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keyboard class

Lifting Up Praise

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As usual, there has been a lot going on over the last little while! One thing that’s been fun – well, more than one thing – have been related to music.

The piano/keyboard class has (finally) started up again, with at least six students. Most of them are already involved in the worship music ministry at the church.

I’ve had to refresh my own memory as I go – it’s been a while since I’ve taught the course! But the students have survived two classes so far, with seven to go. We’re having a class every couple of weeks or so, so it will take a while to finish. But I’ve got them memorizing their seven notes now. 🙂

I’ve also been enjoying leading the worship music Bible study again. Actually, it’s one of two that I’ve done before – the more general one. (The other one was specifically for keyboardists.) There’s always something new to learn as we go deeper into the Word of God to see how we can better lead people to worship through music.

And then, of course, are the regular music practices that we have, which are also fun. It’s been a bit of a challenge having less time to practice before the service, because we only rent the hall for a certain amount of time. But we usually practise during the week as well.

It’s amazing to see how this group has grown over the past few years, and it’s been great to spend a little more time with them over the past little while!

Worship music 2025

Retro: Everyone Thinks They Know…

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10 years ago today – a closing program at the community centre in the community of Jesús María. Along with various other classes (including Shari’s baking class), I had a presentation for my keyboard class.

For the keyboard class, we had a game show – Todo el Mundo Cree Que Sabe (Everyone Thinks They Know), which is the Mexican version of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader?.

So here’s a photo of the show in action. But as a bonus, a short video from the whole event below.

Todo el Mundo Cree Que Sabe

Encouraging Moments at the Community Centre

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Sometimes you’re encouraged, sometimes you’re discouraged. But there are some interesting things happening at the new community centre, so I thought I’d share a little encouraging news.

Some of the classes have been well attended – some not. This Tuesday my keyboard class was one of the not-well-attended ones, and I thought I’d be packing up early because there were no students.

Then a few junior high boys stopped by. One of them asked me if playing the keyboard was anything like playing the melodica.

I didn’t even know what that was – and in case you don’t, here’s a picture.

melodica
Photo courtesy of Sarah Joy
That’s a melodica in the case. You take it out, attach the mouthpiece and blow through the tube, and then play the keyboard. It’s a “free reed” instrument, similar to an accordion. It’s light-weight and small.

And it’s used in the schools here for music education! Which means there are hundreds of junior highers who are already becoming familiar with the keyboard.

So this guy came back and showed me his melodica. And I asked if he wanted to take a keyboard class. And he did.

Because he was already familiar with the keyboard concept, I taught him some chords – 96 chords in all. And it was a blast to see his eyes light up as he realized how many chords he had learned in only a few minutes. And I flipped through a music book and showed him – “Look, now you know all the chords for this song. And this song. And this song. And…”

I guess I gotta get me a melodica to add to my class.

Shari has been handing out cookies – a “demonstration” of her upcoming baking class. Well, the class was today, and four women came! A great improvement from zero last time.

Baking Valentine's Day CookiesAnd Shari too was reminded of the joys of teaching something new. When you’ve never baked before, and you realize that yes, you can bake cookies – WOW! 😉

So Shari really enjoyed her time at the class today. Teresa helped out too, but escaped from the camera lens.

Speaking of Teresa, she apparently had a good time in her English class today. Shari said that the students seem to really like her. Teresa is getting a lot of English teaching in, and she’s making friends and connections which I’m sure will yield fruit in the future!

And activities continue with Tina, and Rod and Mayra Fry as well. Lots going on!

Yes, there has been plenty to be discouraged about. But God is working, and it’s gracious of Him to give us some encouragement along the way.Chocolate Face

Reminds me of the verses we memorized in Sunday School a while ago. We were talking about how the Spirit is Someone who goes with us on the journey, encouraging and exhorting us.

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. (Philipians 2:1-2)

So how are the classes going?

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The classes at the community centre at Las Palmas are going quite well. There have been about 33 scheduled classes so far this year. They average a handful of students, with people dropping by all the time to ask questions and get the schedule.

Keyboard class - February 2015I had two enthusiastic students at my keyboard class this past week, where we worked on two Mexican classics РLas Ma̱anitas (a song typically sung for birthdays), and Mexico Lindo y Querido.

English classes, country dance, guitar classes, and craft classes are also in full swing.

Last night Shari dropped by with some home-made cookies – a little preview of what’s going to be happening at the baking class next week. The recipe is, I believe, galletas flores de cacahuate. I’ll leave it to you to figure out what that may be!

Later this month some of our team members will be starting up a kids’ club and Bible study in another area of Las Palmas.

Classes also continue at the other community centre in Jesús María, with a few at other locations as well.

Please keep praying as we network within the community and try to provide quality, useful classes, while at the same time sharing the love and truth of God.

Keyboard Class Begins!

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This afternoon (at 5:30pm) we’re starting the first keyboard class of the season at the community centre.  Today we’re mostly talking, covering the basics of pianos and keyboards, the basic scale, parts of music, things like that.

Tonight among other things we’re going to talk about Mexican composer Julián Carrillo Trujillo.  Carillo was the inventor of "The 13th Sound" (el sonido 13), a microtonal scale used in much of his music.

You can hear the strange results of using a scale very different from what you’re used to in the video below.  The picture is an example of his system of notation.

Tonight – Keyboard Class Registration!

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Yes, this is the week of registration at the Centro Cultural Tiempo de Vivir!  And tonight at 5:30pm will be registration for keyboard classes.  We shall see how big the class will be!  (Of course, it’s going to change and change and change, but we try)  😉

Here’s a poster I made up to show people registering what the class is all about…

Clase de Teclado - poster

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