Insert Coin Here

In "Insert Coin Here," we find an overconfident, diva-like pianist (is there any other kind?) try his hand(s) at a musical video game (read: not "Guitar Hero"). The game starts simple enough for the pianist as the music is presented in a straightforward manner.

However, as he progresses through the various "stages," the music becomes increasingly difficult and, ultimately, too fast for the performer, at which point he is unable to continue.

Will he be able to revive himself? Restore his confidence? Complete the game? <insert meaningless rhetorical question>

Well, insert coin in.

"Insert Coin Here" is the first track in Zackery Wilson’s album “Keyed-Up," a collection of six pieces for piano and fixed media, highlighting the intersection and juxtaposition of chiptune, classical, and jazz musical elements.

Essentially a culmination of his academic studies — a musical dissertation [formerly titled "Chamber Chip," arranged for various instrumentation(s)] — "Keyed-Up" is a re-imagining of the aforementioned concept, with the piano [again] serving exclusively as the feature instrument. Following standard contemporary music conventions, these pieces combine the traditional acoustic sound of the piano with pre-recorded electronic elements (fixed media), which allow for live performance* (in both public and private settings).

*Note: Purchase of album [on Bandcamp] grants full access to performance materials via [downloadable] audio (fixed media) and musical score (PDF).