Customer Reviews

DVD- Learn To Play Gospel Piano

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This is a great video for those who want to learn the playing techniques for gospel. Most gospel online courses teach what chords to play but give you little in the way of playing them for a gospel sound. Many gospel videos give you 1-1/2 hours of how to form chords, from beginning to intermediate, and maybe 15 minutes of advanced demonstration. This doesn't help either the beginner or the advanced player.

Though the songs start out simply and a beginner could get a start with them, most of the video is for the fairly proficient player who wants to get some rhythm and licks to gospelize music. This gospel piano is much like boogie woogie piano and is a lot of fun.

The written booklets are helpful and clearly written. They just take practice.

I do wish that Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin would put out a CD of her piano music. She's great.

Ethel Caffie-Austin is a fabulous pianist and she breaks it down easily so that players new to this style can understand the how and the why. A song is presented in its simplest form first, and then in increasingly ornamented versions with alternate harmonies, so in the end, you can figure out which version you would like to make your signature version.

This set is for intermediate to advanced players, and the only criticism I have of this set is that it isn't indicated anywhere on the packaging (or in promotion that I've seen), but that doesn't detract from the 5 stars it very richly deserves. A beginning pianist would probably not be ready to play the pieces in this set, but what they hey, if you are a beginner, buy it anyway, watch it and PRACTICE like mad to get up to the level to play this. This set will INSPIRE you to get your chops together! You will need to be able to play in octaves, and to play full chords spanning an octave in each hand. It is also recommended that you be familiar with at least seventh chords.

This DVD is a little advanced for me, but it deserves its 5-star rating. If you can play a bit and are dedicated enough to stick with it, you will learn how to "gospelize" simple melodies into full arrangements. Lead sheet and by-ear players who want to learn to get that funky gospel praise sound need look no further. I don't mind chipping away at this for a few years.

Some hand independence and comfort with four-finger chords are pre-requisites to making the most of this, though you can use the DVD to learn these skills if you're patient and not afraid to practise hard. Caffie-Austin is a beautiful player and the video shows well what her talented fingers are up to. She has a wonderful voice and engaging persona too.

If you are unsure about your skills, or are just beginning, I recommend you start with something simpler like Bradley Sowash and Scott Houston's "The Next Step" before tackling this.

I've never had a how-to DVD before and I'm thrilled with this one. She makes playing gospel look easy and when you try it, you can do it! The sound and rhythm you achieve with her helpful pointrs is amazing.
Jeanie

Before beginning this DVD, I had to refresh my beginning piano skills. However, Dr. Ethel Caffie-Austin is an excellent in-depth informative instructor who creates a pleasant atmosphere for learning to play gospel music. I am progressing slowly but surely.

I purchased this 2 disc dvd set with intentions to learn "old school" gospel sound. Let me tell you, Mrs. Caffie-Austin is amazing! Her love of the piano and knowledge of the keys is just what I needed. It's like having your own personal gospel piano teacher right in your home for a fraction of the cost of an hourly lesson. I would definitely purchase another dvd from her again, if one existed.

I've listened to both dvds in this 2-dvd set. She really knows what she's doing and does a good job of demonstrating. She will introduce you to the sound and then go back and break down the elements she used to create the sound. She sticks with teaching the traditional gospel sound, including walking the bass, and using your right little finger for the melody as you invert chords. If you are already familiar with building piano chords in different keys (scales), especially the major keys of C,F,G and E flat, you should be able to follow along at whatever pace fits your skill level. By the time you become proficient at the different techniques introduced in the 2 videos, you should be able to take any gospel song's melody and run with it.

I have studied the piano for over six years now and I have taken classes for piano and have found this DVD to be extremely helpful to me as I progress into learning how to play the piano by ear. What I found most helpful was how the Gospel lessons were taught. Each song started out with first learning from the simplest point and progressed to a more advanced level. I enjoyed learning the different styles of Gospel music and did not feel overwhelmed by the lessons. Just over the past several weeks I see how I have grown and gotten better since I purchased this DVD. Thank you so much for the patience that it took to teach this lesson and how it has helped me to play. I won't give up, I will continue because I know that I can learn how to play the piano.

This dvd is true to review. It really does show one how to play in stages. Mrs. Austin is a great teacher. Thank you for the video as well as the quick delivery.

I wish you had more videos. It is hard to find good Black Gospel videos.