What older keys players should say to younger keys players

[RandyFF]

.... even if you want to hire a pretty female singer, keep in mind to some of us (like me), looks dont really matter, you may find you hate her.

 

Lucky you, have always faulted myself and others for being so beauty swayed.

 

But when it comes to female singers, they have more than their looks to charm- I find myself falling for female singers with amazing voices though of course good looks plays into that enchantment!

[Threadslayer]

Perhaps you mean the wrists/forearms and elbows are flat?

I've always assumed that was the optimum position. That's what the kinesiologists always recommend for computer keyboards anyway.

[jimkost2002]

But the one thing I really learned from Albert was that its not just about your FINGERS but that your WRISTS are level with the keys so that ALL hand and arm muscles can be properly engaged.

 

This is excellent, I've often wondered about the height of my hands relative to the keybed, and this makes a ton of sense. Though there's also the question of the height of the elbow relative to the wrist/hand.

 

the elbows take care of themselves. let then fall naturally once you alingn the hands properly.

the elbows are neither pulled in nor winged out

 

I didn't mean the elbows going in or out, I meant up or down. The wrists can be relatively flat, and the elbows up or down in relation to the wrists.

 

Perhaps you mean the wrists/forearms and elbows are flat?

 

 

yes

[uhoh7]

Advice for younger keys players: pay attention to even younger keys players. What are they listening to? How? What gear are they interested in? How are they communicating? How are they learning?

 

I've herad current working producers and players share this advice a number of times. They all start nodding with each other when it comes up.

 

The world is changing fast, yes. Artists have always been inspired by the youth

 

Not all young people are smart, but some are friggin briliant. Most great discoveries are made by the under 30 people (though the old guys sometimes steal the credit}

 

My goal is to stay as young as I can and learn from the truly young.

 

What's next?

 

 

 

 

[JoJoB3]

Advice for younger keys players: pay attention to even younger keys players. What are they listening to? How? What gear are they interested in? How are they communicating? How are they learning?

 

I've herad current working producers and players share this advice a number of times. They all start nodding with each other when it comes up.

 

The world is changing fast, yes. Artists have always been inspired by the youth

 

Not all young people are smart, but some are friggin briliant. Most great discoveries are made by the under 30 people (though the old guys sometimes steal the credit}

 

My goal is to stay as young as I can and learn from the truly young.

 

What's next?

 

 

 

 

 

My accountant agrees with you (and needs to be changed)

[El Lobo]

Speaking of logic...

How did you get from "...one consideration to take into account is..."

to

"...none of us should ever take the advice of our elders."

 

My point, which I tried to make clearly, was that the elder should consider his target audience when giving advice.

And my point, which I didn't make clearly, is to consider the practicality of the advice you're giving and whether it's likely to be received and implemented. Buying good gear which will last a long time, yes. Don't be in bands with people you hate, sure. Don't try to bed the hot chick singer - well, that's probably not gonna be heard.

[JoJoB3]

Dell Paxton: Ain't no way to keep a band together. Bands come and go. You got to keep on playin', no matter with who.

 

Hahah! Yep!

 

That thing you do, Dell!!

[Dave Bryce]

Anyone else want to nominate this for a Key Thread?

Hear!

Hear!

The Hears have it.

 

Done.

 

dB

 

 

[J_tour]

1) Learn to keep a solid practice routine that actually works.

 

2) Ear training

 

 

4) Ear training

 

 

6) Did I say ear training?

 

Yeah.

 

I would say try to be better than the bassist at ... what's that? Ear training. Bass players know how, so you should too,

 

I would add:

 

(i) Beg, borrow, or steal ONE good instrument. Use it.

 

(ii) If not, go get the next best. Use it.

 

(iii) Rinse, repeat.

 

(iv) Write it down. Pencil and paper. Trust me: you'll forget it after a year or two.

[CountFosco]

What an older player should say to a younger player is: "Great gig man, you were smokin". They'll work the rest out themselves.

[TommyRude]

learn to both read music and to improvise. If you get good at both, you will be worth your weight in gold.

This. And you'll have more fun too.

 

 

[I-missRichardTee]

 

 

Horowitz had a master technician from the Steinway Artist division regulate his personal Steinway piano to his touch. The action he preferred was very sensitive and he toured with that piano. One should be careful citing Horowitz as an example of proper hand positioning.

 

Aha, I knew I would find vindication for my preference for light action... I just knew I wasn't a light weight. (Said in jest, boi s... It's a joke, ok. I suck at the piano. )

[pianoproducer]

In my case, what a younger keys player could say to an older keys player

 

[DanL]

I commented on the Facebook post about this, that the age of the advice giver and recipient shouldn't matter. If a younger keyboard player is better than me and is going to give me advice on something that will help me get better, I'm going to listen. Just because someone is old doesn't mean they are worthy of giving advice. That's my advice, coming from an old guy!

[montunoman]

If a younger keyboard player is better than me and is going to give me advice on something that will help me get better, I'm going to listen. Just because someone is old doesn't mean they are worthy of giving advice. That's my advice, coming from an old guy!

 

So true. Im sure must of us could learn a thing or two from a child like Joey Alexander!

[Synthoid]

And always answer the question "What keyboard should I buy?" with:

 

Nord Lead!

 

 

[The Real MC]

And always answer the question "What keyboard should I buy?" with:

 

Nord Lead!

 

What synth was used for the solo on "Lucky Man"? Nord Lead

I want to learn Hammond Organ, what should I buy? Nord Lead

Was that a Rhodes or a Wurlitzer on Supertramp records? Nord Lead

What's the best keyboard amp out there? Nord Lead

Anybody want a beer? Nord Lead

 

[Theo Verelst]

So you playboard? You in Da House? No? Good ! Lets hit a Blues in E, take a solo... What, doesn't work on that board? That's because digital's hard.

 

T

[area51recording]

So you playboard? You in Da House? No? Good ! Lets hit a Blues in E, take a solo... What, doesn't work on that board? That's because digital's hard.

 

T

What on earth does wether or not a board is digital have to do with ones ability to play a blues in E??

[TommyRude]

Take a shot early in life young keys player! The upsides dwarf the downsides, and if you don't make it, you will still have the immense rewards of the journey. And later, when you become an older keys player, you will feel fulfilled for having taken a shot.

[re Pete]

Practice. Don't give up.

[confidence]

Be careful, musicians are passive-agressive and often emotionally immature people

 

Oh well I'll just go and give up my dreams and be miserable then. Mummy always said I was no good anyway - at least now you've confirmed she was right.

 

Thanks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Michael W]

Pro tip: In general, younger keyboard players don't give a shit what any of us think.

[timwat]

Pro tip: In general, younger keyboard players don't give a shit what any of us think.

 

For whatever it's worth, I haven't found this to be the case that much.

 

Hard to tell on the interwebz if there is any tongue in cheek in your comment, Michael. But when I run into younger KB players (mostly, at jam sessions and similar where everyone gets to hear each other play), younger players in general seem to care a LOT about what older players think. Maybe its just the setting, and that's not the ordinary.

[Delaware Dave]

It needs a B3....

[Bill H.]

Pro tip: In general, younger keyboard players don't give a shit what any of us think.

 

In my experience (and this has been happening a lot since reopening with both young musicians and DJs) what they want to know about - almost exclusively - is the inner workings of the local club scene: who's hiring, who's booking, and how to get in.

 

And that's it.

[KuruPrionz]

Get a Degree in Business.

 

Nothing to do with music or keyboards, it can be applied to any field of endeavor and will not go out of style.

 

As for younger keyboard players, I would tell them to buy a guitar and learn it to some extent but if they want gigs buy a bass and learn to sing and play bass simultaneously.

[MathOfInsects]

Weird, I thought I'd posted this when this thread first came around, but I don't see it. Also, some names I haven't seen in a while. Where is Wastrel? And dare I ask lest it summons him, Beetlejuice-style: what became of I-Miss-Richard-Tee?

 

Anyhoo: If you're a young player, listen to old music. If you're an old player, listen to new music. Do this (on both ends of your career) and you can always work.

[CEB]

Don"t shit on the bus.

[drawback]

some names I haven't seen in a while. Where is Wastrel? And dare I ask lest it summons him, Beetlejuice-style: what became of I-Miss-Richard-Tee?

 

 

I don't know how I stumbled into this thread (the old/young thing is getting... well, old) but glad I did (to read this comment). I've been wondering this myself. There have been a few regulars MIA this past year.