How to play, direct and teach
Black Gospel music.

Eric B. Byrd, Clinician

Next Session: TBA Soon!

Have you ever wanted to teach a group how to sing a gospel song, but couldn't because you couldn't play gospel piano, find notated black gospel music scores, and/or couldn't direct a choir in getting a true black gospel style? Then The Good News Workshop is for you!!!!!

You will have small group, private gospel piano instruction from a professional pianist with over 20 years of performing experience.

Come sing in a choir under a director who has with 10 years of gospel choir experience, including a concert tour of Vienna, Austria!

Can you already direct, but can't play? Vice versa? Need both? Only pay for what you need - IT'S UP TO YOU!!!!

Clinician Information

Musician, composer, director, child of God - these are just a few things that describe Eric B. Byrd. As a jazz pianist, he has appeared on over a dozen international CD recordings. For the past 10 years he has been Minister of Music at two major black churches while at the same time directing the McDaniel College Gospel Choir. Outside of graduation and homecoming activities, there is no student organization on campus that attracts the singers, audience and attention of the gospel choir.

Byrd has also taught Gospel, Blues and Jazz Piano privately and at Common Ground on the Hill and The Swannanoa Gathering. This clinic will provide you the benefit of his expertise in playing gospel piano, singing gospel music, and teaching others.

Clinic Schedule

The Good News Clinic is divided up into 3 sections. Each section will be an in-depth study, providing attendees with the tools necessary to play, sing and direct black gospel music at a high level, regardless of experience, ethnicity, or education.

Please bring the following:

• manuscript paper and pencils
• a working knowledge of at least a C major scale
• a recording device (no videotaping!)
• a positive attitude and exuberant energy!

Gospel Piano - three hours

The piano is the key, essential element to all of traditional gospel music and most gospel music in general. This session will give pianist the tools necessary to take ANY traditional hymn or song and make it gospel.

How to Direct and Teach Gospel Music - three hours

Where do you find black gospel music to direct? Can you teach how to sing this music without hurting the voice? What do the basses sing? How do you give instruction to a soloist? Answers to these questions and many more will be provided. We'll make a choir out of the clinic participants and sing gospel songs that illustrate several important aspects of black gospel music.

Lunchtime Resource Talk - no more than one hour

This session will give you resource materials we can discuss during lunch: CD's to purchase, books to study, churches to attend, choir directors to contact, singers to listen to, and musicians to hear. This will be printed out and given to you in a format that can be easily read and understood. Questions are encouraged throughout the day, but especially during this session.

You must provide your own lunch - it will not be provided on site.