babbalute
I remember the day long gone by when I was younger that the keyboard player was usually the band leader as well. (reason below)
After all the piano (after the violin and guitar in the classical world) was considered the most difficult instrument to play when studying for a musical carrier. I refer to Belgium as I grew up there. I myself studied 2 years of "notenleer" or 'Solfege" as we called it.(this was done after our normal school time, e.g. 2 to 3 hours from 18.00 to 21.00hrs in the evening. Well known as "avondklas", evening classes in English.
In simple English this was the study of note's, times scales, rhythms, or just plain music. The first year we did this even without touching an instrument believe it or not. The second year you choose an instrument you preferred or wanted to play(one main and a second instrument was required as well)
Not in all schools was this applicable but the better and more reputable ones called "Conservatorium" or "Institutes for Musical studies" etc. most certainly had you learning practising 2 instruments. Piano players(keyboards as we know them today where not "invented" yet as such when I went to school) choose either guitar or xylophone or any of the drumming type instruments After 4 years one qualified as a "professional" musician. One could go and study further and obtain something similar to a Phd or Dr's degree after a few more years.
Of course the "organ" better known as the Hammond existed already and was widely used in 4 piece bands at the time and it contributed its distinguished sound to the music of the time then. One could simply not imagine not having a organ player in the band. This instrument could produce a piano sound as well and was played by the same professional musicians that got their degree after 4 years of study or by guy's that simply learned from listening and practising chords etc. Plenty music sheets where available which thought them the basic music requirements. A short while later the "synthesiser keyboards were born and I remember many piano players having difficulty adjusting to these new sounds. After all they studied classical pieces and could play very well in or with a 100 man strong classical orchestra or in a trio, quartet etc. and the "strings" sounds or any other sound produced by these synthesizers should be played by the respective musicians(not all where that limited)
So as the organ/keyboard player was usually considered the most educated person in the band(musically that would have been) he took charge of the band and wrote out the music sheets for all the other musicians in the band(this was the case when I started playing in a band at the age of 15) One was expected to "read" music and just play it on your instrument.
Now, why am I telling all this ?
We have been looking for a keyboard player for a while now for our band and we do not seem to find one. We do not get satisfactory replies to our adds placed all over the internet(maybe these guy's do not know of it existence ?) and the few that reply are either not interested in the type of music that needs to be played or they only play Jazz type music or their are simply not qualified enough to play what they don't know. Maybe they are to lazy or simply have no time to learn certain songs. Now we only play covers, anything from the classic R&R late or early 60s to modern top 100 songs as well as some jazz classics, and for those who know is a wallz, tango, rumba, cha-cha-cha, any other latin type etc. we play these as well. No modern, punk, grunge, metal, hard-rock, techno-style, psychedelic music(although I'm not in love from 10cc is in our repertoire), RAP, dub step etc.
These modern music styles are are played by the younger people these days and they have little or no knowledge or do not want to play anything else.
So for the keyboard players (even as second instrument if you play tenor sax guitar or any other instrument) out there that are still reading this and would be interested in auditioning to possibly join our band kindly contact me. Note that there is no age or gender or race restriction. We simply want a person who has the gear(and knows how to play it), transport(and I do not mean taxi's here) is reliable, enjoys good music and is willing to come to practise once a week in the Randburg, Johannesburg area (Saturday's, and possibly not if we are gigging that day)
We have the basic outfit of : Drummer, rhythm/solo guitarist, electric bass and a male vocalist with basic guitar chords capability, a female voice will be added in the near future to complete the band.
I did look for a keyboard forum in SA but I could not find any, still having hope and positive thoughts I will find someone.
Stoffeltoo
Sheesh Guido ☹
That is the story of many a band in SA. Panel beaters are available but genre specific >☹ Good drummers hold bands at ransom and keyboard players are scarcer that chicken teeth.
Even one note keyboard string players are unwilling to expose themselves and experience the joys of live music performance.
Good luck
AlanRatcliffe
Educated musos (or at least learned ones) in any instrument are thin on the floor at the best of times. The guys who can do what you ask have regular paying gigs already and can pick and choose the most lucrative ones. More often than not for pianists/keyboardists, that's session work for the bigger bands or a solo gig such as a restaurant (or even mall), where they don't have to share the (usually laughable) proceeds. Even if they are willing to play in an ensemble, they rarely lock themselves into one band.
You might be able to attract one if you could guarantee a few gigs a week at a minimum rate. Or occasional gigs at rates that ensure pro-level pay for everyone in the band.
Historically, the piano was a popular instrument in the first half of last century - the main source of entertainment before radio and rock 'n' roll came along. So lots of people could play it when rock and pop did arrive and keyboards made gigging a lot easier (yes, even a Rhodes or Hammond was preferable to carting around a piano or hoping a venue would have one). But the popularity of rock music meant that newer players wanted to play guitar. Entry level price on a guitar was (and remains) a lot lower than for a piano or keyboard, which also helped steer players into guitar. This means that modern keyboard/piano players are usually pretty dedicated types with very few weekend warriors around.
epictring
Glad to see you still around Alan.
This is true. I started out as a guitarist but then saw the gap in the market and switched over to keyboards. Self taught though so I don't have much classical theory down. But bands don't care.
Its really not a problem to get GOOD gigs as a synth player/keyboardist, the market is over-saturated with guitarists.
DaFiz
While I was listening to strong organ sounds in my misspent youth (Uriah Heep, Deep Purple, Grand Funk) it was clearly evident that the boys my age would not be seen dead playing piano...
The only boy that did play piano was seen as "funny" :-[
All the years I've yearned to include keys in my bands, but sadly it was never to be.
I am so chuffed to include a keyboard player in my current band and I absolutely LOVE
it :woohoo:
