There is a question that I've been asked many times over decades, a question that actually irritates me, but as a performer I try hard to smile and stay nice when it inevitably pops up.

You know, the condescending looking lady (most are ladies, wonder why that is...) who walks up to the piano when I'm performing the improvisational, whether full black gospel in a church setting or jazz in a club, and says something like, "Do you read music or do you play by ear?"

As if the two were mutually exclusive or something.

I usually smile and answer, "Yes, BOTH!"

Then there are those who have made the assumption that since I must be playing strictly "by ear" because there is no music on the pianoboard, who make some ridiculous statement such as, "well I READ music!" - the hidden statement being that yours truly must not be able to read or somesuch nonesense.

"Well, I play Classical music!" -- I don't know how many times some white lady has laid that one on me simply because I happen to be performing with a black gospel group or choir at the time.

The hidden one in that particular statement always seems to be that "Classical Music" is somehow better, more sincere, harder, whatever.

Of course, I keep my Classical Piano repertoire lightly brushed up, just for those idiots... heh

Obligatory Mac Sidebar Story:

The legend has it that a fellow was demonstrating his piano skills in a small theater venue and then invited any audience members to come up and play the piano as well.

At first there was only one young fellow, played a bit of Chopin, wasn't too bad, but he "broke the ice" and soon there were people waiting in line, each with something to play.

All the while, there was this older fellow with long gray hair just sitting in his seat in the front row.

After what seemed an interminably long time of amateur pianists, the pianist who performed the show and had invited the guests to come up and play noticed the old man and asked if he would like to come up and play something.

The old man replied, "No, thank you."

The old man was Paderewski...


--Mac

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