Sam's gospel music course

Sam's Gospel Musician Course for New Musicians

Lets Play Music

Welcome to Sam's Gospel Music Course New Musician

This course has been designed to assist in the training of today's new generation of church musicians. Our staff musician has a 39 year background in music primary geared towards the total church experience. When we started in 1999 there were few sites offering church musician instruction for FREE!. Now there are dozens of Internet based sites that offer more than we can imagine. We sponsor these sites as places of reference for all musicians taking this course, however, none can offer 37 years of continued church related service. We have kept some of the basic lessons which are a necessary foundation for music learning and have now incorporated a new method of practical instruction. We will be updating this site as we look to equip this generation of musicians with the knowledge to do more than play "behind the preacher "and "shout the house". We are taking the bold step to teach hymns as they should be played where the congregation no longer is being entertained but participate in the singing. Where the musician becomes responsible for more than just showing up, but plans well in advance for service, and comes with an attitude to serve not impress. There's a place for all musicians in the ministry of music in every local church. Not just the Black Pentecostal Church, but all churches where the spirit of God desires to dwell and where music fulfills it purpose of setting the atmosphere for praise and worship.

We're an non-denominational education site and we offer our training to all who have the desire to learn. Music opens and closes each service and if the musician is not correct, the service suffers. I'll say that again "music opens and closes each service, if the musician is not correct, the service suffers".

"Study to show thyself approved...." One of the hardest concepts to get across to church musicians is the importance of practicing. Your practicing will turn to playing as your skills improve. Our entire course will take place on this page so bookmark it now.

Study Techniques

As a new musician we have designed a practice routine for you to follow. This will help you in developing a displine for learning new music as the course and your music minsitry continues. First turn off your cellphone or put it on slient vibrate. The most important time you have is when your first start to practice. Any distraction will cause you to delay or put it off. I recommend you should practice in the early evening around 6:00pm or mid morning around 11:00am. for 1 hour maximum. Make sure you have a comfortable seat and proper posture for playing.

Start of with the musicians prayer.
Loosen up your hands by shaking them downward then practice scales.
Chord warm-ups - play your chords chromatically up and down the keyboard
Practice chords using both hands.
Practice a basic Hymn or selection as you prepare your mind and spirit for practicing.
Remember to enjoy your music and if you have a cassette recorder tape yourself so that you can hear your improvement.

Master Class Lessons

Video Lesson Examples

Description	Workbook Study
Scale/Chord Practice	25 min total practice time

Description	Link
Right Hand Scale Practice
Left Hand Scale Practice
Harmonic minor scale lesson
Worbook song " Praise God from Whom All Blessing Flow" in C
Center of My Joy Lesson
Example 6
Example 7
Example 8

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Reference the material found in workbook. Begin practicing the scales and chords using the correct fingering techniques shown in the workbook. When you have completed all the keys practice with the midi files for accuracy and technique.

Now practice major/minor chords with inversions in every key for right hand then left hand. Don't worry about the lower notes on left hand this is for training for fingers. Go as high as G above middle C during the inverison chords for left hand.

Practice the melody line to the songs in the workbook.

Lesson on chord progressions and scales.

(Rotate the lessons using the right click in adobe acrobat clockwise)

Lessons will be added as the course progresses.

Sam's Do You Know Keyboard Session

Now this session we will cover basic features found on most keyboards that can be used for practice situationa. Lets start with the rythmn sections. Most Casio or Yahma keyboards contain rythmn tracks . The tracks can be helpful in building your timing when practicing and playing songs. Let look at the more commonly used tracks .