is.




[This message has been edited by Nigel (edited 05-25-2010).]

Did you find any two headed Tasmanians Nigel?

And did you go to the top of Mount Wellington?

It is a wonderfull view from there

Cousin Ken

Putting aside the performance part of playing –

Have you ever played a soft ballad and given it all you had and felt an emotion that you could not buy. Or played a great up-tempo and as you stood up you felt like $1,000,000?

John C.

Well said, John. Absolutely!


Russ