LearnGospelMusic.com Community
Gospel Instruments => Gospel Keyboard / Piano => Topic started by: T-Block on October 14, 2006, 09:46:54 AM
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Now, this may not sit well with some of you, but I'm going to say it anyway. If there is a song, progression, or any kind of musical number that is giving you a hard time to play right now, here is something you can do to make it easier:
LEAVE IT ALONE
When I say leave it along, I mean leave it for right now, then come back to it later. Don't ever be ashamed to let go of that particular musical number right now cuz it is too much for you. I have tried this before, and I have found that if you leave it alone for a while, later on you may learn a new technique that will cause something to "click" in your head. Then, you will go back to that music you left and it will suddenly make sense to you. Even if it is years later before it starts to make sense, don't worry about it.
There have been songs that I wanted to play, but my level of understanding was not up to par, so I had to let it go. I would be up for hours going over that one song trying to get it, but it would never come. Then, it hit me, go to someting easier first then come back to that. One particular song I will use for example is "Up Above My Head" by Kirk Franklin. If yall are familiar with this song, it has a jazzy feel to it. I tried to so hard to learn that song, I even got the sheet music and i stil couldn't get it. So, i stopped trying to learn it, and I moved to other stuff. About a couple of years later, I started to understand progressions, and then I heard that song again. When I heard it, it sounded different cuz instantly i started recognizing the progressions used in that song. I was like "Man, that's it, it's that easy?", and I was so happy that I let it go all those years before. Now, i understand it and it's not that hard to play now.
I see so many musicians killing themselves just to learn one song, run, etc., that they fail to grow cuz they are stuck in that one position. It's o.k. to let it go, it's not the end of the world. You are not going to die because you can't play it right now. If it's people that are pressuring you, or if you are pressuring yourself, yall got along great before it, and you will continue to get along w/out it. Learn to tell people and yourself "No, not right now." You may get criticized and you may get left behind temporarily, but you will be staying true to yourself.
Becoming a musican is a slow, life-long process that WILL TAKE TIME in order to reach your full potential. It won't come in a year, it won't come in 2 years, and for some it won't come in 20 years. It will come when it's YOUR TIME for it to come. It's time for us to get out of this "I want to play this right now" mode and get into the "One day I will be able to play this" mode. With dedication and practice, you will find that it's much easier to be in the "One day I will be able to play this" mode than the "I want to play this right now mode." It will take a lot of stress off you and encourage you to take your time and get it right. I'll use this scripture from the Bible to emphasize my message:
Ecclesiastes 9:11 "I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neigher yet the bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
When it is your time, it will come. Don't rush it, let it happen naturally and you will get to the place where you want to be. Keep learning, keep practicing, and keep in mind that it will take time, so stop worrying and start enjoying your musical journey. I love all of you LGM family!!! ;D
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Thank you for those words of wisdom :)
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Good words of wisdom Doc....Be blessed
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Thanks for the words of wisdom "T-Block"..... :).
PianoWiz...
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This is something that I do all the time.....More Words of Wisdom: Dont Stress Yourself..U WILL GET IT
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thanks doc that was very encouraging
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Thank's T-Block
For your word. I am one of those people.
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Great words of maturity!
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That's good stuff, teach! :D
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well said! that word "is" for me!
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Thank you T-Block. That was on the money.
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Thank you T-Block for sharing this word with other musicians. I found this to be true a very long time ago. May God Bless you. You are always helping other musicians unselfishly. I'm sure that others will benefit from your words of "Wisdom"
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Could not be more true ! You confirmed what the spirit told me awhile ago. I thank God for your obedience to the call on your life. You have no idea the number of lives that are touched because of that obedience. May God continue to Bless you and heaven smile upon you.
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thanks bruh i apreciate the words
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When I say leave it along, I mean leave it for right now, then come back to it later. Don't ever be ashamed to let go of that particular musical number right now cuz it is too much for you. I have tried this before, and I have found that if you leave it alone for a while, later on you may learn a new technique that will cause something to "click" in your head. Then, you will go back to that music you left and it will suddenly make sense to you. Even if it is years later before it starts to make sense, don't worry about it.
This is so true. It works, even if you don't get to learn the song for like a year, don't let it stress you out. It will make you lose your passion for the art.
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You are so right T-Block. And what you say is true at many levels.
I've been playing for 40 years and there are pieces of music that are just now making sense to me to be able to learn them from 10 - 15 - even 30 years ago.
Your advice is also good on a shorter term level. Say you have been working on a piece and you sort of have it but you are stuck. Let it go for a few days or a few weeks. You will be surprised how working in other directions and letting some of that work that you had put in before work itself out in your sub-conscious can help. I've had music that I would not practice for a few weeks and then the next time that I tried it, many things seem to come together that all of the wood-shedding failed to accomplish.
And, of course it comes down to that concept "PATIENCE". ("Lord, give me patience and give it to me NOW!.") As the writer said in Ecclesiastes "To every thing there is a season."
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That's good advice. Thanks T-Block
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Great point, T-Block!
I have been there! Every now and then, I find a song that is too difficult for me to understand. I usually put it away for a little while. That reminds me, I need to go back to learning some songs that I tried to learn about 5 or 6 years ago!
Thanks, T-Block!
Be Blessed!
Ladymusic88
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That reminds me, I need to go back to learning some songs that I tried to learn about 5 or 6 years ago!
Me too, LOL. :D
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T,
Great words or wisdom and encouragement. I find myself often moving away from learning a particular piece when I am stuck. It's funny how your mind never stops working on the piece. You can be working on something else and it hits you. "Oh that's what the chord is or the chords are". Thanks T-Block!!!!!
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Thanks T-Block,
Those words of widsom is just what I needed to let me know to slow down and stop comparing my playing with musicians that
have been playing much longer than I have. I know God gave these words of widsom to you to help us that are just starting to
learn music.
God Bless
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god bless ya.............ohhhhhhhhhhhh
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Thanks T-Block,
Those words of widsom is just what I needed to let me know to slow down and stop comparing my playing with musicians that
have been playing much longer than I have. I know God gave these words of widsom to you to help us that are just starting to
learn music.
God Bless
This is soooo true. I have only been playing for about a year and a half and whenever I would hear someone else playing then I would start comparing myself and beating myself up about the fact that I cant play like them even though they have been playing for several years more than me. I would even think to myself that I am rubbish @ playing and I was beginning too loose a bit of the joy to play coz it was feeling a bit like a burden especially when I couldn’t play some of the songs the P&W singers wanted me to play.
T-BLOCK thank u soooooooo much. May God richly bless u for all the words of encouragement that u r depositing unto our lives.
THANK U
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Me too, LOL. :D
I probably got some songs I need to finishing learning too :).
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Well I am greatly appreciative for the words I read today it was truly refreshing. Bless you for you encouragement
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THANKS FOR THE WISDOM!!! ;D
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I have agonized over a song before and these words of wisdom are very true! I am a beginner or maybe I'm intermediate now. haha :-) Anyway... once, I prayed about a song before I went to bed and believe it or not.... the chord progression came to me in a dream. I know that may seem hard to believe but it's true. I can honestly say, no matter what your level, pray and leave it alone.
I have been playing for about 3 years now and I try not to compare myself to other musicians because that will only hinder my progress. What ever GOD has for me I shall have...no more, no less. It will happen on HIS schedule and not mine. I have tried to make a habit of praying before I practice now because I know that what I do, I do for HIS Glory!
OK...I'll step off my soap box now :-)
God Bless!!!!
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Daaang where was I when this was written! :-\ What you're saying is so true Tanyas, welcome to LGM by the way. I have been in a similar situation and I have found that things come together eventually. I also like what T-block said, sometimes you do have to leave it alone and come back to it. I practiced a song for hours and couldn't seem to get it, but the next day when I was just fooling around it came to me. Thanks for your words of wisdom T-block, and thank you too tanyas. Remain blessed ;)
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Thanks T-block for the words of wisdom....I understand exactly what you saying...thanks and God bless...
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Wow, this is good word, T-Block, thanks.
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Word s to live by. This is so true for me as the songs I what to learn are always the ones that are more advanced than my skills. There are songs from years ago that it seems easy now, because of what I have been learning from here.
I can also recognize chords from those songs, because of the chords I use now that I had no clue about back then.
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Aww dang..you did it again T-Block...words I will try to live by because God knows I stress too much lol.
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Thanks for droppin' the knowledge, T-Block. I think this deserves to be a sticky somewhere.
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Thanks T-Block!
Your advice is very encouraging because i get frustrated when i couldn't get down a certain song or run but this has encouraged me to just have PATIENCE.
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I think this deserves to be a sticky somewhere.
I agree. This is much needed advice and it's encouraging all at the same time. It's something I know I'll be coming back to in the future.
Great words of wisdom T-Block...Be Blessed...
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good point T!!!! 9-11 indeed!!!!!!
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This is old, but true!
Great post T-block.
How come you don't do post like these anymore?
;D j/k
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This is old, but true!
Great post T-block.
How come you don't do post like these anymore?
;D j/k
HAHAHAHAHA, I just piggy back my advice off other people's post now, LOL. :D
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Thank you so much for those words T-Block man I have been stressing ?/? ?/? :-[ :'( my self because I am novice but in the position to where I have to play for the church now and there is so much I want to play and play now but it is great to be reminded that it will not come over night and that you may be behind right now but it is coming your time to understand what exactly it is you are doing are trying to do T-Block I know you created a page for music theory but is there any books that I should get to help me one person mentioned I should get the hear and play music theory book, I need some help because I am learning on my on
Thanks and God bless
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T-Block I know you created a page for music theory but is there any books that I should get to help me one person mentioned I should get the hear and play music theory book, I need some help because I am learning on my on
Thanks and God bless
Any book that you buy is basically gonna give u the same information u getting on this site for free. I would just print all the theory and stuff from here and u should be fine.
If u really want to take ur playing to another level, get a professional teacher or take a couple classes in school on music.
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Cool words
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Wow.....thats the truth T Block.......I been there
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while this is true and for me totally obvious, the problem for me is that this isnt always an option in many cases. sometimes the time needed to obtain more in order to make the task easier isnt available. so maybe i can put it down for a day or 2, but i really need to just walk away for a few weeks and come back to it. unfortunately if the obligation requires me to have what i can in a few days, then a few weeks break is just not feasible.
but i do review old things that were beyond my reach back then and i can see how much i've grown and see how much easier some things became.
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I'm so glad that you posted this I was preparing for a christmas concert the praise leader wanted me an another musician to learn the parts .I practiced everyday twice a day in the mornings .when my family is watching movies I was practicing . I did everything I thought I could do to learn that piece of music ..when it was time to show the praise leader our song we weren't ready .so she decided to play the track instead of using us . I was so upset and shane I felt hurt and discouraged .but now after reading this I must say that I'm not ready that does it mean I'll never be ready just not now . so whoever posted this I really appreciate that god bless you
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Thank you so very much for that. It also helps to pray and ask the Holy Ghost to open your hearing and understanding as well. But you are right. Learning other techniques and hearing other progressions eventually does open your understanding better. Your suggestion has actually worked for me numerous times. Again, thank you.
On another note: Do you happen to have the chords for "Great Name" from Stephen Hurd's new cd "Times of Refreshing"? Can't seem to find it anywhere. ANy help would be greatly appreciated.
direKta
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Thank you so very much for that. It also helps to pray and ask the Holy Ghost to open your hearing and understanding as well. But you are right. Learning other techniques and hearing other progressions eventually does open your understanding better. Your suggestion has actually worked for me numerous times. Again, thank you.
On another note: Do you happen to have the chords for "Great Name" from Stephen Hurd's new cd "Times of Refreshing"? Can't seem to find it anywhere. ANy help would be greatly appreciated.
direKta
So true. I'm always praying that God would help me to become an even better musician. It's through his strength that I am where I am today.
As to your song request, I've never heard of that song before. Maybe u can post a video or link to it so that someone here on LGM can assist you!
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very good and sound advice