Ben In The Spotlight With The Pianist Jon Schmidt

In the Spring of 2005, Ben went to a UVSC concert of Jon Schmidt. Jon Schmidt the piano composer, who is known for playing with his elbows, upside down and doing back flips during his concerts. He has a very unique range of style in his songs that can range from the classical composers of Beethoven or Chopin and then suddenly switch to Jerry Lewis or Billy Joel in one song.

About halfway through the concert, as is Jon's custom,  he requested that he needed a volunteer to come help him play some basic Jazz chords on the piano. Ben jumped at the chance and was selected from the group. He asked his new volunteer what his name was... "Ben.. I mean Ben'Jamin!" Jon yelled it out for the audience to hear. They loved it. Then he explained that he was going to improve a song to the chords that Ben played on the piano. 

Ben felt more comfortable being on the stage than sitting in the audience watching. Jon Schmidt  began livening up his playing as he stood up and played. Ben then followed his lead. In the end they got a standing ovation. Jon Schmidt then half-jokingly remarked, how he didn't expect that when he chose a volunteer that they would show him up & out perform him. 

 

At the end of the concert Jon tried to play his guts out with a little Jerry Lewis style and some piano slides and fancy chord or two. At the very end of his song he pulled the mic close to him and said, "that's for you Ben'Jamin!" as if to one up Ben. The audience loved it! 

Ben loved talking to people after the show and how they enjoyed his playing and sharing their different stories about music and piano lessons. Ben's friend then whispered to him, "see you are famous."  Of course what Ben enjoys more than anything else, is making new friends and sharing his passion and excitement for music.