The Mellotron Group

--- In newmellotrongroup@yahoogroups.com, Mark Pring 
<markpringnz@...> wrote:
>
> I've been having piano lessons for the last few years, originally 
with the idea of helping me to play the mellotron and more recently 
just for the fun of it. Whilst waiting for the happy day that #1565 
is playable I've been practicing with M-tron and I am not sure that 
classical piano lessons are a good preparation for mellotron playing. 
If my teacher could see some of the hand positions I get forced into 
I don't think she would be impressed.
> 
> I've read somewhere that often the best mellotron players are not 
always the best keyboard players. I don't think Mike Pinder or Woolly 
are the most gifted keyboard players I have heard but they are great 
tron players. Rick Wakeman and Dave Greenslade I think are better 
pianists but I can't really speak about their tron playing.
> 
> Any thoughts?
> 
> Mark
>

I've often thought the same thing. Just because one is a good pianist 
doen't mean you have the feel for a Mellotron. I think a closer 
instrument to the Mellotron would be organ. The same also goes for 
switching from piano to organ. A friend of mine is a fantastic 
pianist, but he doesn't have the feel for organ.

Looks like a few of us agree on Wakeman's and Bank's Tron skills (and 
opinions).

Bernie