@littlewillow said in Paul's piano playing When did he start?:

@gazon said in Paul's piano playing When did he start?:

That might be an easy question to the 'pro' fans. When did Paul start to learn piano? And was he educated by a pianist or who introduced him to the instrument?

I mean it took a long time to see him playing that instrument the first time with the Beatles (was it Hey Jude?) so it was a hidden treasure and I presume he started before playing guitar. Am I right or wrong?
Regards
Frank

@gazon So you're right. Mr. McCartney started to play the piano before playing the guitar and even tried his hand at the trumpet in between. He even tried the trumpet in between, which made him conclude that blowing a trumpet and trying to sing at the same time doesn't work very well. Lol That's why he asked his father to exchange his trumpet for a guitar. For the little anecdote. The first guitar Mr. McCartney got was right-handed. So he tried to play the guitar backwards. But it didn't work too well. So he took the strings off and put them back on right side up for him. So that's what it's all about. To answer your question about when Mr. McCartney started playing piano and with whom. Well, I might not be very precise. But in short. He started playing piano with his father, who was also a musician. It would be him who taught him to play this instrument. Moreover the song "When I'm Sixty four" was written by Mr. McCartney at the age of sixteen. If I am not mistaken. That's all I know anyway. I hope I didn't say too much nonsense.
I hope I answered part of your question.
Little Willow

I wanted to make sure that I told the story correctly. I believe this is actually in the lyrics book. Quoting Paul from New Yorker magazine at https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/25/paul-mccartney-writing-eleanor-rigby-beatles
"And, when I was in my early twenties, Jane’s mum, Margaret, organized lessons for me with someone from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, where she worked. I even played “Eleanor Rigby” on piano for the teacher, but this was before I had the words. At the time, I was just blocking out the lyrics and singing “Ola Na Tungee” over vamped E-minor chords. I don’t remember the teacher being all that impressed. The teacher just wanted to hear me play even more scales, so that put an end to the lessons."

I believe that I have read that Paul took formal piano lessons when he was living with the Asher family in London. I believe one of his stories is that he took "Eleanor Rigby" to a piano lesson and played it. The piano teacher then wanted him to go back to playing scales. I think you see Paul emerge as a pretty piano player on "Martha My Dear." I just asked my wife a days ago (she is a great pianist) about Paul as a piano player. She said he is a good pianist.

@wandy
Oh yes, Tuesday is a good song!

I really liked it also. I thought that "My Love" comes across so well and I believe that the Working Classical version was used in the TV sitcom Friends (when Rachel and Ross wed).

A few years ago, I had read somewhere that Giles Martin had offered to work on a compilation of unreleased Paul material. I don't have any idea if this is it but we will see. I hope that there is material that nobody has heard as much of his unreleased material (while fantastic) is well known to the fans.

@b-j-conlee said in BJ Conlee:

Just want everyone to know that I’m ok. I apologize t0 everybody especially Yankeefan and Nancy R.
They were the only Boardies who had my email address and they both had sent me emails and I failed to get back to them. That started the whole chain of worriment. I never saw their emails mainly because my email category is a mess because of my failure to read and delete emails on a daily basis. Felt so bad I created a whole lot of worry to them. I only caught Nancy’s email on Friday because I checked my email for that day. It got me thinking that I might had missed previous Yankeefan’s emails and I surely did. I immediately emailed both of them so they would know that I’m ok. Sorry for giving many people anxiety. A lesson well leaned as I begin to fix my email section.

Glad I’m back on the new Maccaboard. Not so “good” for many as I will start Posting on various Maccaboard subjects. Thanks!

I am so glad to see BJ Conlee back on the forum. I was worried.

This is a song that just gets better with age. A classic.

Happy birthday Paul!  You are a model of how to age gracefully and remain true to doing what you love.

oobu24 wrote:

80 Artists Pick Their Favorite Paul McCartney Song For His 80th Birthday

https://www.stereogum.com/2187691/paul-mccartney-80th-birthday-tribute/lists/ultimate-playlist/

What is interesting is that most (not all) younger artists chose more "obscure" solo material from McCartney 2 (Check my Machine, Temporary Secretary, Waterfalls, Dark Room), Ram (Dear Boy, Ram On, Back Seat of My Car) and even Back to the Egg (Arrow Through Me).

He played "Ram On" at Rio Tinto Stadium in Greater Salt Lake in 2010. He played it some during that tour, but it was so cool to hear a second song from Ram after hearing "Too Many People" in 2005.