LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Gospel Instruments => Gospel Keyboard / Piano => Topic started by: rjthakid on March 09, 2006, 09:27:44 AM
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Below is a post I made when I received my Urban Worship Classic DVD (note: NOT Xtreme. Classic.) from Jamal Hartwell. Preview this first for comparison:
Previous Post
I was very happy to see my Urban Worship DVD when I got home last night. I tore right into it, brought my laptop into my practice room and threw it in. Here we go:
Presentation & Production Value.
Top-Notch. Everything from the DVD Art, to the intro, to the Menu's are done professionally. As far as production quality is concerned, I definately got my money's worth in that department.
Content
Very Good. He showed some beautiful, phat chords, some beautiful movements and passing chords, and some nice, mellow Worship Vamps. Also, the fact that the notes came up on-screen made it easier to see what he was doing. You could tell that he had to simplify what he was playing for beginners, and that was a good decision. He simplified it enough for a beginner to play, but still left some really phat chords in there. Here's just ONE of the phat chords:
F-C-Ab/A-Db-Eb-Ab
Nasty.
Theory
Jesus help me. Virtually none. I've been studying my chord book , so I was able to name the the chords, but that's not the point. He'd give the notes and not explain the WHY. If you're a beginner and you don't understand ANY theory, then this won't help you too much. It doesn't make sense learning beautiful movements, and still not know how to apply them to your playing. This is the only Major problem with this Dvd.
Teaching method
A mixed bag, but overall it's good. On one hand, the on-screen notes are a tremendous help, but there are some sections where he'll play something and the notes aren't onscreen (though those moments are very few). Also, although Jamal is a good teacher, at times he goes a bit too fast. But that's the joy of having the rewind button I was able to catch just about everything, even if I had to backtrack a few times.
Overall
I would recommend this to another beginner, but ONLY if they learn some theory first. The on-screen notes are a tremendous help, and the content is top-shelf stuff.
I pray this helps someone in their decision!
Now for GK202:
Presentation & Production Value
Good. NOT as good as Urban Worship Classic's, but it gets high marks nonetheless. The Urban Worship had the Midi Keyboard at the top of the screen, and that made it a joy to learn from. Also the menus were as beautifully done as the Urban Worship Website (if you haven't seen it, scroll to the top of this webpage and click the "Vist the our Urban Worship Website" link).
On GK202 however, the presentation isn't QUITE as good. It does get good marks for the opening menu. Jermaine teaches the key of Db in this video. He takes every note in the scale, one by one, and gives you at LEAST 4-5 good chord voicings for each note. The opening menu has each note divided into chapters. So if you want to see good chord voicings for all, just click play all. If not, just click the note you want to go over again, and see the chord voicings for that note. Sweet. :)
Content
He showed some very nice chords on here. He doesn't stick to the very basics. Homeboy goes into 7ths, 9ths, 11ths, and some 13ths....WITH alterations. :) The movements aren't as slick as Hartwells, but they aren't meant to be. This isn't Urban Worship. This is more of a teaching tool. Don't get me wrong, he shows some truly nasty stuff, and GK202 is much longer than Urban Worship. But this is really for the beginner. Which leads me to.....
Theory
A+. 100. Top-notch. This is where GK202 truly outshines Urban Worship. He gives progressions. He tells you not only WHAT to do, but WHY it works. Different ways to transition from one chord to another. Basically, he teaches you HOW to play! Urban worship has virtually NO theory. The documentation CD has the chords & notes he plays, but the chords aren't named(!!!). I've seen people on this board say "GK202 has helped me alot. I'm actually playing now" You know what? BELIEVE IT. I opened it up last night, and I was up till about 3am going over it. He gives SO MANY CHORDS that you have to pause it and practice them before he moves on to the next one. Then after he gives u the chords, he explains how to apply them.
This is it folks. If you want to learn how to play this is the dvd you want. I'm a believer.
Teaching Method
Again, A+. He goes through chords fast, but he does that go squeeze the most content possible into these DVD's. He explains things in a very clear, easy to understand way. You're never lost. He goes into painstaking detail, because the goal of this DVD is to teach. Mission accomplished.
Overall
GK202 or Urban Worship Classic?
If you're a beginner, you want this DVD. And if you get it, you'll be ecstatic. You'll learn tons of chords, progressions, little things you can do to make full, good sounding music. If you can, get both. Once you've gone through GK202, you'll understand Urban Worship MUCH better. I'm thinking about some of the movements in Urban Worship, and they make sense now. I now see how I could incorporate that into my playing. If you can only get one, get GK202. It's a Must-Buy.
I pray this helps someone with their decision.
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Also to add to rjthakid review on GK202 you can download a 63pg manuel that takes you through everything on the CD.
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Depending on where ur at as far as how much you know....GK202 is the way to go. I would recommend it to anybody. Then go into Jamals dvds, but Jermaine will get you started.
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Amen
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I have seen some of the extreme worship CD. It is pretty nice. If you dont know theory you may get left behind somewhat but he has what it takes for that contemporary neo/gospel style. I will have to buy the GK202 on day. Right now Im more so working on bass guitar and playing things I know in every key more fluenently. :)
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I have seen some of the extreme worship CD. It is pretty nice. If you dont know theory you may get left behind somewhat but he has what it takes for that contemporary neo/gospel style. I will have to buy the GK202 on day. Right now Im more so working on bass guitar and playing things I know in every key more fluenently. :)
I really Recommend it. Even if you're a little more advanced than I, he shows so many different ways to transition from note to the next. Different walk-ups, some big 13ths, and he teaches 5 songs on the third DVD (with walk-ups, substitutions, etc.). Once you get to the third DVD it's a little more advanced.