Archive | October, 2014

Family Economics Conference 2014

VA_FEC_Homepage

On the weekend of November 6-8, 2014 in Hampton, VA, join a group of families seeking to build their home and children in the areas of not only relationships and character, but also in finances, budget, vocational training, higher education, and more. Speakers Kevin Swanson and Eric Weir, as well as many others, will be sharing their God-given wisdom in this area.

Members of our Team plan to be vending at this exciting family event. Register here to attend. We look forward to seeing you!

It’s Back! A Mirror of His Grace

With gratitude to the Lord and to our wonderful website counselor, Robert Staddon, we are delighted to announce that our first music recording, A Mirror of His Grace, is available again… this time, in mp3 download!

mirrorbig1-242x250

The story…

Many have asked about the story behind our first CD. In 2007, the Lord took our family through a period of difficulty and testing. Then, in the fall of that year, when He opened the door to record at Brightwater Digital (Greenville, SC), many of the songs we chose to include centered around the theme of trial. While this was unintentional on our part, we now see that our Heavenly Father sovereignly orchestrated this fact so that the project would be a blessing to many going through the storms of life.

A Mirror of His Grace includes twelve songs, many of which are original compositions and/or arrangements by our eldest daughter, Amanda (Wilkes).

Keys for the Kingdom Piano Method Level B

4955760

As teachers of beginning pianists, we love using the Keys for the Kingdom piano method series! It progressively moves students from, in Level A, note reading and beginning technique, to, in Keys for the Kingdom Level B, playing on the grand staff in fun and easy pieces. If you have never used this piano method, be sure to give it a try today! Also, the Keys for the Kingdom authors have compiled extra curricular resources to supplement what is learned the the method book. Our favorite books to supplement with are Songs of the the Faith, Music for Performance, and Theory and Technique. Be sure to also check out Songs for all Seasons, an excellent tool to use for the beginning performer.

Keys for the Kingdom Piano Method Level A

As active piano teachers, we are often asked what method we use and recommend. Our favorite piano method for the earliest beginner is the Keys for the Kingdom series, Level A. This wonderful system for teaching and learning one of the most commonly sought-after instruments is effective for all ages, from the little bitties to mature adults. Beginning with the black keys, this method works the student up into the reading of the notes of the grand staff with ease after only a minimal amount of time.

We love this method, too, because the songs, though short and simple, are wholesome, Scripturally based, and musically productive – in contrast to many methods which only use meaningless note patterns with even more meaningless lyrics. Another wonderful feature is that this series incorporates into it’s method many of the essential Italian terms (and their English meanings) that many musicians, due to incomplete training, do not learn until upper level studies.

The set of books is just that – a set. Each level includes not only a method book, but also supplementary materials such as the following that the teacher may choose from based on the needs of the student including

  • Music for Performance – non-sacred supplementary music to enhance the students progress
  • Songs of the Faith – hymns and other sacred music suitable for church and other ministry opportunities
  • Theory and Technique – reinforcing what is learned in the method book through fun activities and exercises to be assigned completed throughout the week
  • Songs for all Seasons – performing pieces for Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and more

Many of the pieces in the Method, Music for Performance, and Songs of the Faith books include fun teacher parts to brighten up the learning path. Also, each of the supplementary books includes a tag with the complementary lesson from the method book, making it easy to keep students progressing evenly.

4955715

Click below to purchase this wonderful beginner piano method from Shawnee Press!

Keys for the Kingdom Level A Method

Keys for the Kingdom Level A Music for Performance

Keys for the Kingdom Level A Songs of the Faith

Keys for the Kingdom Level A Theory and Technique

Keys for the Kingdom Level A Songs for all Seasons