Free Piano Crash Course - Lesson 1

Crash-Course Piano – LESSON 1…

I have thought about this one many times before but in having taught piano for 5 years now – I know I am not a professional piano teacher – but if you are looking for instant lessons… check this out…

Important to know where the notes are:

Find Middle C on this keyboard. Every “C” on the keyboard is found in the same position… Just to the left of the two black notes that are together. There are only 7 letters that keep running in alphabetical order right across the key board. – Try and call them out as you play them… An “octave” is from one same letter to the same letter 8 notes up or down eg… C to C…

When you are familiar with their positions we can learn scales…

Scales:

If you know your scales you can learn to form chords… So let’s start here… There are many different scales but we’re going to start off with the easiest one…

THE MAJOR SCALE:

The Major Scale has a specific pattern to it, but before I teach you the pattern take a look at the key board above. We’ll start off with the C Major Scale, so find Middle C… The very next note on the piano is a semi-tone/half note up – that note is C#/Db… If you go back to middle C and then go to “B” from there, you have taken half a tone/step back… To take a whole tone/step forward from C you’d half to add two halves… which means a whole tone forward would put you on “D” and if you want to take a whole step/tone back from “C” you’d end up on A#/Bb. Make sense? Alright, let’s move on…

Here is the pattern for the MAJOR SCALES: You try complete the rest…

MAJOR SCALE	Root / Starting Note	Whole Step/ tone	Whole Step/ tone	Half Step/ semi-tone	Whole Step/ tone	Whole Step/ tone	Whole Step/ tone	Half Step/ semi-tone
C Major	C	D	E	F	G	A	B	C
D Major	D	E	F#	G	A	B	C#	D
E Major	E
F Major	F
G Major	G
A Major	A
B Major	B

These are your basic major scales… Major scales can start on a Bb for example… The same pattern will be used to calculate the Bb MAJOR SCALE as the pattern of steps/tones we used above… If you are keen on mastering those – go for it! J You will need them… Try some starting on G# and Eb to see the pattern remains the same…

Practise your scales by playing them using 3 fingers first: thumb(1), index finger(2) and middle finger(3) and then tucking your thumb under the index finger to play the next note… complete the scale with the rest of your fingers…

eg… C MAJOR SCALE:

The only MAJOR Scale your fingers may be placed differently in the F MAJOR SCALE… There your numbers run to 4:

RH:  1, 2, 3, 4, tuck thumb under 1, 2, 3, 4

Our Next lesson Will Cover working our Major and minor Chords… J

Getting back to Jesus...

Just in this past week I was chatting to a friend of mine while in Toronto. We were just having a conversation about keeping our relationship with God passionate and it came down to one thing in my mind... When you feel like you are million miles away from God and don’t know how to get back to Him, just start thanking Him... Thank Him for everything you can think of... Thank Him for your hands, your sight, your ability to hear music... your health, your family, your job... even the sunrise and sunset.

Psalm 95:2... Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!

There is just something about a thankful attitude that lightens even the toughest of seasons...

Thank HIM... thank Him with all your heart... make a list of everything you are thankful for and allow yourself to be reminded how good He truly is. Before you know it, realising His goodness and faithfulness, will transform your approach to life...

Take it to the Lord in Prayer

I have been reading a lot of books lately. Karen Kingsbury Novels to be exact… and there is something that really stood out to me in all these books and it’s that in every matter at hand was taken to God in Prayer.

Prayer is a lot more powerful than we think it is and it is more vital for us to pray than we realize… Although these are novels and not teaching books (which is what I usually read) I realized one thing… talking to God about every concern no matter how big or small is often a way to “off-load” of our cares in a way that stirs our faith... I mean… who can handle our anxieties better than the God who knows us by name – the one who has great plans for our Lives. (Jer 29:11)

I know we all know that we are to take all matters than concern us to God… but in an instant society we look to the people who can give us an answer… It’s easy to forget that prayer is an option when you can just tap on a neighbour’s shoulder…  

Let me encourage you today, that whatever your concerns are, take it sincerely to God who loves you and loves to take care of you… lay everything at His feet and wait for His still small voice to encourage you and lead you… He is the best friend you can have in the midst of a terrible storm. He is faithful and will take care of all your concerns and as you lay those burdens at his feet, allow his peace that passes all understanding to take over.

Philippians 4:6-7

New International Version (NIV)

⁶ Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Letting Go...

A couple years back God was taking me through a rather lonely season – moving things around – re-shuffling people in and out of my life and just separating myself to Him like He has done so many times before. I will never forget that season. I have been through break-ups and been rejected to my face - but not even the pain of those break-ups or rejections could compare to how my heart hurt in that season.  I cried so much!

My mom fetched me from church after a National Woman’s Day Meeting – and she could see I was hurting… When she asked me what was wrong I explained to her how I felt and what had happened to me that day and I ended off by saying “It hurts so much mama – I just want to die and go to heaven”.

Perhaps the best is to die! But not physically! Dying to ourselves means we gain Christ… and His Love which we so desperately long for… Sometimes we think we have died to ourselves – but these seasons clearly reveal that there is still so much of “you” in you! He’ll remove those around us who serve as support systems –to show us how much we truly need Him and how we’ve learned to rely on others’ love, their approval and encouragement in our lives. He’ll open our eyes to see the truth about what truly is going on in our hearts and in that break down the things that we’ve built in our lives that are of ourselves and not of Him – and that right there is the painful part.

Maybe you are holding on so tight to what you want and refuse to let go and trust that He is for you! He will give you the desires of your heart if you just trust Him and allow Him to make it happen! When Jesus comes to fetch us to spend eternity with Him, chasing after the things of this earth will hold no value at all… the days, weeks, months and years we spend chasing after earthly things in desperation to belong and neglecting the one true love would have been spent in vain…

In pursuing Christ – (HIS KINGDOM) you will have all the things you desire “added unto you”. But seek first… and only then…

Matthew 6:33

King James Version (KJV)

 ³³But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

I dare you today to pursue Him and trust Him to love you the way He desires to…  Let go of YOU being in control and LET GOD be GOD in your life!

The Heart of a Servant

When I was at school I always used to love run errands for teachers… Carrying messages and cleaning the classroom was my pleasure. I may have been the quietest person around but my heart longed to help my teachers and they kept asking me to assist them. I was so excited when I got awarded a certificate in front of the whole school for “helpfulness”.

(My surname was still "van Tonder" at that time - it was before my dad adopted my brother and I)

I can see how even today I am still the same. When I hear something needs to be taken care of I drop what I am doing to take care of it – no matter what the cost. I know who I am… I love to serve. Give me the vision and I will run with it!

I think we can sometimes forget to serve one another in life. Perhaps we think we have become more important than others or that our function in the workplace or ministry is more valuable than serving those who work alongside us. Imagine if I told the Worship leader we cannot do a song in “that” key just because it’s not printed on paper? How does my lack of service make that person’s task a pleasure!? I would hate to make a name for myself – “the one who is never willing to go the extra mile” or “the one to whom it’s always an issue to change some chords”.

I love seeing those I serve happy… especially when I made their vision come to pass like they imagined in their mind.

I grew up listening to Psalty Kids Praise – they sang a song on one of their albums and the words went, “If you want to be great in God’s Kingdom, learn to be a servant of all”. That song still sticks with me and is a good reminder every now and again when I lose sight of what’s important… We tend to think those who give the vision and run the team are the important ones but they are also in service... service to Christ!

Jesus was and still is an amazing servant to us. Every time we open our mouths and ask him for help – He is always there – never turning his back or giving us attitude because he is tired of answering our prayers or meeting our needs… His love is pure and because His love is pure – His service is pure!

Philippians 2:5-7

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵Let this same attitude and purpose and [humble] mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus: [Let Him be your example in humility:]

    ⁶Who, although being essentially one with God and in the form of God [^[a]possessing the fullness of the attributes which make God God], did not ^[b]think this equality with God was a thing to be eagerly grasped ^[c]or retained,

    ⁷But stripped Himself [of all privileges and ^[d]rightful dignity], so as to assume the guise of a servant (slave), in that He became like men and was born a human being.  

So let me encourage you… Do not get weary in doing good – for at the appointed time you will reap a great harvest – God see’s your efforts and more so your heart – serve Him with all your might and He will bless you with even more… and if you never get the Praise or Thanks for what you do and it annoys or "hurts" you - perhaps you should take time out to ask yourself if your service is truly "to serve" or to self-promote! Our motives determine our rewards in eternity - not our actions...

Social Pancakes

My cooking and baking definitely needs some work… there are two things I know how to make well and I have a couple friends who can vouch for that… Chicken Curry and Pancakes…

Two weeks ago it rained and I was craving “rainy-weather pancakes”… So I thought I’d share my recipe with you… you can only imagine the amazing fillings you can come up with… from fresh strawberries and cream to chocolate mousse filling, banana and cinnamon and caramel sauce, savoury fillings such as mince, beef strips and yes… sounds gross but I love it – bully-beef friend with some onion and tomato…

So here goes… The pancake recipe:

Ingredients
1½ cups flour (375ml)
2 eggs
600ml milk
pinch of salt

Method
Mix all the ingredients until bubbles form on the top of the mixture.  Then simply pour into a non-stick pan on medium heat. Flip the pancake once bubbles have formed on the surface.

Just like you have a Fondue evening with chocolates and sweeties and all other nice things this is a great way to socialize with a group of friends… get them to bring different fillings and enjoy a great evening together…

Hebrew 10:25 NIV:

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another--and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Stretching Your FAITH... to see the WORLD

I went to Sydney Australia in 2004 for a Hillsong Conference. The travel bug bit me so hard I went back twice after that (in 2006 and 2008) had two stopovers in Singapore, then had four trips to the UK and one to Europe (Amsterdam) between 2006 and 2011. Out of all of these trips I have only paid for maybe 3. The rest were a blessing from my Daddy God… I see faith like this… I ask and expect you to do. Sometimes easier said than done especially when you don’t see results…

Sydney Aus 2008



Singapore 2008



Sentosa Island - Singapore - with Katherine



London 2006



Lancaster (+- 4hrs North of Surrey, London) 2008



London 2011

But that’s where I have to ask… What have you done so far? Have you saved? Have you got a Passport or VISA for your destination? Have you set a date? And have you ask God to help you out? Have you done research so your eyes can take it in and your mind can draw pictures of you standing there – experiencing THAT destination… It has to be THAT real! Like Ps. Anthony always says… SEE IT, SAY IT, SEIZE IT!

Step out in faith and set your vision… sow seeds into other’s holidays or whatever God lays on your heart. It may even be so small that it hardly makes a difference – just remember… from a small seed comes a great harvest… R200 can turn into R2000… I can definitely testify to that!

In 2004 (when I was just 21) I gave R500 into Janet Govender’s dream to go with to OZ… It was just the two of us going and at that time she was only 16. I got a call a week later from the Travel Agent telling us that we had to have R5500 for the flights to her ASAP. A week later a lady and her husband who attend our church, heard about my trip and told me God told them to write me a cheque for that exact amount…

Here is a classic example of: PREPARATION MEETS OPPORTUNITY…

The last trip to Australia in 2008 I had it on my heart to go to Hillsong Conference again… So I got my VISA and registered myself for conference. The VISA cost at that time was around R1500 (handling fees of travel agent included) and R900+ for Hillsong registration. Finances for this trip just never came through. I really trusted God and waited on Him… two months prior to the trip I just thought – maybe I am not meant to go this year – so I let it go. I got a call from Kathy (who was organizing the trip) on a Friday Afternoon telling me that one of the group members never got her VISA approved and I am the only person with a VISA and Hillsong Registration – I better pack because the flight leaves tomorrow! I was blessed with an entire trip and I honestly pray God blesses her richly for this! I got to see the world again – this time with a nice big group of friends and God shared so much with me while I was there…

If He did it for me – He can do it for you! Step out and trust God for those dreams to come to pass – he loves you and would love to show you the world that He created for you to live in!

Luke 17:5-6

Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁵The apostles said to the Lord, Increase our faith (that trust and confidence that spring from our belief in God).

    ⁶And the Lord answered, If you had faith (trust and confidence in God) even [so small] like a grain of mustard seed, you could say to this mulberry tree, Be pulled up by the roots, and be planted in the sea, and it would obey you.