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Author Topic: Where do I start?  (Read 765 times)

Offline ktheo86

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Where do I start?
« on: March 29, 2010, 06:17:11 PM »
I go to school for jazz studies in ny, and I've played classical for awhile, so I know about chords and I know how to read and stuff. But I also know that gospel music is still a totally different world from both jazz and classical, stylistically. I'm looking to play at some churches in any of the NY burrows or in LI, but I know that I need to come in there with a repertoire of some kind.

So, what tunes should I be learning, and where can I find some good recordings of them so I can learn each of them?

Also, what are some of the best sites to go, for learning about licks, progressions etc?

Offline betnich

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Re: Where do I start?
« Reply #1 on: March 29, 2010, 06:29:56 PM »
Welcome to LGM, ktheo86

Get thee to Youtube...lots of Gospel singers/players there...also tutorials

Offline ktheo86

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Re: Where do I start?
« Reply #2 on: March 29, 2010, 06:53:51 PM »
What artists should I be listening to to get started though? who perform stuff that will most likely be played or sung at just about any church I go to?

Offline QCdrummer

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Re: Where do I start?
« Reply #3 on: April 12, 2010, 11:17:07 AM »
Welcome to LGM Ktheo,

Well for starters, if you don't know alot about gospel music then you have a long way to go before you can start playing in a service. But here's what you can do to start getting ready......

1-) Go to Church services every chance you get and watch the keyboard player. Watch how  he/she plays during the service. What he does during "talk time" and what he does while the preacher is preaching, etc. You basically have to train your ear to know what is going on. Most people who play in church, grew up in church. So by the time they were playing in service, it was just second nature to do certain things just based on what they've heard everybody else do all thier lives.

2-) Listen to your local gospel radio station. Most cities now have clear FM stations for you to listen to all the latest gospel stuff. This will let you know what's popular and what the "church folk" are listening on a day-to-day basis.

3-) Meet and play with other church musicians. If you already have a jazz background, there's alot that you can bring to the table to share with pure church players. So practice with and share your ideas with them and they in turn can share thier ideas with you.

4-) VOLUNTEER at a church first. I know it doesn't sound fun, but most likely you may need to do this until you get more experience. If a church is paying you, they are going to expect that you know how to hold down a church service. But it seems that you are not ready for that yet. So I'm sure there are plenty of places that you can volunteer your time and playing where you can gain tons of experience and learn how to conduct a service without getting paid.

Learning gospel is not hard. You just have to remember that it is a genre that is really based on feeling. Churches are going to want you to really be in tune with the atmosphere. Reading the sheet music is good, but you have to go beyond that and be led to what is needed to be played at certain times during the service. Praying and Worshipping yourself will help with this.

Praise Him with clashing cymbals!

Offline 2tight

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Re: Where do I start?
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2010, 03:48:18 PM »
i agree wit qc.
Shannon moore
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