Spiritually Preparing For
Gospel Piano Lessons
Gospel Differs From Blues And Jazz Because Of Spiritual And
Historical ConnotationsIf you've ever listened to blues music and
jazz piano, then you must have noticed the similarities that both genres
share with
black
gospel piano lessons. Quite often, the most significant difference
between gospel piano and blues or jazz is the tempo, pitch or
chords! We don't mean to suggest that these genres are exactly alike
however. We mean to instead, underscore that the philosophies or
motivations behind these styles are alike and they contribute to their
resemblances.
Gospel piano shares deep roots with blues and
jazz in that it originated from a desire to break from existing styles
-- styles that bore strong classical and patriotic American themes. It
differs from
blues and
jazz however because of its
spiritual and historical connotations. In the far past, gospel piano
accompanied lyrics that both (1) worshipped and (2) instructed slaves
out of slavery. Gospel May Indicate A Greater Significance This
gives gospel music a greater significance for specific groups of people
and as a gospel pianist, you'll
need to prepare yourself for this importance. With traditional piano,
lesson preparation usually entails little more than a few finger
exercises and a strong desire to learn. With gospel piano,
lesson preparation may
necessitate prayer, meditation, or any other type of exercise that's
relaxing.The Gospel Pianist's Role This is because the
gospel pianist is put into an
important position. On one hand, he is a musician. On the other hand, he
is a deliverer. The
gospel pianist's role is
to deliver his audience into a higher state of consciousness so that it
may reach a spiritual awareness or recognizing. As a vehicle of this
distribution, the gospel pianist must also deliver the right rhythms and
tones that will enable a divine transformation. Pianists who are tense,
nervous, or unsure about playing the piano can not adequately facilitate
this transference.Understanding The Role Is Essential To Preparation
Understanding the important role of the gospel pianist then is essential
to preparation. To fulfill this role, some go to the length of getting a
spiritual cleansing before they play. Others will pray over the
instrument and its music, while others may participate in a group
meditation. We can not tell you in good faith what is extreme and what
isn't because the perspectives vary. What's adequate preparation to one
gospel pianist is extreme to the other (and vice versa).
So
the most important thing that you can do is recognize your role as a
spiritual administrator and then find a comfortable method of fulfilling
that role. Every external event -- whether positive or negative -- can
influence the way that you learn and play the music. Stress factors will
not only work against you and cause frustration, they'll also prevent
you from absorbing the messages that your
lessons
try to teach.
Further Gospel Piano Resources:
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