Two Video Set

Ethel Caffie-Austin

There's no sound quite like the rich, rumbling bass notes and driving treble chords of traditional gospel piano. A good church pianist in the sanctified or holiness tradition can get a congregation singing, swaying and clapping along in a jubilant expression of spirit and faith. This inspirational course in gospel piano has been specially designed for novice and intermediate players who want to learn the sounds and styles of this vital musical form.

Ethel Caffie-Austin takes familiar spirituals and hymns and shows you how to gospelize them. She first teaches the simple melody, then adds harmony notes and chords to give your right hand a rich, full sound. Your left hand brings in a solid rhythmic foundation, with octaves, accents, 'walking' and 'stride' bass lines. Finally, adding fill-ins, runs, turnarounds, arpeggios and other elements helps you complete your gospel arrangement.

This entertaining and carefully taught lesson, with special overhead camera angles for a clear view of the piano keyboard, will have you playing joyful and uplifting music, and will add a wealth of ideas and techniques to your piano style!

In Video 2, Ethel continues her entertaining and inspirational exploration into traditional gospel piano styles, providing insights, techniques and powerful arrangements of well-known hymns, spirituals and sanctified music.

Ethel starts you off with a basic 'hymnal' version of Amazing Grace, then builds on that foundation by adding harmonies, bass patterns, fill-ins and other 'tricks of the trade' until you are playing a fill-blown gospel arrangement of this beloved hymn.

Ethel Caffie-Austin is a formidable pianist, vocalist, choir leader and educator who is steeped in the traditions and styles of the black church. Acclaimed as West Virginia's 'First Lady of Gospel Music,' she has been the recipient of the Jefferson Award for Humanity, West Virginia's Brotherhood Award, and many other prestigious honors. She has appeared on public radio's Mountain Stage, at the Kennedy Center, with the Wheeling Symphony Orchestra, and at concerts and folk festivals throughout the country. Ms. Caffie-Austin has taught numerous vocal and piano workshops, most notably at the Augusta Heritage Arts Workshop in Elkins, WV.