I Am: Dave Crowder

David Crowder Band (Photo credit: f_shields)

 The history on the Dave Crowder Band is that it was a six-piece Christian rock and modern worship band from Waco, Texas. Their final album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Christian and No. 2 on the Billboard 200 charts. They disbanded in 2012, with David Crowder pursuing a solo career under the name Crowder. Maybe you remember the band's cd, Give Us Rest

 For more information, visit http://en.wikipedia.org and the website, http://www.crowdermusic.com

 I just finished an amazing Bible Study at my church by author Kim Laliberte... The Call to Follow Jesus: Studies in the Gospel of Mark: From the Series Kingdom Living in a Twisted World

I got to thinking about Jesus being our rope of hope when we experience doubts, and we're afraid or feel alone sometimes. I learned a new song today by Dave Crowder  and it's an easy one in the Key of C, I Am. You can download the chord sheets for free, http://www.worshiptogether.com
The lyrics to the song really complements what I learned from studying the Gospel of Mark!

Listen to it on YouTube, I Am by Dave Crowder Band

Chord Chart in Key of C 

Bluegrass-inspired song with 4/4 time signature.

VERSE 1:
C
There's no space that His love can't reach
Am7
There's no place where we can't find peace
Gsus                          F2
There's no end to amazing grace

C
Take me in with Your arms spread wide
Am7
Take me in like an orphan child
Gsus          
Never let go
                    F2
Never leave my side

CHORUS: 
   C
I am Holding on to You
Am7
I am Holding on to You
      F2                                 C
In the middle of the storm I am holding on 


VERSE 2:
C
Love like this Oh my God to find
       Am7
I am overwhelmed With a joy divine
Gsus                       
Love like this sets our hearts on fire

VERSE 3:
C/E                F
This is my resurrection song
C/G                F/A
This is my hallelujah come
Am                  Gsus     F2
This is why it's to You I run

VERSE 4:
C/E                        F
There's no space that His love can't reach
C/G                       F/A
There's no place where we can't find peace
 Am                Gsus/B   F2               
There's no end to amazing grace

CHORUS: 
   C
I am Holding on to You
Am7
I am Holding on to You
      F2                                 C
In the middle of the storm I am holding on 

Chord Chart in Key of G

VERSE 1:
G
There's no space that His love can't reach
Cadd9
There's no place where we can't find peace
D                 Cadd9         G
There's no end to amazing grace

G
Take me in with Your arms spread wide
Cadd9
Take me in like an orphan child
D
Never let go
      Cadd9           G
Never leave my side

CHORUS: 
G
I am Holding on to You
Cadd9
I am Holding on to You
      Am                   D
In the middle of the storm I am holding on 
G

VERSE 2:
G
Love like this Oh my God to find
Cadd9
I am overwhelmed With a joy divine
D                       Cadd9          G
Love like this sets our hearts on fire

VERSE 3:
G
This is my resurrection song
Cadd9
This is my hallelujah come
D                   Cadd9      G
This is why it's to You I run

VERSE 4:
G
There's no space that His love can't reach
Cadd9
There's no place where we can't find peace
D                 Cadd9         G
There's no end to amazing grace

 I like this one... it's pretty easy and the lyrics and great.

You may be interested in, Backpocket Band Software

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"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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Know Your Chord Vocabulary

        Photo Credit: FreeDigital Photos

I wrote an article awhile back called, "How To Play The Piano Without Music."

Looking for tips on how to memorize music? Playing without sheet music is possible. Here are my own challenges and triumphs.

A group of us musicians were asked to play for an outdoor event at an amphitheater right by the ocean. The morning began with a huge downpour and we were frantically drying wet music scores with a hair dryer. Needless to say, it was quite challenging. What did I personally learn from the experience? Memorize your music! Yes, you can insert sheet music in plastic sleeves and that would be one way to succeed. However, it's fun just to go to Guitar Center and play a few memorized tunes in front of anyone who will listen. Try playing Happy Birthday for someone at the piano by memory.

1. So, why memorize music?

Playing without sheet music is very liberating.

Of course there's no need to memorize music if you don't want to. As a musician, I choose to memorize to avoid uncomfortable situations like music blowing off my stand when playing outdoors. Especially performing a night gig and the light bulb goes out on your music stand, surrounded by total darkness in the orchestra pit.

If you have been doing your homework during your practice sessions and you are familiar with the set of music, then you're not locked in to reading just the music notes with having to turn pages as well.

You will soon discover new ways of music flowing since you're eager to play without music.

2. Steps to help you memorize music.

If you're playing boogie blues or rock and roll, learn the various left hand patterns in the 12 bar blues form. Notice a couple of phrases and see if the second phrase answers the first.

When I'm reviewing a song, let's say it's a ballad, I first determine the keynote and play around and find the melody in that particular key.

If you're given a lead sheet, remembering chord progressions is the key to memorizing the song that is built on recalling the theory that you understand. Analyze the structure of the piece.

Now memorizing note for note is another ball game. Honestly, it can be more difficult for others than a youngster playing a memorized piece at a recital. In my opinion, the key to memorizing sheet music is through repetition. Also, try to remember if your hands are going in opposite directions or playing separately. Note tricky fingering as well.

I suggest taking small sections of music and repeatedly going over a few lines. We call this chunking and chaining. Please be patient. You may find recording or using flash cards to quiz yourself helps boost confidence in playing licks to a certain measure.

Laying down a rhythm pattern, programming drums, jamming in garage band or just using a metronome for a classical piece can keep you on track with skills to remember a song. Listening to a phrase of music indeed works the brain for short-term memory. Keep at it daily. In the beginning, I would open my music, then close it and try to play what I pictured.

3. Why these steps will help.

Practice, repetition and patience, a win-win formula, but truly there is no magic pill to take in memorizing music. Playing with other musicians for years and having that experience helps in knowing how to play certain songs well without sheet music. I'm thinking the biggest factor of all is choosing to memorize a song that you know and love will make it much easier for you to learn. You're on your way!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/5861178

 Duane Shinn talks about using Fake Books like so many musicians do. They know their chord vocabulary. They add chords to the melody line. Here's a good one that I recommend that has tons of pop songs,  The Ultimate Fake Book for C Instruments

You've just got to know chords. So, I'm talking about:

 Root of the Chord

In chord symbols, the root tells us what note is the root of the chord. In an E7 chord, the E is the root.

Quality of the Chord

Quality tells me if the chord is major (maj), minor (min), diminished (dim), or augmented (aug). In a Emaj7, the maj ells me that the E chord is major (happy sound.) To continue, Em means the chord is a E minor chord (sad or mysterious sound). Eaug (E+) means that the chord is an E augmented chord. (sounds like a train.)

Chord Extensions

The extension is written after the quality of the chord, showing if the chord differs from a triad, like an 6th, 7th, 9th, 11th or 13th. So a C9 is the C chord including the 9th note above C, which is D. A C6 chord is the C chord including the 6th scale note above C, which is A. This part of chord symbols is not always shown; if there is no indication of an extension, the musician is to assume that the chord is a triad.

Alteration 

Sometimes the alteration is usually but not always expressed. This is the "notes" section in chord symbols; it gives the musician any specific (and sometimes irregular) instructions for playing the chord and is always written in parentheses after the extension (or the quality, if no extension exists). For instance, (no fifth) would tell the musician that the chord is to be played with the fifth tone left out. Sus – (suspension), means to play the 4th scale note instead of the 3rd. A minus sign means to lower (flat) a chord tone, such as C-9 which means to flat the 9th of the chord. Now a plus sign means to raise (sharp) a particular chord tone. 

I hope you enjoyed these tips and I want to recommend a product that I have purchased myself from Jermaine Griggs. The audio CD course, Chords 101 and 102 will help you create bigger, sounding chords... the best inversions to choose and so much more. You'll be playing dozens of seventh chord voicings and learning about what chords strongly pull together. Learn the power of tonic chords and and other scale tone degrees.

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 "The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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How Jazz Can Improve Your Health

Source: TopMastersinHealthcare.com



I just wanted to give a shout out to Elly Brown for contacting LadyDpiano regarding their new infographic. I found it to be right on and very informative. It's true that music, especially Jazz,  does effect the brain. I am passionate about this genre of music and if you missed some former posts, you can catch some here and at Piano Diana

Articles About Jazz

Passing Tones: Lee Evans

Queen of Jazz: Etta James

The Language of Jazz

Books About Jazz

Beginning Jazz Keyboard

Best Jazz Standards Ever

Jazz Songs with Chords

Chicago: Color My World

Diana Krall: Fly Me To The Moon

Diana Krall: Just The Way You Are

Thanks for stopping by. Oh, you may be interested in Jazz Intensive Training Center

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"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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Today Is The Day: Lincoln Brewster/ Paul Baloche

English: Christian Recording Artist Lincoln Brewster plays at the Creation Music Festival Northeast June 2009 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In 2008 Integrity's Hosanna! released a very cool song that was written by Paul Baloche & Lincoln Brewster called, Today Is The Day. The worship team does this awesome song a lot at our church. For more free song charts, visit We Are Worship

 Chord Chart in the Key of C.

 INTRO
C5 C/E F2 C5 C/E

VERSE 1

F2                    C5      Am7        F2              C5   Am7
I'm casting my cares aside, I'm leaving my past behind
       F2            C5                         Am7 F2 Dm7
I'm setting my heart and mind on You, Jesus
F2                      C5          Am7          F2                       C5     Am7
I'm reaching my hands to Yours, be- lieving there's so much more
F2                   C5                    Am7            F2 Dm7           F2
Knowing that all You have in store for me is good, is good

CHORUS

                    C5                       Gsus            Am7                           F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
                     C5                        G/B                 Am7                     F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
  Dm7             C/E                            F2                                Gsus
I won't worry about tomorrow, I'm trustin' in what You say
                     C5 C/E F2                C5 C/E
Today is the day, today is the day

VERSE 2

      F2               C5       Am7     F2                   C5            Am7
I'm putting my fears aside, I'm leaving my doubts behind
      F2             C5                                 Am7 F2 Dm7
I'm giving my hopes and dreams to You, Jesus
F2                       C5          Am7          F2                    C5            Am7
I'm reaching my hands to Yours, be- lieving there's so much more
F2                   C5                          Am7      F2      Dm7 F2
 Knowing that all You have in store for me is good, is good

CHORUS
                     C5                     Gsus             Am7                        F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
                    C5                     G/B                       Am7                F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
Dm7               C/E                    F2                                   Gsus
I won't worry about tomorrow, trustin' in what You say
                     C5 C/E F2            C5 C/E F2
Today is the day, today is the day, yeah

G Am7 Dm7 F Gadd4
C5 Am7 Gadd4 F C5 Am7 Gadd4 F

BRIDGE

   C5           Am7 Gadd4 F      C5     Am7    Gadd4       F
I will stand upon Your truth (I will stand upon Your truth)
C5       Am7 Gadd4       F       C5           Am7    Gadd4      F
All my days I'll live for You (All my days I'll live for You)
C5         Am7      Gadd4 F      C5        Am7      Gadd4       F
I will stand upon Your truth (I will stand upon Your truth)
C5        Am7       Gadd4   F    Dm7                   F
All my days I'll live for You (All my days I'll live for You)

CHORUS
                    C5                      Gsus          Am7                               F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
                    C5                       G/B                  Am7                       F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
                    C5                      G/B            Am7                              F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
                    C5                      G/B                     Am7                     F2
Today is the day You have made, I will rejoice and be glad in it
   Dm7               C/E                      F2                             Gsus
I won't worry about tomorrow, giv- in' You my fears and sorrows
Dm7                           C/E                     F2                                 Gsus
Where You lead me, I will follow, I'm trustin' in what You say
                    C5 C/E F2                    C5 C/E F2
Today is the day,      today is the day
                      C5 C/E F2                  C5 C/E F2
Today is the day,       today is the day

C5 C/E F C5 C/E F

C5 C/E F C5 C/E F C5

Song on YouTube

 

 You may be interested in a free download,  Musician's Transformation 44 page guide

 

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Call Her Blessed: Stacey Noll

Here I am with my beautiful mother when I was 3. By the time I was in Kindergarten, I had my own little toy piano. Then shortly after my practice time on the little pink piano, I graduated to playing on an old upright piano. I'm so thankful my mother invested and cultivated my musical talents.

 I was wondering what songs the worship leaders everywhere in all the churches were going to do for Mother's Day. So, I decided to do a little research and found, Top Christian Songs for Mothers

I listened to a song with lyrics about prayers and tears and wanted to share it with you. It's easy to play, so have a listen to Stacey Knoll sing, Call Her Blessed. I love that word, bless and indeed I count my blessings...  a beautiful family with 5 grandchildren, church family and online readers!

 CALL HER BLESSED
                     STACEY NOLL

INTRO: [C] [G] [F] - 2x's      

VERSE:
[C]You knew me in my [G]mother's womb, spoke my[F]name before[C]time
[C]You placed me in my [G]mother's arms knowing [F]I would be [C]fine
[F]She saw my first [G]step, [Em]she heard my first [Am]word
I'm [Bb]fearfully and [Am]wonderfully [G]made

VERSE:
[C]As I grew she [G]taught me to [F]follow [C]You 
[C]Showed me how to [G]love the [F]way You [C]do 
[F]Every time I [G]fell, she was [Em]there to pick me [Am]up 
She [Bb]held me close and [Am]then she let me [G]go

CHORUS:
[C]Bless the one who [Em]gave me [F]life[G]
[Am]Bless the one who [G]held me in her [D]arms
[F]Bless the one who [Em]told me that [E]Jesus loves me [Am]so
You have [Em]heard her [F]prayers, You have [Em]seen her [F]tears
[Dm]We rise and call her [C]blessed [CM7] [F] [G] [Am] [G] [F]

VERSE:
A [C]mother's love is [G]precious, so [F]faithful and [C]pure 
[C]With tenderness she [G]blesses much [F]more than we de[C]serve 
When I [F]look into her [G]eyes I be[Em]gin to rea[Am]lize 
What a [Bb]wonder her [Am]love has been [G]to me 

CHORUS:
[C]Bless the one who [Em]gave me [F]life[G]
[Am]Bless the one who [G]held me in her [D]arms
[F]Bless the one who [Em]told me that [E]Jesus loves me [Am]so
You have [Em]heard her [F]prayers, You have [Em]seen her [F]tears
We [Dm]rise and call her [Am]blessed [Em] [D] ; [Am] [G] [D] 

Bridge: 
[F]Her [Em]faith lives [E]on in [Am]us 
[Bb]We are walking [Am]miracles be[Dm]cause she followed [Eb]You [Bb]

CHORUS:
[C]Bless the one who [Em]gave me [F]life[G]
[Am]Bless the one who [G]held me in her [D]arms
[F]Bless the one who [Em]told me that [E]Jesus loves me [Am]so
You have [Em]heard her [F]prayers, You have [Em]seen her [F]tears
We[Dm]rise and call her [C]blessed 
[Dm]We rise and call her [C]blessed [CM7] [F] [G] [AM] [G] [F]

Wishing all the mother's everywhere... blessings to you, this Mother's Day! 

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"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you." B.B.King

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