Hi Corsairs
I'm loving the FR3 xb and especially now I've downloaded some of the extension sounds that are free to download from the Roland website. Using them meant understanding user sets and user programs but once this was overcome I just loved the extra sounds which I feel are better than many of the FR3 sounds. The user program facility is extremely powerful too and I now use a user program every time I switch it on.
I'm practicing for about two hours a day split into two one hour sessions but on top of that is time spent studying the manual and understanding it's different features. In the early stages, I think getting to know the instrument's features is as important as learning to play it, for me anyway.
As far as C system CBA goes, I love it! As a wind instrument player, I've had to battle with the novelty of two hands doing different things which I am coming to terms with but is an ongoing challenge but being able to play in any key simply by starting on a different note and using one finger pattern is an absolute boon.
I suppose deciding which finger to use is ultimately the biggest ongoing challenge. I used Manu Maugain's excellent tutor and worked through about half of the first book which gave me a grounding but I often wonder if I've got the best sequence of fingers as it makes a big difference to how likely I am to hit the right notes.
Overall I would say I'm on two musical journeys. One that is learning the C system CBA and one that is about playing an electronic instrument. Both are fascinating and with ends that are as yet undefined.
As far as sight reading goes, I primarily use sight reading to learn a tune and then play it from memory. It seems to be getting better though as time goes on and I practice more.
Btw I'm looking forward to being good enough to play some Cornish folk tunes which I understand are sometimes similar to your folk tunes over in Brittany <EMOJI seq="263a">
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