That awful 10% percent

How to play two instruments at once.

By being forced into it.

The following is a true story.

Long ago, I was speaking with a good friend of mine who happens to be a very famous singer. We’ve played countless concerts together.

I told him that I had seen this incredible guy once who pulled off playing a piece on piano and bandoneon at the same time.

That means, both together, at the same time.

On one hand, the left, he played a perfect accompaniment to what he was playing on the bandoneon with his right hand.

Sounds pretty impossible, doesn’t it? Well, to this guy, it wasn’t.

Fast forward to a couple of months after our conversation and I’m about to play a concert together with my famous singer friend.

Right before hitting the stage, he tells me: “Claudio, today you’re going to play piano and bandoneon together, at the same time”.

I nervously laughed.

90% of me thought he was joking, but the remaining 10% of doubt was frightening my a** off.

The concert went on as usual. No crazy stunts.

After we were giving the final bows, the audience asks for an encore. And this is the moment my heart stopped.

My friend grabbed the microphone and started telling the audience that they’re going to see something never witnessed before…

He passed on to explain how I was capable of doing an incredible thing.

And the moment came.

I was forced into playing piano and bandoneon for the first time in my life, onstage, for a crowd of 2,500 people.

So I went and did it.

That’s it. End of story.

Well, that story gave way to me pulling off that stunt many many times afterward. And it has been such a challenge but also so much fun…

Here’s a video of me playing two instruments at the same time: BACH played on two instruments at once.

Sometimes you just don´t know you can do something until you just do it.

Have a great day!

Claudio.