Customer Reviews

Gospel Piano: Hal Leonard Keyboard Style Series

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was spurred to write this review in response to another review that indciated disappointment with this book. I have found it to be an outstanding presentation of typical gospel sound, much more direct and 'authentic' than other books I have tried.
I was disappointed with other books of being either too heavy on theory without really creating a gospel sound, or not presenting enough theory/practice that I could expand on my own. I think this book really achieves a nearly ideal balance on this account. And as someone who has worked through a lot of Hal Leonard Style Series, I think this is one of the very best books in that series in its presentation of a keyboard style.
Gospel keyboard as a whole has wandered into neo-soul and borrows from r'n'b and funk esp. in the open worship backup. This book doesn't cover the open worship pad work. The songs, examples and exercises are based on modern choir work that are cited throughout and as such the right hand work is based primarily on the vocal 3 part harmony. Just so there's some clarification of what is presented here.

I've bought many piano instruction books over the years (mostly blues and jazz) and this is the best I've ever found. What I like best is that the musical tracks and lessons really sound like music (and gospel or worship music!), not lifeless drills. The author clearly writes from inside the genre -- he's not somebody with no feel for the music teaching a few simple elements to beginners. Most of the blues books, for example, will teach you elements of the style but never really sound like very good blues. Here, the musical tracks are really lovely. They efficiently illustrate a single musical idea but also are beautiful and expressive -- prayerful,joyful,rollicking, triumphant, meditative, sad, moving etc.

The book moves swiftly but comprehensively through a series of simple musical ideas -- many of which I haven't seen expressed anywhere else. The lessons are not belabored and they are well organized. Each isolated idea is relatively simple and bite-size but usually very fruitful. If this were the whole book it would still be worth the prize. But the real bonus is the quality of the written musical examples with their audio tracks which illustrate each idea. They provide a vocabulary of nice rhythmic motifs, bass parts, melodic themes, grooves and styles which are very musical. The way the tracks are performed provides additional great instruction in gospel phrasing, dynamics, feel & timing etc.

I'm an intermediate player and although the book is only 80 pages, there's a lot of material here. I've had the book about three weeks and I'm still exploring and working through the ideas in the first ten pages after the first chapter of recap explanatory material.

I hope the author keeps going writing additional books.

Fantastic book! Great tool to get that authentic Gospel sound. I really enjoyed the wealth of harmonic and rhythmic devices presented, as well as the full tunes at the end that incorporated those devices into a variety of styles and grooves. Simple and easy to understand theory leads to tangible results and improvement at every level. Very accessible and at the same time authentic, with a high level of musical integrity, this book is a must for any musician interested in Gospel music! *****!

While some of the stylistic parts of this book are better covered elsewhere, the main advantage of this book is it is designed to help you hear what you want to play (assuming basic jazz eartraining already). By taking couples for different scales, you quickly are able to here their function and it allows you to hear chords like an extended fully diminished chord with ease. If you can hear what you want to play, you will be able to adjust to whatever style of gospel fits you.

It will take me a long time to learn the material in this book. Keyboards are my second instrument, so I should have this material about half way through the next decade.

I've just finished listening to the included CD, while following along with the written text. The recorded examples are the best I've ever heard on a Keyboard Styles CD. The author states in the intro that the book is intended for the advanced player with good sight reading skills. I play by ear. So it is great to have these exciting musical phrases transcribed. The examples have lots of chord changes per measure played against highly syncopated left hand bass lines, mostly three notes in the right hand with the bass note completing the full chord voicing. I agree with the one reviewer who said the examples were not Ray Charles sounding. The sound is more pop oriented. And there is a boat load of theory crammed into this book, like when to use diminished chords, chord couplings and such. I play mostly blues, so the changes presented in this book are brand new for me. I don't expect to be able to play the examples note for note, but the book presents a whole new palette of musical ideas that will enhance my personal style. I'm really excited about getting into it. I may even go to church!

The examples in this book give you the tools needed to start playing in a gospel feel right out of the box. Overall, I would tell anyone interested in playing gospel style to START with this book/CD. After that check out more advanced offerings. Pamela Davis, for one.

good book. You 'll learn about the theory behind the chords and harmony and then have the music score as an example right on the same or nearby page.

Gospel Piano is the best piano style book I have come across. Easy to read, clearly presented and great examples. The best in the Whole Hal Leonard Style Series.

What a good book, it helped me with things that I thought I've already learn. Easy format and layout so that anyone could understand.