Sie sind auf Seite 1von 48

Improving Musicianship | Inspiring Talent

Product
Review:
Yamaha Motif XF8

The Redemption of
Kirk Martin

MAR/APR 2011
Volume 16, Issue 2 Selective Hearing
03 Brandon Heath • Josh Wilson • Francesca Battistelli • Scott Holt
Shawn McDonald • Amos Lee • The Civil Wars • Black Dub
74470 95962
5 Cool Things I Saw @ NAMM • Couples in Ministry
0 5
US $5.95 Can $6.95
© Ramirez Advertising 2010

Rip It Up.
Pick Up On The Original Sound Of Rock&Roll.
Crank It Up With A Legendary Amp Line & No.1 Pickup
And Let History Repeat Itself.
Dean Markley.com e 800 800 1008 Dean MarkleyAmps.com e 888 993 5091
The revolutionary new Yamaha DSR-Series takes
portable active loudspeakers to the extreme limits
of their potential. Designed through the
application of advanced Yamaha digital
and acoustic technologies perfected over
several decades, DSR provides a listening
experience that redefines high definition
sound reinforcement. Don’t take our word
for it...visit your favorite Yamaha Live Sound dealer for an extremely impressive demo.

All-new 1300W (LF 850W, HF 450W)* high-power Class-D amps,


1300w with PFC switching mode power supply, deliver SPL up to 138dB

48-bitDSP
High-power DSP and discrete 24-bit AD and DA converters result
in superior S/N ratio and dynamic range

Digital FIR-X tuning provides the smoothest possible


frequency and phase response

Multi-band dynamic processing maintains consistent


D-CONTOUR clarity at both high and low output levels

Fail-Safe Extensive 3-way DSP protection ensures fail-safe


Protection operation of all vital internal components

Learn more about DSR speakers at www.4wrd.it/dsrcm2


ROCKHARDER

“I have always preferred GHS strings


due to their amazing, brilliant tone
and superior, long-lasting quality.”

Andy Trick
The Devil Wears Prada
800.388.4447 ghsstrings.com GHS Corp. 2813 Wilbur Ave. Battle Creek, MI 49037 USA

Zombie ep
available now everywhere
tdwpband.com

ax Crace
photo - M

THe STrInG experTS


Features
8 Bassic Communication
by Norm Stockton
CONTENTS
34 The Fretboard Less Traveled...
Intro to Solo Bass Arranging
by Rich Severson
(Part 4)
Inversions
10 Guitar Workshop
Odds and Ends… by John Standefer
It’s Easter Time
36 Ask Joe
by Joe Riggio
46 A Christian Musician’s Legacy
I can’t believe it is already the Mar/Apr. issue. It seems like we just got 12 Drumming Dynamics
by Bryan Duncan
back from the Winter NAMM Show in January. Speaking of which, the by David Owens
one word that kept popping up on the convention floor (everyone A YouTube Vortex
from large companies, down to small ones like ours) was “optimism”.
If this is any kind of precursor to the economy bouncing back, then
14 Vocal Coach’s Corner
by Roger Beale
Interviews
it really is a reason to be a bit more optimistic as many retailers were The Piano/Keyboard 20 Benny Prasad
placing orders to restock their stores with new gear. Utilization The Most Well Traveled Musician
16 Product Review You’ve Never Heard Of
This month our friend Doyle Dykes releases his book “The Lights of
Marfa” (Moody Publishing). I was honored to get an advance copy, by Ed Kerr
and I really loved it! It reads just like Doyle is sitting in your living Yamaha Motif XF8
room telling you stories of his travels. Good stuff. I even got to write 18 Show Us Your Groove
a quote for it. by Rick Cua
Couples in Ministry: Double
Also this month we have our first CMS Mini-Summit. This is a one-day Blessings or Double
conference, March 26th in Tacoma, WA. It will feature the new,artful Trouble, Part 1
worship band, City Harmonic, and our good friend Brian Doerksen 24 Guitar From A2Z
with his band. It’s going to be a blast! by Roger Zimish
Open Chord Voicing
In April, Judy and I head out for the Dallas Guitar Show where we
26 Selective Hearing
will be joined by Mitch Bohannon, (writer and reviewer for our
magazines). We will have an exhibit booth there for this three-day by Shawn McLaughlin
show and we are sponsored by G7th Capos, and of course we’ll Brandon Heath
have lots of our “Love One Woman… Many Guitars” t-shirts for Josh Wilson
sale there. It is a large guitar show with several guitar personalities Francesca Battistelli
playing during the event. Come by and say “hi” to us if you can. We Scott Holt 40 Kirk Martin
hand out our magazines and try to be who we are in the midst of Shawn McDonald The Redemption of Kirk Martin
this mainstream event. What is really cool is that the producer of it Amos Lee
is a fellow believer and they even have a small church service for the The Civil Wars
exhibitors on Sunday morning before it opens to the public. Black Dub
30 5 Cool Things I Saw @
Lastly in our odds and ends segment, we are blessed to be launching
NAMM
a new facet to what we do in training and encouraging musicians in
their calling. We are joining forces with Hal Leonard Publishing to by Bruce Adolph
produce a line of books! These will be written by some of your favorite
columnists from both Worship Musician and Christian Musician
magazines, as well as some
other talented folks that you

Christian Musician
just have to meet. These will
be available in printed and
eBook versions (rejoice all
you iPad-ians). We see this
as another way we can help 4227 S. Meridian, Suite C PMB #275, Puyallup Washington 98373
improve musicianship and Phone: 253.445.1973 Fax: 253.655.5001
inspire talent – all to the Email: bruce@christianmusician.com
glory of God! Website: www.christianmusician.com
Editor & President: Bruce Adolph
Thank you for what you do Vice President: Judy Adolph, judy@christianmusician.com
by supporting our efforts – Customer Service: Brian Felix, brian@christianmusiciansummit.com
we truly cannot do it without Street Team: Mike Adolph, Jesse Hill & Winston
you, our readers… Design & Layout: Matt Kees Proof: Toddie Downs, Kevin Wilber
Accounting: Debi Davis
Lord Bless Ya! Advertising Sales: bruce@christianmusician.com
Bruce & Judy w/ Brian Felix & Ricky Skaggs Published by the Adolph Agency Inc.
Bruce & Judy

CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM MARCH/APRIL 2011 7


Intro to Solo Bass Arranging (Part 4)
Welcome back to the woodshed! For this time, the basic chord motion for the subjective aspects to some of the musical
those of you just joining us, we’ve been verse is I-V. The first bar has an E Major choices involved. Once we dive into playing
on a journey over the last few installments chord played with the 5th as the lowest note. the piece, I’ll explain why I made certain
of Bassic Communication exploring the The B Major chord in the second measure is choices. As you begin your own solo bass
fundamentals of solo arranging for bass. technically a B5 chord (or “power chord”), in arranging endeavors, I definitely encourage
While this material obviously goes beyond that it contains just the root, 5th and octave. you to evaluate and make your own artistic
the normal scope of our role in a typical The E Major chord on beat 3 returns to the decisions, as well!
ensemble, the benefits to our overall chord form in the first measure. Blessings & see you next time…
musicianship are profound (I encourage That progression repeats in bars 3 and 4,
you to check out our earlier installments (Adapted from curriculum in the Grooving
with the exception that the B Major chord is for Heaven instructional DVDs)
for more on this). We’ve been evaluating voiced as a B6 chord in the fourth measure
melody, harmony and rhythm involved in to accommodate the melody (more to Norm Stockton is
a solo bass arrangement of the traditional come!). a bassist/clinician/
Christmas tune, Angels We Have Heard On solo artist based in
High (Gloria). As always, the “8va” indicates that the notes Orange County, CA.
are played an octave higher than written. I He spends much
I know I indicated last issue that we’d be always prefer this to dealing with a bunch of of his time touring
getting into the actual execution of the ledger lines (as all of you keyboardists and and recording with
piece this time, but upon further thought, wind players out there scoff loudly!). :^) worship artist Lincoln
I felt it would be helpful to quickly look at Brewster, but his 2nd
the chord voicings and forms around which Anyway, it’s pretty straightforward stuff, solo project (“Tea
the melody will be played. We’ll isolate the but important to have a solid understanding In The Typhoon”)
verse section this time. of this before combining chords and melody has been receiving
for our actual arrangement. widespread acclaim
As you might recall from previous from media around the world. Visit Norm
installments as well as the provided chart As I’ve mentioned before, there are
at www.normstockton.com and on Facebook
& Twitter for much bass-related info and fun.
While there, be sure to check out his blog (The
Bassic Communication GrooveSpot) and register for his e-newsletter (the
groove update) for tips, interviews, clinic invites,
Intro to Solo Bass Arranging (Part 4) exclusive discount prices, and more.

Solo Bass Arranging


Chord voicings around which melody was played
Verse Section Arr. Norm Stockton
"Angels We Have Heard on High" (Trad. Christmas Carol)


       
E B E E B6 E
   
      
  

 
 
  
13 16 13 13 13
14 16 14 14 13 14
14 14 14 14 14 14

© 2009 Stocktones Music

8 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


Stud io mic in your guitar?

ANTHEM
TM


TRU MIC TECHNOLOGY

"I have only dreamed that someday technology would allow this quality of sound
outside the walls of my recording studio." Louis Drapp - Recording Engineer
Experience for yourself at www.lrbaggs.com/anthem
It’s Easter Time
The whole premise of the Christian faith and
our hope of a future in heaven is derived from
the resurrection of Jesus from the dead. Our
celebration at Easter time is built around the
fact that He lives! And I don’t know of a song
that expresses this wonderful season better
than Gloria Gaither’s “Because He Lives”.
And even though there’s nothing wrong with
the way the song was originally written, you
probably know by now that I like to put a little
different twist to my arrangements.
This song is normally done as a sort of choir
anthem with the big build at the chorus. I
thought you might enjoy a more intimate
arrangement for a nice change this Easter.
The chords are pretty jazzy and the fingerings
are very specific so you’ll need to work on
them for awhile yourself. Then you can hand
the chart out to the rest of the band for a
rehearsal.
Rhythmically, it’s set to a bossa nova beat
(or similar). While holding a chord in your
left hand, the right hand plucks a ‘bass, chord,
bass, chord, chord’ pattern as indicated in the
first measure of the chart below. An odd catch
to this is that you need to change chords just
before the barline instead of after it like usual.
I think it would really help if you could hear
this played in order to get the idea. So… I’ve
set up a special page at my website where
you can download a quick little audio file of
me playing this arrangement. The chords are
the same for the verse and the chorus, by the
way. I hope you have fun with this and enjoy
Have you seen John’s free ‘Praise
the new twist to this great song at Easter time.
Guitar Lessons’ online yet? Go
Simply go to www.johnstandefer.com/cm to to CCLI TV and start the weekly
hear what I’ve recorded for you. And while lessons today. And make sure to
you’re there, cruise around and check out the look over John’s calendar at www.
rest of the site! See you next time. praiseguitar.com to find an event
- John near you where you can hear
him live.

10 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


“I said to the Lord, give me a job to do and

I will always tell people about you.”


Doyle Dykes

Doyle Dykes

978-0-8024-0037-6, $10.99

One of the world’s leading fingerstyle guitarists & master


story teller Doyle Dykes shares his encounters with
an amazing God.
watch Doyle!
standard data rates may apply

The Lights of Marfa includes links to hear Doyle’s new and unreleased
song “Lights of Marfa” and many other hits such as “White Rose for Heidi.”

use your smartphone


to access the QR code
A YouTube Vortex
I have a student who is always using at first and get it in your “muscle memory”
David currently tours with
YouTube as a resource for developing his before you speed it up.
drumming abilities. He asked me to figure Fernando Ortega and has
out a lick Jojo Mayer is doing in this solo. The best way to listen to this is to record it worked with Sara Groves, Bebo
and put it in Audacity (a free download) so Norman, Crystal Lewis, Cheri
Go to You Tube and type in “Jojo Mayer in you can slow it down. It makes it much easier Keaggy, Tommy Walker, Paul
Cegled 26 Apr. 2008 Drum Solo HD 4” and to pick apart. Baloche among others. He has
you will see a wonderful solo by Jojo.
It’s amazing how much great stuff you can played for Billy and Franklin Graham Crusades, Harvest
This transcription starts at 1:43 into the find on YouTube. It is easy to spend hours Crusades, Maranatha Worship Leader Workshops and
video. I only transcribed a few bars but looking at educational material there. I call for over 2 years he was the house drummer for the
there is a wealth of information in this small it a YouTube vortex when I get sucked into it Los Angeles production of The Lion King. His home
part of the solo. The 16th note triplet lick my for an hour or so. church is Plymouth Church in Whittier, California. www.
student was interested in is halfway through DaveOwensDrums.com
the 3rd bar. I hope this inspires you to have an
educational YouTube vortex of your own.
I put it at the end as an exercise. It is written
in 3\4 and it repeats twice. Play it very slowly Blessings, David

   
      
       
 
       
 3  3 3 3 3  3
         
            
3      
               
     
    
      
    
                
32nd note single stroke roll
 
        
8th note bass drum

   
3 3 3 3 3 3

      
          

12 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


W ith our new free iPad app,
“front-of-house” can be
anywhere in your church! Up to
monitor mix levels, panning and
processing. Adjust the graphic
EQs, well…graphically.
ten praise band musicians can Combine StudioLive Remote
control their own monitor mixes1. with Capture (2-click multitrack
Introducing StudioLive recording program), VSL, plus
Remote, our free iPad app that Studio One Artist DAW, and your
works with any PreSonus digital church has the most versatile,
mixer2. It gives you hands-on affordable live mixing/recording
control of channel levels, mutes, solution ever.
panning, EQ and more for multi- Get the whole story on
ple channels at once. Click for a our web site. And then
closeup Fat Channel view. Tweak get a StudioLive.
1 The 24.4.2 provides ten aux mixes; the 16.4.2 give you six. 2 Requires a laptop with wireless, running Virtual StudioLive (VSL), and connected to the StudioLive via FireWire.
©2011 PreSonus Audio Electronics, all rights reserved. StudioLive is a trademark of PreSonus Audio Electronics. Studio One is a trademark of PreSonus Software, Ltd. iPad is a registered trademark of Apple, Inc.

StudioLive
Remote.
Available
January

13th
2011 at
the Apple
App Store.

Baton Rouge USA • www.presonus.com


The Piano/Keyboard Utilization
I have run into hundreds of people who let think you “get it”. Repeat this until it is “really” If there is more than one chord per measure,
me know that they used to play the piano. easy and then move on. This is step one. play them. Then put it all together and sing,
They also indicate that they regret giving it Now let’s look at some chords. A chord is you are now on your way to becoming a
up and wish they could play now. If you were quite simply two or more notes played at piano player.
to ask them why they quit they usually say, “I the same time. A vertical arrangement of the Now after reading this you may be wondering
did not like to practice”. The next question notes is called a “voicing”. The basic voicing why a vocal coach is recommending singers
is what were they practicing and why didn’t of any particular chord is called the “root to learn some basic piano. It comes down
they like it. It has been my observation that position”. This basic “root position” usually to three things. Number one: it allows the
the music they were practicing was too hard means stacking the chord tones in intervals singer to understand the harmonic structure
and the music style was not something they of a 3rd from the root. So for C major these of a song. This will add another dimension
could relate too. notes are C, E, and G. to one’s singing. You will understand the
The reason I am discussing playing the Practicing chords in a root position is a good song completely, not just the words and
piano is that if a singer is looking for a way way to become familiar with chords on the a single note. You become a singer and a
to accompany themselves, there is a way to keyboard. One way to practice is to play the musician. Your communication skills are
develop this skill fairly quickly. In days not root position chord in both hands. The left enhanced and you will move the audience to
years. I have seen people develop this skill hand will be an octave below middle C and a deeper emotional response. Second: you
quickly while in high school, college, grad your right hand will be one octave higher will understand harmony in a new manner
school, and now in my own vocal teaching above middle C. and if you are interested in developing
studio. If one person can do something, your improvisational skills, this is the way
another one can do it. Now you know and I know that there are to get started. Third: if your show, song
many types and flavors of chords available list, or set needs a change of pace, use the
To do this you must quickly develop piano to singers. Some of these you have heard
skills where you play music instead of just keyboard. If you perform with a band have
called major, minor, diminished, augmented, them take a break and sing a song by yourself
practice. Focus on things that are easy. You major 7th, minor 7th, and minor 7th flat five to
need to play songs that you want to sing and accompanying yourself on the keyboard.
mention just a few. Relax; there is something This makes you look versatile and is a big
then practice everything in small parts that like 100,000 different combinations with
are manageable. emotional change for your audience.
which to choose from.
To start the process of playing the piano, Developing keyboard skills is a complete
Instead of struggling trying to learn one-by- win, win situation for a singer. Now go sing
one must find the notes on the keyboard. If one what the notes of a chord are, people
you have not mastered this skill it’s easy to do. well!
have developed some books that have
It is just a matter of recognizing the patterns keyboard diagrams for every chord type.
of the black keys. They are grouped as two It is like a picture book of the chords on a
notes then three notes. Then observe this keyboard. Just go to a music store and have Roger Beale is one of the
pattern in different parts of the keyboard. them order it for you. Get the book that has nation’s foremost vocal coaches.
Start looking for notes by orienting yourself the chords that look like a keyboard. He presently works with
to middle C. Middle C is in the middle of the professional singers in all areas
piano under the brand name of the piano. I Now go back to your fake book or chord
of musical performance. His
expect that most of you can name the pitches chart and sing the melody with just the left teaching and coaching facility,
on a keyboard. But the skill that really needs hand playing the root of the chord. You The Voice House, is involved
to be developed is finding these notes in are now accompanying yourself at the in the management and care of
different octaves. keyboard. But wait there’s more. You can the professional voice. Many
now add a chord in your right hand and of his students have won
So let’s try out this skill by finding the bass play the bass note in your left hand and
notes in a song. Grab a fake book or chord prestigious vocal competitions
sing the song over that chord structure. You and scholarships. In addition, he has worked with
chart that has chord symbols above the staff. are now accompanying yourself like a real Grammy and Dove award winners and nominees.
Now find the bass notes from the chord piano player. You are using two hands while He also offers vocal clinics and seminars, as well as
symbol for your left hand. Don’t worry singing. I told you you could do it. assistance in recording sessions. Roger is founder
about rhythm and time. Just find the note. and host of the Christian Singers Workshop
If you see an A play an A with your left hand. To summarize a bit. You will need to find
(www.christiansingersworkshop.com), dedicated to
Play the base notes in the two octaves below a song you like, obtain a chord chart, a lead the teaching of contemporary and commercial vocal
middle C. It’s that easy. Your bass part is now sheet, or a fake book which I mentioned techniques.
established. earlier (a collection of chord charts in one Roger can be contacted at: The Voice House, PO Box
book). Then play your song with the root of 87136, College Park, GA 30337, (404) 822-5097
Now take the song and sing the melody as the chord (one note) in your left hand and
you play the base notes of the chord. Repeat e-mail: voicehouse@mindspring.com,
one chord per measure with your right hand. web site: www.thevoicehouse.com.
this until it becomes easy. Fight the urge to
14 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM
You’re only a step away
from perfect vocal tone

With your talent and TC-Helicon vocal effects,


you can take complete control of your vocal
sound with ease. Simply plug in your mic and get
those chart-topping vocal sounds you listen to
everyday – live – with our VoiceTone Singles line
of affordable effect pedals for singers.

It’s your voice. Use it.

www.voicetonesingles.com

EQ & Dynamics | HardTune | Doubling | Reverb


PRODUCT REVIEW

Yamaha Motif XF8


by Ed Kerr

It’s happening again. I can’t control myself. immersive chords are produced
I tell myself it’ll only be 5 minutes. It turns experience to the same way. You suggest
into 20. Then it’s an hour. My wife has been play this S6 sampled the chords, the arpeggiators
warned. She’s learned to expect it. We call grand piano. If you’ve do the rest. Truly astounding. Use
my home studio a black hole at times like felt like a lid was on your the faders and you can scrutinize the
this. No one’s sure when I’ll come out. The expressive potential as a killer drum part you’re hearing. Use the
cause is a big box that UPS dropped at my pianist because of the limits faders and let an arpeggiated synth part
home a few days ago, the very happy day of sampled grand pianos, the be all that you use of the four sounds. The
when Yamaha’s new Motif XF8 keyboard was lid is gone. You’ll love the S6. variety of styles contained in the library of
delivered. The sonic scope of the XF8 is difficult to performances here is staggering. Like I say,
I played the XF8 last Fall on tour with Paul summarize. The string sounds are very count on spending lots of time exploring the
Baloche, Kathryn Scott and Brian Doerksen convincing and feature multi-samples that library and playing. Lots of playing. ‘Til your
as part of Integrity Music’s seminars4worship allow you to play with great expression. arms hurt playing.
and was impressed then. But this is different. Internal voices can be brought out as Spend some time playing the Motif
No rehearsals now, no tearing down after you play. The sound of bows on strings is performances and you’ll find yourself
an event. I can finally dig deep into the undeniable as you strike keys more forcefully rearranging familiar songs and bringing
instrument, scrutinize the sounds and see in the lower register. Again, the weighted new freshness to what you contribute as a
what’s new here. The list of new features is a action helps you exploit the dynamics built keyboard player. Spend some time playing
long one. Here are some bullet points from into the great samples. the S6 grand piano and you could realize
Yamaha’s website: With well over a thousand voices at your very soon that you forgot you’re playing an
• Comprehensive high sound quality, disposal, you’ll need lots of time to listen electronic keyboard rather than a real grand
including an enormous 741MB of through them all. And you’ll want paper and piano. This instrument can remind you why
waveforms a pen on hand to note your favorites. Your it is you love playing keyboard and take you
• An additional 128 voices and 8 drums list will be long. Mine already is after just a to musical places you never thought were
kits, for a total of 1,353 high-quality few hours. possible.
voices
• Reproduction of the unique, natural, After listing your favorites from the
warm sounds of vintage instruments extensive voice library, tap the “perform”
through VCM effects button and you’ll begin to get an even
• 384 types of performances based greater sense of what the XF8 could bring
on approximately 7800 types of to your worship music. Built into the XF
arpeggiators keyboard are 7800 types of arpeggiators.
• improvement of usability thanks to the Start listening through the banks of patches
use of a new GUI in the performance mode and this is when
• Cubase AI – a DAW software application the odds increase that you won’t see your
from Steinberg family for a while. It is mind-boggling to hear
• Scalability through standard-equipped AND play the variety of sounds and effects
USB and Ethernet and the FW16E and textures you’ll find here.
option In the performance mode, 4 distinct sounds
Many of you are like me in that, while are accessible at once. For years I’ve used the
impressed by these and other tech specs performance mode in my live playing setup
of a keyboard, your first question might be so that I can easily fade in and out between
“How’s the piano sound?” Well, the answer the four sounds of my choosing, typically
has two letters. S6. Though there are many grand piano, pad, organ and Rhodes. By
acoustic piano sounds resident in the XF8, using the faders, these four sounds can
I’ll be gravitating toward the S6. Yamaha easily be layered as well, without any sort of
has sampled their exquisite S6 grand piano, cut off in the sound as you change sounds.
and the resulting sound is stunning. I’d been So helpful in live worship.
satisfied with grand piano sounds in the But performances that use arpeggiators
previous models of the Motif, but this S6 take you way beyond what four basic
sound achieves a new level of realism. The sounds can provide. Each of the four sounds
hammer action of the weighted keyboard can trigger arpeggiations to result in super-
helps you achieve incredible levels of sophisticated, rich textures. Bass parts will be www.yamaha.com
dynamics, from the softest pianissimo to a realized based on the chords your voicings MSRP $4,039.99
string-rattled fortissimo. It truly is an amazing, suggest. Strumming Spanish guitars or power

16 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


All Genuine Cowboy All Genuine Mahogany
Don Edwards 50th Anniversary Commemorative
Cowboy Singer Model

2011 NAMM Editors Choice

©2011 SANTA CRUZ GUITAR COMPANY

Handmade, Handed Down.

santacruzguitar.com - 831.425.0999
Couples In Ministry: Double
Blessing or Double Trouble
Part 1 - by Rick & Diana Cua
the end all, be all, but a tool to gain greater DON’T BE TERRITORIAL
understanding. And no one test tells it all. So Always remember, you’re a team, not flying
as you choose which test to use, remember solo. There will be times when responsibility
it’s not the sum of who you are. that is usually yours will need to be taken
KEEP YOUR PRIORITIES STRAIGHT care of by the other. Or, you may think you
Not long ago Diana and I had the privilege God has prioritized what is important and can do better in a certain area, but its not
of teaching a class on Couples In Ministry at in what order. He comes first. In Luke 10:27 your responsibility. It happens both ways.
the Christian Musician Summit in Redmond, Jesus says “You shall love the Lord your God Whatever you do don’t turn into Smeagol
Washington. Judging by the turnout, and the with all your heart and with all your soul, the Gollum from Lord of the Rings crying,
questions we were asked, we realized that and with all your strength, and with all your “precious, my precious”.
there was much interest in this topic. With mind, and your neighbor as yourself.”
 Jesus ALWAYS HAVE YOUR SPOUSE’S BACK
Bruce’s invitation we decided to do it for the is quoting Deut 6:5. God really means what Don’t throw your spouse under the bus.
magazine, in two parts. Here’s Part 1: He says. So the Lord God comes first. In Not only is it not a nice place to be, but
fact, isn’t that why you are doing what you you don’t want to be thrown under the bus
are doing; to give glory to God, to walk in either.
Before we talk about some challenges and obedience to His calling for your life, and to
guiding principles related to this topic here be an instrument to advance the Kingdom There is power in agreement. Ecc 4:9-12
are some of the wonderful benefits of couples of God. says “two are better than one because they
working together in ministry. First, you will have a good return for their labor.” How
have a lot of time together. For most of us, Your second priority is your spouse. much more is this true for the two who are
our work/ministry takes us away from home Husbands love your wives as Christ loves the married!
and many times from our spouses and family. church. Wives be subject to your husbands
as to the Lord. (Eph 5:22) Love one another. Working together requires trust. Trust that
Working together we have the opportunity
Ministry never comes before your marriage. you will do your part, trust that the other
to share many experiences while gaining
If it does, there will be a high price to pay. will do their part, and trust that God will do
many mutual memories. We also get to share
Your third priority is your children, who are His part. FYI: God always does His part, so
a common vision and work together toward
gifts from God. it’s really on you two. When you trust each
the same goal. It is very rewarding. OK…here
other, then you have peace of mind and
we go… THEN, it’s ministry. If you do not live in peace of heart. You will get much further
TAKE A PERSONALITY TEST God’s order, then you are out of order and down the road of ministry together than
your life and your work will suffer for it in alone.
One of the best things couples can do some way, shape or form.
before starting to work together is to take a We are imperfect human beings living in
personality test. I’m sure you both know what These priorities are all worked out as the a fallen world. We will mess up! Know it,
your personality is and that of your husband motive of your hearts, being in agreement remember it, and make a plan to deal with it.
or wife. But taking the test may dig out as a couple and as a family.
In the next issue we will continue with more
something you didn’t know about yourself Have a statement of purpose for your thoughts on how to make working together
or your spouse. Taking the time to answer ministry. This helps to keep you on track. wonderful!
questions about yourself makes you take a
Everything you do in ministry should
good hard look, which we all need from time
revert back to this mission
to time.
statement. If you don’t have
As we mature, the things we thought of as a one, work on it together.
weakness may actually be strength when seen Keep it simple and make
from a different perspective. sure it covers what you both
Something happens when you look at believe you are called to.
things on paper. The results can give you a You will use it for years to
springboard to discuss and understand each come. It may need tweaking
other’s strengths and weaknesses. Then when from time to time based on
you are working together you are not likely what new revelation God is
to expect your spouse to be responsible for giving you. And don’t fret
something where he/she is the weakest. You if it changes….Proverbs
both will find greater productivity with less 29:18 says “Where there
friction. That does not come by just taking the is no vision, the people
test but by taking the results of the test and perish…” Some translations
unpacking it together. say, “Without revelation, or
without prophetic vision,
Also, keep in mind a personality test is not the people perish.

18 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


The Next Generation Motif XF
Since 2001, the Motif Music Production Synthesizers have been the best sounding, top selling and
most requested music workstations on the market. The next generation XF builds on the heritage of
Motif, providing new features and groundbreaking Flash memory expansion capabilities that will set
the standard for keyboard workstations for years to come.

KARMA Motif Software


Yamaha and Karma-Lab announce the development and release of KARMA Motif Software
for PC and Mac. This new entry in the renowned developer’s line of software applications
brings the award-winning and patented KARMA algorithmic music technology to the
Yamaha Motif XS and Yamaha Motif XF platforms.

Wireless Motif XS OS and iPad apps to play, tweak, mix and edit your Motif XF remotely
®

New Large Format Flash Libraries

Detailed Motif XF information

www.4wrd.it/mxfcm
©2011 Yamaha Corporation of America. All rights reserved

Play & Perform Create & Produce Customize & Make it Your Own Connect & Expand
When I first met Benny Prasad I was at our Christian Musician Summit
Conference in Buffalo, NY. Benny was friends with Phil Keaggy
and he had politely asked me if it was OK for him to stop by
and pay a visit to Phil while he was in the area. I asked Phil
and he replied,”Have you ever seen Benny play his special
guitar?” I replied, “Nope, I’m sorry. I have never heard of the
guy”. Phil wanted to see him, so sure enough later that day
this small statured Indian looking man can up and introduced
himself to me. He had a humble spirit about him and he was very
courteous. I checked out his guitar too, wow, it was wild. He had cut holes
in his guitar and had implanted small bongo like drums into the guitar’s top. What I
carry with me though from that encounter is Benny’s friendly smile. Read on about this
remarkable “musicianary”.

CM: First, how did you come to know useless I still need you. I can transform your system was failing, and I started to develop
the Lord in India? That seems rare in life and make you a New Creation.” I heeded rheumatoid arthritis. Today, although these
itself. the call and asked Jesus to come into my life, physical ailments still are a challenge, God’s
I was born in a Christian family, but going to even though I had nothing to offer other grace has been more than sufficient for me
church was only a tradition. I grew up going than my broken and shameful life. That’s to face them, and He has sustained me each
to Sunday school and church meetings. when I really started to walk a Christian Life.    day, for His power has been made perfect in
Part of the Indian Culture was that, being CM: You had some serious health my weakness.
the first born in the family, I had to try and challenges when you were younger. Tell My desire to travel was never my plan. In
live up to my father’s expectations. My Dad us how that has affected you, and how it fact, due to being a failure academically, I
was an aerospace scientist and I failed all has impacted your desire to travel and was told that I would never fly. It was in 2002
his expectations, and very soon I became share your music and your story. that God gave me the vision to travel to
the shame and curse of my family. At 16 I was born with asthma, and when I was 2 every nation and share His love through my
years old, feeling hopeless and depressed, years old I was given the wrong medication Testimony and Music. I heeded the call, and
I contemplated committing suicide. During and ended up taking high dosages of He has provided everything for me to make
that time I attended a Christian Youth Cortisone steroids for 14 years. At age 16 it through.
Retreat and on the second day I heard the I found out that due to the steroids, 60% of Yes, health concerns have restricted a bit of
voice of Jesus saying, “Even though you feel my lungs had been damaged. My immune my travels and music ministry, but honestly,

20 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


God’s grace is more than enough for me I wanted to play the guitar at the age of best guitarists in my Bible Seminary.
to face each day. In fact, I still remember in 15, but after the first day of lessons the In 1999 when I was doing my School of
Feb. 2002 when I did my first International guitar teacher told me not to come to class Music in Missions at the YWAM (Youth With
concert tour in Latvia. The temperature anymore as I had no musical talents at all. I A Mission) in New Mexico, Tommy Coomes
was -20.2 degrees Fahrenheit, and I was could not sing to the right tune or play to the came and blessed me with a brand new
scheduled to do 22 concerts in 2 weeks and right beat. When I was 19 years old, while Taylor Guitar, which was my first new guitar
travel 1864 miles. I had to use 3 different studying in the Bible Seminary I picked up that I ever had. I’ve been so grateful to God
drivers and 3 translators as they all fell sick an old, warped, string-less guitar. I did not for Tommy believing in me and investing
due to the rigorous schedule. And yet, have enough money to buy guitar strings as into my life.
despite me being the one with serious my savings those days was $0.40 a month. So
physical ailments, I stayed healthy through I waited for guitarists to break their strings In 2004 I was invited to perform at the
this journey and God sustained me. All glory and I collected the broken strings and tied Athens Olympic Games for the official
to Jesus! them together and put them on the guitar. welcoming of the South African Athletes and
With 1 sheet of guitar chords from the Delegates and also at the Cultural stages. I
CM:
 When did you start playing guitar? was strictly told that I could never share my
And how did the inset drums and added songbook “Scripture In Song” I practiced
songs and chords every day for about 7 faith. That really saddened me and I really
harp strings develop as a part of your wanted to share my journey of life and my
playing style?
 hours and in 2 months God transformed my
musical abilities and I became one of the walk with Jesus to the world. So I prayed to

CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM MARCH/APRIL 2011 21


(Africa) came and gave me two 50 cent CM:
Tell us about being a Christian and
coins and said, “This is for your ministry”. seeing firsthand persecution in your
On Nov. 6, 2008 after I finished the concert travels.

for a poor community in Belize, they took For security reasons I cannot share too
up an offering and they blessed me with many details. 40% of my travels take me
$912 .
On Nov. 22, 2009 I was ministering into dangerous and persecuted zones. I’ve
at a small country church in Kentucky learned that “arrogance” and “ignorance”
called “Big Bone Baptist Church”. No one can cause a lot of trouble. I’ve learned to be
knew me. In my sermon I mentioned that wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove. I’m
I have no debts and that Jesus provides fully aware that part of being a Musicianary
all my needs and that the Lord even gave could mean laying down my life as a martyr.
me an extra $5000 for my 2010 travels. In fact, every year I inform my parents and
Soon after my message Pastor Mike Jones my church about my plans to enter and exit
came up and told the congregation that these countries, and if they don’t hear from
Jesus to help me to design a guitar that the he felt led by God to take up an offering me by a certain date, then it means I’m in
world had never seen before. God gave me for me. He asked the congregation to pray prison or killed. I’ve seen my close friends
the idea to put mini-bongos in my guitar and if they felt led by God they could come killed in the mission field, sometimes days
and it became the world’s first Bongo Guitar. and place the offering on the table. No one before or after I’ve been there. I really salute
I called it a BENTAR. People were attracted came prepared for this, but God knew it their passion for the lost, even to the point
to come and have a look at the guitar and in was going to happen. At lunch time Pastor of knowing that their life is in danger.
turn, when they asked me questions, I had Mike came to me and said, “Benny, in my 32
the opportunity to share my testimony back years of ministry I’ve never seen something I remember a week before I arrived in
to them. like this.” He gave me the offering. It was Kabul (Afghanistan) the Indian Embassy
$32,348.41. was bombed and 40 people were killed
In 2006 I was invited to perform on the
including the Indian Consulate General. I was
Cultural stages at the FIFA World Cup in I’ve learned to live a simple and content life in Tajikistan, and the Deputy Ambassador
Germany. I had designed a 54 String Guitar as an artist. True happiness and contentment of India in Tajikistan came up to me and
and that’s where the harp concept came does not come from having a house, car, pleaded with me not to go to Kabul as there
together. But it was not a practical guitar for business-class travels, expensive restaurants, was no Embassy to take care of me if I was
my kind of travels and performances. So in fancy cruises, etc. But it comes from living in danger. I told him that it was very clear
2007 when I was invited to perform for the a content life with what God has given us that the Lord had called me to go to Kabul
Opening Ceremony of the World Military and being faithful and grateful with the little for such a time as this. Only the sick need
Games, I designed a 20 String Bongo- things in life. I’ve learned to make money a doctor. What’s the point of going to a
Harp Guitar which has really served all my my slave and not my master. I stay with host country when everything is going smoothly?
purposes and conditions well. families and not in hotels, and in turn I’ve The best time to share love, peace and
CM: How did you fund your travels? saved a lot of money and was able to use it forgiveness was when Kabul was going
Can you give us some examples of how for better reasons and causes. through turmoil. So I flew to Kabul and had
the Lord has met your needs?
 For example, instead of spending $1000 on a wonderful time and even met up with the
The funding part has been one the key the hotel for my stay in Beirut, I slept in the Afghan Minister of Culture and was able to
questions that the world is asking me. I’m a studio of a host family and was able to give share my story and music.
missionary with YWAM and I’ve learned to that $1000 to a 26 year old American Girl In all these travels, concerts, and teachings,
“Live by Faith”. I’m grateful to Karen Lafferty who was dying of cancer. 

I know this might the greatest joy I have is not performing
who has been my mentor and role model in not be practical, but this is the reality of my music, but sharing the story of the
terms of being a “Musicianary”. life – 
In 2009 I traveled outside India for 244 transformation that Jesus did in my life and
days – 50 countries, 7 continents including the Hope and Peace that we find in Christ.


When God called me to be a musician and Antarctica and did over 300 concerts. My
a missionary, finances was one of the first expenses outside India were – Tickets CM: You have a unique way to fight
things I thought of. In my country, India, most for Travel - $26,179, Visa’s - $3936, and loneliness when you are in a foreign
of the time a musician is a symbol of being Personal Expenses - $528 (Taxi-$128, Food- country... please tell us about it.
financially broke and also of instability. God $139, Internet-$9, Phone-$19, Hotel-$59, The biggest challenge for any traveler is
assured me that He would be my provider. Miscellaneous-$174). I’m called to live the
I’m so glad that I can tell the world that I Continued on page 32
life of Musicianary and not a Superstar.   

have never charged for any of my concerts.
Every country I’ve been to I paid cash for
my plane tickets (of course Jesus being the
provider). Even my CD’s are available on any
amount of donation. I’ve taken these steps
only because God told me to do so. I have
never been in debt in all my life and Jesus
has been a faithful provider. I’ve learned to
live a simple life. My expenses are based on
my needs and not on income or wants.
For example – (I have never asked for
money or shared my needs to anyone, It’s
God who directs giving)
On Feb. 27, 2009
a 6 year old boy from Equatorial Guinea

22 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


Chris Tomlin
and Collings Guitars

Chris Tomlin and his 1999 Collings OM 42 SB

Serious Guitars | www.CollingsGuitars.com | (1) -


Open Chord Voicing
Many modern praise and worship bands to ring out. In some of the chords, the low keeping the chords in simple root position
have at least two or more guitarists, one E and A strings will be left open along with names to not complicate things. You can also
on acoustic and the other on electric. This the high E and or B strings. I’m keeping the try adding the root bass note to each of the
gives a nice balance of sound and structure chords in simple root position names to not chords as well.
for the music. The electric guitar can use a complicate things for this lesson. Example #2: The chord forms in examples
little distortion along with the Edge U2 echo Example #1: This chord progression is 2 and 3 are used in the song “Hosanna” from
vibe, and the acoustic guitarist can cover similar to the song “I Can Sing of Your Love Hillsong United. The root notes are all found
everything from full-out open chord driving Forever.” The chords we are using are open on the A string. As in example #2, let the
rhythm to light finger style parts. In this lesson, E major shapes and one minor shape. The high E and B strings ring out where applied.
let’s look at some popular and not so popular chords move up the neck. As you play each In Example #3, notice that the bass notes
open chord voicings that will work primarily chord, leave the high E and B strings open precede the chord forms. Guitarist Dave
on acoustic, but play on the electric as well. so they ring out, and leave the low E string Matthews uses this technique as well. The last
The basis of most of these chord voicings are open as well. The second chord, F#m7 /E, is measure has a long chord slide from the B 2nd
triads with the high E and B strings left open also known as F#m7 (add 4) /E. Again, I’m fret to the E 7th fret.
Examples 4, 5 and 6: Chord
forms are found in the song “I Will
Search” from Israel Houghton.
Example #4 is a less-is-more
approach. There is less movement in
between the first three chords, and
your third finger stays on the same
note (B) as a pivot point. In example
#5, the E to E Maj 7 is an easy one
note move. Example #6 is moving
major triads up the neck.
You may already be playing these
songs in your church band and may
or may not be familiar with these
chord voicings. My goal here is to
help inspire you with the sound of
the open chords so that a creative
flow from GOD will start in you to
create a new song and enhance
spontaneous worship, public or
private. See you next time. Blessings.

Roger is an award
winning guitarist
from the “Songwriter
Showcase of
America” Roger is
available for private
lessons and at The
Covenant School of
the Arts in Lakeland Fl. Endorses Greg
Bennett Design Guitars by Samick, G&L
Guitars, BBE Sound and PedalTrain Pedal
Boards. Email: rogerzimish@yahoo.com,
www.rogerzimish.com

24 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


© Ramirez Advertising 2011

Praise The Lord &


Pass The Ammunition.
The Re-Issued Dream Maker amplifiers are on line and coming at you strong.
The acclaimed revived line, rev’d up by legends like Eric Clapton, Alex Lifeson & Bo Diddley
is guaranteed to put the muscle back into your music.
Amplifiers you can swear by… not at.
The DM30RC is perfect for warm, full frequency sound and features a special design 10"speaker. The front panel gives you total control over your tone, with a Clean Volume Control, Drive Gain
Control, Bass, Middle, Mid-Sweep, Treble, Reverb & Master Volume. Includes MP3 input & a 1/4" headphone jack for quiet playing. Also available in 8"-15W and 12"-60W versions. The 30 & 60
wattt versions include Chorus & Speed controls. www.DeanMarkleyAmps.com e 1 888 993 5091 Give us a call if you have trouble finding Dean Markley Amplifiers & we’ll take care of it for you.
selective hearing by Shawn McLaughlin
We have an interesting set of artists to review
this issue. We will look at four major Christian airplay and the inevitable label desire for co-written by producer and ace tunesmith,
label artists, each of whom could be labeled the radio-friendly material that sells enough units Ian Eskelin, who also pairs up with the singer
“great white hope” of Christian retail and radio to continue making records. As a result of these on “Motion of Mercy,” an observation of how
for 2011, as well as several releases from artists circumstances, Leaving Eden is not the artistic mercy is often best seen as a cycle – it is best
traditionally associated with the mainstream success some crave, but it is hardly an abject received when freely given to others. This track
music world, who have released spiritually aware failure either. Heath is still a purveyor of truth is followed by the contagious “Emily,” a soulful
albums that bear more than a passing influence that can give comfort and hope to even the duet with Dave Barnes that offers the comforting
of biblically-based themes. Add a few indie most jaded listener and his brand of mature, news of Christ to a girl who has gone through
artists, and this constitutes a nice smorgasbord adult pop is fresh enough to improve the tenor a particularly trying time. Battistelli is largely
with which to start the first half of 2011 (though of most Christian radio stations nowadays. And concerned with encouraging others through her
a few of the albums were released in late 2010). that is something to take note of for sure. writing, whether drawn from real life experience,
(“Hundred More Years,” “Angel by Your Side”)
See You or the more universal circumstances of the
Josh Wilson previously mentioned tracks. Eskelin frames
Leaving Eden Francesca’s typically emotion-laden vocals with
Brandon Heath Christian/Sparrow
strong, adult pop arrangements that skimp a bit
Reunion/Provident Next up is See You, folk- on the piano-fueled pop that was so winning on
We begin with Leaving pop artist Josh Wilson’s the debut. It seems like an effort to answer the
Eden, the eagerly second full length and criticisms that the debut record sounded too
awaited follow-up to third overall disc on much like Sara Barelleis (which I kind of liked).
Brandon Heath’s break- the EMI Christian/Sparrow imprint. The most Still, the occasionally over-produced pop-rock
out 2009 Reunion/ noticeable strength of this album is Wilson’s on Hundred More Years sounds too much like
Provident release, incredible facility with the acoustic guitar; Mercy Me, Casting Crowns and other stalwarts
What If We, which included the seemingly that talent is brought to the forefront with the of the Christian radio waves. Like the previous
omnipresent radio single, “Give Me Your Eyes.” beautiful instrumental take on the classic hymn two releases, the need to sell records somewhat
The new record is an unqualified success from “It Is Well” as well as the beautiful acoustic- compromises what could be a first-rate album,
a commercial standpoint, already charting with orchestral worship track “Sing It” that opens but the strong talents of the artist (oy, that voice!)
the infectious single, “Your Love,” a statement of and closes (in a reprise) the disc. Also showing largely transcend the occasional concession.
encouragement and comfort that hits just the some originality is the jaunty, acoustic “Shine On
right spot for the Christian radio crowd. The Us,” a lovely folk-pop rambler that also houses
some inventive instrumental arrangements with Kudzu
title track is also a sure-fire hit with its anthemic Scott Holt
quality and a striking similarity in method to exotic percussion and light orchestral elements.
Elsewhere, “Know By Now” and “Always Only Gracenote Records
“Give Me Your Eyes.” Both songs feature an
observer’s commentary on the falsehoods and You” are heavy on bouncy pop ala Jason Mraz Without much room
failures of a worldview without Christ as its and John Mayer, with melodies that those two for a history lesson,
anchor. In fact, the drum programming and light- haven’t shown the capacity to write as of yet. I’ll just say that Scott
electronic, mid-tempo, adult pop of these two The title cut utilizes a winning piano figure while Holt is a southern boy
songs is largely echoed throughout the whole telling a story that, thankfully, asks questions who, at 19 years of age,
project, giving it a consistency of sound that its without offering easy answers to the problems became the second guitarist for blues legend
predecessor lacked. However, that is somewhat that can plague humankind. These high points Buddy Guy. After ten years on the road with
to the disc’s detriment artistically, since What If are, unfortunately, juxtaposed with overly Guy, Holt formed his own band and started
We was very eclectic and showed off Heath’s produced, guitar-pop that features gigantic making records. This is his fourth album, and
strengths as a writer of songs with melodic choruses and speaks in broad language that boy, is it a doozey! While definitely influenced
ingenuity and creative imagery. Truth be told, leaves little to the imagination. The elements of by his blues background, this is anything but
the computerized bleeps and drum machines the album that work, work exceedingly well, and a blues record. Country, folk, jazz, Southern
on Leaving Eden become monotonous after a the parts that don’t can be skipped over with pop, soul, R&B, and Minnesota funk ala Prince
while. one button push on your music player of choice. and The Time (especially on “That Girl”) are all
portions of Holt’s unique brew. I hear elements
The organic arrangements and more esoteric of Atlanta Rhythm Section, Dire Straits, Toto,
lyricism of “It’s Alright,” “As Long As I’m Here,” Hundred More Years
Francesca Battistelli Steely Dan, The Eagles, The Stylistics and many
and the disc highlight, “Only Water,” give the other American stalwarts, yet Holt is a talent in
disc a hint of depth that would not be there Fervent/Word
his own right. He essays an elemental, sensual
otherwise. Francesca Battistelli is the brand of Southern pop-rock that highlights his
“And it washes over me, like a single river’s next big label hopeful songwriting ability just as much as his other-
stone, changes everything, but has no power on (Fervent/Word) with her worldly guitar playing. This dude is a MONSTER
its own, it’s only water.” All ballads, these songs highly anticipated second guitar player and it says a lot about his taste as
seem placed in the mix to give the album some album, Hundred More an arranger that his songs are memorable for
variety, but end up being the strongest element Years. Starting off with the ukulele-fueled track, more than just his axe slinging. While not overtly
of the disc, sounding far more original in light “This Is the Stuff,” Battistelli ruminates on all the spiritual, Holt says that each song was written
of the album’s homogenized sound elsewhere. circumstances – good and bad – that God uses to in a state of prayer and they are best seen as
Listeners who were taken with the creativity draw us closer to Him. The song is quite different warnings of the emptiness a life lived in search
shown on the past disc need to realize that from the bouncy piano pop of Battistelli’s debut, of pleasure and things of the world. While not
the huge popularity of “Give Me Your Eyes” but it is highly contagious, quite effective, and everyone’s cup of tea, Kudzu will find a place
comes with certain expectations regarding also a tad more subtle than a large portion of in the collections of those who are fans of great
the disc. Of no small coincidence, the track was
26 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM
American music as well as anyone who wants Mission Bell
to see an example of how great guitar playing Amos Lee
can be used in service of equally great songs, Blue Note Records
without overwhelming the end result. Trying to find change in the old mundane
Everything I do just feels the same Largely known as a
Closer Spending my life out in the desert folk-influenced artist
Shawn McDonald Been gone so long, feels like forever with a soul singer’s
Sparrow Records heart, Amos Lee comes
“Closer” actually does have a very arresting forth with a personal,
Shawn McDonald hook, and is the sure-fire hit on the record, but spiritually-tinged project that tells tales of love
releases his newest it is songs like the spare, funky opening track and loss, the search for truth and the need for
Sparrow Records long- “Better Way,” that encourages leaving the past in forgiveness. In the person of producer Joey
player, Closer, and the past, with its beguiling slide guitar accents Burns (of the indie alt country band, Calexico),
manages to effectively and insistent groove. Another standout is the Lee finds an empathetic friend who lives in Lee’s
find that elusive balance hip-hop/folk amalgam “Eyes Forward,” another comfort zone. Comfort zone doesn’t mean a
between commercial rhythmic feast (with hypnotic keyboard and fine limited range, mind you. Mixing the acoustic
accessibility and artistic harmonica work). McDonald has always been an approach of folk music with the gospel-tinged
reach that the previous three artists didn’t alchemist of the highest order and shows this passion of soul gives an artist plenty of room to
quite achieve. While McDonald is not fluent in gift off with “Control,” in which he mixes delicate operate, especially when his moves are as deft
the purely melodic hooks of Wilson et al, he finger-picked guitar, sampled percussion, as Amos Lee’s. He can pull out a country waltz
manages to build inventive soundscapes that expertly arranged strings and a fervent lead on “Windows Rolled Down” and “Clear Blue
are heavy on snaky rhythms and exquisitely vocal to intoxicating effect, adding layers as Eyes,” do some classic Philly call-and-response
arranged strings, as well as subtle electronic the song progresses from spare beginnings. on “Flower,” shamble through the old-timey
textures and hip-hop tricks. He also pours a Strings can be heard all over Closer, and while softshoe of “Cup of Sorrow,” then go all Stevie
lot of sweat and blood into the lyrics – largely that can often raise up a red flag on a Christian Wonder for the soulful tango “Hello Again.”
about the need to stay close to God – written pop record, McDonald uses them as an accent, Ever the moving target, he can inject social
while he was going through a brutal divorce not as means to an end. After the devastating commentary on songs like “Violin,” “Out of the
with his wife. What other less gifted lyricists say “Control,” McDonald keeps it simple with the Cold,” or “Behind Me Now,” then explore love
with large brushstrokes, McDonald says far more achingly simple campfire folk of “Rise,” the and loss on songs like “Stay” and “Learned a Lot,”
evocatively with impressionistic prose. Take perfect young adult worship song if ever there and finally raise a heartfelt spiritual cry on “Jesus”
these couplets from the title cut and note how was one. Thoroughly engaging and endlessly or “Cup of Sorrow.” While Lee has, heretofore,
a less direct approach can sometimes unlock creative, Closer is most remarkable for taking been marginalized to a fairly small niche as an
emotional responses that beating one over the difficult, deeply personal ideas and making Americana or folk artist, Mission Bell certainly

SHUBB
head can never evoke. them accessible to the masses, a trick that takes bears witness to the fact that his talents are more
some awfully huge chops. McDonald, obviously, than ready for a much larger audience.
Looking for the color on a shade of gray has them in spades.
Looking for the love in a drop of rain

info@shubb.com
www.shubb.com
707-843-4068
The best capo for intonation for the past 30 years
is still the best today!
Like your fingertip...
Most capos use a material to press the
strings that is too hard. It bends the
string over the fret, stretching it sharp.
The thicker the string, especially wound
strings, the more drastic the effect.

We worked with a laboratory to scientifi-


cally formulate a special, custom rubber
material that behaves just like the flesh of
your fingertip. It allows the string to sink
into the rubber just enough for it to relax,
and not get stretched across the fret.

Result: the strings are


NOT STRETCHED OUT OF TUNE!
learn more at
www.shubb.com/bestcapo

CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM MARCH/APRIL 2011 27


Barton Hollow with tears and angelic grace, while John Paul’s are definitely worth your time.
The Civil Wars voice is more terrestrial, earthy and is perfectly This album sees Lanois team up with his long-
Sensibility Music complemented by just his acoustic guitar. favored rhythm section of New Orleans bassist
A master thesis in the The band’s name evokes the image of trying Daryl Johnson and drummer Brian Blade. New
less-is-more ethos, to find a pocket of safe ground in the midst to the equation are the vocals of Trixie Whitley.
Barton Hollow is the of a minefield and is largely a metaphor for Kicking off with the dark, menacing rumble of
debut studio long-player relationships. Most of the songs explore that “Love Lives,” Black Dub weaves its way through
for The Civil Wars, a dichotomy with appropriate poetic charm. moody styles. “Last Time” is funk-infused with a
minimalist duo consisting of John Paul White Unbelievably realized for a debut, Barton grungy guitar line. The blues serve as the basis
and Joy Williams. White hails from Florence, Hollow is certainly bound to inhabit many a for “Surely,” while “Nomad” boasts a smooth
Alabama and Joy Williams, originally from Santa “Best Of” list by the end of 2011. This record is R&B flow. Everyone’s souls are lifted with the
Cruz, California, now resides in East Nashville. a must own. As a bonus, there is a provocative spiritual rejoice of “Canaan.” Lanois’ work with
She is no stranger to Christian audiences, but re-working of The Jackson 5’s “I Want You expansive sonics comes into play as well. “Ring
boy, has she matured in the years since her Back,” as well as a cover of the Leonard Cohen the Alarm” combines gritty vocals with a near
last Christian market release. Surprisingly, this song, “Dance Me to the End of Love.” frenzied orchestral arrangement. His own guitar
beautiful disc is produced by Charlie Peacock, solo on “Slow Baby” whisks you away, with a
who is not noted for restraint in most of his Black Dub Santana-esque aura to it. What the album really
production work. But here he wisely gets Black Dub serves to do, though, is introduce music fans to
out of the way, adding just the right accents Jive Records the impressive pipes of Whitley. The daughter
with keys, various stringed instruments, and Trip hop, down tempo, of the late Chris Whitley, Trixie sets herself
a proper amount of atmosphere. The overall dub reggae, gospel, apart with deep, confident, powerful vocals that
effect provides substantial drama, whether Memphis soul, and early- provide the wrenching emotion for this album.
the subject is the complications of love as in ’60s surf instrumentals In the end, Lanois gives us a strong album top to
the stunning “Poison and Wine” or something collide gloriously in bottom. What may prove to be more important
darker as heard in the haunting Appalachian Black Dub, the latest chapter in Daniel Lanois’ in the long run though is his introduction of one
groove of the title track, a study in betrayal and amazing musical odyssey. Daniel Lanois needs of the most vibrant voices to
redemption, both physical and spiritual. Let me no introduction to anyone. He is arguably the come along in some time.
just say that Williams’ and White’s chemistry is leading record producer in the world, having
so provocative, it’s almost obscene. The vocal worked with icons like Bob Dylan, Willie
lines are amazingly arranged – soaring, lilting Nelson, Emmylou Harris, Peter Gabriel, Robbie Shawn McLaughlin is a hard
and wrapping around each other with just Robertson, and most famously, U2. He is less working dedicated, tireless
the right amount of vocal control and tension. well known for his solo albums, but efforts like worshipper of Christ
When Joy sings passion, her voice is drenched Acadie, Shine, and For the Beauty of Wynona

28 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


...for Christian musicians, leaders, songwriters, indie artists and
technicians to improve skill and inspire talent all to God’s glory!
for info & to register...
www.ChristianMusicianSummit.com
MAY 13 & 14, 2011
at the Chapel at Crosspoint
Buffalo, NY
Paul Baloche * Gungor
Kari Jobe * Laura Story
John Mark McMillan
Audrey Assad
A Ragamuffin Band
Norm Stockton Group
...and more!
CMS@theChapel will also feature
Seminar
for the Arts...
film, drama,
workshops for

graphic design,
painting, photography

California e
vent... SEPTEMBER 16 & 17, 2011
our N o rt h e rn ur from
o re (less than an ho at Cornerstone Fellowship, Livermore, CA
Li v e rm
now in San Jose...)
Oakland &
San Francisco,

OCTOBER 14 & 15, 2011


at Scottsdale Bible Church, Scottsdale, AZ
oasis of the
y e a r in th e beautiful
our 3rd
tropolis
Phoenix me NOVEMBER
11 & 12, 2011
at Overlake Christian Church
Redmond, WA
**just confirmed
r
e v e n t. .. th is will be ou **Christy & Nathan Nockels
the flagship od! & **Paul Baloche
r... Praise G
our 9th yea
MAR 26, 2011at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Tacoma, WA
with Brian Doerksen & The City Harmonic
smaller,
n e w 1 d ay events...
bran d e &
li n e d .. . sa me great vib *date change OCT 8, 2011
stream at Calvary Community Church, Westlake Village, CA
your team
training for with Brenton Brown
5 Cool Things I Saw @ NAMM
by Bruce Adolph

In the cycle of life for musical instruments, the Winter NAMM show in Anaheim, CA every
January, is the birthing grounds. Each year 1,500 or so musical equipment companies converge
and show their new wares. It is a fun place to be if you like gear and there is always something
there that makes you think, “Why didn’t I think of that?”
This year my top 5 picks were pretty easy to select because I was so excited about each one
of them. I try and do a mix of items across the board but sometimes the products just about
select themselves because they are, in one way or another, breaking new ground in and of
themselves.
photo by Brian Gillies
First up is the Gen 16 cymbals made by team / band to mix their in-ears to their the signature patch via the mini-USB
Zildjian. These were so unusual that Zildjian liking. What is ground breaking about as new patches are added. Way cool!
even had a different booth for them across this new product is that some of the Hall of Fame Reverb: $149
the aisle from their regular exhibit space. same guys who designed the popular Shaker Vibrato: $129
What they have done is systematically drill Aviom product developed Elite Core, Corona Chorus: $129
lots of small holes in a great set of cymbals, but this time around it weighs in with Flashback Delay & Looper: $169
effectively taking away about 75-80% of more features and is ½ the price. Yes, you Vortex Flanger: $129
the volume. What you are left with is a very heard me right. Anytime you get to say
good sounding cymbal that is now much “more features and ½ the price” you are No doubt in due time you will
quieter than usual. Why is this so important onto something. Not only that but it is see full-length product reviews of
to many of our drummer buddies playing in made in America! each of my “5 Cool Things I Saw
churches? Well, because 50% of all digital PM-16 mixer price: $399 @ NAMM”. Already in the March/
drums (electronic kits) sold go to churches. IM-16 input module: $599 April issue of Worship Musician you
And traditionally, no matter what you say – DM-8 distribution hub:$299 will find a review on the Wickstrom
hitting a rubber cymbal just doesn’t do it for Grand Theatre acoustic guitar. An
drummers. My third item was found almost by offset sound-hole, cantilevered
mistake. I was hanging out in the neck and high end tone-
TC Electronic booth and I saw a woods make this guitar more
few of the company reps who have than interesting to play.
come to our Christian Musician Once you hear it, see the
Summit conferences. We started craftsmanship, and know
talking and they said, “Did you see the asking price… you will
what these new effect pedals can see why it made my list.
do?” I took the bait and am glad I The entire guitar is hand
did. Each of the pedals in this new built by Craig Wickstrom
series from TC Electronic has the in Olympia, WA. Pretty
ability to download a custom cool stuff from the
patch of signature settings from Great Northwest!
the website. There is a mini-USB
port on the pedal. So not only can Grand Theatre
you use the settings you dial in for Acoustic :
yourself with the control knobs, $2,695
but you can hit the footswitch
and utilize the custom patch as
The Gen 16 cymbals look as cool as they well. This gives you two settings
sound and there is even a special mic system per pedal and you can keep changing
available to bring it all home to your Front of
House guy. Drummers rejoice… now you can
feel good about hitting real cymbals! These
will also have some studio applications as well.
Zildjian GEN 16 Acoustic-Electric Cymbal
Pack 14-18-20; w/ 3 Dual Condenser
Mics & Controller/Module, All Cables &
Mounting Hardware: $949

Second item is the PM-


16 personal mixing
system by Elite Core. Continued on page 38.
What this unit delivers
is a way for the worship all prices are MAP (Minimum Advertised Price)
30 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM
Benny Prasad (cont. page 22) I did not have a ceremony for
accomplishing the task of this
LONELINESS. And when World Record, but rather, I did
we are lonely there are a interviews with the Media to
lot of sinful thoughts and share the testimony of how God
actions that can creep into has used a broken vessel to make
our lives. Three ways I was history for His glory. Honestly I
able to keep away from don’t know the value of having a
loneliness was-
 world record, as I’ve not worked
1) Host Family – for it. I have not had a salary
Every country I went and yet I could travel to 245
to, I stayed with host countries including Antarctica
families regardless of debt-free because Jesus was my
how uncomfortable 100% provider. When a CNN
or challenging the news reporter asked me how I
accommodation was. felt having achieved this World
(except in countries where Record, I replied to him saying,
it is the law that I needed “I don’t know the value of the
to stay in a hotel, e.g. world record but I do feel very
North Korea, Cuba, etc.). grateful to God for the privilege
I decided that I would of traveling to every nation
rather give up my comfort and sharing the testimony of a
than my character. When I transformed life.”


stayed with a host family CM: Now that you have
I was kept accountable, the record, what are your plans for the
both with my going and future?

coming and also with who
comes in and goes out. I’m waiting on the Lord for my next step.
That has really helped me In 2002 God gave me the vision to travel to
in staying sexually pure. I every nation by 2010. I followed the call and
can truly say that by God’s truly, He who began a good work was faithful
grace I have never slept to complete it and I’m a testimony of that.
with a girl. Money and So now I’m waiting on God for directions for
sex are some of the most the next step in my life. There are so many
challenging temptations in invitations from all over the world to represent
the life of an artist. Staying my identity in the concert. them on an international level, but I really
with a host family keeps me engaged and 2) For what am I doing this; Is it all about want to wait on the Lord and get His direction
helps me to adopt them as my family while Christ or is it about myself? 
As a human for the next step. Time spent waiting on God
away from home. the flesh dictates “putting up the price”, but is never wasted. As of now I feel called to go
the verse that convicts me and puts me in into the closed and dark places to reveal the
2) When the concert is over, I don’t run Light of the Creator.
away to my room or hide in the green room. my place is, “Consider others better than
I spend time with the audience, and many yourself” and, “Do to others what you expect CM: If you could tell other Christian
times I get to hear testimonies of how the them to do to you”. The privilege I have is to musicians one thing... what would that
concert or the message impacted their lives share my testimony in every performance. be?

and brought them hope. These testimonies By doing that, I get to remind myself from Well one thing I would love to share with
give me a sense of purpose and increase where I started and to what extent God has Christian Musicians is to never allow Money
my passion for doing what I am doing. My allowed me to reach. That keeps me humble, and Comfort to define your ministry and call.
passion only keeps renewing rather than and in times when things don’t go my way, I’m The key is to hear His voice and to act with
dying down. As musicians, once we’ve lost reminded that I don’t deserve to even have obedience no matter how foolish it looks to
our passion, and our music and ministry expectations.

 the eyes of the world. God is indeed very
has become a job, then loneliness can really CM: Tell us what a typical concert of your faithful in providing our needs regardless of
creep in. 
 music entails?
 which country we are in, or how high your
3) I sleep really well on planes so that travel A typical concert lasts 1 hour. I play 5 profile is.
time on planes, airports, trains, etc. is not different instrumental songs on my 20 String How do we measure the value of an
lonely. Bongo-Harp Bentar and in between each individual life? Is it worth it if a man gains the
CM: When facing difficulties on the instrumental I share my testimony or the story whole world and loses his soul? No! So if the
road, how did you stay encouraged? of a miracle experience. 95% of the time the value of an individual is more precious than
response has been that the testimony has had any amount of wealth in this world, then why
Yes, it’s very true that there are
more impact than my music. That’s been the have we lost sight of our call and decided to
disappointments on the road, either with base our ministries on money and comfort?
goal of every concert in my travels.
the way concerts are organized or the way
I’m hosted. In all of these situations for me to CM: You set the World Record for And finally, when God calls you to do
stay encouraged I had to constantly remind traveling to the most countries in the something, He is 100% faithful to provide
myself of 2 things least amount of time. 245 countries on 7 everything you need to accomplish the task!
continents in 6 years, 6 months, and 22 Visit www.bennyprasad.com for more info.
1) Who I am in Christ as opposed to finding
days. What was that ceremony like?

32 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM
From their roots in southern France to
the streets of San Francisco, Lâg guitars
are inspiring a new breed of player all
across America.

Find your voice.

Featured in this ad is the Stage Range T300DCE Dreadnought cutaway, Electric


www.lagguitars.com
Bruce Adolph and I have been planning inversion refers to the relationship of the chord can also be played in many locations
to change the theme of my article for lowest note of the chord to the other factors on the fretboard. Notice when you play the
some time now. Since I’ve been playing of the chord. In Cmaj the chords factors note ”E” on the different strings, each sound
and teaching guitar for 40+ years and have are C E & G. Those simple 3 notes can be a little different, each has its own character,
web sites www.GuitarCollege.com and rearranged many ways, C E&G or C G&E, E its own quality of sound. The quality of
www.99CentGuitarLessons.com devoted G&C or E C & G and G C&E or G E&C. The sound is even more pronounced with
to learning guitar we decided to switch first note of each group determines which inversions. Not only might we play the same
the article from “Essential Theory” to “The inversion it can be titled. If C is the lowest note in different locations or string groups
Fretboard Less Traveled.” Like the title note it is a Root Position chord. If E the 3rd of on the fretboard but we also rearrange the
indicates, I hope to introduce you to some the chord is the lowest note it is 1st Inversion sequence of notes. Let’s look at a simple
new ideas and concepts that will hopefully and if G the 5th of the chord is the lowest Cmaj chord. (1)
spur your creativity and excitement about note it is called 2nd Inversion Notice how a root position chord has the
the guitar. Quality of Sound root as its lowest note, a 1st inversion has the
Inversions Just as the note “E” can be played at four 3rd as its lowest note and the 2nd inversion
This is one area of the area of playing guitar positions, open 1st string, 5th fret 2nd string, has the 5th as its lowest note. Each one is
that can be very beautiful but confusing. An 9th fret 3rd string & 14th fret 4th string, every still a “Cmaj” chord but each sounds a bit
different.
This next example (2) shows how
(1) the name of the inversion changes
with the lowest note even if the
other chord factors are still the same
as the first group. Again, all of these
chords are considered Cmaj chords
but each one has its own quality of
sound.
Here are some more inversions
(2)
of a simple “Cmaj” chord that you
might find interesting and hopefully
inspiring. (3&4) Remember if you
want to get these voicings into
your fingertips you’ve got to use
them and plug them into songs.
Transposing them to other keys also
helps.
(3) Next time we’ll explore inversions
of more chords. Til then may God
bless your hard work.

Rich has a 6 CD
audio program for
learning, hearing
(4) and memorizing
music theory called
“Theory For The Road” which can be found
at www.GuitarCollege.com. It explains
everything in detail and includes audio
music illustrations on keyboard and guitar,
and ear training.

34 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


Easy and accurate tuning. Now at any fret.

Tune in dark and noisy environments.


Clip on headstock or at any fret.
Light turns from red to green when in-tune.
Lifetime warranty.

TUNERS.com/LCM
By OnBoard Research Corp.
Ask Joe
by Joe Riggio

Q
I have a Strat that I
purchased a few years
back and I like it (love is
for people) anyway, I’ve
heard from our sound
people at church that
when I have my pickup selector on
certain settings they hear a hum... I tell
them that it’s the nature of the beast.  So
I usually have it set to position 2 or four
where there is no hum or barely audible
hum. What’s going on here?

A Basically: single-coil pickups,


like the ones in your Strat, are
found in many classic designs;
Telecaster, Stratocaster, Gibson
available in many common sizes and
are a direct replacement for their
targeted design. Unfortunately, this
has produced a sound that is similar
to single-coils, but missing some of
P-90 and countless others, are made up of their sparkle and other favorable
one coil of wire, wrapped around some characteristics. 
sort of magnetic material. They produce a I have personally avoided this
very sweet and stringy sound, but also have design for years because, for my
the inherent hum that you are experiencing. ears, the compromise was not ever
As designers and engineers (sometime worth the result. In my opinion (and
during the 1940’s) further developed the I have installed and heard just about
design of magnetic pickups, to eliminate all of them) the DiMarzio “Area”
the background hum, the dual-coil, or series of pickups is a fantastic design
“humbucking” design was created, where that sounds like a single-coil, and also
2 coils wired together, in series, are sitting eliminates hum. They are also among
side-by-side, in a double-wide layout. The the least expensive available. I highly
most noted and recognized version was recommend them and have sold sets
from the Gibson Co., with the design credit to many satisfied customers, as well
going to an employee of theirs, named Seth as using them myself.
Lover. Although there are other examples
of the design, from earlier pioneers like Paul You are experiencing hum-
Tutmarc, from Seattle. This dual-coil design cancellation in the 2 and 4 position
eliminates the hum found in single-coil of your Strat because of another
pickups, but yields a substantially different common work-around: when 2 single
tone. Both sounds are loved and commonly coils are wound in reverse direction
found on famous recordings and stages. from each other and of opposite
Joe Riggio is a professional guitar
For decades the challenge, for many, has polarity, the result is a cancellation
repairman/technician and recording
been to design a pickup that has the tonal of the hum, when they are both
engineer, based in Tacoma, WA. He
properties of a single-coil, but without the live in the circuit, such as when the
owns and operates “Service Guitar
hum.  switch in your Strat is in the 2 and
4 position. That’s a nice plus when Repair” and “House Of Sound
Since the 1980’s, there have been countless you’re in those positions, but doesn’t Recording Studio” He has a deep
attempts and products that have been do anything about when the pickups love and knowledge of vintage guitars, as well as modern
accepted and adequate for lots of players. are used individually. and loves to share his passion with others. He can be
Most of them are a design where 2 coils contacted at ServiceGuitarRepair@gmail.com, website:
are stacked, one on top of the other and www.ServiceGuitarRepair.com
wired together to eliminate hum. These are
36 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM
www.bedellguitars.com

$200 Rebate

Building the finest handcrafted, all solid wood acoustic guitars is a dream come true. We tone
test every one piece African mahogany neck. We cull every tone wood for the right grain,
stiffness and beauty. There is not a stitch of laminate in any Bedell – just pure cured wood that
has been carefully stored for three years or longer. The feel and sound are incredible…but you
must experience them for yourself.

If you will drop into your favorite acoustic shop and try out any one of my Bedells, I’ll send
you a Two Old Hippies bandana and a $25 Gift Card at www.TwoOldHippies.com. No strings
attached…unless you fall in love with it. Because I will also send along a check for $200 when
you purchase a Bedell Performance, Revolution, Monitor or Award guitar during April and
May, 2011.

To Play One
is To Love One

twooldhippies.com

Some restrictions apply. Promotion runs April and May 2011.


5 Cool Things I Saw @ NAMM (cont. page 30)
Dreaming of an
Now sometimes I get teased for not
Indie Artist Ministry? showing as much love to the keyboard
department as I do the guitars. But I have
to tell you, I haven’t been this excited
about a new keyboard since Yamaha
announced their DX7 back in the 80’s.
Brian Felix and I went to a press party
the night before the convention started
Do you know the 7 hidden pitfalls
that can turn it into a nightmare?
The typical emerging artist
attempting to follow their passion
for an indie artist ministry will presented by Korg. What they unveiled
spend years longer than they that night in a 90-minute presentation
was truly amazing. Their new Kronos
hoped and will invest thousands keyboard/workstation is a game changer
of dollars more than they earn in in the world of keyboards, and sets the
bar pretty high for others to follow. At
their efforts. They will experience the core of the Kronos is it’s nine (yes
confusion, frustration, angst, a nine!) engines. Utilizing a solid state
hard drive (I didn’t even know there
high degree of discouragement,
were solid state hard drives) that seems
and too often, disillusionment. to have enough memory capacity to
light up a small city, the Kronos delivers
Sadly, the most common result is
a piano sound that never even loops…
a failure to transform a calling not once! That is how much memory
into a sustainable ministry. power and number crunching is going
on internally. I was sold on it at that point
Want to know why? More with the realistic piano sounds but then
they went on to the Fender Rhodes type
importantly, want to take a better patches (an entirely different engine runs
route? Incubator Creative Group, those). They played a John Klemmer type
tune and it sounded like I was sitting
a 22 year veteran in music down at my very own Fender Rhodes
ministry incubation, is presenting (which I actually do have one, a Suitcase
73 model no less - so maybe that will
a revealing online seminar series quell some of this anti-keyboard talk
that exposes the seven hidden amongst my peers… Ha!). From there
the demonstration went to Hammond
pitfalls. Incubator has cracked
B3’s (another engine employed in making
the code on the biggest obstacles those killer sounds), to vintage analog
to making your ministry dream a synths, arpeggio madness, stirring strings
and ended with sampled drums. If you
reality. Get a FREE ‘online seat’ only have room for one keyboard on
at the early bird webinar by your stage or in your studio, you need
to go play the Kronos. Brian and I walked
visiting the special website link away just shaking our heads.
below. Tap into Incubator today! Kronos (61, 76, 88 key) Estimated
street pricing ranges from $2999 to
$3799
MINISTRY TM

W E B I N A R S E R I E S So there you have it… 5 Cool Things I


Saw @ NAMM that turned my head, and
I hope will turn yours too when you get a
Presented by Incubator Creative Group

Get a FREE ‘online seat’ at the Early Bird


Ministry Entrepreneur™ webinar by
chance to experience them.
visiting the link below:

IncubatorOnline.com/MES
Free online seat is offered for a limited time and subject to change without notice.
Bruce
Copyright 2011 Incubator Creative Group · Post Office Box 245 · Cheshire, OR 97419
Dustin Burke
of The Dustin Burke Band
“Two things I need as a guitar player/frontman is a guitar that never goes out
of tune and has great tone that cuts through the front of house mix. The
Greg Bennett Blackbird delivers both of those every night. After sound-check
I rarely have to retune my guitar, and even after a year of exclusively using
this guitar, I still can’t get over the warm, rich sound I’m getting from a solid
body acoustic. I’ll never go back.”

Dustin Burke and his band are living the dream.


Visit them at at www.dustinburkeband.com Electric Guitar
Line of the Year

www.GregBennettGuitars.com
NASHVILLE

Available only at quality independent music stores nationwide…


This is one amazing story of how God will reach down into a person’s lowest low and darkest night, and pull him out of
that “miry clay,” redeeming and restoring the man, and renewing the talent He had originally given. Especially if you
feel like you’re too far gone for God to touch you or use you again, Kirk’s story, and his and Lesley’s music, will no doubt
encourage your heart and show you just how far the Lord will go to show you His love.

Aimee Herd: Kirk, just so we can get a By the time I was in high school, I was taking metal band up in New York City, so I moved
picture of where you’re coming from, can every drug I could find. I was drinking a up there and played with those guys—
you give us a little background of the events lot and stealing money from my father for getting even deeper into all types of drugs.
prior to, and leading up to the time when drugs. I was constantly picked on. Even There are things I did that I don’t even want
God really got a hold of you? teachers made fun of me—I was the joke to talk about, but I had gotten myself in
Kirk Martin: Well, it’s a little hard to of the school. At one point, some jocks trouble to where I needed to leave New
pinpoint. I was raised in a good Lutheran cornered me and smacked me around. I York right away or I was going to end up in
home with parents who did everything they was so humiliated that I went home and got a pine box.
knew to be right; they did the best they my father’s gun and brought it to school—I I moved back to Michigan and cut my
could with what they were given. There was going to shoot those boys in the head. hair. I went to work at a store stocking
were just some unfortunate circumstances Strangely enough, just before the third hour, groceries, because I was afraid for my life.
that put me in a position where I started another kid who was also a drug dealer After a while, I met some more guys who
making bad choices. There was always a came up to me and said, “Man, I heard that had already started a metal band, but their
big rift between my father and myself. I was you brought a gun to school; the principal singer/guitar player was a flake. So, I joined
the fourth child in the family. I think he was and vice principal are on their way right the band in the winter of 1989, and within
done after child #3, but then I came along. now to pull you out of this next class with an just a short period of time, we became one
I was a very rambunctious, off-the-hook officer. Is it true?” I said, “Yeah,” and traded of the biggest bands in Michigan, for our
kind of kid. He was struggling with some him some drugs for the gun, which he put in genre. The deeper I got into the music, the
things himself (like making peace with God) the trunk of his car. To this day, those jocks darker I became, with more and more hate.
but unfortunately, his frustration and anger have no idea how lucky they are that they’re The music morphed from what it had been,
came out on me. I ended up taking that out still alive. into me singing about “stealing souls from
on myself as well as others. I went down a very dark road and began God.”
At one point, when I was young, a couple living a very hateful and perverse lifestyle. One of our most popular songs was called
of boys who were much older than I was, Y’see I used to think that God was behind “Molded Mind”. There’s a line in it that says,
molested me. They told me I’d better not all the bad things that happened to me. I “...alone it seems the only thing that I can
tell my parents because they [my parents] joined the Army and was kicked out with an feel, and the dreams will pass in vain of the
would hate me, and that God would be honorable discharge my 6th week, because I many souls that I will steal.”
mad. Shortly after, I went to church and was mentally unstable.
AH: Wow... creepy.
heard how “God loves you,” but also that After more friction with my father, I went
He “sometimes punishes those He loves.” to Virginia Beach, where my car was stolen. KM: Real creepy! Well, we put some bunks
So, I was trying to sort through all of this as I ended up homeless and having to steal, in a bus and started traveling, and ended
a young man. I grew up thinking the Lord fight, and do whatever it took to survive. up in Florida. Things were starting to really
was angry with me and that I had done open up for us, but then a couple of guys
AH: Kirk, at what point did you put left the band. They didn’t tell me ‘til later,
something wrong. Later, I found out I was together the metal band you were in?
adopted, which brought more feelings of but they were literally scared. I was so filled
rejection, loss and confusion. KM: I met a couple guys who were in a with hate; I was carrying a gun everywhere

40 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


I went, and I was just as mean and tough as the spirit and the heart that drives the music. what his father did to him. He’s just doing the
nails. I hated God because I thought I was AH: Like Jonathan Maracle from Broken best that he can, but you are very important
being punished for everything I had done Walls says, “The instrument is subject to the to him.”
wrong, and everything that had been done heart of the musician.” AH: What did you do after the man told
to me. you this?
KM: Jonathan is a good friend of ours!
When the guys left the band, it was just KM: I felt like someone had cut my feet
when things were starting to get going for AH: So now, I know God didn’t leave you
in that state of hate back then. Talk about off and all the blood had drained from my
us, and I really thought I had a chance. Our body. It honestly freaked me out; I didn’t
bus had broken down and a guy who really what happened next.
know what to think. Then the guy got up
liked our music had welcomed us into his KM: I was sitting in a fast food restaurant and said, “Jesus loves you and He’s waiting
house. I ended up going out into this field in the early morning—I was rarely awake for you to turn your face toward home,” and
by his house and, falling to the ground, I in the early mornings, but I was drinking a he walked out. I was literally paralyzed by
began to curse God and spit at the name coffee and smoking a cigarette when this old what had just happened, but when I got my
of Jesus; I began to claw the earth and said, man walked in. He was about 5 foot 3 with a composure back, I jumped up and ran after
“Satan, give me what I want, and I’ll twist and white bushy beard and hair, a big red nose, him because I had to know how he knew all
take as many people as I can to hell with and he wore a little black yarmulke and a that. The guy had to have been no more
music.” Two days later, a guy who had been trench coat. He came in, got coffee and sat than 15 or 20 feet ahead of me; he turned
working as our manager called and said, down right across from me. Immediately I a corner, went behind a row of hedges and
“Look, there’s a record label and they want got in his face and said, “What’s up pops?” just disappeared. I never saw him again.
to know how much you would want to go He answered, “What’s up pops?” I said, The whole experience caused me to really
into the studio and what budget you’d need “What’s up dad?” He said, “What’s up ponder in my head what was going on.
to record.” So, I got hooked up with a couple dad?” (Imitating me) I got mad because
other musicians who were better than those he was mocking me, so I jumped across the AH: Yeah, I bet it did!
who left, because the new guys just played table and screamed every foul, disgusting KM: I flew home to Michigan and put
and were “hired guns”, so to speak, and we word I could possibly think of. He literally together a recording budget with a big
started to write some very ugly music. I didn’t budge. Most people were scared studio I knew there. I was getting ready to put
decided to change the name of the band to of me—I could walk across an intersection everything together. On June 17th, 1994, I
Hate Plow and call the first album “Christian and hear people locking their doors! But, was laying on the bus, sound asleep; at 3:30
Lies.” At that time, JC Dwyer owned that this man just looked me in the eye and said, in the morning, the bus shook violently for a
name and decided to give it to me. Later on, “Jesus sent me here to tell you that He loves few seconds and it woke me up. For the first
when I walked away from the deal, he gave you.” My first, gut reaction was to jump up time in my life, I felt an air of peace around
the name to another band. and rip his eyeballs out of his head. But me. I looked up at the top of my bunk and
I took on this kind of “self-ism,” where I before I could get my feet to tell the rest of saw pictures of my nieces and nephews;
only believed in myself. I didn’t believe in my body to jump, he said, “And He wants the only people who meant anything to
my parents, or God, or love. My philosophy you to know that He wasn’t responsible for me anymore. I began to realize what I had
was: Make your own destiny. Make your those young men molesting you when you done. I feel like God pulled the little boy out
own way and crush anybody who gets in were a little boy.” The interesting thing was, of me and let the little boy see what the man
your way. My musical ability seemed to he called them by name. I had never told had become. I got really scared and began
double because I had become ultra-driven anyone that in my entire life. to cry and weep. The presence of God—
at that point, and the music I was writing just AH: Amazing. which I didn’t understand at the time—was
seemed incredibly dark. Now, I don’t think so incredibly heavy on that bus. It was so
music is evil, in and of itself, but I think it’s KM: And then he said, “Your father heavy; I literally rolled out of my bunk onto
desperately loves you. He only understands the floor and begged God to kill me, and to
CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM MARCH/APRIL 2011 41
take me to hell because I knew that was what take you to church; God told me to come what it did was it took my mind off of killing
I deserved. I wept so hard, I cried myself to here, here’s a Bible.” I walked into that myself. Pastor Bill told me he’d be there in 15
sleep. church and the first thing I saw was the cross minutes. He came in and gently took the gun
I woke up the next morning and there was a and the altar, and I just ran to it. I fell down out of my hand, took the shell out, and put it
“shift”. Nothing seemed the same. When I got and began to weep uncontrollably. This old in the next room. I began to weep and cried
high, it wasn’t the same. Things just looked man—maybe about 70—who was a guest myself to sleep. When I woke up, every CD
different; the clouds looked fluffier, the minister came up to me, put his hand on I had ever owned was gone, and there was a
grass looked greener. When I woke up after my shoulder and said, “Young man, is there bag with a pile of Hosanna CDs and Vineyard
that night, it was the first time that I didn’t something I can help you with?” I said, “Oh worship cassettes. There was a little note that
understand how I felt, and I had no clue why my God, I’ve sent so many people to hell. said, “Try these for 30 days, and if things don’t
I felt that way. I had no idea why I had had I’ve done so many horrible things; I’ve sold change, I’ll give you back all your music.”
this hate for people. I had no understanding my soul.” He told me, “Well son, I don’t
That’s when I began to experience the
of the hate that had filled me [up to that know about where you’ve been or what
presence of God for real. I began to listen and
point]; it just disappeared. During the next 2 you’ve done, but I know you couldn’t have
fall in love with worship. I realized that worship
or 3 weeks I developed kidney stones, and at sold your soul, because it was never yours
is the key to opening up a relationship with
one point, passed out from the pain. I woke to sell.” Shortly after that, God directed me
God and His presence. I got on my face before
up in the hospital—they’d given me some to another church where Pastor Bill Tulip
God and begged Him not to leave me in that
morphine, and I called my mom, who told me took me under his wing, and to this day he
state. He dealt with me, and now it’s been 11
to come home. I never went back to pursuing has never turned his back on me; he’s been
years since I struggled with pornography or
that recording contract, or the band. like a father to me.
sexual impurity. It was a glorious, victorious
When I went home, all the policemen in the I was able to walk away from drugs, and end to a bitter, bitter struggle.
the hate, but the one thing I struggled with
county wanted to arrest me; all the husbands AH: So, tell me how you met Lesley?
whose wives I’d slept with wanted to kill was sex. One night it got so bad that I went
home, sat on my bed, and put one round KM: After about 3 or 4 years since I’d been
me; all the fathers whose teenage girls I had clean from that, I got a call from Jonathan
violated wanted to kill me, and God stuck me in my .44 Magnum. I pulled the hammer
back and put it to my head. I picked up Maracle of Broken Walls. I had done some First
right back in that same community. Nations ministry with Johnny on a couple of
the phone with my other hand and I called
One day I was sitting on my couch and it Pastor Bill. I said, “You’ve been like a father occasions. He called and told me, “You know,
finally hit me that I had told Satan that I would to me, but I’m gonna blow my brains out I feel very strongly that you should come to
take people to hell with me if he would give right now because God’s never gonna this conference up in Ottawa, Canada.” I
me what I wanted, and it freaked me out! set me free from this. He doesn’t love happened to have been sitting in the car with
A friend, who used to hang out with the me and this is never gonna end.” The first an Ojibwe Indian Christian brother when
band, mysteriously showed up at my house words out of his mouth were, “Well, taking Johnny called. I told him I’d like to but that I
with a Bible. He had gotten saved during an your own life would not be a very career didn’t have money to get there. When I hung
attempted suicide. He said, “Look, I need to enhancing move.” I got angry at that, but up the phone, the Ojibwe brother next to me,

42 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


Full-Service Ticketing
Online Ticketing
Facebook Ticketing
Private Lable Ticketing
Marketing Tools
TrinityTickets is a web ticketing solution offering
the lowest fees in the industry and no setup costs. Gate Control
It’s never been easier to reach your specific audience in
order to sell out a show or event – right from your Facebook
fan page. You don’t have to spend on direct marketing, just Follow us on:
let your customers market and sell your events for you on-
line! In fact, once the buyer completes their purchase, they’re
prompted to share their purchase on their Facebook wall.

One purchase could lead to thousands more.


That’s the power of ticket sales on your Facebook page!
www.TrinityTickets.com
Trinity Tickets • 4009 Old Denton Rd. Suite 114-255 • Carrollton, TX. 75010

The Capo Company

The G7TH Nashville Capo


designed for accuracy & speed
www.G7th.com
In Pursuit of Excellence
Brian Moses, said, “I don’t know why, but I LM: And that’s happening during the
think you need to go to that conference; I’m worship time, even before any ministry. It’s
so sure of it, I’ll buy you a plane ticket right just God’s presence that’s filling the room
now.” and working on people’s hearts. That’s our
At the conference, I was backstage tuning passion: worship to bring His presence, to
up my guitar, and as I peeked out of a gap in bring healing.
the curtain, I saw this brunette angel walking AH: So, you have the worship albums:
up the aisle! As I looked at her, it was the “Covenant,” “Reflections,” and the live
third time I’d ever heard the voice of God album, “Live at CLC,” but I read that you’ve
audibly, and He said, “That’s the girl I want got a metal project in the works.
you to marry.” KM: I had started some metal stuff before
AH: That’s so cool. Lesley, were you aware we met, but I didn’t have peace about it,
of any of this at the time? although the music was awesome.
Lesley Martin: (Laughing) My mother LM: I had heard the rough cuts and I liked
noticed him staring a little bit, and we both it. A couple years went by; we were working
Improving Musicianship | Inspiring Talent

had our eyes on him during the conference. on the worship projects, and we had a baby.
KM: I kept talking about her with Jonathan But, I kept telling him, “Kirk, I think you need
Blessings and others backstage at the conference. But to work on that metal project. I really think
Raindrops
through the

when it came to talking TO her, I didn’t know God’s going to use you in that area as well as
what to say. She had me completely tongue- the worship.” It never really came to fruition
tied and I hadn’t even talked to her yet! until just recently.
The Freedom and Restoration of
Product
Review:
Yamaha Motif XF8 Finally it was Lesley’s mom who introduced KM: I felt like the Lord told me, “Kirk,
us, and I asked her, “Did it hurt?” She said, I’m going to put you right back where I
Broken Walls
The Redemption of
Kirk Martin
MARCH/APRIL 2011

“Did what hurt?” I said, “When you fell from found you, but this time, you’re going to
Volume 9, Issue 2 MAR/APR 2011
03
Product Review Volume 16, Issue 2 Selective Hearing
Record Reviews Brandon Heath * Josh Wilson * Francesca Battistelli * Scott Holt
Know Jesus Collective * Brenton Brown * Parachute Band Wickstrom Grand Theatre 03

0 74470 58440 7
Brandon Heath * Lakeside Live * Daniel Bashta Acoustic Guitar Shawn McDonald * Amos Lee * The Civil Wars * Black Dub
US $5.95 Can $6.95 74470 95962
Songchart: What a Savior • A Few Moments With… Lowering the Bar 5 Cool Things I Saw @ NAMM
0 5
US $5.95 Can $6.95

heaven?!” Marriage, three children and 8 understand what to do and why.” The music
years later, we’ve literally led thousands of [on the metal project] is solid, and the
people to Christ together. lyrics are 100 percent Christ-centered. It’s
Lesley had never even sung before, and I all about telling the world about God, and
threw her in front of a microphone... telling the metal community what God did
for me.
LM: I’d been playing keyboards for a
few years before I met Kirk. But we’d just LM: It’s not “Christian metal” per se; it’s
sit in the living room, even before we were metal about Christ.
married and play and sing...and just worship. KM: Here’s the mind-blowing thing about
AH: So, do you two write together then? it: when I had been a Christian for about
three years, I was out in Colorado Springs.
LM: Yes. Pastor Mark Cowart of Church for All Nations
KM: A lot of times, I’ll be sitting there with called me out of the congregation—I was
my guitar and something will come to me. I’ll just a visitor that night, he didn’t even know
say, “Les, grab a paper and pencil and write me. He said that there would be “millions
this down!” I write most of the music part of of young people who were waiting to hear
the songs, and I use some alternative tunings your voice.” He said that they wouldn’t
that are really off-the-hook and uncommon. listen to someone else’s voice but, when the
It makes playing keyboards very difficult for time was right, God would release me and
Lesley. they would hear my voice and my story,
and know that I’d been with God and that
LM: (Laughing) I know when it’s a “Kirk” God is with me. He said that young people
chord. would hear this and come to Christ. Now,
KM: It’s funny; you always hear the joke here it is 17 years later, and God has opened
about “you complete me.” But with Lesley, up the doors for me—besides the beautiful
it’s true. I’ll be so stuck on one thing and worship music that Lesley and I write—to do
unable to get away from it no matter what I this metal project too.
do. And, Lesley will just have that—God will
give her that moment in the music, or the
lyric that completes the song. We’ve been Kirk Martin plays Taylor acoustic guitars
told so many times that there is a “glory” that exclusively, and uses uses Kyser Musical
shows up when we minister. Products, EMG pickups, Jackson electric
guitars, and Dean Markley strings. Lesley
LM: Something tangible... uses Yamaha keyboards.
KM: We’ve seen people get healed For more information on Kirk and Lesley
physically, emotionally and mentally. People Martin, and to purchase their music, log
who, after hearing our music and my story, onto: www.MusicforHarvest.com
came up and told us that they too were
molested, but that this was their day to get
free and be healed.
44 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM
A Christian Musician’s
Legacy
By Bryan Duncan
  A Christian musician before the phrase was He loved Western style swing, the kind Roy
coined, my dad, Reverend Daniel R. Duncan, Rogers might have sung. He liked inside chord
passed away at 78. I’m thinking rpm’s on an movement too with that jazz flavor.
LP. I’m his first born and I had the privilege He never said much about the changes
of sitting at his right hand as he struggled to in popular music, as he watched my style
finish his life. Seven years after the onslaught preferences replace his own in church. He saw
of Alzheimer’s, and two years spent recovering them fade, too. He stopped playing music
from a stroke. “Nobody should have to live like in church because his style of music was no
this,” he said just two months ago. longer the hip way to “worship.” disgruntled with the “newbies” because they
I had my questions about the final years of So what do we pass on with regard to our don’t hear a “demolished thirteen” in the chord
this Godly musician, “rewarded” by some sort passions? When the dross is burned away, structure. Thank God, you can feel His foot on
of banishment, relegated to near helplessness what still stands? Hopefully not just some label the sustain pedal of your own instrument. We
and dependency on others for the smallest of what we were into, some brand name like don’t get to choose who will resonate with
details of life. I wondered about the frightening “Pentecostal Polka.” In some circles, “Christian” what we play or how it will affect them. But
experience of slowly losing the things you are in front of “musician” tends to banish you what a gift to communicate to ourselves the
good at – in his case, assembling words and from a list of the best even without a stroke. love we feel from the master musician.
insights. But then, I trust God and follow Jesus Suspicions are that perhaps your popularity is I don’t play anything like my dad would have
Christ because my dad did! merely a plank in the party platform of another played it. I can, however, feel his influence. It’s
Alzheimer’s scrambles your thought process, agenda.   Because downloads aren’t available, that classic musician’s sense of nonconformity
keeps you from communicating to anyone I’m not even sure King David would be a big to all that is unoriginal. And I know that God
but God himself in most cases. I found it draw these days as a harpist, except maybe in smiles at even the most dissonant of chords in
interesting, though, that the musical side of the Portland area! my efforts when I’m focused on resonating with
my dad’s brain was intact till the day he died. Music is a wonderful thing that God hands out the gift I have found from Him. God knows the
Just a few months ago, he sat at the piano and to anyone who receives. And He has the gall to music that is my life. And I follow Jesus because
played and sang “Heaven, I’m Going There.” give it to people who don’t even acknowledge he will resolve and sustain that music.
Him in the slightest. Does I heard a wonderful sermon once about trying
our legacy come down to identify a song when you can only hear the
to our expertise? Is it in harmony part. It’s almost impossible to tell
our ability to impress without the melody line. In fact, a harmony
the masses, or to fit in might not even sound cohesive to itself. Heaven
with the giant “cover will hold a symphony of stacked harmony parts
tune” that is blanketing the like that. Harmony’s to God’s melody. And we
mainstream? will, upon hearing it, understand the part God
has asked us to play in it.
I found myself a little
miffed that after fifty So I say here’s the legacy: Keep yourself in
years of service to God, tune, and play the grace notes God has written
my dad had little in the out and placed in front of you, trusting where
way of acknowledgement. God has placed you in the orchestra. It’s
Until God spoke to me probably off to the left in the reed section.
and said, the reward is Your part might not even make sense to you,
that I gave your dad a but man, listen to that tone! We are Christian
passion that took him musicians because we have a music director,
through his whole life! booking agent, and road manager all wrapped
It was specific and came up in one. Keep playing one gig at a time until
out in his interpretation God finishes the packaging and adds the shrink
of music. I put a melody wrap.
in his heart that never
ceased to sustain through
the worst of hardships. He Bryan Duncan... CCM artist for
worshipped me with his thirty years. With the Sweet
life! It’s the most original Comfort Band, then solo and
concerto anyone can ever now with the Nehosoul band.
write!
Owner of Red Road Records and
If you have moved Host of Radio Rehab at  www.
beyond the same four radiorehab.com inducted into the Christian music Hall of
chords and seven words
we use in church, don’t be Fame in 2007.

46 MARCH/APRIL 2011 CHRISTIANMUSICIAN.COM


BREAK
THE SILENCE
Yamaha Silent Violins have served musicians admirably for
years. Never complacent, Yamaha has improved the tone, feel
and form to meet the specific needs of performing artists.
Introducing the Yamaha SV-250 and SV-255 professional
violins. Designed to thrive in the spotlight of live events, these
4- and 5-string instruments feature spruce and maple bodies,
direct PA connections and a pickup system enhanced for
premium sound quality. For details, visit the website below,
scan the QR code, or play the SV-250/255 out loud at a
Yamaha Strings dealer today. www.4wrd.it/svcm3
NEW Performing Artist Series
models to inspire and elevate your play,
with affordability in mind.

Martin® DCPA1 | OMCPA4 | GPCPA2

Martin® GPCPA3 Experience the complete line of Martin® Performing Artist


Series acoustic-electric models at performingartistseries.com.

©2010 C. F. Martin & Co. martinguitar.com Like us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter

Das könnte Ihnen auch gefallen