How good a musician are you?

[JohnPaul]

So, you say you wanna be a rock star, eh?.. Just kidding...

Whether you're professional or just tinkering, tell us of your talents!

Here's some guidelines:

Professional or amatuer?
Instruments played and years played?
Styles?
Do you read? Sightread?
Most memorable performances?
How much studio experience?
What's your best songs?
What's your greatest ambition?
Who's your biggest influence?
Tell us if you have any music online!

Best wishes to all who pursue the arts!

[ronsalehnasir]

Last year at the employee Christmas party, I sang Jethro Tull's Aqualung in a karaoke bar and brought the house down.

[Sonoacustico]

Hi!!
great question (because it is not rockstar-oriented, hehehe)

Here comes my answers:

-Professional or amateur?

Both, I think you can't live doing only this music... you need to have other activities, but in my case, I try to be as pro as I can


-Instruments played and years played?

Um, acoustic guitar for almost 20 years, keyboards for almost 15 years, bass for 10 years and percussion since I remember :)

-Styles?

mainly prog music. Biggest influences bands: Genesis, Yes, Asia, King Crimson. and Keyboard players: Tony Banks, Geoff Downes, Eddie Jobson.

-Do you read? Sightread?

I can read music with no problem, but I hate to read to play, I trust more in my ear than a score to learn a piece of music.

-Most memorable performances?

mmm I think the most important one has been when my band performed in the Bajaprog 2001 festival in México, it was a tremendous exerience!!! great moments also, when we played as the opening act for FISH (2500 people in a little stadium) and a support act for ARENA (150 people in a pub)

-How much studio experience?

My band recorded an album back in 2001, and the experience studying my career to become a sound recording and acoustics engineer is all that I can count, apart from multiple home studio recordings :)

-What's your best songs?

well, I don't know if this answer to this queston will give you a lot of information... I have some favorites...

-What's your greatest ambition?

well, I just want to do this to please myself, and if I can please some potential listeners, GREAT! ;) my ambitions goes more in non musical interests, you know, to form a family, etc... well, just to try to be happy :)

-Who's your biggest influence?

on the Guitar, Mike Rutherford (althought I like a lot of guitarists more than him, but my playing is very similar in style to him). on the Bass, the great Chris Squire (simply fantastic!) and on the Keyboards, as I said: Banks, Jobson and Downes. And, my favorite drummer is Bill Bruford :)

-Tell us if you have any music online

there are some samples of my band at the subterra website (btw, Subterra is the name of my band) at www.subterra.org. Unfortunately, there is no english version yet :( but I could give you the direct links if you want me to do so. You can also check my webpage: http://claudio.isgenius.com there are a few music files in the MUSIC menu.

ok those are my answers, what about all of you guys? :)

Best wishes from Chile!!!

Claudio

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

Overall fair. I could blow away any Neil Young or Ramones song but would take the back seat on something like Free Bird or Heart Of The Sunrise. But I played Starrship Trooper for so long I hit it note for note. You may see I wrote could . My hands hurt so much now I play accumpliment when I can stand it. But My fortay is vocals.
Instruments over the years: first guitar $24.00 Sears 1965 "Thanks Mom" Next came a1967 Gibson acustic folk, 1963 Aria classical {thank god for long fingers } 1968 Fender Mustang which I still have and share with my son. There was a Guild acustic year ? 1 Takamanian 6 string folk and a Takamanian 12 string acustic. I toyed with a Yamaha synth and there's a hamonica hiding someplace that never liked me
I taught my self to play, don't read music and couldn't tell you 3/4 of the cords I play or what notes I,m picking but if I hear a song I'll be playing it right away or within a few weeks.
Not playing out at the moment backed away from an all accustic band with a friend, but I'm feeling out a groupe of guys i've played with in diferent groups before. If they'll take me for vocals and form a band We'll be playind ELP Zepplin Neil Young Stain others and Yes.
We'll see By Starrship Trooper

[bataisflow]

Originally posted by JohnPaul
So, you say you wanna be a rock star, eh?.. Just kidding...

Whether you're professional or just tinkering, tell us of your talents!

Here's some guidelines:

Professional or amatuer?
Instruments played and years played?
Styles?
Do you read? Sightread?
Most memorable performances?
How much studio experience?
What's your best songs?
What's your greatest ambition?
Who's your biggest influence?
Tell us if you have any music online!

Best wishes to all who pursue the arts!


Professional or amatuer? - Professional
Instruments played and years played? - Bass 18yrs, Guitar 10yrs, a little keys 10yrs, and vocals - all my life
Styles? Progressive, R&R, Jazz Fusion, Blues, Latin and lots of other styles
Do you read? Sightread? Neither - I have a great ear though!
Most memorable performances? Played in front of 7,000 people opening for the Samples and Big Head Todd and the Monsters and then went and headlined in front of 1,500 until 2AM
How much studio experience? Tons of recording experience
What's your best songs? A tune called somewhere
What's your greatest ambition? To travel the globe playing my instrument
Who's your biggest influence? Jaco, Stanley Clarke, Jeff Berlin, Chris Squire, Flea, Rocco Prestia

[Shikedants]

Originally posted by JohnPaul
So, you say you wanna be a rock star, eh?.. Just kidding...

Whether you're professional or just tinkering, tell us of your talents!

Here's some guidelines:

Professional or amatuer?
Amatuer

Instruments played and years played?
Piano (35 years)

Styles?
Not locked into anything

Do you read? Sightread?
Yes and yes.

Most memorable performances?
Panasonic National Sales meeting, (every October)

How much studio experience?
None

What's your best songs?
Firth of Fifth, Pirates, Close to the Edge, Turn of the Century

What's your greatest ambition?
To form a band with my son and daughter (soon)


Who's your biggest influence?
Tony Banks

Tell us if you have any music online!
No

Best wishes to all who pursue the arts!
Amen

[ANTIOCH]

For as long as I've been playing, not so hot.
I can't read a lick, but have a good ear; so I get by. I've learned over the years to mask my weaknesses and keep my strength's in check - never overdue it !
http://www.mp3.com/ANTIOCH

[RobAdams]

The musician in me:

I've played guitar since around 1978

I first played bass guitar in 1980

On the guitar I know just a few basic chords, can only read music if it shows the guitar chord symbols.

The bass? Totally by ear, I'm afraid. I'm adequate but not incredible. I can almost play Yours Is No Disgrace, but I'm far from being the Fish - although I am Pisces.

My musical talents have been used more or less as a hobby. The few bands I was in? I was usually the only one there for the music. Everyone else was there to get high. Needless to say, not much happened in this regard.

Singing? No way. I really hate the sound of my voice and I can't sing in key to save my life. My fingers can sing on the fret boards.

Never recorded in a studio, although I did have a couple decent 4 Track units. I still have some recordings from the mid to late 90's, mostly covers, a few songs I co-wrote with others.

I used to love plugging in the bass and playing along with all the Yes albums. My interest in the bass did come from the influence of Chris Squire. My desire to play an instrument to begin with was inspired by Yes. Figuring them to be among the greatest musicians in rock, I figured that if I could learn to play even SOME of their music, the less complicated music would be easier to learn. Never one to study, I tried to learn to read music but it was like a foreign language to me.

On the guitar I can play a few Grateful Dead tunes well enough to jam with some Dead Head musicians. I love playing THAT'S IT FOR THE OTHER ONE.

I once had a Peavey bass & amp, but that was long ago. I haven't played the low notes since '96. I've had a few nice acoustic guitars - including a Yamaha that I loved.

Now I have just an acoustic guitar - a Hilton Prohooker. What makes it a 'prohooker' is beyond me. I bought it cheap at a tag sale to keep me musical until I get a chance to return to the land of BASS. If I was amazing at the bass I'd have certainly tried harder to get a new one.

I tried drums a few times. Amazing how easy it looks, but how hard it actually is. I couldn't even fake my way through a basic blues!

I once had a keyboard, but it was a Casio thingy. I would never consider myself a keyboard player. I can't even get my left hand to do what I want. I still had fun trying to play it.

The first instrument I really tried was the Saxophone. It was in the school band in 1976. I couldn't even get the thing to make noise! Getting the reed to vibrate was a mystery to me and I quit. The music teacher was no help. He was a jerk. I tried very hard to follow what he was teaching us about reading music. He was asking everyone at random how many beats a particular note should get. I forget the exact question he asked me, but I just didn't understand it. I replied "I'm sorry. I don't understand this. I need more help." His response to me was "Since you can't pay attention, I want you to go to the principal's office RIGHT now. I have NO time for stupidity." I wasn't a disruptive student, but that really cheesed me off. I took the Saxophone and wailed it against the wall and I called him some rather decorative names. I pretty much told him to reproduce with the Saxophone.
And I also told him he was a rotten teacher.

[Vulpes Namekaw]

Professional or amatuer?
Amatuer. I don't think I'm quite professional quality yet.

Instruments played and years played?
I sing and play keyboards. Almost entirely self-taught. Been playing, or more accurately, fumbling around for about 8 years

Styles?
I'm trying to learn as many different styles as I can. Jazz has proven to be the hardest for me.

Do you read? Sightread?
I can read music, but much too slowly to sight read.

Most memorable performances?
There are four. The first was when I must have been about 12 or 13. My Grandfather was getting remarried, and my parents, who are both singers; and my father is an ok guitarist, were asked to sing a song ("Someone Like You" from the musical, Jekyll and Hyde) at his wedding as the bride and groom were to enter. My mother asked me to help her learn the song; she only expected me to learn the melody, but I liked the song so much that I learned the chords, and even the key change that my dad couldn't do. She loved it. He hated that I could outplay him and made a huge sarcastic scene about how he should just stay home (Just so you know, I have very little respect for him as a father or even as a human being). He did play, though, and the performance was flawless.
The second performance was my first at my high school's semi-annual talent show. One of my teachers remarked that one of her favorite songs was "Time" by the Alan Parsons Project. So I thought, "hey, I like that song too, and maybe…(no, I wasn't really looking to get a good grade in that class, and she wouldn't have given it to me for that, anyway. I just wanted something to perform, and that seemed to be the best fit.)" Surprisingly, I wasn't the slightest bit nervous. I performed well, I guess, because I got a standing ovation from the crowd.
The third was when I sang the theme song in a duet for the senior prom. I don't know why I auditioned, considering I was dirt poor and really couldn't afford a nice suit for the prom, and I don't know why the prom music director was so nice to pay for my tux. Perhaps because she thought I was so talented that she would have given her right arm to make sure I looked presentable (no lie!). Two things I was nervous about that day: First, my "partner" and I had to walk arm-in-arm down a set path to center stage, which I had never done before. The other thing being that I was suffering from fits of sudden nosebleeds because of a combination of sleep apnea, allergies, and the dry spring air, and I was constantly worried that I might suffer a nosebleed during the performance. Luckily, the nosebleed didn't start until we had finished the song and were safely off stage and out of view.
The fourth was when I sang the Star-Spangled Banner before a high school wrestling match. That day, of course, my choir director was in attendance, and told me personally, and I quote, "You rock, Matt!" I'll never get over that.
How much studio experience?
One studio experience, if you can count that. My partner for the prom duet and I were asked to record our performance beforehand in the school's TV studio, for a news video for someone's journalism class, since she wouldn't be able to attend the prom. Other than that, no experience whatsoever.

What's your best songs?
I can play most of the keys for Close to the Edge, Roundabout, And You and I, and I have the piano interlude from South Side of the Sky down to a T. Hoping to learn Awaken, Sound Chaser, and Karn Evil 9
What's your greatest ambition?
If I can do this first, start a Yes tribute band, or start my own Yes-influenced progressive rock band, and amaze the world.

Who's your biggest influence?
Yes, obviously. After that, Brian Wilson, master producer and melodic craftsman, and Russian psychedelic composer Alexandr Scriabin, who pioneered psychedelic music a whole century before bands like the Jefferson Airplane and the Grateful Dead came to fruition.

Tell us if you have any music online!
Just take a look! http://home.mchsi.com/~cobaltfox/music/

Thanks for asking! :)

[Squireaholic]

I've been playing electric bass since I was ten (I'm almost 42; do the math!). I also play guitar, mandolin, violin; if it's got strings, I can basically play it.
I consider myself semi-professional. Although I have a full-time job, I play in any of three different bands on the weekends.
I've played just about every style, from polkas to country to fusion. My current bands are trad jazz, deadhead-jamband and world music; never a dull moment! I of course would like to play some prog, which happens some in the deadhead band, but would do more if there was a market for it up here.
Major influences: Chris, of course, with a smattering of Phil Lesh and Anthony Jackson.
Best moments: opening act for the Charlie Daniels Band, opening for Asleep at the Wheel, and joining Boxcar Willie onstage for a few tunes shortly before his passing.
Working on several CDs, but nothing online these days. I did a program music CD for ESPN2 about two years ago. Sometimes during surfing or kayaking pieces, the bass you hear in the background could be me.

[Dances w/PURPLE]

anyone else have pics from performances? Riff put some great ones up..anybody? anybody?

[upbgirl]

Professional or amatuer?
pro means ya get $?? no way..


Instruments played and years played?
i got my flute in 4th grade-loved it immediately-i think it was 1967.. [please-do NOT do the math-i dont!]

Styles?
anyone who knows me knows i have no style whatsoever-i just play the vocals, usually, to songs i love..


Do you read? Sightread?

yes, i try to-i need to take it home and practice quite a bit-my 15 year old niece is a much better sight reader than i [but it has been a few years, of course!]


Most memorable performances?

my senior year in h.s. we jammed a cool song called 'variations on an american theme'.. it was every kind of musical style i knew at the time all played to 'sweet betsy from pike' i had a difficult piccolo solo and if i screwed it up, would take the whole band with me-120 people waiting..i had to tap my foot, but i did it!!
another time,just this summer, my two buddies and i did a three song set at a coffee house.. quite unmemorable for me-it was to get my friend to sing in front of people-all her original songs..

How much studio experience?

none, unless you count getting pretty buzzed and recording aforementioned friends songs at her house before we went to gig it..[that means NONE]


What's your best songs?
'elegy', by tull-'heard it in a love song'-marshall tucker and 'wondrous stories' by.. oh you know..

What's your greatest ambition?

to play again and make myself happy [if you mean 'ambition' in the musical context] i would love to learn locomotive breath solo, and just might be able to now that my friend is transcribing it for me!!whoohoo!


Who's your biggest influence?
ian, of course!! [who else could it be??????]

Tell us if you have any music online!
no way-all the windows would be shattering and i dont mean 'is it live or memorex' style!

[maynard meadows]

i am a semi-proffesional musician that has played keyboards in cover and original bands for the last 25 years. I've played all styles, but love prog rock, jazz, and R &B/blues the best. i have a key setup almost as big as Wakeman?Koroschev's, but can only use that extensive setup at certain gigs with the proper stage size. My keyboard influence is extensive, but , synthesizer wise, I'd have to tip my hat to Tony Banks. He is the master of sound and orchestration-he is the sound, or was, of Genesis. Technically it's got to be a tie between Wakeman and Emerson on multi'keys and Hammond organ. For straight rock piano, with a touch of New Orleans funk, Bill Payne cannot be beat-he is the man!!! Bruce Hornsby, Chuck Leavell, Cori Lerios, Roy Bittan, and Elton and Billy, of course are part of my musical vocabulary. Yes is my favorite band , and , luckily still touring!!! I like all different kinds of synths-Korg, Roland, Alesis, Yamaha, Novation, and have a little bit of each. I'm wondering, does Wakeman have a Korg endorsement, or does he just like Korg products?? I know he's used them heavily the last 15 years, but his last tour setup seems heavily reliant of Korg. I have a Yamaha AN1-X, which I noticed Tom Brislin and Koroschev both used on their tours. Interesting....I thought that was cool Brislin used an Andromeda also on the last tour, that is an awesome synth!!!!!!

[JohnPaul]

Professional or amatuer?
Amatuer.. but have tried to be pro many times. Spent 15 years trying to make it .. sending out demos, getting rejection letters..

Instruments played and years played?
Guitar - 34 years; some bass and drums; 2nd Tenor Vocals

Styles?
Classical guitar and choir voice
Folk, Rock and ProgRock guitar

Do you read? Yes

Sightread? 2nd Tenor, yes when in practice, guitar - no.

Most memorable performances?
First high school performance, of course.
2nd year anniversary for the USS Nimitz at the Hampton Coliseum
Local Boston Band Review, 1979, Paradise Theatre, Boston
Easter, St. Michael of Poway (near San Diego) choir (60 voice..)

How much studio experience?
Engineer, Producer and musician.. a bunch.. produced 7 songs as demos

What's your best songs?
Rachel Lays, With You I'll Stay (Country Crossover), The Restless Nights

What's your greatest ambition?
Rock star.. or something close, like Racontuer Troubador!
Actually, I'd love to put together a Guitar, Recorder Duet, keyboard, 4 piece band as much of the music I'd like to produce would work SO well in this ensemble.

Who's your biggest influence?
Steve Howe - can play most of his YES work, including THE ANCIENT, MOOD FOR A DAY.. no slide though. Hope to learn THE CLAP someday in the near future.

Tell us if you have any music online!
No (sigh)..

[ANTIOCH]

J.P.,what part of the Pacific Ocean do you call home ? We (ANTIOCH) are located in Ventura, Ca. . .
do you know the area ? When I was managing 'Hollander', we covered a wall in our 1000 foot rehearsal studio with rejection letters from the Record companies we'd submitted to. We turned it into a game as it became quite apparent we would never get signed. "I feel your pain"- Billy Clinton

[therifferoo]

WELCOME TO THE FORUM!! Another keyboardist!! Woo Hoo!!
Look back in the archives of the Yesfans Play Instruments section for a thread titled "Hey Riff and all other keyboardists"....I think you'll enjoy it...and hopefully add your own stories to it!

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

OK, John Paul!! Here ya go!!

Pro or amateur?
Well, I make about 50% of my living playing live music.

Do I really have to say how long in this next part??? LOL!
I've played piano for 38 years now, and various synthesizers and keyboards for 24 years. I dabble on guitar.

Style varies. In the past 10 years with the 10-piece Latin Jazz/Variety act I'm in, I have really come to dig on salsa style piano. I have played in prog bands, rock bands, fusion bands, funk bands, you name it. My writing tends to most often show soul influence, however. I also studied classical music for 9 years as a kid. I can still play a few of the pieces I learned back then! Ha ha!!

I must admit, my sight reading has gone to hell. Staff music is only occasionally helpful to me these days as an aid to figuring something out by ear!!! Ha ha ha!! Chord charts are much more helpful.

Most memorable performances. Wow. There have been many.
I opened up for Ramsey Lewis once. He is a beautiful person.
And I opened up for Harry Belafonte once, too. No comment about him, however! Also opened up for The O'Jays, Frieda Payne, Nancy Wilson (the jazz/blues singer), Jerry Butler, and in recent years with the band I'm in, opened up for Tower Of Power this past September, opened up for War twice ~as well as for many popular Latin acts: Jose Feliciano, The Barrio Boys, Malo, Tierra, El Chicano, Little Joe & La Familia, Tito Nueves (of I Like It Like That fame), and others. With the group I'm in now, I have played for President Clinton, Vice President Gore, many Senators and Rep.s, the Chicago Bulls pregame (every 5th home game plus playoffs) since the United Center was built, we also played at the Bulls private victory party for their 4th World Championship. We also occasionally play pregame for the Chicago Blackhawks. We have played at Taste Of Chicago for 7 or 8 years in a row now (I've lost track), VIVA Chicago fest 3 years, Fiesta Del Sol 3 years,
Lots of gigs on Navy Pier, including in the Skyline Theater, the Miss USA coronation ball 2001 and 2002 (the guys in the band really dug those gigs!! ha ha!!), the list goes on and on. One of the most memorable gigs, though, I think might be when I was in a 9 piece all original fusion band, and we played at Star Plaza Theater...my grandmother was alive then...she was there and she bootleg taped us on a little Radio Shack tape player!! LOL!!

Fair amount of studio experience. Lots of demos, and a few old pieces of vinyl. Always busy on my 4 track at home, though! Ha ha!!

Best songs????? Hard to say. I have my favorites of ones I've written or co-written. Of ones you folks may know, I enjoy playing Firth Of Fifth, Children's Concerto (Moraz), and other such things. I dunno....whatever strikes me, I guess!!

Musically, my greatest ambition is to successfully market a coupla my tunes or more. (I can't sing...let someone else be the star!! LOL!!) Otherwise, I also have in mind writing a coupla books when I get a little closer to retirement. I have lots of journals to use as resources for the particular topics I have in mind.

Biggest influences. Patrick Moraz. Jeff Beck. Duke Ellington. 1970s funk and soul. Yes. Genesis. And probably THE most insidious influence in my writing style: Todd Rundgren.

Right now, I don't have anything on the web outside of a few snippets in a personal briefcase. Hopefully, that will change soon!

WHEW!! That was grueling!! Ha ha ha!!!

Peace, all
~Riff. :keyboard:

[1yesfan]

Well I played Trombone from 4th grade through HS and always sat 1st chair. DId a year of Marching band in College also. About 8 years ago I purchased a 16 pc Ludwig drum set and played/took lessons for about 3 months but eventually sold them due to MONEY issues back then!

[therifferoo]

You do NOT suck, and you are NOT crap.....!!!!!

Whazzamatta, you!!! Shame on you!!!! :silly:

You still "have it", my friend!! I KNOW you do!!

Now, knock it off, and spill me a few Art Blakey chops, will ya??

Why, YOU!!!! ;)

~Riffer!

[Squireaholic]

Daleymate: Playing music is like riding a bike. Once you know how, you never really lose it. Your turns may get rusty, you may have trouble starting and stopping, but you never, ever forget.
:drummer:

Now, get back in the saddle and RIDE!

[yarstruly]

Professional or amatuer?

Semi- Pro performer. Professional music teacher, in my 13th year.

Instruments played and years played?

Primarily guitar 24 + years...
I play bass from time to time.
I also can sing lead & harmony vocals in a baritone to 2nd tenor range. I have fronted a few bands.
I can also play drums/percussion to a fair degree, a little bit of keyboards, and used to play tenor sax in the school band.

Styles?

I prefer to play rock, but I have studied a bit of classical & jazz. I have played just about any style of music you can think of over the years in various performing situations: blues, country, classical, jazz, flamenco, r&b/soul, various genres of rock, etc.


Do you read?
Yes

Sightread?
Not as well as I once did, but yes.

Most memorable performances?

On a personal level, the night I met my (now) wife at a little dive in North GA...she was a friend of the drummer's wife (not one of the regular clientele of this place...lol).

I have never played any "high profile" gigs but I have played a few places with probably 1,000 people or more.

How much studio experience?

Not very much, just a few demos.

What's your best songs?

Not sure exactly what you are looking for in this question, but a recent band, that still gets together from time to time, did a version of 21st Century Schizoid Man that was pretty cool.

What's your greatest ambition?

Just to enjoy whatever situations I am in musically and play/sing my best.

Who's your biggest influence?

Too many to name, I am very eclectic...If I like something, I will incorporate it...but a few would include: Jimmy Page, Ace Frehley, Eddie Van Halen, Steve Howe, Alex Lifeson, Trevor Rabin, etc.

Tell us if you have any music online!

Not at this time....

[HuWoman]

Professional or amatuer?
Professional - Full time (teaching and performing)

Instruments played and years played?
guitar - all types
Vocals - Lead

Styles?
Classical, Jazz, Rock, BIG into Prog-rock

Do you read? Sightread?
yes & Yes

Most memorable performances?
YES - Masterworks!!

How much studio experience?
7 albums out with me on
2 solo albums in the works (1 'pop-prog' short songs, 1 full on prog-rock with epic length theme album)

What's your best songs?


What's your greatest ambition?
To have people love my original music enough so that I could make a decent living from touring and selling CD's. Yes, I DID want to be a ROCK GODDESS of lead guitar at one point, but now I like the idea of making a living. Rent the movie "Rock Star" if you want to know what I mean by this!


Who's your biggest influence?
Songwriting and composition:
Yes, Pat Metheny, Peter Gabrial
Vocals and lyric subject matter:
Jon Anderson
Guitar:
Steve Howe propelled me to learn both classical and jazz, as well as rock.
Later I discovered Mike Stern. I've always liked Pat Metheny.


Tell us if you have any music online!
Yep!
Pardon long URL (some time in the near future I'll get a domain):
www.angelfire.com/music3/raeborough

I was in a progish band, Talamasca that came out with one CD before we broke up. I've been on some others as a side player. But only recently have struck out on my own. I hope to post MP3's of my new stuff soon.

Of Special Note:
I am a WOMAN!!! Yep, and play prog-rock. Recently while working on my solo singer-songwriter CD (first of it's kind), the drummer upon listening to the songs said, "this is prog!" Yep, though the songs are short, I can't help myself with the time signature changes and little breaks of complex interludes (though short they're still there!).

Brita Rae Borough

[HuWoman]

oops, forgot something:
how long have I been playing?
guitar: since I was 12. I'm now 40.
vocals: Since I was 18.

Best song: Well, I have one in each style. But I like to do well at ALL I do. So this is too broad for me to answer.

P.S. Thanks for asking about this subject.

Brita

[HuWoman]

Okay, one more thing:
Most memorable performance, you ment MEEE
OH!! Well, not the most pleasant but a good story:

I was on stage once stuning my guitar. I was the lead, well only guitarist in the band. The lead singer was a woman as was the sax player, but the bassist and drummer were guys. I'm standing there with my electic, HOT PINK Steve Vai guitar when the soundman says, "So when does the guitar player get here?" Ouch! I noticed he was VERY nice to me AFTER the show. I suppose he figured out I wasn't the guitarists girlfriend! I've got more like this but this was the funniest!!! Now you see why it's taken me 20 years to become a front-person singer & guitarist. They'll still be looking for the 'real guitarist' until I start playing!!! Oh, someday...

Brita

[therifferoo]

Ah-ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!!!!! HuWoman, HIGH FIVE, GIRL!!!!

I, too, am a 40-sumpthin' year old accomplished female musician....and it never ceases to amaze me how people assume you're part of the entourage, or somebody's girlfriend, or the diva lead singer ~ ANYTHING but a musician!!....and, it never ceases to amaze me how their attitudes change AFTER they see/hear you play!!! Ha ha!! Then you get those comments, intended to be compliments, like "I didn't know chicks could wail like that!" and so forth....SWAAAAACK!! LOL!

Welcome to the forum!!! SO glad to have you aboard!!

We have another talented female musician here, her name is YESiDrum. Lessee....now all we need is a bassist!!! LOL!!

Getting too late now, so will check out your tunes tomorrow....looking forward to it!!

ROCK ON, HU!!!!!!!! :guitar:

~Riff! :keyboard:

p.s. LOVE Metheny, too...got turned onto him in 1979, when I was taken to see The Pat Metheny Group live (American Garage tour) by a bandmate back in college! Pat's solos literally take you places!!

[Earl Grey]

"I'm not technically great, but I can make a guitar howl and move." John Lennon.

I love that!

[Dale Cleary]

I am holding a guitar in my left hand. I am holding sticks in my right.
I can't figure out where to hit the bloody thing !! :silly:

Hi Huwoman it is great to have you aboard here. Good luck with everything. I like plenty of female musicians, Terry Lynne Carrington is a favourite drummer of mine to name just one.
Just be patient with the guys, they are only men you know ?
Bye, Dale :D

[Q]

I'm a jack of all trades, master of none --- in my band I have a kind of Jon role, playing many instruments, but playing more than Jon does: guitar, bass, keys, harp, various Howe-ish stringed instruments --- but I'm not blazingly good on any of them. I am more focused as a writer than a player, but I am surrounded by really terrific players so I get by ...

Q

[Dances w/PURPLE]

Hey, I play a mean triangle!

[HuWoman]

To Therifferoo, cool! If I'm in Chigaco we should jam sometime.



>Just be patient with the guys, they are only men you know ?
Yeah,... now adays I like to say "I'm secure in my guitar playing"
I used to be out to prove something when I was young. Now I play because I LOVE it!

Brita

[RobAdams]

Let's just say my guitar and I are contantly pelted by rocks & tormatos...;)

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

My sons band has taken over my garage thus leaving a drum set unattended. I sat down at them for 20minutes and I didn't do so bad . I whent back in the house and told my 11 year old daughter that any moron can play the drums. She whent to the garage for 10 minutes and came back in. She said she couldn't do a thing with them . I said well your not any moron . I see that it's going to take some time to get profitant,but I think I will keep up with it. Less stress on my fingers than my guitar,I may make this my new main instrument. I was kiding about the moron part I truely respect the talent and skil of drumers. I have worked with some good ones.
Starrship Trooper

[Faceintheplace]

Professional or amatuer?: I'd say neither. I'm intermediate.

Instruments played and years played?: Singing: since I was 5, Keyboards since I was 7, Bass since I was 16.

Styles?:
Rock and Blues, several variations on both those styles.

Do you read? Sightread?: I learned in music in high school, but usually just do without. I've been told I have a really good musical ear. Being able to learn the keys, riffs, bass parts or melody's of songs after only hearing a song one or two times.

Most memorable performances?: When I did "Light My Fire" at a kareoke night, several people said I was great and sounded "Just like Jimbo."

How much studio experience?: None yet.
What's your best songs?: Well I can play "Sparks" - The Who, "Ice Cream For Crow" - Captain Beefheart and Chris Squire's bass parts on "Yours Is No Discrace" very well.

I also have gotten a lot of praise for a song I wrote and recorded (at my makeshift home studio) myself, an 8 minute bass solo piece called "Anthem For Escapism."

What's your greatest ambition?: To one day be in a band. But actually I'm really enjoying just playing for fun.

Who's your biggest influence?: its a very long list, but it includes among others Yes, The Who, Captain Beefheart & Black flag

Tell us if you have any music online!: Not yet.

[Insane Teacher]

I took drum lessons in junior high school (early 1970s). I dropped out when I couldn't master paradiddles. I recently set up my old Ludwig snare drum in my basement and I practice my rudements for fun. My drum lessons caused me to appreciate the precision of Bill Brufford's druming. He plays the end of a beautiful long roll in Roundabout as it heads into the beautiful slow "In and around the lake" part near the end.

My artistic life has focused on painting and drawing. But I wish I would have joined the school orchestra or band as a percussionist because I think it would have kept my interest in drums. It was hard to keep interest as a kid when all I did was play on a drum pad in my basement.

[haroldthebarrel]

Professional or amatuer?

I guess I don't really know when and where one becomes a pro and no longer an amatuer. I have been playing since I was 8 years old, and have been in many bands, but I admit that if I am not considered a pro because I couldn't pull off a hard song , say like Gates of Delirium live with only 10 practices or so, then I am not a pro. I could learn it eventually, but not like some guitarists out there. Maybe I would be considered semi-pro.

Instruments played and years played?

I got my first guitar when I was 8 yrs old, but didn't even get semi-serious about it until I was about 16 or 17. I didn't get REALLY serious until I was about 23 yrs old (now 25) and got into bands like Yes and Genesis and really heard what one could do with a guitar and music in general.

Apon turning 23 I started toying with keyboards and mandolin. Mandolin was easy to learn because of my guitar experience. I wouldn't say I am awesome at it or anything, but I can play it. Same goes with Piano, I can play most things I can on guitar as far as chords go and all that but when it comes to doing fast leads and stuff I am still learning. I also recently learned to play harmonica, but I think that anyone can pretty much play that instrument. Of course being a guitar player, I also own a couple bass guitars and can play most Chris Squire riffs, so I would guess I am decent on the Bass, but as far as feel and really 'playing the bass' I'd say I am NOT a bass player.

Another instrument I play is the Drums. I have always considered that my 2nd best instrument. In fact it fluctuates between that and guitar. I just like being a front man too much to ever consider it my main instrument. I DO however, insist on playing keys, drums, and guitar on most of my songs I write and record (mainly because I can't find like-minded musicians who can play those instruments well enough).

Styles?

I can play different styles on a few different instruments. My style on guitar is kind of Jazzy, but very Howe-influenced, or scale oriented. I play Rock or whatever, of course, but can also do country picking and classical sort of well. For instance I can play Mood for a Day, Horizons (Hackett), and most of Classical Gas, but wrote a very "Clap"-like song myself with that Chet Atkins-sort of picking and feel. On drums I can be subtle or Heavy, whatever is needed. Complicated time signatures can really stump me though . I'm definitely no Carl Palmer or Bill Bruford.

On keys, I am pretty basic, but can do a little Jazz-like piano or rockin B3 organ soloing. And as far as singing goes, I have sang in hardcore Punk bands and Yes-like Prog bands, so go figure.

you read? Sightread?

Only Tablature


Most memorable performances?

Well, every performance is sort of the same lately, because the fact that I am not a rock star has kept me from playing to too many overly-enthusiastic audiences. But when I was in High School, I used to get standing ovations every time we did the Variety shows or Battle of the Bands. One in particular was when I actually created and organized the entire Battle of the Bands at South Saint Paul Highschool in about 11th grade. Rumors got around that during our last song, we were going to trash our equipment, and the rumors were true. We were called down to the Principals office and told that if we went through with our plan we'd be suspended from all school related extracurricular activities forever. So that night at the show, during our last song, (one we made up 4 trashing our instruments to) as security people suddenly started coming up to th front of the audience, we did it anyways!!! I trashed an $80 Cruise guitar, and surfed on it across the stage as most of the Highschool and Junior high screamed and went nuts, then the security guys rushed the stage and pulled us off and shut down the PA. It was awesome. And I was STILL playing not in 1 but in 2 bands for the Variety Show that year (doing Metallica's "Four Horsemen" and Ozzy's "Crazy Train") and I headed the Battle of the bands Committie (due to the success of the 1st one) for a few years, even after I graduated!

How much studio experience?

I've recorded a few times Analog at professional studios, though it was when I was too young to do anything really to be proud of. Lately I record on a 4track machine and sometimes primitively use a loopstation guitar pedal to lay down ideas. I know that these days, I could put out something really good if I were to come across like $100,000 to spend on it!! :crybby:


What's your best songs?

The best songs I've written are on a cassette tape in rough draft form right now, but I am ooking into getting a decent home studio one of these days so that i can record them and put out my own CD.

I have this concept album in the works about a guy and girl who are childhood/highschool sweetharts both talented and destined for Hollywood. The guy becomes famous first and drags the girl into the spotlight, thus creating a model/actress sort of thing for her. The story will be that the guy's rock band is huge and the typical sex-drugs-rock n roll-betrayal-rehab-hasbeen thing happens to him, and he is poor, a joke and estranged from his girl, who is still famous in fact a singer, movie star, dancer & whatever.... so his life goes down the tubes while she goes off f**ing every Tom Cruise and Ben Affleck that comes around. The guy eventually becomes obsessed with her (cutting out every picture in the magazines and taping every Conan O'Brien appearance etc... and eventually turns to stalking her, then Murdering her.

The story is still in rough-draft form, and the entire album as a while will be assembled and all when I finally record it, but that's the jist of the thing. It's kind of inspired by the movie "STAR 80" which is the story of Playmate Dorthy Stratten.

Your biggest influence?

Bands like Yes, Genesis, Radiohead, Peter Gabriel and other creative and adventurous acts.

Tell us if you have any music online!

I do! If you go to www.mp3.com/joecampbell you can find my previous roughly recorded CD done on a 4-track "Spectroheliokinematographs" which is two tracks and abot 25-30 mins total. That also is still a work in progress, as I'd like to re-do it with a professional recording. At the same website, you can find "Warm blanket of snow" which is the last song that will appear on my concept album about the couple mentioned above. yet stil it's the first one I wrote for it, weird how things sometimes work that way, but I just came up with the music for the end of the story first I guess.

I also have www.mp3.com/whitespace which is a band I formed a few years ago, and wrote and recorded one CD ith called "Four Stories" a very Tales from Topographic Oceans-like Concept album. 4 songs and about 55 mins. of music. The entire thing can be heard at the above web address. My personal website is usually at www.whitespacemusic.com, but that is down right now, so you can view it at www.jobview.com/joecampbell/index.htm

So anyways, sorry this post is so long, but check it out, and tell me what you think!

[illusion]

My little sister taught me how to play "Hot Crossed Buns" on the recorder last week. Does that count?

[PO]

Liked reading your post. I wish I knew you were around when I lived in Minneapolis. If I come there to see my sister let's try to hook up. I played the circuit aound there. At the time we played Yes, Gentle Giant, Tull, Kansas, Zappa, and some obligatory unmentionables.

By the way, I've just added a 5string Precision to my aresenal and love it.

Paul

[ronsalehnasir]

I seemed destined to suffer the fate of a has been wanna-be lead singer for Yes. What would it take to get Jon to share the stage with me?

[STARRSHIP TROOPER]

You might try getting the entire NY Jets to rush him on stage so you can take over.But then you'll have the angry Yes fans to deal with.
Starrship Trooper

[ronsalehnasir]

Good reply. I think I better stick with being a psychologist and pioneer a new theory of the mind inspired by Close to the Edge. I'll start winning over Yes and fans by citing them in the author's note.

[yessongs72]

I can play better than Steve,Chris and Alan,of course thats using air guitars and drums.I'm currently working on Ricks keys,lol.

[tmc]

hey ya'll,
All i can say to the list is
I can play anything that i can hear in my head. on guitar.
( if that makes any sense! lol)
seriously,
i can read, and since taking up training myself on keys the sight reading is coming along, but it is not an issue.
i've been playin for more years than i care to admit these days, but still find myself in awe at how easy some of these performers make it look, although i have an extremely good idea of all the preproduction that goes on...
fave styles are Prog, Flat out rock and well...plug it in and play.
influences? - Anything that grabs my attention,Rush,Yes, Pink Floyd,Kansas,
My best work is in progress as i write this......hard to put in a specific niche....and thats cool.
will have some goodies up on the web here soon

[haroldthebarrel]

QUOTE:
Liked reading your post. I wish I knew you were around when I lived in Minneapolis. If I come there to see my sister let's try to hook up. I played the circuit aound there. At the time we played Yes, Gentle Giant, Tull, Kansas, Zappa, and some obligatory unmentionables.
END QUOTE.

-- I would love to, shoot me an email at joecampbel@hotmail.com if you ever swing through town!

Joe

[BillGuitar]

It usually depends on how good your band/other musicians/cd player/iPod is!

I play guitar, to some degree...

:wavey:

[Roan's Lady]

I'm looking forward to finding out, after six weeks of having to play "air-keyboards". :rolleyes:
Been doing some singing along with my dear Alan on guitar. Don't need a sustain pedal or a trip down the stairs to the basement to do that. :D

[BillGuitar]

I play heir guitar

[neilius]

Im crap.

[chipperoo]

I'm not. Sadly, I play like :poop:

[neilius]

I'm just too silly to be a serious musician. Seriously.

[BillGuitar]

I'd much rather eat a salad.

:hungry:

[maninthemoon]

I'm not so great a musician, though I've put time in to get better. I'm more comfortable with the term"singer/songwriter" than musician. I can read notation but very slowly, and I don't have the patience for tab.

[Full Tilt Boogie]

That's an easy one - sh!t. :D

[fovman]

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/fieldofview

[kirk]

5+ year thread boink!

It's kind of sad seeing all the former site members.
Has anyone heard from Diane/Rifferoo lately?

I'd rather have others opinions about my stuff,
being a little on the biased side, too close to it.

There's a link below if you'd like to judge for yourself.
Try the Latin(ish) number from the YFs comp disc II,
"Ascend and Create", "Mamaya".

I play all the instruments, the first attempt at
recording flute, Chapman Stick...
It's like nothing else on the page.

P e a c e
K

[BillGuitar]

Where's my salad? :sneaky:

[orpheus]

I'm getting better. I like adding on my own phrases to songs I pick up on tabs. I can read music but so slowly. MY favorites to play are Crazy on You, Love Alive, Mood for a Day, Acid Queen, Behind Blue Eyes, Needle and the Damage Done, From the Beginning, 39,

I'm working on the Sage right now. I can do some long Yes tunes but pretty badly. I can do all the parts of Starship Trooper but really choppy and out of time and I can't sing worth sh*t. Although one night I did With or Without you in a kareoke bar while really drunk and the whole place cheered and loved it. Must have accidentally been on key or something.

[kirk]

Where's my salad? :sneaky:
Whatever happened to those originals you were
going to post?

K

[BillGuitar]

Whatever happened to those originals you were
going to post?

K

Uh...one I played with Delirium in Memphis, and the others, well they're just rough ideas, riffs mostly. But they could be takened to evener highener heights!

I wish I could make money playing guitar for commercials that REALLY could use some good guitar work. The JEOPARDY! theme song has a lead-guitar solo that's played nightly at the end of the show. It is one of the worst solos, it goes nowhere with a lot of notes...

L O O P

[YesBassist]

Im purdy good..im better playing floyd than Yes, yes there are still some parts where i screw up... but very dedicated non the less


also dont let bill guitar be modest...the man is bloody Fuc*ing good!!!

[Yes.2]

If you focus me and break me in to the songs properly I'm the best....But if I'm rushed/hit the ground runnin' and over stressed I'm the worst....


Period.

[bjlevine]

Its a pretty vague question. I think that while I'm very creative on bass, technically I leave a lot to be desired. And like any musician, I have on and off nights. But, hey...I've seen Yes have to stop and restart in the middle of Starship Trooper.

[miar]

Professional or amatuer?

I am an proff amateur.. hehe... I have played in diffrent small bands and in an big marching band during the years.. I have played a lot of concert - but not as an proffesional.. more like just for fun :)

Instruments played and years played?

Piano - since 6 years old (now I am 23)
Flute - since 1995
Irish flutes of all kinds - since 1994
Synths/hammond - since 1998
Guitar - since 2002
Bass guitar - since 2005

Styles?

I play all kinds of styles. I love mixing styles and making my own styles as well. I used to play a lot of classical music on the piano before, but now I play both classica, prog, jazz - all kinds of stuff.
Same on guitar/bass and flute.

Do you read? Sightread?

I know how to read music and guitar-tabs very well.. But I use my head and ears more. I have what you can call an excellent ear.

Most memorable performances?

Playing live in a prison for all the prisoners.. Very memorable for me :)

How much studio experience?

A lot the last year because im studying sound engineering.

What's your best songs?

On piano:
Some lyrical pieces from Grieg... some parts from Mozart and Beethoven.
I also know a few Moraz-pieces.. and some Tony Banks stuff.

On guitar:

Some Segovia-stuff (Bach and so on).. Some Steve Hackett-solo work..
Some Steve Howe-solo work.. I love to improvise.

On synth:
I love to improvise.. But I know how to play the "In the cage"-solo just as Tony Banks do it. :)

On flute:

I love to improvise..

On synths/hammond:
I love to play Tony Banks/Peter Bardens/Tony Kaye and Rick Wakeman-stuff.. as well as improvising..

What's your greatest ambition?

I dont know for sure yet..

Who's your biggest influence?

Oh!... well.. I have to say Tony Banks, Rick Wakeman, Peter Bardens, Steve Howe, Steve Hackett, Roger Hodgson, Annie Haslam, Bill Bruford, David Gilmour, Moraz, Mozart, Jimmy Page... just to mention some..

Tell us if you have any music online!

I don`t have any.. yet...


Other things:

I just have to say that classical guitar and 12-string guitar is kind of my thing.. When I`m playing bass.. its Chris Squire and Mike Rutherford that is my biggest idols :)

[Jackaranda]

I've become a fair keyboard player.

[jazzstick]

Professional or amatuer?

well I make all my money through teaching or playing music.
though more through teaching.

Instruments played and years played?

The chapman stick is my main instrument though I also play electric and upright bass. as well as all woodwinds and brass on a 6th grade level.

Styles?

Jazz, rock, Prog

Do you read? Sightread?

Yes

Most memorable performances?

Hard one. maybe duets with Greg Howard or My "Brett Bottomley quartet" gigs.

How much studio experience?

I've been in the studio a lot

What's your best songs?

I've just finished some I really like. I like playing "Portmeirion"
from my "journeys" Cd

What's your greatest ambition?

just to keep playing for an audience

Who's your biggest influence?

Probably Pat Metheny

Tell us if you have any music online!

yes

www.myspace.com/jazzstick
www.cdbaby.com/brettbottomley/cd
www.myspace.com/standingstonerocks

[jnbgtr]

Great thread. No surprise that Yes fans are very often musicians.

As for me.....Hmmmm. Long story. Family of musicians though none earn a living at it. Played Trombone when I was young, forced piano lessons by dad and eventually picked up the bass and sang since I was about 13. My dad runs a choir so my classical background comes from that. All my brothers and sister play instrument(s) as well. I did the Junior/high school band thing (circa 76-81). We were all Yes heads and at our apex we played 22 Yes songs which for 16-18 yr olds was quite a feat I suppose though we never really looked at it that way. Of course we also did Zep, Floyd, Rush, Skynard, etc.

I graduated Berklee in '87 for Music Production and engineering so sight reading for bass and vocals was a must though my bass reading chops have gone by the wayside. During college I was in an original band that lasted for about 5 years and we played all over N.E.

As of 2001 I started a Yes tribute band (among others we cover) that is still going strong so while it's not a career I guess I would be a professional musician of sorts.

As for biggest musical performance, probably the classical concerts I have done in my father's choir (2-300 people). Personally though the biggest charge for me was doing all of CTTE recently at a very nice theater setting. That is an album I've always wanted to perform live.

[kirk]

Professional or amatuer?

well I make all my money through teaching or playing music.
though more through teaching.

Instruments played and years played?

The chapman stick is my main instrument though I also play electric and upright bass. as well as all woodwinds and brass on a 6th grade level.

Styles?

Jazz, rock, Prog

Do you read? Sightread?

Yes

Most memorable performances?

Hard one. maybe duets with Greg Howard or My "Brett Bottomley quartet" gigs.

How much studio experience?

I've been in the studio a lot

What's your best songs?

I've just finished some I really like. I like playing "Portmeirion"
from my "journeys" Cd

What's your greatest ambition?

just to keep playing for an audience

Who's your biggest influence?

Probably Pat Metheny

Tell us if you have any music online!

yes

www.myspace.com/jazzstick
www.cdbaby.com/brettbottomley/cd
www.myspace.com/standingstonerocks

Brett! How's it going? Welcome to Yesfans!
Everyone, give Brett's music a listen, it's very good,
shows a mastery over the Stick, and modern Jazz. :appl[1]:

Kirk/zenpool

[Roan's Lady]

Brett! How's it going? Welcome to Yesfans!
Everyone, give Brett's music a listen, it's very good,
shows a mastery over the Stick, and modern Jazz. :appl[1]:

Kirk/zenpool

I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Brett's music up close and personal. He's an excellent player and absolutely worth a listen or three!

Please do keep playing for an audience, Brett! :D

[kirk]

I had the distinct pleasure of hearing Brett's music up close and personal. He's an excellent player and absolutely worth a listen or three!

Please do keep playing for an audience, Brett! :D

Brett, you'll likely remember Roan's Lady's husband
Alan Benjamin from the Sticklist also, another very
fine musician!

K

[jazzstick]

Brett, you'll likely remember Roan's Lady's husband
Alan Benjamin from the Sticklist also, another very
fine musician!

K

Alan is a DEAR FRIEND and a kindred spirit I'm a HUGE Advent fan. An amazing musician we have collaborated in the past and
we are trying to hook up for some musical show sharing in the future.

Brett

[Roan's Lady]

Brett, you'll likely remember Roan's Lady's husband
Alan Benjamin from the Sticklist also, another very
fine musician!

K

Thank you for your nice words, K - I'll pass them on to Alan. :D

Alan is a DEAR FRIEND and a kindred spirit I'm a HUGE Advent fan. An amazing musician we have collaborated in the past and
we are trying to hook up for some musical show sharing in the future.

Brett

Brett, both Alan and I really look forward to that! Thanks for your kind words, as well. :D

[kirk]

Alan is a DEAR FRIEND and a kindred spirit I'm a HUGE Advent fan. An amazing musician we have collaborated in the past and
we are trying to hook up for some musical show sharing in the future.

Brett

Very cool! I didn't know that. :appl[1]:
See you around the site.

K

[BrianD]

I am as good at playing music as George W Bush is at playing President

[Earl Grey]

I'm as good at playing President as Eric Carmen was at being The Beatles.

Musicianship is objective, one can't really say anything relevant about themselves, other than that they do their personal best, that they continually challenge themselves, and that their greatest competition is the person looking back in the mirror. To continually out-do oneself is the goal.

That's it on the subject...

eegee

[Write a punch line]

I'm the best, nobody knows it yet though.....

[Lifeseeker66]

Not good at all, that's why I truly appreciate our Yes men... masters of their craft.

[yessound_chaser81]

HAHAHA! I just figured out which end of my guitar is up...


I used to sing. I started taking voice lessons at the age of 9 singing Italian arias as a soprano, my voice teacher was impressed with my ear, if you know what I mean. Though I learned to sing off of sheet music I couldn't tell you what the notes where called. Later I started singing in our high school's award winning show choir called Hillside. We competed all over the state, even in Canada once, singing and dancing in front of audiences of up to 1,200 people (one year we were "national champs" which imo was a joke, most of the other schools where from missouri). To be honest, I hated it, my favorite time to sing was during our school's talent shows, when I could pick the song and sing it all by myself without wearing a stupid costume, dancing and smiling like a crazy person... :-)
I got burned out on it after all the "musical politics" crap in high school....now i just sing for myself and the cats.....i always wanted to be a folk singer.....

[Jackaranda]

Not good at all, that's why I truly appreciate our Yes men... masters of their craft.

No kidding...I'll sit at my keyboard and realize how great Wakeman really is.

[Roan's Lady]

No kidding...I'll sit at my keyboard and realize how great Wakeman really is.

You don't have to be a brilliant keyboardist to play Wakeman. Trust me. :D

[Imperatrix]

I'm a better musician than a six-month old infant, but not quite as good as Matt "CybrKhatru" Brown. :D

Classical harpist; taught by Marion Bannerman, Mildred Dilling, and then Kathleen Bride at Manhattan School of Music (she's now at Eastman).

Classical pianist, private instructors for years. Also plays synths, etc.

Various Middle Eastern/African percussion.

Vox.

[CybrKhatru]

"My name is Johnny Virgil...I play this here guitar...I play it for myself..."


I like the way Earl put it. We are always trying to outdo ourselves, no matter what.

As for me, I'm a professional musician trapped in a dayjob's body. That's cool though, because when I do get to gig and play, it is immensely satisfying.

Been playing keyboards in some fashion since I was 7, and drums/percussion since I was 8. Started getting really serious about writing music when I was about 15 (first 4-track recorder).

The music on my MySpace page is from my first CD. Eventually there will be a second one, but I'm not rushing it. :D

[relayeire]

Matt - I don't think Earl will mind me telling you that he thinks you're one of the finest keyboardists going... he told me so himself when he visited FL... he told me of the effort you go to get just the right sound... so give yourself a pat on the back... can't wait to hear the P~G CD!

[CybrKhatru]

Thanks Pete....:D I do appreciate that!!!

Earl and I have a "mutual appreciation society" going on. I've been a fan of his singing and songwriting ever since we met. I love how evocative his lyrics are, and the way he structures his tunes. Plus, he's a great guitarist! Having people like him in my life is good for breaking the block...the writing block, that is. He inspires.

To be quite honest, I can't wait to hear the final mixes of P~G too!

[JL]

I've been playing guitar and bass since I was 14 and piano since I was 34. I'm not bad when I have time to practice. Unfortunately, I haven't had time to be in a band since around 2003. After law school, I want to join a band on keys for the first time. I've been the bass player in my last four bands.