This is a popular quesion that beginner musicians usually ask.

image credit: youtube.com

What is the difference between transpose and Modulation?

Most of the time beginner players of the piano ask this question.

Transpose is a feature on your musical instrument that enables you to be able to play on all keys even if you have learnt to only play one key.

How to transpose on the piano

Unfortunately this feature is limited to two musical instruments which are the piano and rhythm guitar.

For example, let us say you have just started learning to play the piano, you would be first taught to play on the key of C. Assuming that as you are still learning and somebody calls you to play for him or her on another key, let’s say the key of F#, and you don’t know how to play on that key yet; that is when the transpose function would come to your rescue.

Note that it is not good if you are totally reliant on the transpose button, because it shows that you are a lazy musician. You need to learn to play on all keys, it takes time; but you would be happy you did. A transposing pianist has lesser chances of being hired.

Now what is modulation?

Modulation is the intentional act or process of changing from one key to another.

This is common in most gospel songs that we listen to, they might change the key by going a semitone or tone higher.

Now, If you can only play one key on the piano, it is going to be difficult for you to modulate during the course of playing to a song. Why? Because you can only play one key..

When you modulate, you move from one key to another e.g C to C# or C to D. Don’t think that you might be able to use the transpose button here, because you might not be fast enough to press the transpose button to set it properly, which might not go well with the timing of the song.

In conclusion, it is not advisable to use the transpose button of your piano because it makes you a lazy pianst.

image credit: Jumia

Guitarist also transpose using something we call a “Capo”; but its not convienient for them to use it to transpose to all keys.

image credit: Helen Austin’s Blog

Some singers who do not understand what it means to score a song thinks it mean listen to the song and learn the lyrics. No no no.

Firstly Scoring a song greatly depends on your level in music, listening fast and technicality of the song.

You don’t score a song anyhow; it needs ATTENTION and CONCENTRATION.

For the fact that you are enjoying the song and singing along does not mean you have scored it. Now the Big Question is:

(1) WHAT IS SCORING OF A SONG?
(2) HOW CAN I SCORE A SONG?

If you can answer the first question, then you have 70% idea on how to answer the second.

SCORING A SONG

It is the tenacity and ability of literally knowing how a song was written, structured, and recorded. You inversely become the owner and producer of that song. This means that, you have to know the lyrics, the harmony, melody, rhythm etc. (I will break it down, relax)

How To Score a song

The HOW-TO of Scoring a song entails the above and what am about to write now.

1. JUST LISTEN:

Get your phone or mp3 player listen to the song, enjoy the melody. Don’t start learning it. Feel the weight and sweetness of the song. You can do this once or twice.

2. KNOW THE STRUCTURE OF THE SONG:

Know how it started either from the intro to the chorus, from chorus to verse or vice versa. This will help you achieve alot at the long run. This is the first stage of scoring a song.

3. WRITE THE LYRICS:

Getting the lyrics down on a notebook will help you when learning the lyrics. I want to warn you. Write down the song by yourself, I don’t advice you to go to internet and copy and paste. It is good to check it online, but listen to it if it tallies to what you are hearing, abeg o. You maybe hearing VISION and seeing MISSION online. Be careful about that.

4. LEARN ALL VOCAL PARTS, BREAKS E.T.C.:

This is where I sometime begin to have problem with my choir. Some will be saying I’m an alto singer so l scored only d alto part  Ahhh. My dear you are a SINGER NOT ALTO SINGER. Learn all the parts. Beside Singers should know how to swap parts. Know when each part comes in, when the sing MELODIOUSLY OR HARMONIOUSLY.

5. BE THE LEAD SINGER AND THE BACK UP SINGERS: 

Try as much as possible to handle the lead vocal part and the back up. This helps you to correct others even the lead singer when he or she flops. Learn everything both d ad-libs. Everything, Everything.

6. LEARN THE INSTRUMENTATION SOUND: 

Don’t say you don’t know how to play, my dear learn the sound oo. The keyboardist may not get d melody or solo part. You will tell him, see! It’s not like that play pi ni ra ra ni. (Lol). Knowing the sound arrangement will help you when singing.

7. SING ALONG: 

You sing alongside with the music even if you have not or have perfected the song. Try to sing the same thing you hear in the song. I know voice texture differs but try do it with your own voice texture. You might be scoring Tamela Mann Song while your voice texture is like Don Jazzy or Eben. Do it. But don’t go off.

8. TRY TO SING WITHOUT LISTENING OR PLAYING THE SONG:

This where you know whether you have been joking since you started scoring. Most of us tend to sing well with musical instrument but remove the beat, They sound Wack. My dear, sing the song without playing it. Where you make mistake play the song and correct yourself.

9. OWN THE SONG: 

I stated earlier that scoring a song means you are now the owner, music producer singer etc. If you can make the song yours. Then you can take it to any level.

With these Few tips, you can score a song without any difficulty.

Are You A Chorister?

These are ten (10) funny but true facts about the church choir:

You see the church choir?

It’s one of the most interesting units to be in church. There, you would see all manner of people and behaviours.

1. There is this set of guys they call “instrumentalists” lol. Those ones? If they ever come for rehearsals on time, then something is wrong. They are always late, and in most cases the choir director can’t sanction them.

2. Choir Director.
The choir director always have a set of favorite singers in the choir and someone whom he/she always give the lead role in a song. And some people in the choir will always ‘beef’ that person, especially those that can’t sing well.

3. In some cases, the most committed set of people in the choir are those who can’t sing, and you just can’t drive them away. They are very punctual and committed, both in attendance and in the massive destruction of songs.

4. In some cases, the singers with very high level of pride are in soprano, while the most stubborn ones are in alto.

5. In every choir, there must be a certain brother and sister who usually do some exclusive rehearsals in the closet. When you look at those ones very well, they are the one that has chosen music as a career.

6. Some female singers actually joined the choir either because they love the uniform or they believe that’s where their husband will find them, or they just want to stand on the microphone let the church see them.

7. The choir at some point during rehearsals will behave as if they are so tired and they want the director to close, but immediately the director stops teaching songs everybody starts ‘gisting’.

8. There is always a “minor factor” in the choir: a certain Chorister who specialises in spoiling songs. The only way to spot this person is to ask them to sing one after the other. If the person is a tenor singer and he’s a smart guy, he’ll want to go out and ease himself that very time.

9. If the choir is hosting a concert, the rehearsals will be really interesting but on the concert day sound is always bad (sounds engineers please forgive me).

10. Even if the whole church falls under anointing, the “instrumentalists” standeth firm on the solid rock. They can never fall under anointing. E no fit happen. I tire for them.

In all of these, God is gracious, and Jesus won’t stop loving choristers.
I’m proud to be one.

There’s Wisdom beneath this for all to take corrections…

IF YOU ARE A CHORISTER, forward this to your fellow chorister(s).

Image credit: Hill song united

Oh Lord, bless this music that it might glorify your Name. May the talent that You have bestowed upon me be used only to serve You.

Let this music be a witness to your majesty and love, and remind us that You are always watching, and listening, from your Throne above.

May your Presence and beauty be found in every note, and may the words that are sung reach the hearts of your people so they will draw closer to You.

May your Spirit guide us through every measure so that we might be the instruments of your peace, and proclaim your glory with glad voices.

Amen.

Noise: 

Always have it in mind that the moment you start with the policy that you must hear yourself very loudly during a ministration/performance/presentation with your group or band,
noise starts from there. I’m not saying you shouldn’t be audible with your instrument, its not in all cases that the musical gadgets will produce what you want, moreover they have their limits and get spoilt even at work.

Submission: 

No matter what the case may be, even if the lead vocalist isn’t as bold or good as expected, submit to him/her, respect the little talent, encourage that person, and never say you are too good to play for an artist.

Respect: 

To everybody you come across in life, they have their different ways of perfectly displaying their musical talents, that they are not good on a particular pattern/style doesn’t mean they are worst in other aspects, and if it’s about just learning, life is a university of learning where even the bosses learn from the upcoming ones, and where the learners overtake the bosses, I’ve overtaken my bosses and my students are overtaking me, that is life for you.

Notice me:

When you start to play to impress people or this eyes service of a thing, then you will surely become proud and from there, you are gradually coming down, there is no talent you’ve got that God hasn’t given to someone, even more of it, so play maturedly and stay humble.

Engineers:

Always see your engineer(s) as your friends and never make them your friend for the sake of volume, if you ask for volume, as friends, he will surely increase it for you, but looking at it technically, is it necessary? So be professional.

Rehearsal:

Never depend on inspiration alone, do personal rehearsals, do it with your mates, bosses, and upcoming ones, update yourself, being the best instrumentalist in your church/band/organisation doesn’t make you the best in the environment.

Creativity:

Life itself is an environment where your different concept brings you out, not by copying from people alone, but by adding yours, playing it differently.

Church reharsals:

Go for church rehearsals, don’t underestimate your choir members, you are one in Christ, you may be more advanced, but don’t say their level is too low compared to yours, if it is, then your level becomes too low for God. If you are given money, collect it, but try not to go to churches with the intention of playing to get paid, it doesn’t bring prosperity in life, God gave you the talent, let him work it out for you.

Conclusively:

Share this message and help someone if you agree with these points

You were looking for how to impress her, then she told you she loves music and also love men that can play the piano.
 
Gbam! Iwochaluuuuu! “Baby,that one na small thing, I’m a piano wizard na!”, u said.
obviously she got impressed and Started catching feelings small small.

 
Another day, you wanted to see her, she told u she’s in the church for choir rehearsals, that you can come there and see her.
 
You came to the church, sitting at a corner waiting for her, she comes where u were sitting and the next thing u heard was “baby please come and help us play the piano,our keyboardist disappointed us”.
 
Suddenly your head started spinning, and sweat started gathering beneath your boxers.Unknown to u, before your arrival, she has already told her friends that you are a piano wizard (as you said), so everybody was eagerly waiting for the wizard to come and manifest.
 
She’s a girl that you are crushing on, so you wouldn’t want to mess with your chances of winning her over. You stood up, sauntered to the piano stand like a 4 year boy that was forced to drink alomo bitters mixed with weed. 

You Sat on the piano seat, for 5 minutes, you were mopping at the keys wondering why the white ones are longer than the black ones, and which ones are meant to be pressed.
 
By then, all your ancestors are already standing in a single file with their hands on their neighbours’ shoulders waiting to be disgraced one after the other by you.
 
You girlfriend’s friends are already pressurizing her to tell you to start playing ,and she goes like ” baby what are u doing na?”
 
You vigorously shake your head to get a clearer vision of the keyboards as if u ve not been seeing them before, you raise all your ten fingers like a lion that wants to pounce on an antelope.
 
“daaaaaaang!…..grrrrrrrrrrr! Daaaaaaang!!” “Daaaaaaang……ntuwaaaaaa! Daaaaaaang!!” “daaaaaaang”,
for ten minutes that was all they were hearing from the piano. 

As you raised your head to see their reactions, you saw nobody there, I guessed they deserted you to rehearse with your fellow wizards..
 
Next thing,Your phone beeped, it’s a message from your supposed girlfriend and it reads,
“Don’t ever in your life call my number again!, you are truly a wizard and what u need is a witch, and I am not one…

Ebenezer Obey

The success of man is not in never failing, but to rise up each time he falls.

Ebenezer Obey-Fabiyi’s mother, Abigail had married her first
husband for 20 years without any child in Lagos.

The parents of the husband separated them after the long-year barrenness.

In order to hide from public shame, Abigail Oyindamola relocated to Idogo now in Yewa South Local government where she met Fabiyi, an Egba man who was a carpenter and cocoa trader.

Their marriage was unexpectedly blessed with a boy and later, a girl. This was the reason the name “Ebenezer” was arrived at in 1942. Meaning: “Nihin ni Oluwa ran mi l’owo de(Stone of help)”. Ebenezer Oluwaremilekun Olasupo.

Ebenezer Obey attended Methodist Primary school in Idogo where he was made as band leader in the school, this honed his music talents. He formed Ifelodun Mambo Orchestra in Idogo.

Struggle in life:

In 1957, Ebenezer Obey renamed his band as Royal Mambo Orchestra. He relocated to Lagos from Idogo with two men, Akinyomi Savage and Bamgbose Jumoda, also known as Abengo Mayana. Late Fatai Olagunju, Fatai Rolling Dollar was the band leader and Obey was with him for six years.
six years later, Obey formed another band called International Brothers. He was stranded with no music promoter. He decided to treck from his base in Mushin to Lagos Island, about 20 kilometres journey, to seek for assistance of a music company, DECCA.

Obey walked from Mushin to Yaba, from Yaba to Oyingbo, to Iddo, Carter Bridge (There was no Eko bridge and third mainland bridge then) and, from there, he reached Idumota and now proceeded to Abibu-Oki Street in Lagos Island where DECCA West Africa Limited was located.

The Igbo gateman who was at the entrance initially disallowed him from entering the company but Obey told him he came to record for the company. He escaped the first hurdle. The confidential Secretary explained to him that artiste manager he would see was on leave.

Obey prayed for a week and returned to DECCA, he had his way through the gate but the Secretary still blocked him. He told the secretary, “I am a star and I have come to record for your company. And my record will make your company a bigger one.”

The secratary said, “You cannot see him!” but the confident Ebenezer replied “I must see him!”

Obey who trekked from Mushin to Lagos Island was frustrated and he raised his voice louder as a musician when he noticed the white man, who was the Managing Director, Mr. C. K Cress was around. The noise did the magic, it attracted the attention of the M.D.

The white man phoned the secretary through Intercom and asked “What’s all the noise about?”

“it’s this man who said he is a star and will like to see you and I said he cannot.” the secretary replied. The MD asked, “A star?”

“yes.” the woman affirmed.

Mr. Cress asked Obey to come in.

“Sir, I am a star – a future star. I have come to record for you. Just record me and don’t pay me until when you have recorded me and you see the sales of the released record. My record is going to sell.” – Obey confidently told the white man.

The white man ordered the artiste manager, Mr. Ogunsanya to give Ebenezer Obey a trial. DECCA West Africa Limited recorded the songs of Ebenezer Obey, instead of 8 tracks he prepared for, 5 of the songs were recorded. Despite the fact that Ebenezer Obey moved round to canvass the distributors to buy his record, 500 copies of the Album were not sold for the selector’s mark, the basic requirements for the qualification.
It required just 19 copies to meet up 500 copies. May you be favoured and may help from above locate and sustained you. Amen.

The future star failed, the staff were making jest of Ebenezer Obey. “Sir, your future star did not make it”, the artist manager told the white man.

The white man had imbued with confidence on Obey’ optimistic style to succeed. He ordered for 25 copies to rescue the future star from disqualification.

Obey’s first Album ” Ewo ohun oju ri” sold 506 copies in 1964.

Ebenezer Obey’ second Album changed his life. “Olomi Gbo Temi (My Dearest Wife Listen to Me)…Baby mi, jọwọ jeka Jo ma gbadun, Aya to mo Yayi lo nsefe Oko re, telegan ba ntan e, ko ma ma se gba.”

Ebenezer Obey was brought into limelight with his second Album in 1965 but ‘Palongo’ which he released the same year gave him breakthrough.

Since then Ebenezer Obey has never come down in his profession. He had travelled worldwide.

Surprisingly, the Military Decree of 1972 and 1976 (Nigeria indigenization decree) brought in new owners for DECCA West Africa Limited. Both Chief Moshood Olawale Abiola and Chief Ebenezer Obey controlled the 100% ownership of the company which later changed to Afrodisia Limited.

Obey became the employer of the white man, his former Managing Director and other staff of the music company. He later established his own music company.

“Labe igi orombo, Ibe lagbe nsere wa, inu wa dun, ara wa ya.. ”
Ebenezer Obey is an evergreen great juju musician, now an Evangelist and a Shepherd of His flock.

“A i ma siko lo ndaamu, Ẹda o, Ọrọ
mi lọwọ Oluwa lowa. Ire temi ko ma ni kọja mi.” Amin o.

Photo Credit: Virtue Music Community

Dear Choir director,
 
        That song was played by 3 keyboardists, an organist, 2 guitar players, a bass player, a drummer and with stems running. You have just a keyboardist(that has to split f
or bass) and a drummer and you want them to reproduce everything you heard on the track? Do you fear God?
 
Your keyboardist needs at least two weeks for him to prepare to be able to play that song but you gave him just two days and you’re shouting at him during rehearsal, no be so o.shey una go make heaven like these lolz. Na joke ooooo
 
                                                                                                                                           Yours truly,
                                                                                                                                          Instrumentalist.

Photo Credit: Virtue Music Community

My fellow choristers. I don’t know what they need for them to fall in love with Music, and not just love for Music, but also desire to know music as it ought to be.
I struggled to get to this point and I’m struggling still to get out. I started
putting interest in music in 2012, I had someone who was to put me through. After a few weeks of training, after I had learnt drmfsltd, doh fah soh chord, lesson stopped. I stayed for about a year without music, I almost forgot I was learning Music.

Until sometime in 2014 I got hooked up with someone who helped me with progression. How to apply those doh fah soh chord while a singer is active( Learn progressions and their applications with videos). He introduced me to a new Chord, lah(A minor). Lol.

That was what we called it then… Doh Fah Soh…
Lol.
The new teacher didn’t last too..

Ever since I reconciled. The love grew. My passion for it grew. As at 2015 or so, I was in several groups. I don’t study much as I used too. I didn’t have a teacher, my choir was managing me.

They would hire instrumentalists for Major programs in church such as festivals, general thanksgiving, even concerts, but I decided not to give up. I went into theory. My pastor wanted me to write a music exam. He wanted me to take a professional course in music. I couldn’t enroll in MUSON(Musical Society of Nigeria) as I planned because of the cost. The more I looked into Music the more I loved it and wanted to know more.

Do you know I’ve prayed and I’m still praying, that God should help me watch my hunger for music? So it doesn’t outgrow my desire/hunger for Him. My people also thought Music has nothing to offer.
You just become something else. They believe you can’t survive on Music. Only if someone saw the light and believed in God in me, and supported me earlier in my music career.

I finished school few years ago. 2013. That’s Secondary School, I never wrote JAMB until last year. I wrote Music and I did well. I have never attended a Music School. Thanks to WhatsApp groups. All glory to God Almighty.

I found out what I can offer with Music right now. And I am building on it. As much as I know Theory is good, practical is also necessary if you want to be a good player, but for a person like me who has no visible teacher other than the ones I met online. Someone who has no one to show him the theories he learnt, where and how to use them. Sometimes, it seems like I made the wrong choice venturing into Music at first, but, I know I have a purpose with Music. I know I’m not a very good player, and I may not be able to teach practically. I know I can help someone understand the basic knowledge of Music rightly.
And that’s what I have decided to offer. I think I can lay good foundation for Music

You’ve read it now right? Yeah. So what excuse do you still have?
Sssh you don’t have an excuse to fail in life. We would always enjoy your success stories but, stories of how and why you failed, We don’t want to hear!!!

Get Up and Find Your Way to The Top Even If You Have To Crawl!

Generations Are Awaiting You. Don’t Fail Them, Don’t Fail Yourself, Don’t Fail God.

Anonymous

Photo Credit: Pastor John Olatunji

I was invited to minister at a program years ago and as we walked in the worship was on, the moderator took over after a while and cracked our ribs for 20 mins..

I was called up and I wasn’t even up to 10 mins and the moderator came pacing around me like someone who forgot something, I knew it was time..I handed him the mic.
They came to me, “Sir, we will call you up again” so I relaxed and had another 15 mins of AY Live from the moderator.

Another fellow goes to minister, the moderator comes up and gives us another 15 mins of Jokes.
One of my guys tapped me,

“Sir, is this a comedy or worship meeting”

I was baffled myself, plus I was angry! It wen’t on till 3AM I couldn’t take it I walked out straight to the guest house and when it was dawn they came to give me honorarium.
You see my anger, some folks think when we travel to minister that we are on a business trip, so once they can foot your bills they think it’s all fine, my friend it’s not fine!

How can it be fine when you are doing the body of Christ such great disservice, how can it be fine?
Do I have anything against comedy I’d be lying if I said YES, I truthfully do not. One of my closest pal is into comedy but I have great respect for him because he knows that his gift in that area has it’s place not in church meetings except out door events hosted by church.

Listen my friends, all this break and quench in the name of moderation please watch it! Have I said you will drive the Holy Spirit away? NO! But order is key! And order is not just about having great line ups it is also about taking out what shouldn’t be.

If you must have a moderator let it be one who knows how not to cut the flow, this is important. Don’t tell me you are trying to keep people awake in the name of such joke then I know you never prayed for that meeting, and you obviously have no agenda to create convenient room for the things of the spirit to be practiced.
You can’t have the meeting YOUR WAY, let that sink!

Mind you, the greatest fulfillment of any true minister is to see lives blessed by their ministry not to come all the way to be entertained by some joker and then some sandwich of hallelujah and then he goes home with envelop , THAT IS NOT IT–let it sink!
I hope this meets you well.

Pstor Clarkson Ikwunze