I just got back from playing on an “80’s Cruise” that had a lot of musicians/bands on it: Rick Springfield, Thomas Dolby, Berlin, Mike & The Mechanics, Billy Ocean, Lou Gramm (singer for Foreigner), Loverboy, Tommy Tutone, and more.

Here’s a bit of a piano solo my wife recorded during a midnight jam session. Rick Springfield and Tommy Tutone are on stage to the left of me, and Mike Reno (singer for Loverboy) is behind me. Also on guitar is Kevin Armstrong, who plays with Iggy Pop and Thomas Dolby and previously played with David Bowie.

With these kind of impromptu things sheet music is obviously out the window (even if I was someone who reads sheet music), the best you can hop for is to hopefully recognize a song a bit so you can anticipate chord changes, and use your ear to work out chords on the fly.

Anyway, here’s a snippet from the night:

Note: The above video is from a Facebook post, if it’s not showing up on this page for you, it may be because you’re in “private browsing” mode. Also, by default the Volume is OFF on the video, so click to turn on volume.

If you want to be able to play songs you don’t really know with musicians you’ve never met before and be able to HOLD YOUR OWN on stage with them, you should try a Piano Genius piano lessons membership. You’ve got nothing to lose. And a lifetime of fun and enjoyment to gain.