Here’s a link to part 4.

Quick recap: When it comes to playing solo piano, I’m always wrestling with physical issues, aesthetical issues with audiences and subsequently, issues getting gigs.

Another physical issue is regarding multi-tasking, which I’ve written about here and here.

It’s physically impossible for humans to multitask. In this performance, Keith’s focus isn’t on his left-hand…at least not while he’s being creative in his right.



Brad Mehldau is another good example. Have a closer listen when you think his hands sound totally independent; one hand is on autopilot playing an ostinato, some arpeggio pattern or a rhythmic filer. What’s impressive is that the autopilot lasts for very short durations!



As I said in previous posts, playing written music and prepared music is my way of building a vocabulary for improvisation and often deals with hand independence and the issue of multi-tasking. Once I learned about this physical limitation, approaching solo piano was much less daunting.

Stay tuned for part 6!