"What do you offer or recommend for pure beginners on piano?"

• Listen to music purposefully.  Start learning to distinguish what the individual instruments are doing.  Learning how to distinguish the movement of the bass is a cornerstone to learning to play by ear.
• Utilize your learning strengths.  Do you learn by watching others?  Scour YouTube for instructional piano videos.  Don't forget the free piano instructional videos here!  Or maybe your the analytical type that likes to read and dig things out for themselves.  My Applicable Music Theory for Gospel Musicians is a good book for that.  There's plenty of free music theory articles here too.  Perhaps you are good at listening.  Courses such as Hear and Play's Chords 101/102  audio course may be helpful.  Whatever the case may be, seek out learning opportunities that present themselves in a method that works with your learning style.
• Find a teacher who knows their music theory and understands gospel music.
• If you also have the patience to, start with classical training for a year or two.  It will be well worth it!  You will have greater control and be know the lingo much better.  You'll also be able to read sheet music.
• I also recommend checking out the learngospelmusic.com forum.  Musicians at all stages of learning are there.
• Go to live concerts.  This is a nice motivation to practice
• Visit nearby churches where the music is top-notch.  Meet the musicians.  Maybe you'll get an opportunity to sit in on a practice.
• Build your network.  Make friends with other musicians.  Participate in jam sessions.
• Most of all - Have fun!

• LA Metro Chapter Mass Choir has a new project out from which they performed two of their songs.
• Bishop Jamison's choir from Brookly, NY, sang a couple songs from their new project.
• John P. Kee performed.  He called out his record company, Verity, for not promoting him, while giving credit to GMWA for where he is today
• The Tommies Reunion Choir with Darius Brooks – legendary choir is back on tour and did some of their hits including, "Since He Came" and "The Holy Ghost".

• A choir from Japan sang.  Gospel music has become quite popular in Japan.  There are a handful of musicians from the U.S. that have been brought over to teach.

• GMWA Youth and Young Adult live recording.  I suggest you pick this up for your youth choir when it comes out.  They have some great new material.
• There was a new group called Focus from Charleston, South Carolina.  Very good vocals and band.  Keep an eye out for them.
• Lucinda Moore sang her hit song "Pressure Into Praise".
• Rev. Timothy Wright sang with his group.  He did his song "For The Rest Of My Life (I'll Serve The Lord)".  Great band.
• Kersten Stevens - Violinist - The best instrumental of the week.  I picked up her album.

• The Wilmington Chester Mass Choir sang at the Nightly Musical Service.  They were great to see live.
• Youth Service
  • Stephen Hurd
  • LA Youth & Young Adult Choir

• Nightly Musical
  • Tramaine Hawkins - what a pleasant surprise.
  • The Detroit Chapter Mass Choir was joined by Vanessa Bell Armstrong and the Craig Brothers.  Another pleasant surprise.
  • Juda Camp - An inspiring young group heading in the footsteps of Tye Tribbett.  I would recommend their CD based on their live performance.
• Verity Showcase - We were able to sneak in for a bit
  • Dwayne Woods
  • Joann Rosario
  • Richard Smallwood - Gotta love that classical touch.
  • Kirk Franklin MC'd the event.  He is working on movie based on his life-story.
  • The Canton Spirituals
  • Ran into some old friends and made a new one - Pharis Evans and Tuff, new friend - Aaron Shields.