Playing on a Lobby Piano

Hi Folks :)

As some of you may know already I am a DJ and at Xmas time I have a run of around 20 gigs at a Medieval Banquet Night.

At this particular hotel complex there is a lobby piano (a very out of tune Yamaha grand piano) that I like to play just for fun!

Late at night after the disco has finished it can get quite "hair raising" (people assume that I am the regular pianist - they want sing-a-longs and request loads of songs too!!!)

It's a little like throwing yourself in at the deep end! but this is my 4th year playing on it and it doesn't bother me at all anymore.

Sorry about the quality of this video, its the best that the secondary camera on my mobile phone can do. This was taken before the festivities of the night so there is no singing a long as they are not drunk enough yet!

maybe the next one I'll take late at night

So here it is...I've edited it down to just under 10 minutes...but, have left in "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" which I hadn't played for a year and you may notice I got a little stuck remembering how it went...but, the key is to keep going and make the same mistake again if you can so it seems to anyone listening like a variation (if you are lucky)




Have a wonderful Xmas everyone (especially to the members of my 'fan club')


Lee

Edit to add:

Someone has mentioned to me the video quality and all the background noise!...until I get a phone upgrade its the best I can do for video quality but, with regard to the noise? this is what I said about it:-

"yes that background noise huh?..however, that's what I wanted y'all to hear...'cause that is exactly what it is like...the room is just chock full of excitement and expectation with regard to the night ahead at their office Xmas parties. I was hoping you would get a sense of it? Heck, you can hardly hear the dang piano! (in other words one can get away with murder at this joint...which is kinda kool)

later on in 'sing-a-long territory' I have to really play it LOUD!!to get it going"

Its been a great venue for me in many ways, a baptism of fire in others!! but on the whole its been a blast!

Adding a minor section to the improv last night

Hi Folks

Anyone who knows me, knows my tenacity with this piano thang!!

Man...I'm addicted


So last night I was kinda playing around with the improvisation below, attempting to take it into a minor key and back to major

For those that just love listening to me fool around at the piano

Feel free to take a listen :)


Improvisation with a minor section added - take 1 [click]


Fooling around with it some more - with bloopers - take 2 [click]

[they are a bit long winded! so be warned ;)]


Best wishes



Lee

Using Cantabile Light and a VST instrument

Hi Folks :)

Following Matthijs Instructions over at pianoworld, I downloaded a free program called 'Cantabile Light' and used it with my VST 'Steinberg the Grand'


This recording is for an improvisation challenge set by Matthijs over at pianomagic


Seasides December 2007 Improvisation


Please feel free to pass a comment if you like or don't like the piano sound, I'm pretty happy with it and the best thing is it saves me time converting the midi files (that I have recorded at home on my Yamaha CLP170) through the motif rack every time :)


take care


Lee

My First video lesson - beginning improvising

Hi Folks

Okay, I have Mikes permission to show this video in my blog :) so here goes...

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DISCLAIMER: This video is rated as a **12a** due to some *really, really bad singing!!* and it is strongly recommended that children of a sensitive nature or household pets be kept in another room whilst watching!!
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However, this video gives hope to those of us (out there) that think because they can't sing, they can't play a piano and also disproves Buffys theory that anyone can sing. For some of you (hopefully) the singing should make you laugh.

This is a video I made specifically for Elssa a pianomagic member but, if anyone wants to start improvising then, this may be of some help??







Have fun


regards



Lee

Video Test

Hi Everyone,

I have bought a new webcam, I use it for skype conversations

So, yesterday I decided to try and record something with it, I posted it yesterday at Pianoworld and asked for feedback, "LaValse" mentioned ...

"Have you tried dropping the avi into Windows Movie Maker...?"

So, I've tried it out and posted it up at "youtube"

Hey! I've noticed that when the transfer had completed it said that I could embed the video

Hmmmm...lets see if this works? (fingers crossed)




Wow...it works!! can't believe it

Please let me know if this is better or worse for you?


Lee

Hi Folks

This blog is to make things a little easier for me

I get many emails and private messages from folks trying to find a certain music file that I may have posted many months before

So In this blog I am going to post links to the most popular requests and these are usually my practise jam type thingies :)

Practise Session 1

Demo of Motif Rack Practise Jam

Practise Session 28/6/06

Practise Session (before the wedding demos)



More things to be added as I find 'em



regards


Lee

Hi Folks

This blog is to make things a little easier for me

I get many emails and private messages from folks trying to find a certain music file that I may have posted many months before

So In this blog I am going to post links to the most popular requests and these are usually my practise jam type thingies :)

Practise Session 1

Demo of Motif Rack Practise Jam

Practise Session 28/6/06



More things to be added as I find 'em



regards


Lee