Monthly Archives: March 2015

Motivational, Preparation and Organization

Preparation is Where It’s At!!!

Leave a comment

Behind the scenes preparation is vital! Think about it—everything we do requires preparation. For example, kitchen prep is the life blood of any restaurant. We sort and pre-treat our clothing before we do laundry. Before we go on vacation, we service our cars and prepare our homes to be away.

Likewise, we MUST do “prep” our music talents—learning new chords, voicings, new chord progressions and
..well you get the picture!!!!   So GET INSPIRED and choose ONE THING that will enhance your music skills and GET STARTED TODAY! Remember
.even the man with the ONE talent could have doubled his if he had just worked with what he had!

 

 

Instructional

Is Your Piano In Tune?

Leave a comment

How do you know if your piano tuner has done a good job?  Sit down and play some heavy handed (fff) pieces for 20-30 minutes after he leaves.  If the piano stays in tune, then he’s done a good job.

After that, it’s all up to temperature and humidity fluctuations.  That’s why pianos are tuned right before a concert and not several days before – you never know what fluctuations will occur in the concert hall.

I had to have my piano tuned three times in 2014 due to temperature and humidity fluctuations.  In October, 2013 we replaced our furnace and right about the same time our dehumidifier bit the dust.  With the new furnace we thought the humidity problems had been taken care of but that was not the case!

An interesting note–my tuner told me if a piano goes “sharp” your humidity is too high.  If a piano goes “flat” the humidity is too low.

Always try to keep instruments made of wood in a fairly consistent environment (heat & humidity), otherwise you risk structural defects and an instrument constantly in need of adjustment.

Miscellaneous

Benefits of Listening to Gospel Music

Leave a comment

The definition of Gospel is “good news” so it is only natural that Christian and Gospel music contains the good news of Jesus Christ!

So what are the benefits of listening to Christian and Gospel music versus listening to secular music? The Bible says in Philippians 4:8  “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”

Good Gospel music is still abundantly available for our listening pleasure today—these are songs which will encourage, lift us up and testify what God has done and what He can do. Non-Christian music truly does affect our relationship with the Lord!  While not all non-Christian music is bad or sends a negative or evil message ask yourself if you as a Christian would to play that song if the Lord was physically in the room with you.  Probably not—even if it isn’t bad!

Why?  Because a true Christian knows deep inside that if something doesn’t glorify God, it probably does not please Him. With songs of hope and promise available why would a Christian who loves the Lord choose to listen to songs that drag us down emotionally and spiritually? There is an old joke about what you get when you play secular country music backwards.  You get your wife back; you get your dog back.  Why would anyone choose to listen to junk that promotes finding peace in a bottle of alcohol or talks about cheating on your spouse. What kinds of Gospel music do we listen to and sing?   There are horizontal songs which testify to others about God’s goodness and what He can do.  Then there are vertical songs which we sing as praise directly to the Lord.   It doesn’t matter whether the song is old school or new  if it has the Gospel message!

Lift Up the Name of Jesus Songs that lift up the name of Jesus Christ affect the lives of everyone you meet.  Jesus said “if I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me.”  (John 12:32)  Listen to music that lifts Jesus up!

Scripture Songs Scripture songs which “bless the Lord” and “exalt” God’s greatness can stir your heart and bring revival!  Listen to Scripture songs because Scripture is anointed!

Hope and Victory More than ever, in today’s world, people need hope!  We must know in our heart that Jesus is the Answer and that it’s possible to live victoriously in Jesus Christ!

The Blood of Jesus Songs about the blood brings great conviction and excitement and reminds us how Jesus shed His blood on Calvary to redeem us!  This is the central foundation of our salvation!

Good Sound Doctrine Make sure the songs you sing reflect good SOUND DOCTRINE!  When in doubt—don’t! You’ve heard the old saying “You are what you eat!”  In today’s world we need to “digest” and hide as much of God’s Word in our hearts as we can!!!