DAVID KIKOSKI
My first piano was the Baldwin baby grand in my living room of the house I was born in Milltown New Jersey. It had a easy action which I loved at the time but later made it difficult to adjust to harder actions. I use a Yamaha at my current home but I generally like the old Steinways. My father taught me when I was 6 years old. We worked on all styles of music from classical to pop to jazz to music from many different cultures. I am still doing the same as I did when I first started… playing all kinds of music.
What has evolved for me has been now I try and develop my own style of playing, regardless of what it may be at the time. I practice all kinds of things such as classical literature, transcribing, theory analysis, experimenting and just improvising. I enjoy playing in many different combinations. Trio is great but I enjoy playing solo piano the most because I have total freedom.
I remember hearing a soloist play a cycle five pattern superimposed over a rhythm changes song and was blown away. I love many different voicings. One of my favourites ones is a major triad in 2nd position with the 5th on the bottom and the flat 7 in octaves in the bass.
I like pianos that have a crisp but singing sound. The piano at Cafe Central is like that. I always enjoyed playing there because the staff and the audience are so “simpatico”.
I think there is no right way to practise. It is a personal thing, some people don’t practice and they play great and some do practise and they play not great. It is different for everyone. I never practised that much but I listen to music a lot. Now I like to practise …I enjoy it!
Contestación de David Kikoski a la entrevista enviada por mail el 12.05.2010.