I hope I am not out of line

[jaymusic]

Hello, I would love to have a gospel piano mentor/teacher.  I’ve been taking piano lessons for two years now, I have come along well; however, I have not reach my goal of playing my piano for the church.  I don’t know if I should just start and struggle through until I can play an entire service or work with a church pianist?  Any advice, feedback I take whole-heartedly.  I’m in Baltimore, Maryland, believe me this is very frustrating but I know one day I shall play.

[tim77901]

You should just talk to the pianist and see what they think, then get the music and learn how to play it.

[betnich]

Welcome to LGM, jaymusic...Maybe you can get some lessons on playing chords by ear from the pianist...

[jaymusic]

Thanks for the advice Tim and Betnich, I am currently learning the gospel songs by sheet music; however, Betnich your advice (Maybe you can get some lessons on playing chords by ear) is the direction I will go.   Thank you both again!

[tim77901]

No problem

[T-Block]

Just 2 years? I'm glad that you've stuck with it for this long, but you still got a ways to go young man. I've been at it 10 years and I've still not reached my goals as a musician.

I would do like everyone else is saying and have a talk with your piano teacher about your goals and see if he/she can help you reach those specific goals. A lot of music teachers have their own goals in mind because their students don't tell them specific goals they have. I bet having that talk will help a lot.

[under13]

How many hours a dat do you practice? And what do you practice?

[jaymusic]

I appreaciate your words of Wisdom T-Block, I will talk with her tommorrow, Under13 I practice an hour a day and two hours every Thursday.  I learn classical music along with piano theory, scales, chords, alot of sight reading drills, etc; however, I do not work on playing the chords that I've learned to human voices.  I dont play by ear but when I learn a classical piece I can play the piece without the sheet music.  As mention before I do have a long ways to go.  Thanks again for the advice, it really has open my mind and motivated me. 

[betnich]

Thanks for the advice Tim and Betnich, I am currently learning the gospel songs by sheet music; however, Betnich your advice (Maybe you can get some lessons on playing chords by ear) is the direction I will go.   Thank you both again!

www.ntimemusic.com has lots of notated Gospel sheet music - as well as more mainstream sites like www.Sheetmusicplus.com (search for artists like Fred Hammond and Marvin Sapp, or your favorites)

A book like this might help you and your teacher with chords and improvisation...-
http://www.sheetmusicplus.com/title/How-to-Get-Real-with-a-Fake-Book/3373199

Also take a look at SoundofJoy's posts here and his Gospel piano course website...

http://www.samsmuzikco.com/shmusic.htm