Rarest Breed of musicians...

[Vio]

Finding a keyboardist must be the hardest task on this island.

Almost every music site has guitarists, bassists and drummers looking for bands, but you hardly see any keyboardists available...

2nd in line would be a good vocalist.



WHERE ARE ALL THE KEYBOARDISTS?!?!?! Do they go to some haven and hide from the rest of us mere mortals who require their musical infusion?!?! Why do they deprive us of making good music even better?!?! WHY?!?!?!?!


PS: i'm looking for a keyboardist? *sheepish look*

 

[pianodancer]

It's good to hear that keyboardists are in such high demand.

The result of such imbalance can (in my opinion) be attributed to several factors:

1) Keyboardists do not play a fatal role in bands.
You already mentioned that keyboardists are there to make the music even better. So without one, you can still make good music. Just need drummer, bassist and guitarist.

2) Keyboards are heavy.
You can sling a guitar around your back. You certainly will find a drum set at gig locations. But a keyboardist has to bring his own 20kg bulk. And one may not be enough.

3) Keyboardists can make their own music.
Keyboardists do not need bands to make merry tunes. So we are not deprived of seeking bands. On the other hand, drummers can't drum without accompanists - bassists likewise. Guitarists are ok, but hey, you don't learn electric guitar to play alone, do ya?

4) Good keyboard players are well-trained in classical piano. Pianists don't learn the instrument overnight.
More adults pick up drums and guitars than keyboards/piano, because piano is more difficult to learn. So to find a freshie keyboard player is more rare than a freshie guitarist.

5) Keyboard skills are not simplified
Technically-speaking, the keyboardist that controls the synthesizer with his 10 fingers can produce all kinds of tones you can ever imagine (one reason why keyboardists are so widely sought-after to generate the sound that no other band players can achieve). Such power, yet the perceived role is myopic. People think of keyboard players as pianists, therefore there are not many courses specialise in training the actual management of the keyboard, which is not totally about pianistic skills. Afterall, the keyboard keys are so light, you don't need years of training to achieve versatility. If someone can produce a simple curicullum to pick up keyboard skills in 3 months, I believe the supply will soar.

6) Good keyboardists do not have time for gigs (isn't it?)
They are probably too busy working with session musicians in recording backing tracks for the next pop idol.

I may be exaggerating in some scenarios, but in a nutshell, it's probably more difficult to BE a keyboardist, let alone finding one.

Cheerios!

 

[bongman]

Is that so?

so what is the market value of a keyboardist?

one thing for sure, keyboardist nowadays besides being a musician,
he needs to be IT informed and have to spend money on gear.
Master keyboard, 2nd tier synth, sampler, computer and effects.

As for a guitarist and bassist, spend money on an axe and effects;
and can play forever!

Pro keyboardist hard to find.

 

[iansoh]

i think it's a matter of what music they are exposed to. there're probably as many, if not many more keyboardists than there are guitarists. just that many go down the classical route and just stop when they finish diploma or when they lose interest. they don't get exposed to playing pop music(as opposed to classical music), and many don't get taught to play by ear. those who want to, lack the much-needed guidance in branching out from the rigid classical, play-by-scores realm.

on a more personal note, i'd like to say that the current generation of singaporean parents don't really know what to give their kids in terms of musical education. they want the kid to play piano, so they send them for classical lessons, and leave the rest to the classical music teachers, who mostly play and listen to classical music and nothing else. some parents might even oppose their kids who want to play other forms of music, in all kiasu spirit and chinese pride; because u can get certificates for classical music but u don't get any form of academic results to show off to the relatives if ur kid can play rock music on the piano. partly also, the older generation haven't really had much exposure to the arts because during their time the govt was stressing mainly on boosting the economy, but it's only recently that we've started to lay back and concentrate on sports, the arts etc..

ah well. it's possible to find keyboardists la.. just need to look harder. u should be able to find quite a number of 'church' keyboardists. i feel that those who play in church have an advantage over those who don't because they have an avenue to practice consistently and hone their skills, as well as to share and exchange ideas with fellow musicians by jamming and being forced to improvise constantly.

 

[Silencer]

i'm a keyboardist and no body appreciates me i gotta lug my crap around, get sucky sustain pedals, and no body loves me.......

but then im not pro so.... fair!

 

[ChanMin]

Yo keep the faith man.. i posted to look for a keyboardist here.. and i found one man... just keep looking...

 

[bongman]

no value afterall?

so keyboardist no value afterall?

 

[mikemann]

A keyboardist to a band (english based) has a role similar to a bassist, or backing vocal, or rythm guitar. No less important. Modern rock/pop music don't demand the keyboardist to break out in a solo (like Deep Purple) often or at all. (Maybe certain new age music does, but not popular in these region)

But it's still an all important role as a bassist, as it creates an atmosphere for the rest of the band to work on. A band with a keyboardist always seems to sound tighter.

An asset which should be tresured by any band.

So guys, what are you waiting for?? Got and get one today, you dunno what you are missing.

 

[DoubleBlade]

i share the pain endured for all u keyboardist out there....yes i totally that a keyboardist will be a valuable asset in any band of any genre.during jamming sessions , i think the keyboardist is the one who's always under fire from the band.am i right? i mean....u can't blame we keyboardist rite? when everyone's like blasting their electric guitars hitting their drums so hard together being in an enclosed area , so obviously the sound produced by the guitars and drums is gonna be amplified due to the enclosed area.juz imagine a 5 piece band....a drummer ,a lead and rhythem guitar/vocals ,a bassist and keyboardist.if ur 2 guitarist is gonna blast the amp 2gether wif ur drummer who is eager to hit the living daylights on the toms and cymbals...i doubt anyone can hear the sound of the keyboard rite?well...i'm just saying this from my experience.people tell u ,"oh ur a talented keyboard player , i want u in our band." den later when in the jamming studio ur other members are blasting their amps u can't even hear urself playing the keyboard even thou the keyboard amp might just be next to u and u guess wad happens next? "ohhh sorry we dun need a keyboardist , it just does not go well wif our music."

i mean...come on...u guys are just blasting ur amps away depriving the poor keyboardist from showing his true potential and in the end the keyboardist gets the blame for nothing....

 

[Elvin-Seraphim]

blasting away

well, i guess, those are the bands that do not really have songs that require keyboardists to play or have a role in..in that case..it'd be better off not playing..cus their influences firstly, ain't suitable. it's sad how we keyboardist wanna jam together..but can't really do so..anyway..there are many things u can do with a keyboard i guess...it's a whole band in that instrument..unlike the piano..where..u can't make a trumpet outta piano playing..or have background drum beats playing with ur songs and stuff..
church "pop" pianists can only play pop..so dat's abt it..they can't really play classical and shred their scales like how the classical pianists do..so i guess..it'd be better to pick a classical pianist..who plays in a church..and studies jazz... ;P killing 3 birds with 1 pianist..hehe

 

[Jayshen]

one more thing is many keyboardist switch to guitar and become very very good guitarist... Many of my friends who are zai zai guitarist all started out from keyboard.. i think probably cos their theory is good cos of their keyboard.... so they all turn to guitaring liao...

 

[Silencer]

i think personal preferences lar. *looks at all above posts*. if u want someone damn technical, pick a classically trained guy. if u want the pop feel and stuff like that, pick someone who's self taught.... and lots lots more.. so pick what u want that's the best for ur band.

 

[pianodancer]

Jayshen

I vould so very much like to learn how to play guitar... but hey, guitarists are aplenty, I might as well stick to being a rare keyboardist :wink:

 

[DoubleBlade]

the world has had enough of guitarist , it's time for the keyboard players to take the centre stage

:smt067 :smt035


so next time when people suddenly have this "wake up call" and start realising the need for the keyboardist always remember this.when the market is big , the demand is small and when the market is small , the demand is big


:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted:

 

[xcellancy]

actually DJs r very rare in bands too... :smt003

 

[DoubleBlade]

even DJ can be considered as keyboard players cause they need to use a synth to do their work...

 

[purplehaze3691]

that icon is not a very nice gesture

Hi there,

The pianist is the most respected musician in the world , he is always on the centre stage . You are lucky to be learning the piano so just practiesd more to acheive what you want.

Not everybody have the luxury or the pleasure to learn the piano. Music is a form of outlet for most young people and the guitar is the most accessible instructment. Anybody with the interest and the will to learn can pick it up easily.

So will be most appreciated if you keep your comment to yourself and do not compare what musical instructment you play This is a local music site where everybody exchange music information . If you have something relevant to said just said it here , but please do not try to compare which is the better music or higher form of musical instructment

Cheers
purplehaze3691

 

[beckerfan]

Re: that icon is not a very nice gesture

So will be most appreciated if you keep your comment to yourself and do not compare what musical instructment you play

You deeply offend me, the arrogance of your post troubles me greatly. I will stop here before I forget myself. FOD. The point of a forum is to share opinions, ideas and advice, keeping stuff to yourself no matter how stupid the comment is dumb. At least he has sparked debate and expressed an opinion.

 

[tryambaka]

A keyboaridst am i.BUt following criteries must be met. 8)


1) The studio must have keyboard.(i wont be bringing mine)
2) The drum must be softer than the rest of the instruments.
3) I wont provide the type of sounds the band wants but what i feel appropriate for that particular song.

Haha, :twisted: i m sure no one wants me as keyboardist,anyone? Must meet the above conditions. :lol: cheers.

 

[Jayshen]

Hey beckerfan... Relax lar brother....no need to fire up like that ... later no one want to share his opinionz liao...

but i agree wif beckerfan... purplehaze dun say this sort of thing lar... no one here is comparing lar... we all jus shring our opinions about music...dun so sensitive lar.... It is true that the keyboard is being neglected... so i believe they are jus expressing a relavant point....

But i believe that will change lar... nowadays alot of bands starting to play keyboards.. i see many keyboardist getting hocked up wif bands liao... its a matter of time onli.... hopefully....

Anyway, no matter what people say... i have keyboardist in very high regard... there is something about a keyboard that a guitar can never achieve... if i got chance to go back i would have taken up the keyboard too...