The Key of "E"

I imagine you thought this lesson would help you play in the key of E major - sorry, the only thing I can tell you that helped me is to think backwards - everything is a black key except for B and E!  This lesson is about words that begin with the letter "E". 
Being a musician can leave you lonely.  It's just the nature of the occupation - you have to practice and you do this alone most of the time.  When it's time to practice with others,  it's work time and there's not much time for caring and sharing.  When you're lonely, you can become discouraged or even feel invisible.  There's not a feeling like playing or singing for the Lord with your favorite group in a full auditorium, but you will still be the last person to leave the church after late night rehearsal.  You have to be your own best cheerleader!  (I used to be a cheerleader way back when - ha!)  I also love lessons with the points with the same first letter.  This is the last lecture I teach to the Church Music Administration Class at Texas Baptist College.

"The Key of "E"..."

1.    "Endure" - II Timothy 4:5 - But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.

2.    "Encourage Yourself" - I Samuel 30:6 - And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

3.     "Excite yourself and others"  - II Corinthians 9:2 - For I know the forwardness of your mind, for which I boast of you to them of Macedonia, that Achaia was ready a year ago; and your zeal hath provoked very many.

4.     "Educate Yourself" -  Psalm 25:4,5 - Show me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 
      Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; 

5.     "Economize" - II Kings 4 - (the story of the widow at Zarephath)

6.     "Efficiency" - Exodus 4:2 - And the LORD said unto him, What is that in thine hand? And he said, A rod.

7.     "Energize" - Jeremiah 20:9 - Then I said, I will not make mention of him, nor speak any more in his name. But his word was in mine heart as a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I was weary with forbearing, and I could not stay.

8.     "Educate" - I Chronicles 25:5 - All these were the sons of Heman the king’s seer in the words of God, to lift up the horn. And God gave to Heman fourteen sons and three daughters. ⁶All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king’s order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman. ⁷So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.

9.     "Enlist" - I Chronicles 16:23 - Sing unto the LORD, all the earth; show forth from day to day his salvation. ²⁴Declare his glory among the heathen; his marvellous works among all nations.

" -    "Express Gratitude Often" - Romans 13:6 - For for this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing.  Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour. ⁸Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

" -    "Enjoy the Moment" - James 4:13 - Go to now, ye that say, To day or to morrow we will go into such a city, and continue there a year, and buy and sell, and get gain: ¹⁴Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. ¹⁵For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. 

12   "Eliminate" - Hebrews 12:1 - Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

How'd you do that?

Photo - Mrs. Amy Robinson (teacher) with Alyssa (student)

Experienced musicians have heard this..."How'd you do that?", "God gave you that talent, wish I had some!"  To tell you the truth, it used to bother me.  No matter what your instrument or musical ability, you didn't just wake up one morning able to do what you do.

Vocalists have to WORK at their skills.  Organists have to WORK  at their skills.  Pianists have to WORK at their skills.  Yes, I agree that God has given us the ability and opportunity to LEARN and for that I am very grateful.  I also believe He gave me a desire to do what He wants for me to do for His will in my life.

Would you like to be a "gifted" musician?  I'll give you a "recipe" that I know for sure works for most pianists and musicians who want to improve their skills.

1. Clarify your objective. "It's something I've always wanted to do" is too general.  "I've got to learn how to play this song for the nursing home" is a definite and purposeful goal.  "My Lord deserves the best and I'm going to learn to play for His church" is a more refined goal.
2. Listen.  You cannot rely on what is printed on a page to get the sound you want.  You have to listen to other pianists who are playing the way you want to play.  If you play just what is on the page you may have a tendency to sound like "someone put a nickel in you".  I'm not saying to change the notes, but to pay attention to phrasing, dynamics, expression, and the message of the song.  Play with a passion to get the message of the song across, not just to be accurate, loud, or fast.  Recommended: Rudy Atwood, Marilynn Ham, Shelley Hamilton, Mike Zachary, Amy Robinson, LaShannon Hyder, Alicia de la Rocha, Bradley Kirkpatrick.
3. Feel the music.  Singing does not begin in your mouth, it starts way down deep in your soul, your mind, and then your diaphragm, etc... Piano playing does not start in your fingers, wrists, or elbows, it starts in your soul, your mind, your bones, your muscles, etc... It is an all-over, all-consuming process.  Public speaking, sports, etc.. are the same way.  The best put "all" into it.  If you are stiff, heartless, and tend to be "dry", try listening to great music and doing jumping jacks along with it! Ha! Sounds dumb, but you'll catch it.  My dad used to put on "The Nutcracker" LP and watch us go! It has to be all-consuming and felt throughout your spirit, soul, and body. I Thes. 5:13.
4. Make it a spiritual activity.  Music does not belong to you, just like nature does not belong to you.  It is God's gift to us.  It is a way to express our beings.  Think of it as spiritual and you won't neglect your practice as quickly.  No "labour is in vain" in the Lord.  I want to receive a reward for my music, so I give it to the Lord at every level - practice, practice, practice, performance, and praise.  If you think of it as "vanity" you'll give it up as a sin, it is not a "vain" thing if you approach it as a spiritual activity.  Read I Chronicles 25.
5. Practice scales, minor third arpeggios, Hanon, Czerny, Mozart, Chopin, and Bach on a regular basis.  These "tools" are not the end, they are the "polishers" of technique, expression, and attack.
6. Play the hymnal from cover to cover on a regular basis.
7. Do something different in each hymn on Sunday and Wednesday.  Try at least one new "add-in", "run", or "fill-in".  If it doesn't work, oops, if it does, great!
8. Play in the dark.  Work at playing some songs "by ear".  Every pianist needs to know "Happy Birthday", "Amazing Grace", "Jesus Loves Me", kids' choruses, and "Just As I Am".  I used to turn off the lights and ask my husband to call out song titles, then I'd try to play them!  It brings back many laughable memories.
9. Buy new music.  Save your money, go to the music store and buy something to inspire you to work  harder.  If you hear someone play a song you like, go buy it and learn it yourself.  My mom would always take me to buy music we heard on Sunday and I'd go home and learn it by Wednesday!
10. Pray and depend upon the Holy Spirit.  Each time you sit at a keyboard: Thank the Lord for the opportunity, ask Him to give you strength, tell Him you're depending upon Him, and play for Him.

These points are just the start.  I hope they help a little.  Let me know if you have a suggestion or would like more of these types of pointers.