Orbert, what's your favorite kind of cheese?
I used to be all about sharp cheddar, but lately I've been getting into some of the white cheeses (and yes, I know that "real" cheddar is white, not orange). Swiss is always good on sandwiches, or provolone. For shaking liberally over pasta, good old parmesan. For baking, like a real mac 'n' cheese, cheddar still rules. My tastes are pretty simple in that area.
Easiest classical or rock song a beginner could try to learn on a keyboard (i.e. not Happy Birthday or London Bridge)?
I literally started with "Chopsticks" and "Heart and Soul". We got a piano when I was ten, and those were the two songs my mom knew how to play, so she taught them to me and my older sister. They're also both commonly played as duets, but it didn't take me long to observe that one person could technically play both parts at once, since there were never more than three notes being played at the same time by either part. So I sat and worked out solo arrangements of each, and amazed my mom by "performing" them for her one time. I've never really thought about it before, but I guess that was the beginning of what I do now, which is work up solo piano arrangements of my own, covering as much melody, harmony, chords, and rhythm as possible.
Those two pieces are actually great starting points. They're simple, they're in C, and they have the basics of some standard progressions. "Chopsticks" is just V-I over and over, but the "chorus" makes things a bit more interesting. "Heart and Soul" is I-vi-IV-V. I remember hearing "D'yer Mak'er" by Led Zeppelin on the radio and laughing my ass off the first time because it was so obviously I-vi-IV-V that I couldn't believe a "real" band had recorded a song using it. It's just "Heart and Soul" -- which any third grader can play -- with different lyrics.
As for classical, "To a Wild Rose" first came to mind because it's a simple piece, slow and peaceful, thus easy to play and, with a bit of effort, easy to inject a lot of emotion into. But I looked it up and it's in A. Three sharps, so not really beginner level. I don't remember where I started with classical. By time I started lessons, I'd been playing for a while, so my teacher started me with a Level III method book. My sister took lessons first, and when no one was home, I would "sneak" time on the piano playing through her lessons. She caught me one time and was pissed because I was playing them better than her. How could I not? I listened to her practice the damned things over and over. Of course when I finally sat down with the music in front of me, it would be nothing.
What foreign countries have you visited?
Just Canada, which almost doesn't even count. My dad is from Toronto, so we used to visit every summer.
How many different instruments can you play?
I guess that depends on how you count them. I started on piano, and consider myself a synthesist as well by virtue of actually knowing how analog keyboards work and generate sounds. I don't count organ as one I can truly play, because I'd never mastered the pedals. If you can't play both manuals and pedals, you're not a real organist, although I did learn enough to fake it once for a friend's wedding. I memorized the manual parts so could concentrate on the pedals and watch my feet. That's probably cheating, but hey, I did it.
I picked up flute in school, and a piccolo is just a tiny flute, so the fingerings are the same; you have to have a strong embouchure though. From there I went to saxophone, which again is mostly the same; just a few weird notes here and there. I started on alto, but have played tenor as well. Soprano and/or baritone would be the same. I have played clarinet in band and in a pit orchestra once, but could get away with it because again it's mostly the same. (All woodwinds use the Boehm system, which (mostly) standardizes the fingerings for notes.)
I have working knowledge of both trombone and trumpet as well. When you took band at my grade school, you had your choice of flute, clarinet, cornet, and trombone. We all sat in the same room and learned to play our parts, so by simply hearing the instructions over and over, I was able to pick them all up. Trombone is the easiest; each position is a half-step, and you control the range via embouchure. Cornet (cousin of the trumpet) was similar. It didn't take long to figure out that "open" was C or G (or E up top) depending on your embouchure, the middle valve dropped you a half-step, first valve a whole step, third valve a step and a half. I call it "working knowledge" because my hands and fingers know what to do; I just have issues getting my embouchure to cooperate because I don't actually practice those instruments.
Then you have things like recorder, which is
mostly Boehm system. I also have a kalimba, which is completely different, but I worked out the tunings one time and can play simple stuff on it.
Strings have always eluded me. I've tried to play guitar and violin, but the concept of "multiple scales at once" boggles me. One day, I'll sit down and give them each a serious attempt.
Favorite restaurant in Chicago?
I don't eat downtown very often, and right now I can't think of any restaurants I've actually been to. Probably the Pheonix in Chinatown. Out here in the 'burbs, Carson's Ribs. They rock.
Pizza (style and toppings) of your choice?
Thick crust, deep dish. More for your money, more to love. Chicken, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes. Black olives if I'm feeling extra ambitious.
If you had to describe yourself using only one CD's worth of music, what would it be?
Chicago's first album,
The Chicago Transit Authority. A blending of many established styles into something new and different. Deceptively simple at first glance, but each piece ultimately revealing greater depth and complexity upon closer examination. Respect for established structures, but not afraid to vary from them when necessary, or when the results might be worthwhile. Improvisation of every type, from working within classic norms to collaborating with others also improvising to completely free form and without structure.
I'm only pretending to be cool
Baloney. Everybody knows that Orbert stories are the best stories.
QFT
You guys are too much. Every word is true, but I learned long ago how to present things for better effect. In general, I'm too "wordy", using 10 words when five would do. I like to think of it as providing more, for those who want to dig deeper.