How to use an arranger keyboard

[Cheez]

Some time ago, I was training a group of keyboard players who play the portasound all their life. They wanted to learn to play the keyboard like a keyboard player. As with most keyboardists, I've very low opinion for portasounds - I've always thought they are for kids. So I tried to teach them - re-learn and forget their old skills.

Recently I've given it more thoughts. I think there is such a thing as "pro-portasound keyboardist".

Then I came across Ralf Schink - a German keyboardist who does demos for Roland. Check this out: http://www.eskildsen.dk/Upload/HtmlArticles/Article1477/index.htm

He demoed a number of stuffs including the VR-760. That's great, of course. But look at the way he plays the EXR7 - in my opinion yamaha arranger keyboards are better than roland - which made his skills shine more by playing on the roland. But the way he played it made me think there's a future for arranger keyboardists. (video at 4:00 onwards show the EXR-7)

 

[mingguan]

He really make full use of the keyboard, which may make a keyboardist shine more (instead of hide behind guitarist...).

I recall when I learn YAMAHA electone before,
my teacher told me a important note to remember: when you use any instrument's sound, you must play it like it really sounds like that instrument.