I had good intentions when I said I would start a teaching post on the forum. Since then I have committed to making a changeover in the type of music that is needed to play the jobs that I play.

Creating a new repertoire is one big job, I?m doing it reluctantly, I love the older music. Big Band, Latin, Polkas, Nice Ballads and all that goes with that era. This happened to me back in the 60?s and 70?s in New York, that?s why I moved to Florida, I was able to continue playing the music I love. Here in Southeast other than nursing homes there is very little demand for the older music. Even the condos have changed their preference.

In the changeover I am using Midi Files ? I sing --- and I may also use Guitar --- Wow, it sounds like I am back in New York again. Maybe it's time to quit.

I am open to any thoughts -- Are any of you struggling with the same problem?

Puzzled, John C


[This message has been edited by bruno123 (edited 06-01-2005).]

JOHN C.... Play what you love & enjoy all that you do...For me there is nothing else to be & nohing else to do!

No attempt I have ever made to conform to what others APPEAR to want has ever pleased myself or those others. Some times the challenge has been my interpretation & sometimes it has been the explanations of those others about what they wanted me to do.

I play the music I love & enjoy playing... Like you, I also play BB, Jazz, Polkas, Waltzes, Latin rhythms...all the oldies & goodies from the late 1800's through the 70's.... My audiences seem to like it well enough to want more of the same...

Life for me is about sharing what I love...it is NOT about struggling with anything or coping with "problems."

These are my thoughts....Maybe you will find something here that will encourage you to just be yourself moment by moment & enjoy all that you do...

ELIZABETH

Hi there John
On reading your posting I would ask yourself the following questions.

1. Do you really want to play a different type of music.

2. Can you give it your best to play it

3. Will it satisfy you?

4. Do you need the money or is it perhaps the buzz of playing to a live audience?

5. Is it becoming a pain rather than a joy to play this different style of music?

If the answers to the above are more NOs than Yes, then you have your answer.

We each play and enjoy the type of music that we prefer, because of this we can add that extra feeling to it that comes across in the music.

You know John - you already know this yourself!!! You are at an age when life is precious and should be about enjoying yourself and smelling the roses not worrying about a change of direction unless it is absolutely necessary - Is it? Joan

Hi John
Maybe you should become an impresario and 'manage' others who's younger talents are more suited to today's market demands...
Best wishes
Rog
Or would you like me to pop over and set you up with rhythms and sheet music for the later genre - that'd be a challenge wouldn't it, eh...

[This message has been edited by RMepstead (edited 06-02-2005).]

Or would you like me to pop over and set you up with rhythms and sheet music for the later genre - that'd be a challenge wouldn't it, eh...
Rog

Now there's a beautiful thought Rog, you could stay and you and I would make a great duo.
ha ha ha Hmmm1
I still enjoy the way you play Beatle Music

You know John - you already know this yourself!!! You are at an age when life is precious and should be about enjoying yourself and smelling the roses not worrying about a change of direction unless it is absolutely necessary - Is it? Joan

A bit of wisdom from over there. Joan, there are times when one loses their direction, and you are so right. I have been so taught to do what I must, to do what is needed that I negelect the most important issue, me. Thank You.

John C.

Joan, 1-No 2- No 3-No 4-No 5-No
I've had to deal with not smelling the roses one than once in my life, I guess I just need to hear it from time to time. You're good Joan, thanks.

John C.

Hi John
I am going through the same thing.It is easy enough for me to modernize.In fact many times I prefer it. To put this in context,I am speaking of moving up to the 50's to 80's from 20's to 40's.

I have played nursing homes and senior dances where the former is always appreciated. I have played lodges and other venues where you can't give them a steady diet of bigband,ballroom,etc.I thought about this a long time,and concluded that to stay in the mainstream at all,I cannot keep playing the same music I did 40 years ago,although the irony is I played cover songs then that were newer than I play now. The reason is I was playing lounges for a living.

I am going to keep the old,but,also join the 50 and 60 yr olds. Afterall,I remember when that was old as dirt. Look at our British friends,Bill and Rog.I thought their music was refreshing at the Jam

Good post,John

Well done Joan - you've put your finger right on the spot(s)...
For me the most important thing is the buzz of playing to a live audience and having them respond because I've got it right for them...
Therefore I play anything that I've heard and like right up to the present day (although I find that I'm increasingly rejecting more and more of the very latest stuff - rap etc) but singers like Coldplay - Clocks; Katie Melua - Closest thing to crazy; and Gabrielle - Rise are just superb examples of beautiful melodic harmonic sounds that still make the hairs on my head stand on end, and I want to play them well to a live and receptive audience. So I guess the psychologists would tell me that it's recognition that I'm after...
Is that how both you John's feel?
Rog

First of all..play what you want to play,and find the audience that will enjoy the same music...

That being said, we are losing the audience that relates to the 20's to 40's music...in general..It doesn't mean we can't play the super well known songs from that era...for example Gershwin,Porter,Kerns etc...
My personal preferrences...Late 30's[songs from film hits]...Bigband from the 40's, and I definately add the 50's[great hits in this era], I also like to play the 60's tapering off after the mid sixties[Humperdink and Elvis are covered as are Bobby Vinton,Vee and Rydell...
If we can't keep an audience with this material..send them to the Karaoke bar..

Naturally we need to have a few of the Disco/dance hits of the 70's and some Motown from late sixties.. throw in some novelty dance tunes from the eighties...and you've got it...Forget the 90's and newer[that's 1990's..]..

I am using a Tyros to play a job this weekend, I feel it sounds better for music form the 50's to the 80's. The midi file system is very friendly. I feel Yamaha has set it's market in these two areas.
My set-up
1-In the regestration menory I have the music that I have been playing.
2-In the song section I have all the Midi files.
3-On my laptop I have all my lyrics, sheet music and some audio files like Electric slide.
4-I have all my midi files on my laptop also. The sound is not as good as the keyboard but oh wow ease using the Van basco program.

This is a trial for me, I'll know better next week.

John C.


[This message has been edited by bruno123 (edited 06-02-2005).]