Last weekend in Macon

Filed in News on October 29, 2009



I have been meaning to give a brief update on my last weekend with the piano seminar at Mikado Baptist Church in Macon Georgia.  While I have done seminars like this in the past, this was the biggest and longest (a full day).

First of all, a big thanks to Mikado and James Koerts for an outstanding job hosting the event.  It was done first class.  In fact, I am confident that people would have come just for the food because it was outstanding.

We had 41 pianists there ranging from teen students to teachers with advanced music degrees.  I taught three lessons on the following:

* Adding 7ths to triads.  (Understanding when to use the minor or major 7th and how to voice it into the chord.)

* How to play softly. (Ten tips such as avoiding doubling, open voicings, and minor chord substitutions.)

* Modulations. (I gave four formulas.)

The challenge in that kind of setting is that everyone brings a different level of knowledge to the class.  It is hard to keep the more advanced students interested while not going over the heads of the more inexperienced students.  There is no great answer to this problem, but I did the best I could.  Hopefully, everyone learned something.

I also taught 2 masters classes and 4 private lessons.  The masters classes are always fun.  I am amazed at the talent.  Georgia is full of very good church pianists.  Even some of the younger students are already arranging great stuff.  It is clear that piano students today are far more advanced than they have been in the past.

I am already trying to learn from this event and I hope to do many more like it.  If you were there or just have thoughts about what you would like to learn in that kind of event, please post them here or let me know.   I will probably try to work more practical topics in in the future such as congregational accompaniment and accompanying small groups.

On Sunday night, I was honored to do a concert a Mikado.  It was a great time (at least for me).

And of course, if you are interested in hosting one of these events at your church, please contact me. 


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James Koerts
10/30/2009 12:45:58 PM

Greg, Great job this weekend! I have received such good feedback. The seminar on Saturday was so much fun; everyone seemed to enjoy it. You have an ability to be informational, and yet enjoyable. We appreciated this style. The concert Sunday night was wonderful! Everything, your playing, the orchestra tracks, the accompanying videos, and your testimonies throughout made it a superb evening. We'll definitely want to have you come back!

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