Donny, you reinforce my point. Improving playing skills requires endless hours of practice, something young people are not willing to do. They want instant gratification at the end of their fingertips on a 5-inch screen. You see this every day of the week, youngsters who would panic without the Smart Phones in their hands.

Gary

I have to DISagree ... for most schools that no longer have music or art classes it is because no money is allocated for them ... when budgets have to be cut those are the first classes to go ... I have seen many examples both here in RI and in NY where the funds for music classes were cut and student leaders and volunteer staff members kept the programs going for a large number of students ...
Yes, many have their heads in their electronics but there is a great number who take part in arts and music both in and outside of school curriculums ...



Well, if that's the case in MD, I'm glad to be living in RI, because even the small (duos/trios) that perform at indoor/outdoor bars/restaurants in Newport, Providence and other ares very often will have a keyboard player and even a sax player ... what sometimes is missing is a drummer, because they are using a drum machine of some kind ... the Thursday edition of the statewide news paper has a full page + of listings of where musicians are playing over the weekend and what kind of music they perform ... AND there is NO CHARGE for the listing ... also free of charge, the URI radio station will devote a half hour to forty five minutes a couple of days a week to announce where musicians are performing ...
The LIVE music scene is still going in RI - is it as good as it was 30 years ago when I moved here? - no, but then, everything is different ...

Wow, I am really in a DISagreeing mood today

The South Kingstown (RI) High School has 75 to 100 kids in the Symphony orchestra ... plus more in the marching and Jazz bands ... a couple of years ago the captain of the soccer team played first cello in the symphony orchestra and qualified for the sate-wide high school symphony orchestra ...
In Mamaroneck NY where two of my granchildren attend, along with the school bands and theater groups, there is a program called Performing Arts Curriculum Experience which is totally separate from the school curriculum ... there are about 100 kids in this program who learn to sing, dance and perform all on their OWN time ...
I think we have to recognize that all is NOT lost with our youth ...

The live music scene here in this area seems to have improved somewhat in recent years. There are still a lot of K*****E joints around, but they are showing signs of waning.
There are only a handful of places that feature nightly entertainment, but there are lots of places that have weekend bands. Most bands have a keyboard player and/or sax player. In most of them just about everyone sings some, and some have female vocalists. The country groups have a Pedal Steel and/or Fiddle player.
Other that the casinos, most of the venues don't pay enough for a band to make a living, but there are some really good bands that just like to play and are happy to take home $50 to $100 apiece. Some of them run bar tabs that are more than that!
DJs make more than band members do here, particularly at wedding receptions. I have two DJ friends that charge $1,000 to $5,000 for receptions. And they get to keep it all. You seldom see bands doing receptions any more around here. These guys know how to do a reception, complete with good personalities, lights, great sound, knowing when to play what...all the things that we musicians used to do. They dress appropriately and serve as Master of Ceremonies as well.
Rambling again ... time to go outside in the nearly freezing weather and play some golf.

I almost forgot what this thread was about.
I agree he is a wonderful player and I agree that he seems to "show off" his ability a little. I probably would too if I could play like that.
I love that the people can stand right up behind him and see and hear everything, and interact.
I'm afraid I don't have 52 minutes worth of interest in it, but I skipped through it and didn't find much of what I would do, and didn't really hear much that was extraordinary.
As mentioned my others, ALL the new arrangers sound fantastic, and Genos certainly does too.
Big improvement in drums and the organs sound better now too.
I thought I even saw a couple of the guys moving a little towards the end.
But it's understandable that they were also getting restless after standing there for more than an hour!
Shoo Be Do Bops are still silly.

Actually here i Holland with all the talent shows, many kids actually started playing real instruments again, mostly guitar, drums and espescially vocals.. but there is a comsiderable amount of piano players, mostly girls altough.. this does not only take effort from the kids, but also a lot of encouragement from the parrents...

Tony, we always disagree, well, except when it comes to food. I still make a damned good filet mignon. There's a reason that woman has kept me around for 55 years. It's just 27 degrees out on my deck right now, but when she gets home, I will be grilling a couple steaks basted with Yoshida Gourmet Sauce, and some portobello mushrooms slathered with extra-virgin olive oil and sprinkled with garlic powder. Also grilling some asparagus coated with olive oil and sprinkled with garlic powder.

Now, they didn't cut the funding for music and art here, at least not that I know of, but I am aware they have done this in many states. The schools in Harford County, Maryland, where kids show interest in the music and arts programs, have those programs in place. Not sure about why some schools don't have these programs, even in this county.

All the best, and try to stay warm up there in Lil Ol Rhodie,

Gary

Gary ... I disagree with that statement ...



If you're going to make one for me it had better be pretty red on the inside ...



27 degrees ?!?!? ... you having a heat wave down there ? ... 16 here in rhody with a wind chill of -1 ... but it's NEVER too cold to grill a steak ...



Well, I was really surprised to hear of some of the programs they have cut in this town, even though we have one of the highest tax rates in RI ...
I am fortunate to live in a fairly affluent town (was able to buy property and build a home back in '84 - one year later I would not have been able to afford the property we had bought) ... our schools are ranked among the top 1 or 2 in the state year after year, but now they've cut music programs and don't even have the funds to keep school libraries open ...

Can't imagine what's next ...

Meanwhile, back to the OP ... Baartmans makes that Genos sound pretty good ...

Tony, elimination of funding for arts programs is what killed my guitar club at an elementary school in Louisville, Ky.

I covered all costs of instruments, recording equipment, 4 guitars a year for the best students, etc., but I guess they couldn't let one arts effort stand when all others were eliminated.

The system gave all instruments...(about 45)to students (without telling me, by the way). They had recipients write me a letter of appreciation.

My favorite said," Dear Mr. Benefactor: Thanks for the pretty guitar, but I'd rather have a keyboard".

OH Well,


Russ