I get asked about teaching piano fairly often. I love coaching my kids sports teams (hockey, baseball & soccer). Being the loud effervescent type of guy that I am, it shouldn’t be too much of a stretch to teach some keyboard playing. I’m positive that I don’t want to teach one student at a time in a little room by cajoling him or her into practicing “X” number of hours a week. I’m an entertainer, more than a coach. I’d prefer that my style, inspires someone, even more than my words.

One of the wonderful by-products that comes with playing thousands of songs in hundreds of group configurations over 35 years, is confidence that I have something special to bring to bands & friends that hire me. It comes with me, to every gig and my band mates expect it by now. All in the hopes that the music will magically transport me to the land where there are no thoughts or words. Some gigs I do are like being in my own private 3 Ring Circus, and it’s so much like an amusement park for my ears. Everyone’s in tune, everyone’s in time, everyone’s listening and responding to the infinite details of the sound we’re making. And most of all, everyone’s in the right mood to make the magic happen. I have been fortunate enough to play in quite a few bands that felt as great as sex ever could. Some gigs just suck, whether it’s people, the venue, conditions whatever. There’s no real point to reliving them, other than to remember what to avoid.

These next few videos are me playing with a band called the Indestructibles, in Vancouver, Canada. John Delaney is the singer/front man, Cathy St. Germaine & Kelley Brock are also singing. Brian Newcombe is playing bass, Darrell Mayes (my songwriting partner for 7 years) on drums, Tim Hearsey on guitar, Jerry Cook on sax, and the trumpet player… well I’ve even forgotten his name. I’ll find it and get it in here. All the musicians are stellar, and this band has gone thru a few member changes on it’s way to becoming a very viable casino and night club act.

The reason the camera is only focused on me is pretty simple. This is all about me, and offering you what I have gathered in my head, hands and heart. I don’t have anyone’s permission to be filming, and the purpose of these videos is to show you what I do. Oh yeah, if someone from the venue finds out I’m recording, well let’s just say they wouldn’t like it.

The position of the camera is about 3 feet away from my left shoulder, on top of my monitor speaker. I use a little PA now whenever I play. I’ve found that to be the best solution for me hearing myself clearly, above the band. I’ve been fired a few times for playing too loud in bands… But I’ve come to realize that if my amplification gear, sound choices and playing skills are fabulous, musicians will accommodate loud side men like myself. I just need to be as loud as the snare drum is. hehe The fact that the camera is right beside me, also makes sure that you hear me, above everyone else in the videos. That’s handy for an egomaniac like myself, showing off.

So this first vid is me showing you my choices when we play the song Chain of Fools, by Aretha Franklin. I love the song, but I’m a bit tired of playing it. After having played this song a few thousand times, I now have some things that I like to do in that song. You can hear me playing percussion samples in the first and second verses, switching to strings and piano for choruses, and a little wurlitzer stuff at the end of the breakdowns. I like to have distinct sound ideas for each section of songs, especially if it’s a predictable song like Chain of Fools.

Hope this is enjoyable for ya. If there’s anything you see that you want to learn more about, leave a comment and check back here.

Steve