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Starling Jones Jr

In this course you will learn:

  • Traditional Songs
  • Praise Songs
  • Worship Songs
  • Chord Patterns
  • Solo Selections

Remember - Prov 27:17 "Iron Sharpens Iron"

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What's inside

Syllabus

Patterns
I to IV Chord Pattern - Starling Jones,Jr. - All Keys
The Lord Is My Shepherd - Dr.Watts - Key of Ab
Worship Chords - Starling Jones,Jr. - Key of Dbm
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores chord patterns and song selections commonly found in traditional gospel music, praise songs, and worship songs, providing a foundation for playing in church settings
Features a variety of songs in different keys, which develops skills in transposition and adapting to various vocal ranges commonly encountered in gospel performances
Includes both solo selections and choir arrangements, which prepares learners to play in diverse musical settings, from intimate performances to large ensemble arrangements
Focuses on contemporary gospel artists like Byron Cage, Donnie McClurkin, and Tasha Cobbs, which exposes learners to current trends and popular songs in the genre
Features traditional songs such as 'Jesus Is On The Main Line' and 'My Soul Loves Jesus,' which provides learners with a connection to the roots and history of gospel music
Requires learners to have access to a piano or keyboard, which may present a barrier for some individuals without access to these instruments

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Reviews summary

Gospel piano skills and songs

According to students, this course offers practical lessons on playing Gospel piano music. Learners particularly appreciate the clear explanations of chord patterns and the selection of traditional and modern songs from the syllabus. Many report being able to learn and play full songs after taking the course. Some feedback suggests the course is best suited for those with some prior piano knowledge rather than complete beginners.
Instructor knows the genre well.
"The instructor really knows his stuff and conveys the information clearly."
"His playing and explanations were easy to follow and inspiring."
"Very passionate about gospel music, which comes through in the lessons."
Enables playing full musical pieces.
"I can now play several of the songs listed in the syllabus which is amazing!"
"This course helped me move beyond theory to actually perform pieces."
"The practical lessons make it easy to learn and play real gospel songs quickly."
Covers a variety of well-known songs.
"Loved learning 'Days of Elijah'! The song choices are excellent and relevant."
"The course has a great mix of old traditional and newer worship songs."
"Having the syllabus songs broken down makes learning them achievable."
Helps understand key chord progressions.
"The breakdown of the I-IV chord pattern was so clear; it finally clicked for me."
"I finally understand how these gospel chords work and can apply them."
"The explanations of the chord patterns were simple and easy to follow along with."
Better for non-beginners.
"This is not for absolute beginners; it assumes you know basic piano fundamentals."
"I'd recommend having scales and basic chord shapes down before starting."
"As a beginner, I found myself needing to learn prerequisites elsewhere first."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Gospel Piano Lessons with these activities:
Review Basic Music Theory
Reviewing basic music theory will help you understand the chord patterns and song structures taught in the course.
Browse courses on Chord Progressions
Show steps
  • Review scales and key signatures.
  • Study basic chord progressions.
  • Practice reading sheet music.
Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course
Reviewing Alfred's Basic Adult Piano Course will provide a solid foundation in piano playing and music theory.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Work through the lessons in the book systematically.
  • Practice the exercises and songs regularly.
  • Supplement your learning with online resources.
Practice Chord Transitions
Practicing chord transitions will improve your ability to play the songs smoothly and confidently.
Show steps
  • Select a few chord progressions from the course material.
  • Practice transitioning between the chords slowly and accurately.
  • Gradually increase the tempo as you become more comfortable.
Three other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all six activities
Explore Gospel Piano Tutorials on YouTube
Following gospel piano tutorials on YouTube will expose you to different playing styles and techniques.
Show steps
  • Search for gospel piano tutorials on YouTube.
  • Watch tutorials from different instructors.
  • Practice the techniques demonstrated in the tutorials.
Create a Gospel Piano Arrangement
Creating your own arrangement of a gospel song will solidify your understanding of chord patterns and improvisation techniques.
Show steps
  • Choose a gospel song you enjoy.
  • Transcribe the chords and melody.
  • Experiment with different chord voicings and rhythms.
  • Record your arrangement and share it with others.
The Complete Book of Harmony, Theory & Voicing
Studying advanced harmony and voicing techniques will enhance your ability to create sophisticated gospel piano arrangements.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters on harmony and voicing.
  • Apply the concepts to gospel piano arrangements.
  • Experiment with different voicings and chord substitutions.

Career center

Learners who complete Gospel Piano Lessons will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Church Pianist
A church pianist provides music for religious services, aiming to evoke spiritual feelings. This course directly relates to a church pianist's responsibilities as it teaches traditional songs, praise songs, and worship songs, all of which are staples in many church settings. The course will help a church pianist with chord patterns, solo selections, and even choir songs, ensuring a fuller command of the music. This course's emphasis on specific songs, particularly those found in many modern churches, will help a church pianist to build a relevant repertoire.
Praise and Worship Leader
A praise and worship leader directs a congregation in musical worship, often singing and playing an instrument. This course helps a praise and worship leader by providing relevant material. The course directly teaches praise songs and worship songs. The course also familiarizes the learner with chord patterns, which are integral to leading musical worship. The practical approach of this course will be useful to a praise and worship leader in their role.
Musician
A musician performs music, either solo or as part of a group. This course directly helps a musician by teaching them relevant techniques and repertoire. A musician can make use of the teaching of various songs including traditional songs, praise songs, and worship songs. The course also expands a musician's knowledge of chord patterns and solo selections, building a robust musical toolkit. This course is useful for musicians who wish to play gospel music.
Keyboardist
A keyboardist plays keyboard instruments in various settings, often as part of a band or ensemble. This course will be useful to a keyboardist, especially one who plays gospel music. The course's emphasis on traditional songs, praise songs, and worship songs directly relates to the kind of repertoire a keyboardist may play. The understanding of chord patterns is also crucial for a keyboardist. This course is useful for a keyboardist who wishes to improve their playing and expand their gospel repertoire.
Private Music Instructor
A private music instructor provides one-on-one music lessons, often specializing in a specific instrument or genre. This course may be useful for a private music instructor who wishes to teach gospel piano. The course offers a broad array of songs, including traditional songs, praise songs, and worship songs, providing a curriculum that can be passed onto students. The emphasis on chord patterns and solo selections in the course will be helpful to a private music instructor looking to teach these foundational techniques. For someone wanting to specialize in gospel piano instruction, this course is practical and comprehensive.
Studio Musician
A studio musician is a professional musician who plays on recordings. This course may be helpful to a studio musician who wants to play gospel music. The skills taught in this course, including chord patterns and solo selections, are directly applicable to recording in a studio environment. This course will be useful if you want to build your portfolio as a studio musician, particularly in the gospel music genre.
Music Minister
A music minister leads the music aspect of worship services, guiding musicians and vocalists. This course may be useful to a music minister because it covers fundamental aspects of gospel piano music, teaching foundational skills such as chord patterns, and providing a varied repertoire spanning traditional, praise, and worship songs. This course builds an understanding of different song types, which will be helpful to a music minister in choosing appropriate selections for services. For someone aspiring to be a music minister, this course provides practical experience with core musical genres.
Choir Director
A choir director leads a group of singers, often selecting music or creating arrangements for them. This course may be useful to a choir director because it provides instruction on relevant gospel music. A choir director will be exposed to a variety of musical styles including choir songs, which are included in this course. Additionally, understanding chord patterns, as is taught in this course, may be useful in arranging pieces. This course helps a choir director to expand their knowledge of gospel arrangements.
Songwriter
A songwriter creates original musical compositions, often for various purposes and genres. This course may be helpful to a songwriter who wants to produce gospel music. The course teaches chord patterns, which are foundational to writing songs, and it also provides a variety of song types, such as praise and worship songs, that a songwriter may wish to emulate. The practical experience with different musical styles, which this course provides, may be valuable for a songwriter. This course could be useful if you plan to write gospel songs.
Music Teacher
A music teacher instructs students in music theory, technique, and performance. This course may help a music teacher who specializes in piano or gospel music. The course directly provides a set of traditional, praise, and worship songs and chord patterns that a music teacher can use in their lessons. A music teacher can use the solo selections to help develop repertoire and give instruction to students. This course is useful if you plan to teach gospel piano music.
Accompanist
An accompanist supports other musicians, usually singers, by playing piano. The skills taught in this course, such as chord patterns and varied song selections may be useful for an accompanist. The practice of solo selections in this course may be beneficial for an accompanist to develop skill and dexterity. This course would be useful if you are interested in accompanying gospel singers or choirs.
Music Arranger
A music arranger adapts existing music for different instruments or performers. This course may be useful to a music arranger as it explores gospel music in depth. A music arranger will benefit from the analysis of chord patterns, as it helps build a deeper understanding of music's structure. The various song types in this course can also provide a music arranger with practical examples of different musical styles. This course may help a music arranger to expand their arrangements into the gospel genre.
Hymn Writer
A hymn writer composes sacred verses that are set to music. This course may be helpful to a hymn writer by providing examples of gospel music structure and style. The course materials cover various song forms including praise songs and worship songs. This course also provides an understanding of chord patterns, which will be helpful to a hymn writer in composing music for the hymns they write. This course will be useful for a hymn writer who wants to write gospel hymns.
Music Therapist
A music therapist uses music to address physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. While this course focuses specifically on gospel piano, the understanding of musical structure, chord progressions, and song styles gained here may be useful in music therapy settings. A music therapist will use multiple musical genres in their work. The knowledge of styles learned in this course such as traditional, praise, and worship songs may aid a music therapist. This course may be useful if you plan to become a music therapist.
Entertainment Director
An entertainment director plans and executes entertainment for churches, events, or other venues. This course may be useful for an entertainment director who is working in a religious context. The course covers aspects of music that are central to many religious settings including traditional songs, praise songs, and worship songs. An understanding of musical patterns, as taught by this course, will be useful for an entertainment director when planning events. This course may be useful for an entertainment director that works in religious communities.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Gospel Piano Lessons.
Delves into advanced harmony, theory, and voicing techniques applicable to various instruments, including piano. While geared towards guitar, the concepts translate well and can enrich your understanding of gospel piano arrangements. It is more valuable as additional reading to expand your knowledge beyond the course's core material. This book is commonly used by musicians seeking a deeper understanding of music theory.

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