ApostolicPraiseSOM

Have you ever thrown your music book? LOL!

Hopefully not - especially if you are learning off your iPad!!! Don't throw that - it costs $$$$$!

I remember when I was trying to learn to play as a new musician.

I would get so frustrated sometimes that I would just take my music book and throw it on the floor! Lord help me!

Let me remind you - if it was easy...everybody would be able to do it!!!

Learning to play takes consistency and time AND the right system.

If you have the wrong system (traditional music lessons, good musicians that are not good teachers, practicing scales, etc)...
then you may never learn how to really play.

This is where I was.

I was smart. I picked up things fast. My classical music teacher said I had potential.

Well, after 5 years of traditional classical music lessons, I still couldn't really play ONE church song!!!

I mean, I could chord it but it sounded dead and lifeless.

God has helped us over the past 20 years of teaching people how to play in church to develop "The Fastest, Easiest, Funnest Way to Learn Church Music".

So turn off Instagram, YouTube or wherever you are trying to teach yourself from and just follow the Proven System that has helped thousands of musicians learn to play in church.

Fire your classical or the secular piano teacher. Drop the university classes.

Join a movement that is actually really teaching people to learn to play in church.

Watch this Masterclass and then book a FREE 1-on-1 strategy session here. www.click.apostolicpsom.com/class

You got this!

God bless!

Bro Richard

1 week ago | [YT] | 2

ApostolicPraiseSOM

We talk a lot about getting 1% better everyday

The reason is that learning to play music is like that.

You don't practice one day and then the next day you are 10x better.

It happens slowly.
One bite-sized Building Blocks lesson at a time
One new recording to Bro Richard for encouraging feedback
One new song
One new fill
One more Monday mastermind
10 minutes of practice here, 5 minutes there

But I want to encourage you to keep pressing forward.

It's a new DAY, a new WEEK and new OPPORTUNITY for you to get better.

FORGET about the guilt of "I didn't practice like I wanted to last week".

Guess what - who cares? That week is gone.

Today and RIGHT NOW is ALL that matters.

The most consistent students (the TURTLES - LOL) are the ones that win the race of learning to play music.

So even if you feel like you are moving forward slowly, you are still moving forward.

We had a student named Laura in Building Blocks one time that was one of MOST consistent students.

She went from playing basic chords like majors and minors and a few 7ths, to being to play advanced songs like "Center of My Joy" and "Never Would Have Made It" and many more with Advanced Chords and Fills.

The way you climb a mountain is one step a time.

And remember, if you grow 1% everyday, at the end of a year, you will be 3800% better because of the effect of COMPOUNDING!!!

You got this. Just prayed for you!

God bless!

Bro Richard

P.S. Become a student with us here at www.apostolicpsom.com/membership/

P.S.S. How do you like our new Student Homeroom look? (see image)

1 week ago | [YT] | 2

ApostolicPraiseSOM

𝐓𝐰𝐨 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮

I love hearing from you guys (y'all for the South lol) - whether you are currently a member currently with us or not.

How are things going with your playing? I would love to know.

P.S. Did you know this about our student memberships?

1. If you have a question or feedback, each lesson has a comment feature at the below. You can post a comment or send me a chat on the website!

2. You can Submit Recordings directly through the website in the Student Homeroom if you are ever want to make sure that you are playing something right.

3. We have regular LIVE Q&A Calls for you to check in and get help. The registration link is in the Student Homeroom. These will help you tremendously and they are a lot of fun!

4. For additional accountability, you can email your goals to me that you are working on the first of each week. I LOVE seeing these! Or if you want to work on your own, that’s fine too!

5. If you ever need a 1-on-1 lesson, select "Book a Live Zoom Lesson" in the Student Homeroom.

6. If we are missing lessons on anything you want to learn, please let me know so we can consider adding it to the lessons or making a course!

7. We have an Apostolic Praise Supercharged program called Building Blocks. If you want to learn more, go here.

P.S.S.
If you have signup today, I will also throw in our 36 𝐂𝐡𝐨𝐫𝐝 𝐐𝐮𝐢𝐜𝐤 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐭 showing how to play each chord and WHERE to use it for free.


👉 If you want to learn more, become a student with us today at www.ApostolicPSOM.com/membership

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 0

ApostolicPraiseSOM

𝗛𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗲𝗹𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗴𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗽 𝗼𝗻 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝘆𝗶𝗻𝗴?

I know I have.

It was like this really tall mountain that I thought maybe I could climb, but I wasn't really sure how to get to the top.

I started off taking traditional, classical music lessons at a young age.

I finally realized after 3-4 years that I was never going to learn to play with those.

Sure, I could play some really cool pieces, but I had no idea what I was playing.

It was like I was reading words out loud but didn't really know what the words meant. But they sounded nice. Lol.

Then I started trying to memorize chords out of a chord book.

But I didn't really know where to put them.

Augmented, diminished and then a bunch of WEIRD ones that just sounded terrible.

I had some church song chord charts and tried to play songs off of those, but they sounded clunky and ugly - not like music.

Then about the age of 16, my uncle Lamen gave me a bass guitar.

So I started plunking around on that and they put me on for Spanish service (I learned to do the 1-5 bounce thing - lol).

But I couldn't really play.

About that time we moved to a church in Florida where they mostly played Black Gospel music.

I fell in love with the rhythm, beat and sound of it.

Problem was that I was terrible.

I watched the keyboard players left hand to know what note to play on the bass but I didn't know WHY he was playing those notes.

Half the time, I didn't know what key he was in.

They gave me a CD with some songs to learn. I would listen for hours trying to figure out the notes.

About that time, I also got some books teaching Gospel music and after practicing eight hours a day and studying and listening to music for months...FINALLY...something started to click.


I felt like I had just re-invented the WHEEL. LOL.


I got to the point where I could just listen to a song a few times and play it.


I could hear the movements, the chords, the notes, the fills - almost everything totally by ear.


I couldn't do ANY of that before.


I could ONLY hear music move up or down and sing on pitch.


Then they asked me if I could start teaching others and behold Apostolic Praise School of Music. LOL.


So, I don't know where you are at in your playing. But if I did it, I believe that you can too.


I was just a normal guy that was blessed with a lot of opportunity and parents and family who believed in me.

Now, we are taking what took me over TEN YEARS of struggling to learn, to help other musicians like yourself.

If you are ready to stop trying to reinvent the musical wheel and do things the easy way, let's learn together!

We have two amazing programs.

To learn more, go to www.apostolicpsom.com

God bless!

Bro Richard

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 6

ApostolicPraiseSOM

𝗗𝗼 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗡𝗼 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼

There is something that sets apart good musicians from everyone else.

They are willing to do what most others will NOT do!

Most people try to learn an instrument and they give up after trying for awhile.

Good musicians are different.

They are tenacious, persistent, consistent.

They don’t take NO for an answer.

If they struggle to learn something, they keep fighting.

They keep working at it until it’s second nature.

Walking bass lines? Sure its hard but just because it’s not easy yet.

Background music? They keep practicing until they figure it out.

So here’s my challenge for you this week.

Pick ONE key and use the Alphabet Soup Technique.

Just play random chords that are part of the key you want to master.

Maybe it’s Gb or Eb or just C.

But take the chords that are naturally found in that key and play around with them until it sounds good and then SEND ME your recording!

So chords in the key of C, for example are:

C major
D minor
C/E
F major
G major
A minor (or F/A)
G/B

Now preferably play all of these as more advanced chords if you know them - major chords as suspended 2 chords and minor chords as minor 7ths.

Or if you know 9ths or higher, add those in!

Can’t wait to hear it!

You got this!

Oh yeah - and never give up. Winners never quit. And neither do real musicians.

God bless,

𝗕𝗿𝗼 𝗥𝗶𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱

1 month ago | [YT] | 2

ApostolicPraiseSOM

🎹🔥 Ready to take your church playing to the next level? 🔥🎹

If you've ever wondered how experienced church musicians make their playing sound so full, smooth, and effortless, I want to invite you to a FREE live webinar where I'll pull back the curtain.

🎹 3 Secrets to Take Your Playing to the Next Level

During this live training, you'll discover:

✅ Simple practice habits that produce real results.
✅ How to choose the right chords and fills with confidence.
✅ The techniques that make your playing sound fuller and more professional.

Whether you're a beginner or you've been playing for years, you'll walk away with practical ideas you can use immediately.

📅 Friday, July 24 - 2:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
🎟️ FREE, but registration is required.

👉 Reserve your spot here: shorturl.at/Kg654

Tag a church musician or keyboard player who should join us! 🎹🙌

God bless!

Bro. Richard

#GospelPiano #ChurchMusician #ApostolicPraise #ChurchKeyboard #GospelChords #LearnPianoByEar #ChurchPianist #MusicMinistry #PianoLessons

2 months ago | [YT] | 4

ApostolicPraiseSOM

The Big Four

If you really want to level up your playing quick, do this.

Well, hold on...first you need to know the BIG FOUR.

These four chords make up probably 80%-100% of most songs.

They are the 1, 4, 5 and 6m.

Or the same chords we use to play songs like

- How Great Is Our God — Chris Tomlin
- Break Every Chain — Tasha Cobbs
- Way Maker — Sinach
- When I Shout — Eddie James
- Chain Breaker — Zach Williams
- Amazing Grace — written by John Newton
- This Place — (FPCNLR)
- The More I Seek You — written by Zach Neese
- O How I Love Jesus — written by Frederick Whitfield
- You Are Holy, O So Holy — Hillsong Worship
- Throne Room Song — People & Songs / Charity Gayle

- Blessed Be Your Name — Matt Redman
- Freedom — Eddie James
- Every Praise — Hezekiah Walker

What do these songs have in common?

They only use the 1, 4, 5 and 6m chords.

So here's how YOU are going to level up today.

Let's take one of these songs "How Great Is Our God" and learn it in all 12 keys.

BUT FIRST, you have to know all of your major and minor chords backwards and forwards.
Learn those at www.apostolicpsom.com/ap-100-piano-free/.

Next, learn how to play "How Great Is Our God" in all 12 keys at www.apostolicpsom.com/the-big-four/.

What is this going to do?
1) Teach you the 1, 4, 5 and 6m in ALL 12 keys.
2) Help your ear
3) Solidify all the major and minor chords
4) Teach you how to play it in a basic way

What will it NOT do?
1) Tell you if you are playing it right OR not
2) Push and motivate you to do it
3) Help you fix what you might be doing right
4) Give you the confidence you are playing it right
5) Tell you what fills and advance chords you could do to make it even better

To learn how to accomplish all of these things, schedule a free strategy session at www.click.apostolicpsom.com/class


#apostolicpraiseschoolofmusic #pianolessons #worship #ministry #praiseandworship #ApostolicPraise #LearnSomethingNew #worshipmusic #pianolessons

4 months ago (edited) | [YT] | 3

ApostolicPraiseSOM

The one trick that will completely transform your playing and sound


This is when you move from 7ths to 9ths.


7ths sound okay. Honestly, they sound kind of old school.


But when you add a 9th to your 7th - its like adding some homemade salsa to your taco - it just takes it up a notch!

And it's super easy because the 9 is the same as your 2.

So just take any 7th chord (providing you are playing it the RIGHT way with the 7th on the BOTTOM).

And then add the 2 or the 9 to the chord.

So Am7 (G C E with A bass) becomes Am9 (G B C E with A bass).

Listen to how much better that sounds!

C7 becomes C9. (Bb E G with C bass turns into Bb D E G with C bass)

Fmaj7 becomes Fmaj9 (E A C with F bass becomes E G A C with F bass).

Easy trick to remember this is 7 + 2 = 9.

So ANYTIME you have a 7th chord, just change it into a 9th chord (99% of the time).

You're welcome and God bless!

Bro Richard

#apostolicpraiseschoolofmusic #pianolessons #worship #ministry #praiseandworship #ApostolicPraise #LearnSomethingNew #worshipmusic #pianolessons

4 months ago | [YT] | 2

ApostolicPraiseSOM

5 Tips to Upgrade Your Playing Immediately

Are you tired of sounding boring when you play?

Here are a few tips to upgrade your sound.



FOR SLOWER WORSHIP SONGS
1) Suspended 2 chords.

Add the 2nd note of the scale to EVERY major chord.

And I mean every major chord.

For example: Change CEG (boring) to CDG or CDEG

2) Minor 7th chords.

Add the b7 note of the scale to every minor chord.

NOT on the top either! (ugh sounds terrible)

Just move your root note down 2 half steps (2 notes)

For example: Change ACE (A minor) to G C E with A bass

3) Add more rhythm.

Instead of straight 1-2-3-4 with your chords, play on the 1, the 2.5 and the 4 beats.

Sounds WAY cooler!

4) Add a rolling bass line. Play 1-5-1 in your left hand.

5) Learn the rest of your chords – 9ths, 11ths, 13ths, augmented, diminished, and many more!

There are WAY more you can use. (32 actually and major and minor chords are only 2 of those)



FOR FAST SONGS

1) Play more dominant 7ths and 9ths.

2) Learn funky passing chords

3) Add more rhythm (like above for worship songs)

4) Learn the rest of your chords.

5) Learn how to vamp.



BONUS TIP: Learn more songs.

– But if you skip to this instead of growing in your theory, your playing will sound stale over time.

– This is how people get stuck and frustrated in their playing.

If you are feeling stuck and frustrated, trying to learn let’s break you out of that!

Start by booking a strategy session with me here to see if one of our programs is a good fit for you, then watch our free masterclass.



God bless!



Bro Richard

4 months ago | [YT] | 5

ApostolicPraiseSOM

I have a new favorite music Scripture!

One of my favorite Scriptures has always been Psalm 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple."


BUT, I might have a NEW favorite Scripture about living for God and playing music. Isaiah 38:20 "The LORD was ready to save me: therefore we will sing my songs to the stringed instruments all the days of our life in the house of the LORD."


What a great verse for musicians! So many great musicians have turned away from living for God over the years to follow a dead-end road that has no true fulfillment playing worldly music, but what a blessing it is to be able to play and worship God in song and music.


That's something I want to do all the days of my life!


I have played in church for about 20 years and it has been one of my greatest joys.


But I have also played at home with my family and by myself many times and that has been JUST as much fun.


I have had times where worship or praise just broke out during a playing session! If you've never had that happen, it's pretty incredible!


One time we were going through a difficult financial period and I sat down to play at the piano.


The next thing I knew, the Spirit hit me and I started worshipping and praising God! LOL!


And I got a new job the next day. Talk about praising him in advance!


Hope this blesses you and encourages you to keep playing! Keep it fun! And make it YOUR goal to play for Him all the days of your life.



God bless,


Bro Richard


P.S. It's halfway through the week! Remember to learn something new and practice the OLD today. Use the Daily Review Routine at the top of each phase.



#apostolicpraiseschoolofmusic #MusicScripture #LiveForGod #PlayForGod #WorshipThroughMusic

5 months ago | [YT] | 16