Where to start...

Our church has a new music person. His main instrument is bass....he played in a bluegrass band for close to 30 years.

I just met him this past month. Our common background is that I played mandolin in a bluegrass group for many years before going to an arranger.

Today, at my request, he came to one of my local gigs. I've been trying to suggest an arranger as part of his praise band....since it can do about anything.

His response regarding what he heard at my gig today....fantastic....so he said.

Then I thought. When I was his age, I was still trying to get good at the mandolin...not that I ever accomplished that.

I'm hoping to be a mentor here.

I've been where he's at. I've played in country bands, bluegrass bands and you name it. I arrived at an arranger when the band playing days were done...and I could arrange all those sounds I've heard from days gone by and reproduce them with an arranger...and be my own band.

His job is to develop a band.

I would love to pass some of this love of music on. I just turned 70, and it ain't forever....my good friend and neighbor just died last night a few years older than me.


Thoughts?

Live each day like it will be your last. I'm more than ten years ahead of you, age wise. I wake up thinking I'm 30 something until my feet touch the floor! LOL!

Getting your Music Minister to understand how Arrangers work (and don't work... unless you are as talented as Mason, Donny, UD, Gary and several others here) can be a challenge. Take time to show him how it will play songs pretty well with the left hand only via the one finger method. It might encourage him and others to give it a try if they don't play piano well. (Like me!)

Many never grasp how many "instruments" can be mimicked by the arranger... and now, entire choirs can be background singers. Arrangers are limitless... especially if you own a Genos.

All the best, ----Dave from West Mayberry

If you have the time, why not offer to be in his band for a time and maybe enjoy the older days again. Just play your arranger and that will guide him to what instruments he needs or wants. Who knows, it might be great fun and it will breath new life into your playing.
MEL

The one negative I see is that the arranger keyboard will take the place of other musicians.
The arranger might sound better, but the other muscians lose their chance to serve.

John C.

I wish I could find someone to impart some of the small bit of knowledge I've accumulated over the years. My sons are not interested. One grandson is a little bit, but he lives 350 miles away.

Don, you have imparted your knowledge to so many all over the world. The few times I’ve seen you I learned a whole lot! I and I’m sure many others study the recordings and videos that you post. You have a lasting legacy! I wish my schedule would let me get out to Shreveport more.... The few times I have made the trip, I felt like I went to a master class!

Anyways I do understand what you’re saying. Despite my efforts my daughter has no interest in keyboards or the music I perform.... I shouldn’t complain though, she plays the violin very well, and plays gigs with me when she wants to earn a little money.

My dad tried to get me in the family business but I resisted and went I’m another direction. Luckily there’s no hard feelings between and he actually brags about his musician son

True but there’s no reasons you can’t play arranger keyboards with other musicians too. I play with percussionist, guitarist, violin, horn players, vibes, steal drums, even bassist and drum set players.
You can always mute parts or just play manually ( no auto accompaniment) if you prefer.

Guess I was thinking how difficult it is to gather up a group and form a band... compatibility issues, talent spread, conflicting work or family schedules... and so, the Arranger would allow "work arounds" when certain members who play specific instruments were not available. By all means, having a live group would be your music director's first objective... but, with all the variables I mentioned, the Arranger offers options.

To Don's point... it is sad when those around you choose different paths and interests. You never know, though... as time marches on... opinions and attitudes change. But never forget the influence you have had on so many here at "The Zone"... and in your accumulated friends, fans and admirers who enjoy that unique vocal and great performances every chance they get.

I’ve been a worship leader since 2003. I lead from the keyboard and sing. The church I currently serve has 60-80 people attending the service. It’s difficult to pull a band together out of those numbers. I am lucky to have a pastor who plays acoustic guitar really well... an associate pastor who plays bass... a music teacher friend who plays violin.

I have been producing my own backing tracks since 2003. I find it easy to build the track from scratch. Then I keep a library of lead sheets that are formatted for the tracks. Everyone plays on top of the track and it’s been working for 15 plus years.

I have a Genos but even with 550 styles to pick from, there aren’t too many that work for contemporary Christian music.

Here’s a link to the backing track I produced for the song “I Will Follow.” It’s all recorded in MIDI on a Yamaha Motif ES. Then I mix it down to a stereo WAV file and launch the WAV on the Genos and play a piano piano part live.

https://soundcloud.com/shueymusic/i-will-follow

I would love to pass some of my music equipment, technical knowledge, and even my sailboat on to my children, but like my good friend DonM, the kids just are not interested. My son is more into freshwater fishing, powerboats, creating video games and computer technology, while my daughter has a difficult job of raising her son and trying to keep him on the straight and narrow.

That said, I am grateful that for more than 2 decades I have been able to assist hundreds of individuals with Yamaha keyboard problems and sound system solutions, using this forum and the PSR-Tutorial forum.

Now that I am very close to the end of my life, I decided to help others after my passing by donating my old body to science so that some medical student at the University of Maryland can learn how to remove an appendix, do a tracheotomy, see some shot to Hell lungs up close and personal, etc... When those youngsters are done with me, the Maryland Anatomy Board will cook my carcass down to ashes and send them home for my family to dispose of. Part of me will be dumped in Chesapeake Bay, while the remaining ashes will be interned. So I guess my legacy will be that this old codger helped people throughout his life and even in death.

Gary