Keyboards Player and Synth Programmer

Musical Productions and Gigs

Mark Dickman is a versatile and able keyboard player, with experience and repertoire in a wide range of musical theatre productions, from touring / west-end shows, to concerts, gigs and recordings. A good sight-reader, Mark deps on a number of productions, in addition to his work as an audition and rehearsal pianist. Recent musicals include: Wicked (West-End), Footloose (West-End), The Rat Pack Live From Las Vegas (UK Tour), Whistle Down The Wind (UK Tour) & Calamity Jane (UK Tour / West End).

Keyboard Programming

Keyboard Programming by many is considered an unknown science! What is it and why use it it? Sounds rather technical... Well in some sense it is, but really a question of doing homework (knowing how to operate the gear under pressure!), and working to tight deadlines!

The basic principle of keyboard programming is that for any gig, show or concert, patches and timbres need to be sourced and organised, so that they 'fit into the mix' and sound appropriate for the job in hand. Sometimes this may mean achieving a 'realistic' sound, balancing / augmenting with acoustic instruments, almost fooling the audience into thinking there are more players in the pit! It is the programmer's job to determine which combination of synths & modules to use, in conjunction with a controller keyboard (or two) for the player.

Factors to consider before commencing programming (I'll discuss these needs with a client, to clarify what's required):

• Realism of Sounds - does the MD / Arranger require the keyboard timbres to sound 'realistic', or 'cartoon like', or 'synthy' etc.
• Constraints of time (how many hours to program & more importantly test the system?)
• What is the line up of the band / orchestra? What other instrument(s) are playing with the keyboard (implications of tuning of patches eg stings)
• Patch changes: the keyboard player will often be required to change sound mid-way through performance (this is called a 'patch change'). Are they in quick succession? If so, I'd often supply a foot-pedal.
• Sound system - multiple outputs? Sophisticated systems can be designed so that instruments are 'bussed' out of individual speakers in the pit, giving the effect of spacial balance as if the player were in a specific seat.

As programmer, Mark is proficient in designing stable, reliable, robust keyboard and synth rigs for live and studio use, whether for an in-house productions or touring. UK clients include: The City Concert Organisation, Steve Socci, Adrian Jackson, Manchester's The Royal Exchange Theatre and the Sheffield Crucible.

Keyboard Hire

Linked to the programming service, Mark also offers a professional keyboard hire service, where a custom rig can often be supplied at short notice (handy for last minute breakdowns)! Options include the Oberheim MC3000 & Kurzweil K2600X - standard controller keyboards on most shows - please contact Mark for full details and quotes.

Modules, Samples and Sound Effects Library

Mark's ever expanding sample and module library contains an impressive array of sound-effects & loops that can be fully integrated into the overall sound design, allowing for real-time control of parameters (particularly useful for interactive productions, such as pantomime, where remote sound effects need to be externally triggered from a variety of sources).

Please contact Mark for further information.

© Mark Dickman, 2006

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