We're in the process of moving and since I was a kid in my parents home I've always had a basement (todays hip term, "Man Cave") to store my stuff and practice in, either alone or with other musicians. Crank it up sometimes and drive my parents and now my wife a bit to the edge. Seems like the future is going to be vastly different for me. No basement in the new home and lots less square footage. I'm planning on a small climate controlled studio in the garage but thats a long way and $$$ away.
So where do you guys do your practicing/storing stuff?


Bill in NJ

I have my 6 foot Yamaha grand in my living room. All of my electronic stuff is in my studio on the second floor. While I love my grand for just playing and playing, I also love my studio for what I'm able to do with all of the things at my command. It's a best of both worlds scenario.

JOe

In my case I have a walk-out, finished basement, which has 5 rooms. My office, which I guess some folks refer to as a studio, measures about 12' X 15' and I have a 6' X 8' adjoining room which is where I store my spares and entertainment clothing. One day, when I clean the junk out of my office, I'll shoot some photos and post them.

Cheers,

Gary

practice what's that?.. I'm always working... Lol

The backyard patio/pourch has been converted to a room. I have my drum set,congas, bongos, timbales, marimba, a shelf full of smaller percussion, my keyboard and PA. Sometimes we have full band rehersals. It a great room and I'm very thankful I have a great place to practice. I just wish I had more time to enjoy it. Maybe when I retire....

Practice?? I don't need no stinkin' Practice!
Seriously, I have an entire room dedicated to my computers and musical gear. My wife works all day and I work at night, of course, so I don't bother anybody when I crank something up.
I haven't practiced per se in years, but I do learn new songs, so I guess you could call that practice. On slow nights at work I experiment with new styles and licks. Sometimes I play songs in keys that are more difficult than those I generally use, just to get comfortable in those keys in case I ever HAVE to use them. I also will experiment with different styles than I would normally use for a particular song.
Most of the time though, I could sleepwalk through the night, as far as playing the songs. I try not to let the audience see this though. They think that what I do is HARD!
With headphones, all you really need is room to set up the keyboard somewhere.
DonM

My house is quite large, so I only use the downstairs...upstairs rooms are for storage and stuff I rarely use.

My large living room is also my bedroom, with bed in the middle, plus, in one corner I have my custom built desktop computer, and right next to it are the Tyros4 with a Yamaha MS60S powered monitor on either side of it...in another corner is a flat screen TV with a PlayStation 2 (running Gran Turismo 4) and Logitech G-25 wheel and pedals permanently hooked up on a special table in front of it.

So basically, mostly everything happens in this room. There is a large kitchen, and a large bath/shower/wardrobe room that flank the living room.

Because I choose to live alone, I haven't kept regular hours in many years...most times, I'm up all night, either on the Tyros4 practising new tunes, doing new styles and arrangements, or, I'm on-line (or on the phone) helping clients with their various keyboards...or, I'm enjoying the diversion of my Playstation 2 and the GT4 driving sim.

I generally go to bed around 3:00 or 4:00 AM...my sleep habits are not the norm, meaning I sleep for a few hours, then get up and work or practise a few hours...this goes on throughout the day and evening, plus I do some chores, some grocery shopping, and, of course, get my meals.

I'd say, my average practise/work time is at least several hours a day, and the only time that changes, is when I'm on the road doing clinics and demos.

It's a pretty laid back lifestyle, and I like it that way.

Ian

Enjoyed reading your answers and I'm sorry if I scared some of you with the word "practice" HA! I really didn't mean going through the Hanon book but trying new songs, styles, etc, that most of you do like I do. And cranking up the system to see if the "bass is just right"! Then again if I had a Yamaha Baby Grand- wow. Just sold my bueatiful 54" studio upright to a college and it looks like I'll not be getting a real piano again. Still trying to sell the B3-its mint and deserves a good home.
Trying to simplify my setup to three things. A weighted keyboard for real playing, an arranger for solo gigs, and a organ/piano setup for band type stuff. Lots of options but I'm waiting on Fran's report for the BK7M. That would solve a lot.
A walkout basement or attached room sounds great but not part of this new house. And taking one of the small rooms is out of the question, just not enough living space to do that. So it looks like my garage idea is the only way to go.

Damn ,at my age I'm going back to my teen years of being in a "Garage Band" Anyone got the lyrics to Louie Louie !

Bill in NJ

Similar to DNJ and DonM, I don't sit at the keyboard and practice songs I already know, but instead, my spare time at the keyboard in the office is spent learning new songs and making changes to those I already know. Over these many years I've tried to learn at least one new song per week, which I believe is a noteworthy goal. Not only does it help sharpen your skills, it also allows you to broaden your musical horizons. This week is Saint Patrick's Day parties--non-stop! The first one was yesterday and the final one is Friday. It's the highest demand holiday other than the month of December, which is non-stop Christmas parties.

Obviously, you get tired of playing the same dozen or so, traditional Irish tunes, Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Irish Lullaby, etc... So when Eddie (btweengigs) Shoemaker sent me a link to a novelty tune called The Drunken Scotsman I decided to learn it. It took a couple hours to get the lyrics down and select the right style, but it's a fun tune to sing. I'm not sure how the audiences will react, though. I tried it last night, but the audience seemed indifferent to it. I'd like to read your opinions.



Cheers,

Gary

I grab a few minutes here and there. I have a guitar, amp and piano in my office. In the back of my warehouse, I have a full set-up: PA, M-3, Clavinova, guitars, drums, etc. The trio practices there, as does a duo my son is part of and the players we use for film scores. Upstairs (the private area where only guys like UD, Rory and Jim (Zuki) have been), there are over 150 instruments, including two necked mandolins, 3 neck guitars, an accordion, lap and pedal steels, banjos and, of course, lots of guitars.

At home, we have antique but quite playable guitars on the walls of three rooms, another Clavinova in the front room, an upright bass in the den, along with a small restored 1832 Edwin W. Powers vaudville piano out of the local Opera House.

Then, I have a B-3 and Rhodes at one job and a Yamaha digital grand at another. I'll stop by and have lunch and "woodshed" for a while.

The secret is to have instruments around at all times. I'll stop when i hear something on the radio and try to learn it in real time.


Man, I love my instruments!


Russ

I enjoy continually seeking out new song material, or polishing up & recycling & perhaps re-inventing established repertoire. This may include trying out new styles (often of a totally unexpected genre-groove) or working out different more interesting chord changes, or working out new soloing ideas.

I find new ideas by listening to as many 'different versions' of a given song as I can find on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, and internet radio stations. I typically distill and develop my own version from these. I can usually find most lyrics online and then compare this with the heard recorded versions. Chords are often included with online lyrics so this gives me a 'starting point' to go by for the chord progression I may decide to play. I then sit down at the keyboard in pianist mode and play along with the different recorded versions heard to pick up essential 'hook lines and/or riffs', and then determine what arranger style best suited for my rendition. Once I find the appropriate arr style, I create a lyrics and chords text file (.txt) to display on my Tyros 4 LCD screen. I then work out a Tyros 4 arrangement (voice selection, style variation/fill changes, vocal harm. settings, etc, and save these to regs 1-8), and get this memorized & ready for gig performance. I try to devote a few hours a week doing this and find it very rewarding as it keeps my show repertoire fresh, interesting, and inspiring for both myself and my audiences.

Our 'family room' is 'walk-in from the garage ... When not on agig my gear is totally set up, including speakers so I can blast if I want to ... the PC and tv are also in this room so if my wife is on the PC the volume gets lowered and if she is watching tv the headphones get plugged in ... when we were thinking of moving a couple of years ago, where the 'gear' was going to be set up was a big concern ... at my age I don't want to be hauling gear up and down basement steps ...

Oh, almost forgot the OP question "Where does everyone practice"? In my music studio. Where's that? My living room.

"Where does everyone practice"? In my house! There's something to play in almost EVERY room!

I keep a guitar beside my chair in the living room, so I can strum some.
DonM

I have my "Music room"..(home studio)..I spend all my hours that I am awake here...Keyboards, PC's TV's, snacks, bathroom...

The rest of my house ...family can use....5 bedrooms, 2 full baths, rec room, living room, kitchen, and dining room...just leave me in my music room..

We have 5 bedrooms and are empty nesters. I commandered one bedroom for the music/computer room.

Tom

That's funny Fran, they are probably going to bury me in my music room as well. I even lost the Garage to my 25 yo son! It's all I have left!!! LOL

My long-time friend and music store owner, Carl (Carl's Music) would drive all over town blowing on the mouthpiece from his trumpet. Don't understand exactly what he was doing, but he sure was persistent. Sadly, he passed away several years ago, and his kids ran the business he spent a lifetime building into the ground.

Russ

I'm moving to Mich. and into one of Tom's bedrooms. It is too difficult to practice in my FL condo. And they won't let me practice at Cracker Barrel anymore.

Eddie

Tom,

The last place I saw 5 bedrooms was someplace in Barcelona, Spain that had a red light over the front door. Just kiddin'!

Tom has seem my office. It's where I spend too much time, lately, but this will change when the weather gets warmer. The new office will be mobile.

Gary

I spend a lot of time here. The C1 is usually the only thing that goes out. We sometimes rehearse here as well, hence my e-drums. A few pics. My new BK7m will set on top of my C1 (when it arrives). Hey, speed it up, George .

chas

Nice rehearsal room Chas...I used to have all that kind of gear in the house also ....sold it all now except for my everyday gig gear....... good luck!

Looks like a great set up chas ... would LOVE to hear you and your guys jamming there ...

Well why not, Tony. You're retired and just wasting your time trying to improve your golf game . Pack a bag and come on down for a couple of days. We have lots of space. Bring some of those great Italian recipies; although my wife would find a way to screw them up anyway . You'd enjoy the guys. The guitar and sax player are carpetbaggers, but the bass player and drummer are middle-aged 'good ol' boys' that LOOK like they'd be more at home at a Palin rally than in a jazz club, but Boy, how looks are deceiving. Both are huge jazz fans (from big band to bop) and are GREAT players. Just goes to show, never judge a book by it's cover. The drummer plays for one of those 10,000 member mega-churches. The guy is so precise, you could use him for a 'click' track, but he still manages to swing. The perfect 'pocket' drummer. He's not a big fan of E-drums, however, although he plays Roland TD20's at that church.

chas

Nice man-cave, chas!

That's GOT to happen ... one would THINK it is easy enough in the 'retirement' years, but it's amazing how life gets in the way ...

Chas, I'm 'lil Russ, only 65 1/2 years old.


Would you PLEASE adopt me?



Russ (keyboard envy) Lay

Only if you come with your guitar collection, that gorgeous restored Cushman, and one of your B3's. Oh, and maybe a little cash.



chas

Very nice setup, Chas...that red color of the C1 sorta grows on you, don't it? You also have lots of space, so it isn't claustrophobic.

The right environment is so important.

Ian

Bill look in 5 demos of Korg French, in the dark.

Depends on WHAT practice I need! if it's my backstroke, then ....

Nice setup, no not the instruments, the pool!!

Yeah ... I loves me my pool!

Claustrophobic?! Ian, that C1 is smaller than a T4 (OK, OK, it's 3/4" taller!) and only two pounds heavier...

Ha ha...Diki...I meant the room itself. All my important stuff...keyboard, PC, Video game/TV, comfy bed, and power operated recliner chair, are in one room...thankfully, it is a large ex-living room. Chas's room looks ideal!


I played a brand new Hammond XK3c (system-two manuals) Saturday (a buddy of mine just got it), and, it is so close to the "real deal" it's scary.

Don't get me wrong, the Nord C1 is very nice, and much lighter (and way less expensive) too, but, it just doesn't have the same feel (response)....playing the XK3c with your eyes closed, it is exactly like playing a mint B-3/C-3.

For the amount of organ playing I do with my own personal stuff, the Tyros4 is more than enough.

Ian

PS...He was waiting over 10 weeks for the XK3c...they are apparently in short supply.

Oh, c'mon! You KNOW that light weight beats feel and response any day, here at SZ!

I haven't played the full 2 keyboard XK3c system yet, but I did get down on a Mini B by Hammond (the replica wooden one) and well as the Portable B3 Hammond replica. Very nice, but I didn't quite feel the same as you about the action. Maybe it's just that most real B's have been played in quite a bit, but both those actions felt a little stiffer, or springier (hard to describe) or something 'not quite right' compared to the B's I've played lately.

Just glad I don't have to hump one...

Well sometimes "light weight" rules because of many deciding factors, but, thankfully, there are very few "bad feeling" and "poor responsive" 'boards being made today...at least I haven't played any. The days of actions like in the old Crumar organs/pianos, and other past delights are, thankfully, long gone.

Playing the XK3c in two full keyboard mode is a must, in my opinion...with the special stand, it is solid...I always say, "You don't 'play' a B-3...you 'ride' it."

The big difference is in the XK3c's key contact system...it works exactly like real B-3's...in fact, they are pretty well identical.

Press a B-3 (or XK3c) key down slowly, and you can hear the individual harmonics come in...you can't do that on a Nord C1, a G-70, a Tyros4 or even Hammond's own, XK1.

It is almost touch/velocity sensitive in it's own unique way. The Tyros4 doesn't even come close, nor does any other arranger (or organ) I've ever played.

My buddy Donnie, is tickled with his new Hammond, and, I must say, I can understand why.

Ian

Oooohhh---- you guys are killing me. Just had a meeting today with another contractor about mods to our summer soon to be full time home. The only way I'm going to have a practice room is if I do it myself in the garage. And now your talking about Hammonds too. Both my acoustic pianos are gone and my beloved Mint Cherrywood B3 is going to have to go too. I'm also considering selling my XK3 for something smaller like the Roland VR700. And moving from my Roland G1000 to the BK7M module with a lightweight piano. I'm even looking at smaller and less PA stuff. Gotta downsize all the way around.
BTW nice pics. I'm enjoying the peek into everyones "stuff"

So let me throw this out and keep the thread alive.

What's the least amount of "stuff" you could live with if you had to get rid of a lot? Lets say you had to move to a small apartment.

I keep using the word "Stuff" because I keep thinking about an old George Carlin bit about how we get bigger places so we can have more "stuff" Really funny bit

Bill in NJ

Roland G70 and a Cube 100 keyboard amp..takes care of piano and drawbar organ...plus arranger and mic/harmony..

No compromise...and still a small but powerful set up..

Bill you being a g1000 man..Have you ever tried the G70..I think it is a perfect match for you...46 pounds compared to 41 pound G1000..I have to get together with you so you can check it out..

If you're talking purely musical resources, Bill, right now, it would be the Tyros4, my two Yamaha MS-60S powered monitors, a lightweight 88 note weighted hammer piano (presently a Yamaha P-95) and my computer.

That would be the basics, and it's pretty well all I have now anyway...my Jupiter 8 is in a friend's studio.

I would really regret having to move to a small apartment...I love having my own home/house...I can play (and often do) at all hours and never worry about volume and neighbors.

Ian

I think my G70 and my K2500 are the only things I couldn't part with. Oh, and my Mackie HR824's to listen to them on!

The absolute least amount of 'stuff' I could live with would be my Nord C1 and something to play it thorough (probably the Traynor K4). Since I have a BK7m module coming, I'd throw that into the mix so as to have some ez drums and extra voices. Next on the list would definitely be my VP-770. In addition to being THE premier vocal processor, it actually has some decent voices, including SuperNatural Brass, very good strings, and decent acoustic and electric pianos. It will also handle song lists and play MP3's and Wav's with part markers. Then I would add.........oh, wait .

As for the room, the previous owner built it as a media room, so it is heated and cooled with it's own system, is completely soundproof, and has it's own full bath. A perfect small home studio and practice space.

Stuff I should get rid of because of non-usage: SonicCell, Tyros 2, Motif ES, Roland Fantom G7, TC Helicon ??, and a storeroom (adjoining the studio) full of 'retired' gear ie. JV80, A33, VP-550 (replaced by VP-770), ect., ect., plus tons of PA and effects gear. If anyone is interested in any of this stuff, let me know. Maybe I can make enough to get Bill's 'cherry' B3 .

chas

Fran I've been after you for awhile to get together. You name it and I'm there. I'll run down to the Cape or whatever. Love to get a lesson from you on some Roland "Stuff"

Chas C'mon count the pennies and make me a real offer. Its got to go to a good home and be shown off and appreciated. Its one like you've never seen or played. You NEED this!!!!

You guys adding to your must have lists have me thinking of another great "Bit" Steve Martin in "The Jerk". Levaing home he says something like "I don't need any of you or any of this stuff===except this ashtry, and this chair,, and on and on..

Bill in NJ