A friend on another forum posted this valued piece of information along to the members. While he has some significant health issues he constantly deals with, he still manages to maintain an incredible sense of humor. He posted this in response to someone's question about playing every note correctly:

Let me tell you this secret to playing correctly (this is between you and me! - and Vinnie the Enforcer)

Secrets: 1. when the fingers bends make sure it is positioned over the note you want to play - that is essential!!!

2. in those rare moments when your finger isn't, but instead hits the note right next to it - QUICKLY "slide" over to it. (it's been re-named a "grace note")

3. if you are two notes away from the intended note you are more than likely in a "3rd" of the chord. Act like you meant to hit that one and do a whole series of
hitting every note in the chord and the scale of that key instead of the melody. Call it "faking it" - or even better, call it "improvising" -
that sounds more professional.

4. finally - the info that I usually charge $100 an hour for. If playing the Left Hand Chord of C or Dm7 or Em or FM7, GM7 and Am (and others) almost ANY
WHITE KEY souds OK!!!! SO, THERE IS very little chance of hitting a "wrong" note. Next time I am at my psr I will do a midi demonstrating this technique (in fact,
most any midi I make is using this technique. I'm not good, I'm resourceful.)


Some people, such as my Polish Polka accordion friend has a similiar system on the black keys - everything he plays is on black keys. (But, I'm allergic to black keys - that's what the "transpose" button is for on my psrs.

Enjoy,

Gary

------------------
Travlin' Easy

Regarding point 3,

One of my piano teachers told me when there are a set of notes that are to be played very quicly I can slow down the tempo (tempo rubato) because it sounds more professionally.

George

Wow Gary, those are some amazing theories/practices/secrets.

Here I was spending/wasting all that time practicing melodies and carefully considering harmonies. I guess I need to rethink my entire life. It's all been a big scam!!

2. "it's been re-named a "grace note""

Sure makes scales and runs interesting, eh.


4. "almost ANY WHITE KEY souds OK"

I guess if you use the #2 grace note rule in the left hand, eventually all notes are OK too even if you have to play multiple "grace-notes" within a beat.

Good for him getting $100/hour for charging for such advice.



[This message has been edited by RobertG (edited 09-24-2006).]