I do not play outside my home.

The arranger for me gives that warm wonderful feeling you get when you play in a full live orchestra! I recall that pleasure way back when in High School band etc. I always missed it.

Arranger gives me the ability to feel as though I am playing music with others.

Been playing arrangers since they came out. I will always have one or two around the house.

-Linda

Joe, your experience parallels my own.
The real joy I get from an arranger is sleeping until 10:00 a.m., then playing a little golf or fishing, then a quick shower and off to PLAY music for a living!! How great is that?
I never worry about the drummer being in a bad mood, or the bass man flirting with the guitar player's girlfriend. I can learn a new song and not have to teach it to anybody else.
I occasionally will use a midi file, but rarely. I enjoy playing the chords with the left hand and lead with the right, and don't give a damn whether anybody thinks it's cheating or uncool. Only times I am ever questioned is by out-of-work "musicians" who are paying to hear me. They don't understand how I am making more $$ than their whole band gets for a "gig".
I LOVE it!
DonM

Exactly my sentiments, Don...well said.

Ian

I'm a pianist first and have played in many bands. I enjoy playing with an arranger (T2) because it gives me the ability to play music that pleases me and my audience. Creative use allows for variation as well as a consistent professional performance. Would I prefer to always play in a band with four or five other musicians. Sure. Is it practical. No way.


The arranger is a great tool. I think it gets dinged when people use it as a crutch and depends too much on droning patterns and sometimes hokey features.


It's just a tool. You have to be a musician first. There's still no shortcut for practice, study, practice, listening, practice, and practice.

Love to sit down witrh an arranger several times a day. Great for learning tunes and just having fun. Would rather not gig with them, but do when it's called for. Have an SD-5, Roland GW-8, MS-60 and a Midjay to play with at work and keep another MS-60 on a house job.

Neat little fun tools!


Russ

It's much better than playing the spoons, Tyros 2 has a better sound. My bookings have tripled since trading in the spoons. However the spoons are much lighter and are much easier to find a hardshell case to fit them that doesn't weigh a ton

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God Bless,
Mikey

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I like what Trident said, " Joy? not at all....we are talking bliss here!!!

I echo that sentiment. The arranger opened doors for me musically that would have been closed, had I not picked up an arranger. I could have been playing a few cocktail hour type piano gigs here and there, but the arranger has got me gigs I wouldn't have had otherwise.

Actually it was my wife that bought me as novelty for a birthday a $159 Casio. Since I had a beautiful grand piano sitting in the living room I thought she was out of her mind buying this toy. I was about to return it. But started playing the thing and thought hey this lots of fun. The next 3 years followed with better and better arrangers....and more gigs along the way.

The only joy I don't get from an arranger is the feeling I get when sitting down at an acoustic piano and really being able to play expressively. Yea, you can play and sing with expression using an arranger, but for me who spent those early years playing piano, there is nothing like playing a piano solo with all the dynamics that go along with that instrument.

That being said, I would never trade my arranger for an acoustic piano.

Can you post something done on the spoons.

Donny

Whoops, I mean chas.

I really miss my four piece group (gave that up years ago) -but with my SD1-I don't have to worry about the drummer being late or being to loud-the horn man not wanting to play that mouldy oldie tune-on and on.