Some background first… I began playing the piano about four and a half years ago. Since then, whenever I travel, I am eager to find pianos wherever I go… and play them if allowed to 😄
After an slow start, the rush began last year (August 2021) when I assisted to my daughter wedding in Germany. I was in a very positive mood that day and, trust me, without any help (no alcohol!) I took the plunge and began playing on the hotel piano bar, where all the wedding guests were waiting for the dinner. I knew about half of them (the Spaniards) but most didn't know I played. And, of course, all the German people, most unknown to me, were also not aware.
I tried to keep international with the repertoire, which was mostly pop-rock from 80s-00s and some Beatles, Queen and such. Some of the guests singed along some of the pieces and I had a really great time (hope they did also 😅)
Since that moment, I have played on several hotels I have been hosted, some in Spain (as one in a balneary, where I began to play thinking I was alone on a huge, high ceiling room and, at the end of one piece, some people began clapping 😅 ). But, just some days ago, during a trip to Israel, I played on a large peregrine resort in Magdala, also in our Korazim area accommodation and, finally, on a Jerusalem hotel (Dan Panorama). The first piano in Magdala was an old baby brand. Its touch was pretty bad, the sustain pedal barely worked and sound was marginal. Buy we had a great time singing Spanish songs (about 50 people of our group joined me to sing along 🥳). Then in the Domus at Korazim I played an old Flora branded upright, also pretty battered but in better condition than the previous piano. There I played along friends with guitars and some percussion, like bongos. Well, we had a good time on three night performances while we were there 🤩. And then in Jerusalem there was a Yamaha GH1. It was played daily at night time by a female pianist but I had a couple hours one day in the morning and was able to play it, with just some friends as the public. The piano was in tune and, except for a couple slow returning keys, was nice to play.
I should say that my playing is pretty basic, mostly left hand accompaniment (I try to make it interesting, with combinations of block chords, arpeggiated chords, bass plus chords and such) and the my right hand is mostly a simple melody line. When I play with other people, I use both hands to elaborate a more complex accompaniment, but still within my playing limits 😅
All in all, I enjoy it and, since I joined a pop/rock band on March, I am slowly improving my playing and enjoying a lot my journey.
Sorry for the long rant. But, where else could I find people who understands me? 🤗
Please, share your pianistic experiences around the globe!
Jose
