Tag Archives: Music

Most Embarrassing Moment of 2012

Embarassed Kitty

This morning we had a combined worship service at 10:30. It was supposed to be in our contemporary worship space, but because of some heating issues we moved it to our sanctuary where our traditional worship service meets.

We decided to keep normal order of worship for the Sanctuary service. This includes a closing benediction song that they always sing, every week.

I got the music, practiced the song and made sure I was ready to play it.

The order of service at the end was supposed to be hymn, pastoral benediction, benediction song, postlude.

I had planned a big loud postlude and was ready.

The pastor gave his blessing

And… I played the postlude, as loud as I could.

It was only after I looked out and saw the congregation standing, with a look of bewilderment did I realize that I had completely skipped over the song they were supposed to be singing.

There was not much to do, but stop, and start the closing song.

2012 is off to a great start.

So how has your 2012 been so far? Let me know in the comments!

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/photos/blese/

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Thanks For Your Votes

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Thank you so much for your support and votes during Indie Heaven’s Indiesong contest. First your votes helped my song “Awaken Our Hearts” be in the top 10 songs during the month of November.

Then it went up against 29 other songs in a head to head contest, decided by your votes. The top ten vote getting songs make it to the next phase. I am glad to announce that you helped “Awaken Our Hearts” come in at #6.

Now a panel of judges and songwriting experts will listen to each song and make a final decision as to the winner. So it is now out of our hands.

I want to thank you again for voting every day. The song could not have gotten this far without your support.

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Vote In One Final Push to Help Me Win $500 and a One Song Publishing Deal

awaken our hearts

A few months ago I told you that I had submitted my song “Awaken My Hearts” into Indie Heaven’s Indie Song contest. The main prize for the contest is $500, a one song recording contract. All you had to do was vote once per day. You voted. I made it to round two.

At the beginning of December “Awaken our Hearts” went into the finals. Basically all the winners from the previous months went up against each other. If “Awaken Our Hearts” is in the top 10 at the end of  December, it goes on to a panel of  judges, who will determine the final winner. I asked you to vote again. You have  been.

You have been voting since the first of December, and in that time “Awaken our Hearts” has settled in and maintained a healthy number 4 ranking. Which is ok, because it just needs to be in the top #10, but that doesn’t mean you should stop voting.

In fact, I am asking you to make sure that you continue voting for the next several days. I need you to help make that one last push at the end of the race.

So go and vote. Go to www.indieheaven.com/indiesong and vote by clicking the stars next to “Awaken our Hearts”. Then tell your friends and family to vote. Have their friends and family vote. We have just a few days for this final push.

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The Christmas Song Project is Complete

12 Days of Christmas Music

On December 12 I challenged myself to post 12 instrumental Christmas songs in 12 days. My hope was that taking on a project like this, one that required daily action,  would help me to be more consistent with my blogging, as well as to challenge me in my piano playing and writing.

I also have always wanted to release an instrumental Christmas CD. Mostly for friends and family, to give as gifts, but thought I could also maybe sell a few to those looking for some nice Christmas music. I thought that this would help me wrap all of those goals up into one single project.

So I sat down, nearly every day, at the keyboard. I hooked it into my computer, fired up my software and played the days Christmas song. I had some set backs along the way. First I work at a church, and the last few weeks before Christmas can be a little hectic. My family came in the week before Christmas, which limited my recording time. And finally my son is now 9 months old. Helping to take care of him also added to the challenge. I used a few christmas songs that I had put up on my Lullaby CD, and doubled up a few days, and was able to catch back up.

Finally the project is complete, and available for you to download. I am embedding the list of all the songs below. You can download them all at once by clicking the down arrow at the top right of the player, or one at a time by clicking download by each track.

I am offering these free to you through January 6th. What I would like from you, is for you to let me know what you think. I am considering putting these on a CD and making it available next year. Which songs would you definitely include on that CD, which ones would you leave off, what new songs would you add. I would love your thoughts and ideas in the comments below.

12 Days of Christmas Songs by Russell Martin

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12 Days of Christmas Music – #12 Journey of the Kings

12 Days of Christmas Music

With the carol “We Three Kings” in my mind, I sat down and just played what came to me. This is the type of playing I enjoy most. I hope you enjoy this too. The #12, and final song of the 12 Days of Christmas Music is , “Journey of the Kings (A variation on We Three Kings)”

To listen click the play button, to download Just click download (down arrow) on the song below.

Journey of the Kings (A Varition on We Three Kings) by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the previous Christmas songs you can download them here.

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12 Days of Christmas Music – #11 The Friendly Beasts

12 Days of Christmas Music

The #11 song of the 12 Days of Christmas Music is , “The Friendly Beasts”

I also have made it easier to download. You no longer need to go to a website and enter a code. Just click download on the song below.

The Friendly Beasts by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the previous Christmas songs you can download them here.

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12 Days of Christmas Music – #10 Oh Holy Night

12 Days of Christmas Music

The #10 song of the 12 Days of Christmas Music is , “Oh Holy Night”

I also have made it easier to download. You no longer need to go to a website and enter a code. Just click download on the song below.

Oh Holy Night by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the previous Christmas songs you can download them here.

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12 Days of Christmas Music #9 – Infant Holy Infant Lowly

12 Days of Christmas Music

The #9 song of the 12 Days of Christmas Music is another of my favorites, “Infant Holy, Infant Lowly.”

I also have made it easier to download. You no longer need to go to a website and enter a code. Just click download on the song below.

Infant Holy Infant Lowly by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the previous Christmas songs you can download them here.

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12 Days of Christmas Music #8 Lo How a Rose

12 Days of Christmas Music

Three Days left to Christmas and 5 songs to go. My challenge of getting a song out per day has moved to just getting 12 done before Christmas but the end is in sight. Your 8th song is Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming.

I also have made it easier to download. You no longer need to go to a website and enter a code. Just click download on the song below.

Lo How A Rose E’er Blooming by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the previous Christmas songs you can download them here.

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12 Days of Christmas Music – #6 A Bell Medley, and #7 Bring a Torch

12 Days of Christmas Music

My original goal was two record and post 12 instrumental Christmas songs, one per day, by Christmas. Traveling and sickness have made this a challenge, but I am determined to finish. So for the next few days I will be posting a few songs per day, to get caught up.

I also have made it easier to download. You no longer need to go to a website and enter a code. Just click download on the song below.

A Bell Medley by Russell Martin

 

Bring a Torch by Russell Martin

If you haven’t downloaded the first 5 Christmas songs you can download them here.

 

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