I just had a suggestion from one of our list members and also a member of this forum that when we send emails and when we post on this forum that we include our location. I think this is a great idea for every reason I can think of and can't think of any reason not to.
I have also suggested many times that you put your keyboard make and model in your profile here in the forum. that can also be helpful.
Email addresses are risky unless you like lot of junk/porno email as the web crawlers harvest these email addresses every day.
Best to all
Bebop

Great idea, BEBOP! Let me start off this new thread by telling you all (if you don't already know it) that I live in Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A. and play a 7000. I have no musical background, and do not read music, but somehow I just know where to put my fingers to form chords. If you are not also an "ear player," you will not understand. I AM an ear player and even I don't understand!

I hope we will hear from many of you, as BEBOP suggested. Thanks Bill (BEBOP) for getting things started, as you so often do.

Happy playing, friends!

Ted Rose

[This message has been edited by Ted Rose (edited 10-07-2004).]

Good morning Bill, (UK GMT)

As above, a very good idea of yours.

For all those who may be interested, we live on Mersea Island which is about 9-10 miles south-east of Colchester in the UK. More details about the island can be found at:
www.mersea-island.com

As most of you know we have both a 6K and a 7K keyboard, the 6K fitted with the Mk1 expansion card, the 7K with pedals, etc.

Right, must go, we're sailing today in the last race of the season.

Yours, as ever,

Michie (Luce & Mark included)

We all live in Peterborough here which is only 5 miles to the shopping centre, quite a nice area though the taxis are expensive

We are approx an hour away to london via train so quite good public transport and buses are very good too

More at http://www.peterborough.gov.uk

I only have a KN7000 but I did have a KN1500 and a PSR740. - I have been playing the keyboard since I was 9 and recently took up the Organ, which I used to have a G100 a bit of a let down as not many sounds but helped. My music teacher taught me on a EL900 - a real beauty and was great for songs like Music of the Night etc and Chariots of Fire which are two of my favourite songs.

------------------
Andrew http://www.technicsforall.com

[This message has been edited by AndyHearne (edited 10-07-2004).]

[This message has been edited by AndyHearne (edited 10-07-2004).]

Hello all of you,
Since two years I have a Technics KN 7000.
Before I had a KN 1000, KN 2000 , KN 5000.
I have been learning and playing the keyboard by myself since 1998.
I live in Eindhoven in Holland.
Probable you know this city where Philips makes his first Glow Lamp.

Maybe we could make a separate site in Synth. Zone ( like Cees do ) where you can find all this info of our members.

Jack Docters

Well I guess my User Name tells you where I'm from ... We live in the smallest state of the Union, Rhode Island for the past 20 years, but my wife, kids and I were all born in Staten Island NY, NY. We are STILL New Yorkers !!! ...
I currently play a kn6000 and still have my first kb which was a kn1000 ... I also own a Fender Rhodes (how did I EVER lug that beast to gigs ?!?!? ), and there is an upright piano in the living room ... We also have a couple of accordions ... my wife and I met at an accordion school ...

Ted... you are right ... I DON'T understand how you do it and am very envious ... ... Having had some 'formal' music instruction I am able (on occasion) to pick out a tune, but you 'ear' players blow me away ...
t.

Hi All

I'am in Brentwood, Essex UK have had KN7000
since it first came out, set it all up and
then had heart attack before I could even try it out and then had triple bypass op. KN sat in the dining room for 2 months before I could even sit at it. Now fully recover and have worked my way through the Kenneth Baker books and have managed to play
all the songs in books 1 to 4 and the same level songbooks. This time I had managed to play every song including songs I previously gave up on especially songs with 16th notes
which I have been able to play now I know the correct way to count them. I have nearly
completed the classical themes book. I was determined to play every song whatever it took and have learnt that you can play it if you practice long enough. Can only play by reading the music and am in awe of you ear players.

Best regards
To all

I have a KN6000 and a KN7000 with pedals and all four expansion boards. I am a "reader" and mainly self-taught player. I did try formal lessons with a local teacher but found I could progress just as quickly on my own since I read music, so stopped the lessons. I guess I qualify as an ear player to some extent. I can sit at the keybord and usually work out the chords for a song, though it may take me quite some time to do it. However, I am not able to sit at the keyboard like a true ear player and have the melody and chords "fall" under my fingers automatically.

Chuck
Manchester, UK

Hi to all forum members
My name is Alan and I live in South Benfleet in Essex, England.
I have a Kn7000 and play only by ear. I did try to learn to read music but there was no way I could grasp even the basics of it. I used to play guitar (lead) in a group in the sixties (boy am I old) and then moved on to various cheap Casio and Yamaha keyboards before eventually buying a Kn2400. At that stage I was totally hooked on the Technics keyboard and had to find a 7000. I did and don't regret one penny of the ammount I paid.I doubt I will ever change again.

Alan

Hi
I´m living in a small old town named Torshalla, established 1317 and now aprox. 8.500 inh. And this is Sweden, the country of the midnight sun. You can take a look on www.torshalla.nu
unfortunately only in Swedish, but there are some pics.

I am what you will called a pro, and are gigging around in this country around 10 days a month, together with one or two friends. I have been doing a lot of things. Began to tour when I was 17 playing the guitar. Later I began to play the Hammond organ and I also played Trumpet for some years.

I have also been involved in business like restaurants, record shops and record studios. My musical connection then put me in the artist management which I was doing in many years. 1997, when I was 54 years, I sold my two companies to two of my employers and was thinking of a nice retired life. However, my interest in programming sequencer took over and I find that it was nice and easy just to gigg on two or three persons. So I still have my pension insurances untouched

I use a KN7000 on gigging but I also have a KN6000 and a KN3000 in my homestudio. I also use a Korg Motif and some Roland racksynths and a lot of studio equipments.

On our giggs we use a Yamaha digital mixer 02V and a DMX light equipment which all are controlled by the KN7000. We have also put in all the lyrics in the sequencer track for displaying on two 17" flatscreens.

I´ve been a member on this forum since 1998 and I like it very much.

Many regards from Lindoz

[This message has been edited by Lindoz (edited 10-08-2004).]

Hi All,

I live in Melbourne, Australia. I have a KN7000 with expansion boards 1 & 2. It has a 61-note MIDI controller keyboard and 30-note MIDI pedal manual interfaced to it so that it can be used as a full 2 manual organ. I also use the KN7000 as a stand alone unit when playing for our organ/keyboard clubs and sometimes elderly citizens. I am an amatuer and play mainly from sheet music or memory and just a little by ear. During 1991 I lived in Dorset, UK and in 1992, Maryland, USA. Also Lindoz one of my Great great grandfathers came from Gaevle in Sweden.

Cheers
Len C.

Hi,
I am Cees Schenk and live in the Netherlands in a village Leiderdorp (about 25000 inhabitants). All the capital cities, like Amsterdam, Rotterdam and The Hague are about 15/20 minutes cardrive. But I can hear you thinking, that's logic because Holland is such a small country... Long, long time ago I played the guitar. That's why the great guitarsounds in the KN7 are my favorites. I had the whole range of Technics (from AX7 till KN7). I strictly play from musicsheets. I like messing around with the KN7, mostly to get grip/understand in its possibilities, as sometimes I like it a challenge to make own styles. Mostly in combination with my other interest: the computer(musicsoftware and the KESO-site) and midi and the KN7. The playingskills of course suffer due to the fiddling around. But as a pure amatuer nobody cares I guess.
Ohh I must not forget to point at: it is a misunderstanding that Holland is only tulips, windmills and farmers in national costumes on wooden shoes. That image is only for the tourist(-industry)
Nice to read the other posts,
cheers,
Cees

[This message has been edited by cees (edited 10-09-2004).]

Hi
Just adding my location Im In Belfast
N.Ireland,use a KN2600 like Lindoz Im pro
Work in Recording studios and Television.
Have just finished scoring a short film,
I have lots of different sound modules but for the film I used the Kn2600 accordion sound.

Cheers Barry

My Name is Giovanni , i was born in Trieste Italy .I have lived most of my 56years in Norwich Norfolk England .
I play as a semi pro " The Concerto " digital /acoustic midi accordion linked to a KN7000 keyboard .

I also have an Elka Vox 83 midi accordion linked to a smac 1200 module .

so I'm spoilt for choice so to speak !!!!
Are there any other midi accordion players out there in the forum ????????????

Keep up the good work .

Giovanni

HI Giovanni,
We welcome you to our forum as a new poster. Do you currently live in England?
There are some digital Accordion players in the General Arranger forum here in the Synthzone. Post a request there for a response. I think one or two of the guys post here in the Technics Forum.
My accordion is not digital but is a great Soprani with 10 sets of reeds and internal mic, but hasn't been out of the case for a few years. I have great accordions to play in the KN7000 and it doesn't hurt my shoulders
Best to you and welcome
Bebop, Retired moderator of the Technics Forum

Hi Bebop , I love that name !! Yes I live in Norwich England , I'll take your advice and also look on the general arranger forum .
I may play the accordion but I'm a "TECHNICS BOY " I think the sounds and styles of the Technics are just great !!
When I do gigs and play for strict tempo dances ,people are really impressed with the "wall of sound" coming from my "squeeze Box" and the big band sound .
I'm reborn (so to speak) musically since I discovered "midi" and of course the Technics sound !!!!

Hi Tony in the USA ,I visited NewYork in June for one week this year and i tried to see as much as possible of your great city .and yes I took the Staten Island ferry . I've attended the Las Vegas accordion convention for the last for 4 year's and my first tripto the USA was especially to see and hear the Concerto digital /acoustic/midi accordion. I then had one shipped to my home in England .
It's a great instrument but when the Kn 7000 is hooked up ...........WOW !!!!!!!!
It's great that you met your wife at an Accordion school !!!!
I know more American accordionist than English Accordionist . Everyone is so friendly at the Las Vegas Convention .
Even the star's such as Dick Contino, Tony Lovello, Myron Floren , Art Van Damme , Frank morocco .Peter Soave .

Regards ...........Giovanni

Although I don't have a Technics (yet), I have been considering it. I've been enjoying reading thru everyone's input here and it increases my interest in the Technics.

Ted, I too, like Tony, wish I had a better ear (or 2) for playing the music.

Andy, thanks for the website link. I will be visiting more often.

I got interested in Technics while taking some accordion lessons about a year ago. My teacher had a KN6000 series in the lesson room. It was new to him and every now and then, he would be fooling around with it when I came in for a lesson. As time went on, the more I heard out of it, the more I liked it.

Giovanni earlier today, I was thinking about starting a thread into accordions.
I played the Iorio 'H' synth-accordion years ago, and have an Excelsior Digisyzer with miditran function. I am a fan of every accordion player that you listed and many more. I constantly look for new accordion/player sites.

I don't want to tie up this forum with accordion chat but if somene doesn't beat me to it, I'll get around to opening an accordion-related thread and accordion talk can continue.

Best Wishes to everyone in your music and playing.

Ed

This has been such a delightful thread to read, and I appreciated hearing about other "ear" players like myself, as well somewhat amused by the envy you non-ear players have expressed. Ironic, because I have always envied those of YOU who can read music, and take a piece of paper with funny symbols (notes) written on it, and transfer it to the keyboard as beautiful music. I guess we all have different "gifts" in the musical world.

Did I ever mention that I never knew I was "gifted" until about 10 years ago? I never had had an occasion to play an instrument, but I did sing a bit and could always harmonize by ear. So, when I discovered that I could sit down, pick out melodies, and then, soon after, also play chords along with the melodies, it came as a surprise to me--still does. Perhaps the funniest part of it all--at least to all my more talented musical friends--is that I find it almost impossible to play in the key of C!! My favorite key is F, next is Eb, then Ab, then Bb. Keys with sharps are more difficult for me. Can I explain my "gift"? No way, but I love and cherish the ability to be able to play the myriad melodies that flood my brain.

And I have also enjoyed the lists of songs you have included in another thread here in the forum for me to try to play--songs I love but just didn't think of.

How delighted I am to have met all of you, too, through this wonderful Forum, to share this joy we all have.

Thank you BEBOP, for starting this lovely thread which is getting longer and longer. Such fun!!!!!

Deep affection to you all!

Ted

Hi All; I'm orginally from Coraopolis, PA - near Pittsburgh -. Spent some time in the Air Force and ended in Spokane, WA at Fairchild AFB. For yhe past 30+ years have been in Salem, OR. Started with the KN3000 and now have the KN700.

Ted,

All of my family played by ear(so did the Beatles).Music is what counts not how you do it.I must agree with you on this forum it is genuine.I have only one other forum I log on to and this one for technics help is as good as it gets.
So ted keep makin music .

Cheers Barry

Hi,
I live in Berlin/ Germany, play Yamaha 9000 pro and Technics KN 6000, use style software (factory styles, bought styles and styles I made by myself).
When no style is available but a MIDI file, I use this, set off all parts I play live (melody line, solo and bass).
I modify the styles and MIDIs I use, so that these ones sound less "electronical".
Usually I use printed music, but I am able to play by ear too and in the band I use chord sheets (but for many songs I know the chords and need nothing to remember).

------------------
Regards
RF

Please click on this link and this will tell you a bit about me. Though I have the KN7000 now. Yours musically. Midge.
http://groups.msn.com/KeyboardCapers/thestorybehindkeyboardcapers.msnw

Hi All,

OK, I'm Heather in Leesburg FL. I have a PR54 Piano that plays KN6000-KN7000 files.


Here's a link to my web page that will tell you about me. http://home.earthlink.net/~shcox/index.html

Now, not to be a spoil sport but I thought that is why the forum has profiles. If everyone uses them then adding that information to every post is not neccessary.


------------------
Heather- Leesburg, FL PR54

Heather,
Understand your logic but a lot of newbees
wouldnt know what a profile was.

Cheers Barry

Good point Heather.
I think this has been a topic earlier on as well.
GJ

My web site with all the gory details http://mysite.freeserve.com/willumspages/index.html

------------------
Willum

Hello Everyone,

I'm Aud and I live in a small village just outside Cambridge, England. I have a Technics PR900 Piano and a KN7000 keyboard. Like most other people, I was hooked as soon as I heard the Technics being played and feel real grief to think there will be no more.

I would just like to direct this last paragraph to Ted. You wonder how and why you should be able to play by ear? I have been pondering this for years. I had four brothers (me being the only girl and thoroughly spoilt by them I might add) the eldest and the third brother can play anything they hear and most instruments including accordions, banjo, ukele etc., The second brother and myself can only play by music and only then if we know the tune.

I have four children (3 girls and a boy). The eldest has this gift of being able to play anything at all by 'ear' and the other three children are not interested at all. I have two grand daughters learning to read music both playing the piano. The eldest has passed all exams taken so far "with credits" and the other one struggles because her 'ear' playing gets in the way. Life is full of mysteries isn't it? I don't think we shall ever know the answer to this question, but the main thing is to enjoy your playing whatever your style.

Aud

I live in the great Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, USA.
Except for the 4 years I spent in the U.S. Navy traveling the World, this has been my home for over half a decade.
Larry Hawk

Hi Audrey.

I find your experiences, along with everyone else's, very interesting.

Questions come to my mind in regards of comparing the qualities of 'ear' players and 'sight' players.

Which group appears to have more versatility in regards to personal creativity, adlib, improvising etc?

Do 'ear' players pick up exactly what they hear and will not stray too far away from that?

Does learning to read music and to unnderstand the relationship of tones seem to help develop personal style more?

Anyone, feel free to add.

Thanks.

Ed

Hi MrEd and all forum members,
I believe that ear players have more versatility as they can wander from the main melody and improvise. Having said that, I am sure there are many sight readers who will disagree with me. As I said earlier, I am an ear only player and I can set a rhythm playing on my keyboard and then jam along with that rhythm making up a tune as I go. Its very easy as long as you remember the partnership between the melody and the chord. This can go on for as long as I like but I must be honest and say that the melody I start with is probably nothing like the one I finish with.
Hopefully we will hear from some sight players who will shoot me down in flames. I'm quite happy to be wrong. Although I believe the ear player has the advantage I would still love to read music. It must be fantastic to pick up a piece of paper with lots of lines and dots on it and make wonderful music with it.

Come on sight players, convince me I'm wrong

Let the battle commence
Alan

Hi Sapphire,

I'm not an agressive type. A 26-year military career taught me the futility of waging battles. So the battle will not commence with me.

My feelings regarding reading the dots vs. playing by ear are that both methods produce great music. So, it doesn't matter whether you are an ear player or a reader. Just play and enjoy. I read the dots, can play by ear a little and do improvisations. In all three cases, I ACQUIRED those skills, meaning anyone can learn to read, to improvise, or play by ear. I don't play by ear much because I have so much written music upon which to draw for pleasure and inspiration.

If I had to choose between being a reader or an ear player, I would much rather be a reader. The wealth of music in print gives a reader untold resources. An ear player has to hear something first. I can scan through 15 or 20 books (hundreds of songs) and pick those I want to play. An ear player can't do that. He/she has to hear the music before playing it and cannot, therefore, draw upon the huge library of printed music. That, to me, seems to be a severe limitation.

Just my thoughts.

My Very Best Wishes to All of You,

Chuck

[This message has been edited by Chuck Piper (edited 10-14-2004).]

It may have already been suggested. It's so easy to enter your location in your profile.

Ear players vs. Readers....

I agree that both/either make beautiful music!

Like many of you, I also came from a long line of very musical people...My eldest daughter is what I call the "consumate musician"....She plays any instrument, either by ear or reads....She sings gloriously, & is gifted with exact pitch...Two of her 3 children are musically talented as well...one sings & the other is a carbon copy of his Mom talent wise....

Probably the most interesting musician in the family was an Aunt...a couple of greats back, was a famous Vaudville Whistler....Off hand I don't recall her name. My Dad had his own high school band..."The Kansas City Footstompers" (or footwarmers)... He was the drummer/leader...My only sibling my bro, plays bagpipes & guitar now that he is a "seasoned citizen"....(He is older than me)!

My first KB was purchased only 12 years ago...a Yamaha toy...A new friend played a KN1000...the sound differences were very very noticable....I found a KN1000 soon thereafter in a pawn shop....Wow! Did I fall in love or what! My new friend was so helpful to my learning process....AND let me copy as much of her music as I wanted!

As a 10 year old I had taught myself to read the treble clef on a church piano with some John Thompson's beginners books...I had no interest in learning the bass clef as all I wanted to do was have the melody to sing to!

Performing in School & church singing groups as well as acting groups very... enjoyable too! I had tap/acrobat lessons, ballroom dancing as a young teen with my bro...Went to Hollywood to radio shows that big bands/singers did way back in the big band era...learned lots of music just listening to them...Memorised more than I realized until I started playing!...I have all the wonderful rhythms & words in my head!

During these 12 years of music in my life...I have owned one more sophisticated Yamaha (A psr640 I think) & the KN3K, the 5K, the 6K, & the AWESOME 7K...My talented daughter has the 5K....I still have the 6K & the 7K...

My daughter & I want her to have a 7K...I will help her make the purchase...She desearves to have one! But I won't give her mine!

While I am totally self-taught & not a seasoned or very talented player, I do enjoy playing for myself, with others, & for others...Every Sat I play at a local Nursing Home for 2.5 hours....All of us enjoy the music....It fills my soul to see these elders get up & dance as best they can, sing along with me, make requests, recognise the tunes....They tell me they have never heard my make a mistake even though several of them were successful professional musicians! I know I make mistakes frequently.....I also know they are lying!

To conclude this rather lengthly post....For me the most important part of playing music...being involved in music at any level....is that we each enjoy our own participation.

I know I do....Hope you all do too!

ELIZABETH...

Elizabeth,
I don't recall hearing any of your songs yet. We all share with each other. How about sending some songs over to share with out lists and members.
Thanks
Bebop

Hi All,

It seems this has gone from where you live to how you play but I'll join in.

I'm an ear/ez music player.

My father played piano in bars when I was young and he read the music. Then my oldest brother took accordian and started playing at home with my dad until one day may dad asked him to read the music for him. My brother couldn't read it, he was playing by ear.

The my brother started playing the cords on the piano and singing the melody. He did this every day. He played songs by Jerry Lee and Elvis. So I would stand next to the piano and watch him.

Soon I was playing and singing the same songs he was. It would drive my mom crazy becasue first he would play the songs then when he was finished I would play the songs.

When I was in High School I hung out with a "Beatles Want to Be" band who all played by ear. So I would often end up playing the keyboard along with them. I had a portable Baldwin Organ/Piano then. I still only played chords but I learned I could take a piece of sheet music that had guitar chords on it and play the song while I sang.

One summer I was in a production of a variety show and one of the singers brought in their sheet music for the "concert" pianist that was in the show. But he couldn't play it so I was asked if I could. When I saw it had the guitar chords I said yes. I chorded and he sang.

Anyway once I left home I wanted something nicer than the Baldwin so I bought a Lowery Genie Organ, my first of may "keyboards" to come.

It was not the same as playing the piano and it couldn't really sing so I started learning to play one finger melodies instead of singing. I knew the basic chords and I knew the letters of the notes. I just could not ready them on the staff. But the Genie came with that wonderfully simple music Big Note Easy Play.

My day was made. I could now "read" music. I played the chords and read the letters inside the notes. That's still how I play today when I use the music.

Like Alan, I will ofen sit down and just start playing. Sometime I play just in piano mode and sometimes I'll look through the styles and start one playing but I'll make up a song to go along with it.

I also played guitar when I was around the band and I think that helped me to learn about Chord Progressions. It's really the heart of being able to play by ear.

There are so many songs that can be played using no more than 3 or 4 chords especially the old stuff and 50s and 60s rock.

There is a guy on Public TV here that is teaching people to play the piano within a week or two. If you get a chance to see it, it's basically how I play by ear.

My biggest problem playing is that I have somewhat short fingers and I can just barely play octives by moving my hand to the end of the keys instead of over them.
Plus I still have trouble sometimes fingering the "sharp and flat" chords.


So that's my story and I'm sticking to it. LOL

Great Playing to All

------------------
Heather- Leesburg, FL PR54

[This message has been edited by shcox (edited 10-15-2004).]

My name is Derek.I own a KN7000 and I live in Devon near Barnstaple.
I have had two Technics organs first U50 then a U90,but as things started to go wrong
I traded it in for a Solton keyboard, which in turn was traded in for the 7000 which I intend to keep for as long as I am able to play it.
I play by music (simple one line and chord symbols) also by memory and ear.
I used to play accordions having had quite a number and the accordion sounds on the 7000 are fantastic.

Derek

BEPOP.....Maybe when I feel more confident in playing to the sequencer & know how to send music from my KB through the computer to wherever.

My attempts to record in the sequencer are not perfect enough for me yet!

I do appreciate your encouragement!

For those who want to stick to the "Where are you located?" topic....

My only home for a bit more than 20 years has been a Motor Home.....For the past 3 years my MoHo has been a very nice 32' Allegro Bay diesel pusher. (diesel engine in the rear) For four years I have been a leaseholder in a Co_Op for RV'rs....Our Co-Op is in extreme south east New Mexico, U.S.A.....23 miles north of Carlsbad where the world known? Carlsbad Caverens attract visitors from everywhere....We are 60 miles south of Roswell...famous for alien visitors from outer space (?) ..... Our place is in the middle of a cattle ranch & very quiet!

My location is in my profile.....

Hi Everyone, i'm a newby to this site and live in Bristol uk.
I recently purchased a kn7000 and after playing many cheap types of keyboards I think this instrument has it all.
I cant read music but if i get a tune in my head i just sit down and play it.
Since my youth i think i have been able to pick up most instruments and after a bit of tinkering been able to play a tune.
I find the kn7000 manual hard to follow but look forward to using all the keyboards features after weeks of trial and error.

Regards Gerry.

Hi everyone,

I'm Colin Leaney IThe Leans), and I live in Birmingham, U.K.

I'm a very young 73yrs old, play by ear, can't play or read a note of music, but thoroughly enjoy making multi-track recordings. For my sins I have K7000, and my other major hobby is golf. Not quite as good as music-making, but almost.

Cheers, Colin.

Hi All,
My name is Roy and live in S.Wales[uk for those who have'nt heard of wales], Iam 62 yrs old and have been keen on music all my life, I had a few piano lessons when I was 14.but it was;nt quick enough for me as I was in a church choir & could read music[the top line]
My familly could'nt afford a piano,but I had permission to use the piano at the church,it was scary going there on a cold winters night, opening a creaky door into darkness then I would start whistling while putting lights on. I enjoyed myself on the piano,hasmonium and the huge three tier organ,it must have sounded wierd to people going by hearing boogie coming from the chuch.
Many years a friend introduced me to the guitar,this one I could afford,over the years learned some nice chords and found I could strum along toall those songs I'd loved.
10yrs ago a myself and a few players decided to meet once a week for a jam, ended up with eight players, then we were asked to do a gig in a retirement home,we did it and enjoyed it, did many more over the next few years. It was quite hard singing without amplification, so we clubbed together and got an amp.about that time,a keyboard player joined us,and that was the start of something special for me, he owned a Tyros, it is a super thing somany sounds, Iwent to my local music shop, they had a KN901 and bought it. Iam really enjoying playing it,and want to upgrade as soon as I can. I have 'nt tried the sequencer yet,I don't know what to do with it,I've d/loaded the manual, it's not very clear[photo copies]and as clear as mud instructions,that's why people like you are important for tips ect,
Roy

Originally posted by The Leans:

I'm Colin Leaney IThe Leans), and I live in Birmingham, U.K.

I'm a very young 73yrs old, play by ear, can't play or read a note of music, but thoroughly enjoy making multi-track recordings. .

Cheers, Colin

Colin I find your post refreshing, nice.

My name, John Cintorino. Started my music career as a Guitar player. Played professionally since I was 21, I am now 73.
My first keyboard was a Psr55, then a Psr6300 with a lid that closed like the KN7000. Since then it has been Technics starting with the KN1000 right up to my KN7000.
For many years I study Guitar with as many teacher as I could find. Scales, chords, and arranging ect. --- but I only took part of this knowledge to my keyboard, I wanted a refreshing freedom from the scales and arpeggio's delivery.From my mind/heart to my fingers, Amen.

I am playing pro keyboard since 1983. It is great to be able to read music and also to play by ear, it's the best of both worlds. I sometimes wonder what the fuss about reading music is all about, in my teachimg days I taught music to 5 and 6 year olds.
As for me, the music is on my stand only as a gentle remender. I feel reading does take away from your playing.
I played with an accordion player who had to read music. Evry song he struggled to turn pages with his nose buried in what he was reading. One day in the middle of the set, while he was playing, I took his music away,from that point on he played without his music book.
I live in West Palm Beach, Florida --and the weather today is fantastic, beautiful, thank God.
My joy is making my KN7 sounding like the real thing,a real band/orchestra. Setting instrumentation, volume balance, and the best style -- I love big band and latin.

My next move is to join Cees site, I think that man is special, he's doing everything with class. IMHO

Enjoy this day, John C.

Evenin' All,
My name is Peter. I'm 75 and threequarters - certainly not the youngest of you but not I suspect the oldest. Since retirement in 1988 I've lived half way up a mountain in Snowdonia National Park in North Wales UK and when I sit at the keyboard it can truly be said the hills are alive....
I had 3months of piano lessons interrupted by the war and not resumed until around age 40 when I had the urge to play again. From the pre-war lessons I was able to relate written notes to the keyboard and on a friend's advice bought Hanon's Virtuoso Excercises. Never achieved Virtuoso standard but enought to give independent finger movement and play scales and arpeggios. For about 10 years I enjoyed making music mixing classics with arrangements by people like Andre Previn, Shearing, Peterson but increasingly frustrated that I could never reach their standard. Could manage Chopin's Minute Waltz quite accurately but it took me nearly 4 minutes. In the late 70's while in a Departmental Store heard an organ and was hooked on the sound and accompaniments so the piano was replaced by a Yamaha C55. Technically found this much easier to play - chords only with left hand and melody on upper manual, but initially faced a problem. Having only played from written scores I had no idea what chords were and as most music from organs came in busker form I had to learn chords - at all chord changes, look up the appropriate group of notes to play left hand. It was a long slow process but after a few months the left hand automatically formed the right shape. Although the number of styles on the Yamaha was limited, no means of adding more, I learned that by pressing two or more of the manual rhythm buttons together you could mix and make some quite interesting rhythms... Also, the manual bass pedals could be used to over ride the auto bass which helped variety. The Yamaha also had a built in rotating Leslie type speaker which was very impressive. I later found that the Hammond people stopped Yamaha from using this speaker in subsequent models and the electronic tremolo/chorale was pretty pathetic, as it was in most organs of that era until the sampled versions became available.
The Yamaha was replaced by an Elka which had nice sounds but very unreliable, kept breaking down. Then, coming up to retirement I bought me a present of a Yamaha HS8, quite something. Problem was that the promise that Yamaha made that " you need never buy another organ" didn't quite come true. The additional sounds and styles were very limited, and expensive, and the styles turned out to be just drum patterns.
After a few years I heard about expanders and bought me a Technics SMAC1200 and midi'd this to the HS8. This little box was a revelation, no need to say more. As I never seemed to use the HS8 sounds or styles, this organ went and was replaced by a Korg i3 and together with the SMAC, music life was pretty good. Came the Technics KN3000 and life got even better. Eventually changed this for a very disappointing Yamaha PSR8000, sounds OK but styles very bland and addition style cards no better so this was quickly replaced by the KN6000 and now the 7000.
Was going to add to the "by ear" debate but have been called away and if you can bear it will come back later.

Peter

My name is David,I'm well in my fifties!and I've lived in Teddington,Middlesex with my wife and two Daughters for about 20 years.I'm a pro percussionist/drummer(working!),my hobbies are flying light aircraft,golf,and exploring the myriad facilities and sounds of the truly wonderful KN7K.I have on organ workstation set up with pedals etc,it seems churlish not to with all those great classic organ samples!I've had the pleasure of playing Technics since the U60 era through EX30 and KN5000 et al.
Cheers to all,David.

Hi All,

My name is Derek.I'm 81 years young I own a KN7000 having traded a MS60 Solton in exchange.
In the past I have had two Technics Organs
( A U50 then aU90)
Before that a Gem organ but my first organ was a Yamaha BK5.

I have also had a number of accordions.

I play by music (one line + chord symbols),
memory, and ear.

I live in Devon near Barnstaple having moved from Essex 17 years ago.

My wife and I are members of "The Barnstaple Organ and Keyboard Club" We meet every fortnight,and 4to5 times during the season,
we have a members night when those members who are asked to play either the club organ or bring their own keyboard.

Ho Derek, At last someone admitting to be older than me!
On this discussion about ear playing. My Dad could only play by ear and could faithfully reproduce any tune complete with all correct chords. He played using mainly black notes (probably Fsharp) cos he said it was easier. Most of us would I suspect shyaway from that key. I can only play from a score, altho I can pick out virtually any tune on single notes pretty accurately (as I suspect most, if not all of us can do) but cannot find the appropriate chords, so I would guess that most ofus are earplayers in that sense. The lucky ones, like my Dad, can just do it properly without knowing how. On the other hand I believe that in music colleges the students are taught to improvise, which in my book is playing by ear. Some years back I bought a couple of books promising to teach me to play by ear but it didn't work for me. Perhaps I didn't try hard enough or am just too thick.....
What puzzles me is how blind pianists manage. I remember an American concert pianist ( think it was Alec Templeton or something similar)back in the forties playing the complete Rhapsody in Blue with orchestra. George Shearing, blind from birth, can compose, play any tune and obviously improvise. And I remember a blind piano tuner I once knew who was also a pretty good player.
As I said I can only play with the score in front of me. Simply can't remember the music and wish that I could,and that I could improvise and play like Peterson, Garner, Shearing et al. Perhaps in the next life???

Peter

It is good to hear from so many of you regarding where you live, what you play and some general information about yourself. It is my hope that many more of you would add to this thread, that we might all get to know each other better We all have more in common then you might be aware of
Best to all,
Bill the Bebop

------------------
BEBOP
Senior Member SYNTHZONE FORUMS Retired Moderator of Technics Forum
http://www.synthzone.com/cgi-bin/forumdisplay.cgi?action=topics&number=25
Bill Forrest in SAN JOSE, CALIF. USA
ICQ # 562519
Homepage http://www.anycities.com/bebop/

Hi! MY name is Roger Bradbury living in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire England.Nice to look at all your names only wish you had photos? Consultant in Mental health. Play kn7000 in clubs ect.old kn5000 fan.Roger

Hi
My name is Bernie Ackerman. I am 63 and live in Port Charlotte(Hurricane Charley),FL. I moved here last year with my wife Anneliese. I have a KN7000,which I dearly love. Before that I had a kn5000,and a dozen Yamaha's and Rolands. I had 6 months lessons in 1964,then proceeded to learn chords and lead sheets(fakebooks). I originally played a B3 in restaurants and honkytonks,but with the advent of arranger keyboards in the eighties, switched over.

I now play the 7000 every Sunday in church with the piano and Organ players,plus private parties, and a secondtime around band every week.We have dances with around one hundred attending.

Most of my time is spent with one music project or another. What a lucky fello I am.

Thanks for letting me share,

Bernie

HI Roger,
In my post just above yours in my signature is the address of my home page. When you click on that and open my home page you will find a couple of pictures there, One of my brand new motorhome and the other of Jann and I that is a couple years old. Many of the people here in the forums have pics on home pages. Maybe we need a new thread to get address from our members of their home pages
Best to you,
Bebop

Hello to all of you that haven't posted here yet. Let us hear from you.
How are you, where are you, what do you do, what do you play, how do you like this forum,what new keyboards are you considering buying, etc. etc. etc.
Bebop

The odd man out.!! I’m Walter, live in Galashiels, in the Scottish Borders, have a look. http://www.galashiels-scotland.fsbusiness.co.uk/ We don’t even have a railway, nearest 32 miles. Retired, keep fairly fit, Recent E-mail regarding health, asked to give an indication of health state, reply,” Am typing this on my Laptop from the top of Everest!! Have caught the cold”-- no follow-up!!. Play poorly, self-taught, it shows, 30’/40s/50/s then music dried up. Although have recently bought Rod Stewart and Westlife CD’s, the titles would tell you why, even they are catching on. This is a super forum, made lots of friends, the first Bebop, as I sent him a virus, got a sharp letter, after a few exchanges communicated regularly, sadly met only one, Bill Norrie, Willum, all to short a visit. It makes the world a smaller place. Pity it didn’t make it better. Failing, have a twisted sense of humour. Why did I say, odd man out, I play a Tyros!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Members,

Some of you know about me and some of the newer members may not.

I have never had formal musical instrument lessons. Being a career military (USAF)while serving in Korea, many of my fellow airman played guitar or piano and it was something I had always wanted to do but could not see learning scales (wish I had).

While staioned in Alaska with the long winters, I purchased a Hammond Chord Organ
and using the Pointer System for chords I made some noise that I liked but was not pleasant for some guests. A few years later I puchased a Hammond B3. The sounds were much better but my playing ability was only for my ears. I went through Lowrey and Technics Organs as my relaxation from busy work schedules.

Many years after retirement from business I became interested in computers. That lead to the Internet and through Internet music I met Bob Hendershot (a fellow member of this forum). He introduced me to OBI (Organ Buddies International). This inspired me to practice and improve on my playing abilities. I have since moved to Technics Keyboards, but have gained many close OBI friends all over the world that I hope to meet one day. (Bob is attending our East Coast Jam).

I am now 78 yrs young enjoying my 2600 and 7000 and my friends can now stand to hear me.

The OBI and this forum have been a great inspiration for me. Not much for the sequencer, but one of these days I may strive for the big time....Cees page.

Fran in Florida

Hi, my names Fred Wren from South Darenth in Kent England U K, I am
71 years old. I started playing piano by ear when I was 15 yrs old, then
when I was about 30yrs old, I was asked by a friend if I would form a band with his young son and two friends.

Although they were only16-17yrs old, they were in their 8th grade musically. The first song we played together was a disaster, I was playing
Piano on the black notes, the Accordionist was playing from written music in the Key of “c”, the Saxophonist was also reading the music, written in “c” but I was told he had a Bb instrument, the young drummer who was also self taught, was prepared to hit any thing in reach of his drum sticks. It was then I taught myself to read chords and melody line.

It’s unfortunate that Technics have stopped making keyboards, but I
think that the Technics keyboards will be around for many years to come., [I still have my KN2000, I think it’s a great keyboard] .The many Web Sites that have been established, to encourage members to provide their music for the rest of us to enjoy, will help to keep the Technics keyboard alive. It will only take one member to ask a reasonable question, about his keyboard, and he will always get a reply, if it is possible to do so, as I have in the past.

Although I don’t write too often on the forum, I look in nearly
every night, and must admit I have got more from this site
than I am able to give.

I was encouraged by Bebop’s other thread, about what new Keyboard members wanted for Christmas, which he said he would close,
as nobody seemed interested in buying a new keyboard for Christmas.

I think this is a very interesting thread, thank you Bebop for putting
it up.
Fred UK