AboutAustin Scott Expertise I am a huge fan of Elton John`s, and take it upon myself to learn as much about him as I can. I know a lot of obscure facts as well as many people associated with Elton over the years. I love to share my knowledge with other Elton fans or just the curious. I`m a dedicated fan...I`ve gotten myself three autographs at concerts, one from as far back as 32 rows! If I don`t know your question, I`ll try to find it!
Question How long does Elton John rehearse once the set list is chosen for live shows? Especially the solo shows. Elton seems to be flawless when he plays. Except for the occassional word(s) he forgets, the melodies are never faultered. Also, what is on the piece of paper which is always taped above the bass side of the piano keyboard cover?? Thank you for your time. David - USA
Answer Hi David,
The piece of paper taped to Elton's piano is the setlist for that concert.
Elton and the band do seem flawless when they play. Although I don't know how long they practice once the setlist is decided upon, I can guess that it's actually not for very long. That is simply because he has been doing this for 40 years--and a couple members of his band have been with him for almost as long. When they introduce a new song or two into the setlist, we can trust that they spend time rehearsing them.
The solo concerts were a bit different and Elton did need to rehearse for those, but I don't know exactly for how long. He was on his own and really needed to be spot on. I also know he needed more time to rehearse for the solo shows because the song selection was different than a regular concert with the band. He chose songs that showcase his piano playing and/or aren't normally played.
I hope this helps. Thanks for the question.
Austin
