Two pianostreet improvisers of 20 years correspondence meet!

[darnskewered]

Around 2002 or so when I was just 18, I was searching for a way to learn how to improvise classical music. I was not interested in jazz or blues. Nearly everyone told me it either couldn't be done, isn't done, or could only be done by the 5 towering geniuses from 200 years ago, and nobody can do it anymore. But then I found Ted, here on this forum, saying he spends 90% of his time improvising. I wrote to him, and he kindly responded with advice about how to take my improvisation further than my initial hesitant experiments. Eventually he sent me audio cassettes with even more advice. After that he continued giving me encouragment. Now I have amassed nearly 2000 recordings of my own improvisations. I highly doubt it would have taken this form had I not met ted on this website. So I'm grateful both to my friend ted, and this website, for enriching my life so greatly.

I'm "just" an amateur (who ALMOST went into piano professionally, but decided to become a programmer so I could support myself comfortably), but, the entire 20 years I've been playing has been an infinite kaleidoscope of joy and wonder at the keyboard. No competition, no stress, no criticism, no being sick of the piano, it is always an escape and a joy and a comfort. My music has grown over these years from simple experiments to long tapestries of varied ideas that span influences from multiple styles.

Thanks ted, and thanks pianostreet for making this possible.

It was fantastic traveling to meet him, and sharing ideas at the piano. Almost surreal for me, since he had such an influence on where I went with my piano playing.

[ronde_des_sylphes]

Nice to see!

[lelle]

Wow that is truly awesome!

One of the things I like about this site is things such as this. I have met a few people IRL who I initially encountered on the site, both people where I just passively read their posts, and some I actively discussed with.

The piano world is both small and huge and it's awesome to see when connections are facilitated.

[lostinidlewonder]

Hey that's fantastic. I've had the pleasure to correspond with Ted over the years too.

[ted]

I had totally underestimated the value of live interaction between improvisers. Derek's stay with us has thrown my creative process into new regions of the musical landscape. While music did not completely dominate, the piano certainly received a good deal of attention. I know very little about music really and "teaching" anybody anything is quite beyond my scope. Nonetheless, I am deeply pleased that my influence appears to have stimulated another creative mind. Derek's classical and boogie playing is also likely much better than he thinks it is - better than mine anyway, not that that fact implies much.

[quantum]

Awesome!