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Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Rick Wakeman - And You And I - grand piano

From: Mark Pring <markpringnz@yahoo.com>
Date: 2010-04-07

I think part of the trouble is that the underlying tune isn't very interesting and doesn't really lend itself to that kind of florid development a simpler arrangement might be more effective. He does play very well. I bet he does practice at a couple of hours per day.

Writing as beginner/ intermediate pianist it is amazing the difference practising scales makes to playing, being a stubborn latecomer to the piano it took a couple of years for my teacher to persuade me to practice them, but it has made a huge difference to my playing.

Mark

--- On Wed, 4/7/10, Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com> wrote:

From: Mike Dickson <mike.dickson@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [newmellotrongroup] Rick Wakeman - And You And I - grand piano
To: newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 4:56 PM

 

Rick Blechta wrote:

 
On Apr 6, 2010, at 3:57 PM, Mike Dickson wrote:

Interesting,yes. My major gripe with RW though is that he has only one chop. It'sall so bleeding monotonous.

In looking at it again, I see what you mean. I never went in forhis solo things, and now that I think about it, that's probably thereason. He is very adept at arpeggios and scale passages, but inlistening to some of his other works, they rely on the same things to agreat extent. It's too bad he doesn't have someone who has his respectwho could challenge him to dig a little deeper, because it's obviousthat he is really musical. Makes me wish I'd spent more time withscales and arpeggios!

The scales, arpeggios and the endless trilling bother me alot. I also reckon you could take any one fifteen second snapshot ofthat particular piece and it would be instantly recognisable asWakeman. There is no space, no let-up, no room for breathing in it atall. I'm sure prog-heads the world over think that's great as themore notes it has then the better it must be but to me it's likelistening to a squalling kid who won't shut up so he gets the attentionhe demands. It's all so needy.