Being a musician is one thing.  Being a church musician is a totally different thing.  With technology it is easy to bypass some of the important skills necessary to be proficient on your instrument. 

Playing the piano, keyboard or organ in all 12 keys is a skill that sometimes gets overlooked since many modern keyboards makes that skill unnecessary with the transpose button.  Here is an opportunity to improve your overall keyboard skill set while playing Gospel music with some of the best musicians around.  Join us each month as we explore a different key and their real application in songs.

Month Key Hymn Choir Song Worship Song
         
September C Amazing Grace Never Would Have Made it - Marvin Sapp Trust in God - Elevation Worship
         
October G We've Come This Far by Faith God Will Take Care of You - Dr. Bruce Williams Because of Who You Are - Vicki Yoh'e
         
November D Blessed Assurance Holy Thou Art God - Richard Smallwood Wait on You - Maverick City Music
         
December A Silent Night Immediately - Tasha Cobbs Break Every Chain - Tasha Cobbs
         
January E At the Cross Well, Alright - Ce Ce Winans You Are Good - Israel Houghton
         
February B It is Well With My Soul Right Now Praise - Jonathan Nelson You Are Great - Juanita Bynum
         
March Gb 'Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus Without Love Love - Ce Ce Winans Come Holy Spirit - Enrique Holmes
         
April Db I Surrender All Never Forget - Hezekiah Walker Working For Me - Travis Malloy
         
May Ab Lift Every Voice and Sing Awesome God - JJ Hariston & Youthful Praise We acknowledge You - Karen Clark Sheard
         
June Eb Holy, Holy, Holy I Will Bless The Lord - Hezekiah Walker Praise is What I Do - Shekinah Glory
         
July Bb Standing on the Promises Let Us Not Be Weary - Keith Pringle I Give Myself Away - William McDowell
         
August F We'll Understand it Better By & By Come Though Almighty King by Timothy Wright Lord Prepare Me to Be a Sanctuary - West Angeles COGIC

Some things to keep in mind during preparation

  • You are not just learning songs but you are making a personal commitment to learn the inter-workings of each key on the keyboard.  While doing so, consider strengthening the foundations you have in each key.  Practice major, minor and and other alternate scales that are available to increase 
  • When learning songs be able to distinguish between the verse, chorus, bridge and the tag.  That will make it easier to communicate about each song.
  • As you get comfortable with each song, consider learning the song in the key of previous months.
  • There are many online tutorials to aid musicians to learn songs.  Although these can be helpful for a more challenging section of a song I would like to challenge you to avoid using them as much as possible.  This  program is about being mentally and physically proficient in each key and drawing from your own experience and skill as a musician.

Some things to keep in mind for Saturday mornings 

  • We begin at 10 AM so please be on time.  
  • We will be in the main Sanctuary of Restoration Temple.  Please be respectful of the building and most certainly the Main Sanctuary. 
  • There will be 3 instruments available.  Hammond organ, Yamaha piano and Roland Juno.  This will ensure we have at least 3 people on instruments at the same time. 
  • Although there will be instruments available musicians are encouraged to bring their own simple setup to maximize the number of musicians playing simultaneously.  If you are going to bring your own equipment please come early enough to set up so that we do not begin late.

Your Facilitator - Vernon J. Mobley

Vernon J. Mobley has been a church organist and Minister of Music for over 30 years.  Born in Philadelphia his father was the organist at church at New Jerusalem COGIC which was founded by his grandfather Clinton Mobley.  Though he was the drummer Vernon observed what it took to be a true church musician from his father and brother Warren who as was a musician.  College brought Vernon to the Lehigh Valley where he began playing for Community Fellowship Cathedral and Bishop Iris S. Smith for 23 years.   In 2019 Vernon became the Minister of Music for Restoration Temple and Bishop Timothy Beville.  He can be found there every Sunday morning along with his son Chris as his drummer.