He's Multi-Talented

There is nothing like an off-spring that is ready for the Concert Stage. Meaning (facetiously of course):  They have the ability to scramble through "Chopsticks" on the piano at the age of seven. "Little Johnny" no doubt inherited this musical ability from his uncle George who used to play the bugle in the Army during the war.

It's frequently a parental malady to exaggerate one's children's abilities where music is concerned. Unfortunately I've seen this many times.  They view their children as being artistically exceptional when in fact the kids are quite ordinary.  The mother will remark, "I can't understand where Mary gets all this "talent" as I can't even hum a tune".

They somehow fail to realize that somewhere in the scheme of things there is a very young student that is already taking lessons (perhaps on violin or piano) at the Julliard School of Music in New York at this same age. ("Chopsticks" isn't considered an entrance test piece on piano at that school.)

I've heard it all.   "My boy plays in a Rock Band.  He can play all the instruments". That is not to say that there aren't some very gifted young people out there. Some of them in deed could be very talented and maybe do play more than one instrument quite well.  I guess it all depends on what you consider "well".

There is a musician (from Detroit) that I met  that is the exception when it comes to being multi-talented. Billy Prince does play all the instruments and is a professional on all of them.  

He's recently recorded himself being backed by a Big Band and Billy is featured on trumpet, saxes and other horns.   All of the musicians that you hear on this recording are Billy Prince. He multi tracked the recording adding himself on every instrument. It's an awesome display of exceptional musicianship and talent.  Billy even orchestrated the numbers.

People remember his formidable trumpet playing on Buddy Rich's Mercy, Mercy album.   Billy played the second trumpet chair and played all the Jazz trumpet solos.  He mentioned that he could have played all of the chairs (parts) in that band with the exception of Buddy's part. No one that knows him thought he was exaggerating.   

When he picks up the sax (tenor or alto or whatever) he doesn't sound like he's a trumpet player that is doubling on another instrument.  He can hold his own on all of the horns including bass, piano and other rhythm instruments.

Yes, he's an exception.   When Bill Prince was embarking on his impressive career he went to the best teachers on all of these instruments and worked diligently to become proficient (on a professional level) on every one of them. One wonders how many hours he spent practising to achieve these abilities. Along with being gifted there no doubt was a lot of hard work involved. Today Dr. William Prince is retired from teaching music at  the University of Miami.

On the other side of the spectrum are the musicians that take themselves too seriously. I remember reading about a trumpet player that released a recording of himself "practising" Long Tones. He no doubt played them well but I find it difficult to believe there would be a substantial market to hear such "boring" tones played over and over again. (No doubt his neighbours can attest to my assessment.)   You might have heard, "Does this guy know any tunes or something melodic?"

All successful musicians have spent enormous amounts of time on their respective instruments.  Just ask the neighbours.

One drummer who was inspired to practise day after day .. and perhaps night after night was finally reminded that he did indeed have neighbours.   Neighbours that is that weren't all that thrilled about his musical ambitions.

His neighbours got together and sent him a disc for Christmas of their "favourite" drum solos. The disc was "blank."

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