Hi Daz, as a vocal-keyboard entertainer I'd say that having started formal piano lessons at 4 gave me a big edge in making keyboard playing feel second nature, like walking, but like anything else, if you don't continually use whatever skills you've developed, you'll eventually lose it. I embarassingly have to admit that I've regretably lost most of the classical chops I once had.

On the topic of arranger vs solo piano/keyboard: They are different instruments requiring uniquely different skills to sound good. My childhood music teacher once told me "the piano (keyboard) is perhaps the easiest instrument to grasp the 'basics' of music with, but the most difficult to 'master'.

Scott