GospelSkillz - Musicians Blog: Recent Comments

Comment on Is Your Anointing More Important Than Mine?

God'swill .O. — Fri, 11 Jul 2008 07:36:41 GMT

Well am happy that this topic came up at this time, I am a drum and i have been in a service where i was the only musician around, I mounted on the drums and played, and let me say this, the service was wonderful .
I attended a burial cerimoney and what was on ground was just the drums and the keyboard, I and my friend mounted on the instrument and before we knew it every body was alredy dancing and claping, So, the idea or the mentality that one instrument is more supirior the other is not from God and as musicians we should'nt have such mentality.

Comment on Is Your Anointing More Important Than Mine?

Alejandro — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 14:32:45 GMT

Praise God; I feel that...
If you come to think of it, a lot of the people are after man and not after God. We see this when the Senior Pastors of a church move to another state or country, and then a number of the people leave the church (and some of them to follow the pastors!). We can also see this when pastors take their yearly vacation. A bunch of people all of a sudden decide to "take their vacation" from services as well! Also, in a case where, God forbid, a minister falls into disgrace, there will be people that stop walking with the Lord. (were they really ever?)

This is reminiscent to me of what Matthew 7:21-23 says..."Not everyone who says unto me: 'Lord, Lord' will enter into the kingdom of heaven, but those that do the will of my Father which is in Heaven". And check out Romans, which says that "not everyone in Israel is an Israelite" when describing that there is but a remnant chosen by grace!

Comment on Is Your Anointing More Important Than Mine?

Alejandro "Alex" Ramirez — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 01:26:50 GMT

Maybe the reason that some of us tend to think the keys and organ are more crucial to a church service is lack of representation by reed and wind instruments in the world of gospel. Sure, you practically cannot have modern jazz or maybe even R&B without some reeds and/or winds, but people in the gospel arena are just used to "broke church that cannot afford anything else except a piano and an organ that someone donated" in some cases. Also, reed instruments and wind instruments tend to be played more in groups, and that comes from the orchestral/band tradition? My final comment might provoke the ire of some, but may it be that it takes more of a musician to play the sax than it does to play keys? I play piano, guitar, bass, some drums, and took plenty of saxophone, flute, and piccolo lessons, and-let me tell you- the latter were the hardest. Out of all of the instruments which I play, piano seems like it was the easiest for me to learn.

While a church "can" do without a saxophone player, that's like icing on the cake. Sure, you could just make a box of cake, but when you have a professional bake it, it just tastes all that much better! When you have professional quality playing in a church, there is a marked difference in the membership and the attendance, period. People do not like to go to church as much when what we give to God is a little on the "broke and hurt" side of things.

Comment on Is Your Anointing More Important Than Mine?

Kevin — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:12:05 GMT

As an admirer of musicians and a student of music theory, I find it astonishing that so many people would view the music performance that occurs during a worship service as dependent on any one instrument. I use the words "music performance" because I don't believe true worship will result in any remembrance of anything but the united voice of all the congregation, on one accord in worship of the Most High God.

In my studies, the one thing that is consistent driven home by my instructors is the unity of sound that results in a groove: that as the bassist locks with the drummer, they create a foundation that both supports the dialogue of the other musicians, as well as inspire the creative synergies of the group as a whole. As the keyboardists and guitarist and saxophonists, and other instrumentalists respond to the the rhythm section, they in turn attempt to lock even tighter, which now becomes a process that both sustains and draws power from itself.

As I meditate on this concept, I think, "what are the possibilities when this whole process is submitted to the direction of the Holy Spirit?" I hope this is the motivation that drives the pursuit of excellence among all the worship teams around the world, rather than a need to be seen as indispensable.

Comment on Is Your Anointing More Important Than Mine?

J.B. Smith — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:29:54 GMT

I understand what you are saying brotha! But the true heart of the matter is that in the modern-day worship service, people feel that you HAVE to have instruments in order to Praise/Worship... when honestly... we as musicians should only act as a type of Lubricant to help usher in the Spirit... to help people forget about their troubles and make it a little easier for them to lay their burdens at Christ's feet.
For some reason... people think its all about Me or the Organist, or the Pianist or the Drummer or the "Insert ANYTHING HERE"... when its all about HIM! It is all about worshipping Him in the realness of our hearts!

Comment on Basic Progressions - Part 2 - "Oh How I Love Jesus"

Lucien — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:45:53 GMT

I would like you to do a video that shows us how we can play around with some Jazz voicings, like the ones you showed us at the end of the video. GREAT VIDEO, LOVED IT.

Comment on Is Your Anointing More Important Than Mine?

Joseph D. Roe — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 14:00:04 GMT

I've heard it before, too, but I see all instruments as being a system that'works together. How could one say that the heart is the most important and all other systems are second class.
NONSENSE!!! It takes all systems to make the body function properly and to me; so it is with music. That's why you
have keyboards nowadays with drums and strings built inside to make the piano have a more complete harmoletic system.
I've heard that "one" is the lonliest number ever and having a complete system of musicians playing is always a much better impression to an audience. I
see the living room as a showcase of a house but when it comes time to use the bathroom, tell me how important is the living room then... The whole system makes the house a home and all is of utmost importance. Same as keyboards, drums,guitars,brass,woodwinds,strings,
percussions,and singers!!! Even in heaven there's a triune Godhead of more
than one...WOW!!!

Joseph D. Roe

Comment on The Contemporary Gospel Sound

Ric — Sun, 01 Jun 2008 07:46:26 GMT

Another great article. I would love if you explore some applications of those rootless voicings you touched on in the 'O How I Love Jesus' advanced video. You have a great teaching style and a great sound on the keyboard. You are doing a great service to musicians like myself who desire exposure to that contemporary feel.

Comment on The Contemporary Gospel Sound

James E. Davis — Fri, 30 May 2008 16:28:05 GMT

Letron,

Thanks for all the information keep up the God Work. In the above blog you outlined A B13b5 and didn't leave us hanging and resolved it to A Bbm11 which sounds great I have been playing around with this and am wondering where can it go from here and just with these two chords it really doesn't define a key does it? I have a lot of questions, I know you have some answers. Maybe you could take the time and give a progression that uses these chords!

Avouched by God,

Minister James E. Davis

Comment on "Perfect Practice Makes Perfect"

carole w — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:50:21 GMT

i am having a hard time trying to learn how to play chords. I can pick out the tunes but not able to form the full chord. please help me in what i need to start practicing to learn how to play songs....