Fork In The Road Music » piano

The Christmas Song Project is Complete

Russell Martin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 06:03:06 +0000

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

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

Russell Martin — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 05:39:44 +0000

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.

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

Russell Martin — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 20:54:05 +0000

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.

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

Russell Martin — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 06:49:17 +0000

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.

12 Days of Free Christmas Songs – #5 What Child is This?

Russell Martin — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 02:21:08 +0000

The fourth of the 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs is “What Child is This”

You can listen to the song using the Sound Cloud player below. To download go to www.volummonster.com and enter code: 12DaysChristmas5

What Child by Russell Martin

Click here to catch up on the previous 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs

12 Days of Christmas Music – #4 Away in a Manger

Russell Martin — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 05:57:22 +0000

The fourth of the 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs is “Away in a Manger”

You can listen to the song using the Sound Cloud player below. To download go to www.volummonster.com and enter the code 12dayschristmas4

Away in a Manger by Russell Martin

Click here to catch up on the previous 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs

12 Days of Free Christmas Songs – #3 Starlight

Russell Martin — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 04:41:34 +0000

The third of the 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs is one that I put on my Lullaby CD called “Starlight”. It is an instrumental version of a song I co-wrote back in High School.

You can listen to the song using the Sound Cloud player below. To download go to www.volummonster.com and enter the code 12dayschristmas3

Starlight by Russell Martin

Click here to catch up on the previous 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs

12 Days of Free Christmas Songs – #1 Silent Night

Russell Martin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:31:00 +0000

I’m starting off the 12 Days of Free Christmas Songs with one of my favorite Christmas hymns, Silent Night.

You can listen to the song using the Sound Cloud player below. To download go to www.volummonster.com and enter the code 12dayschristmas1

Silent Night by Russell Martin

12 Days of Free Christmas Songs

Russell Martin — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 06:14:00 +0000

For the next 12 days I will be making 12 Christmas songs available to you for free. Some of these are ones I have previously recorded instrumental reflections, a few are from the Lullaby CD, and some are brand new, but all are instrumental piano christmas songs.

Each day I will write a new post with the song of the day. You can listen to the song on my website, and also download the song using the instructions below.

~~To download the song go to www.volummonster.com and enter the code I give you in each post. You will be asked to enter your name, email, and zip code. You will then be able to download the song.~~

To download the song just click on the download link on each sound cloud player.

I will post the links to the songs on my Facebook music page www.facebook.com/russellmartinmusic , on www.twitter.com/rgmmusic and on this blog. You can get notified by email. Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email.

Here are the songs posted so far:

#1 – Silent Night

#2 – In the Bleak Midwinter

#3 – Starlight

#4 – Away in a Manger

#5 - What Child is This?

#6 – A Bell Medley

#7 – Bring a Torch

#8 – Lo How a Rose E’er Blooming

#9 - Infant Holy Infant Lowly

#10 – Oh Holy Night

#11 – The Friendly Beasts

#12 – Journey of the Kings ( A Variation on We Three Kings)

Why I Teach Music Lessons

Russell Martin — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 05:16:38 +0000

I took classical piano lessons when I was young, and as I grew older I began to play by ear, write my own music, and read chord charts. I took music classes in college, and refined my knowledge of music theory, ear training, piano and voice. I taught myself how to play guitar when I started leading worship for camps and youth groups.

When I started being a worship leader in a local church, it wasn’t long before I had parents asking if I taught piano or guitar lessons. For the first few years I declined. Though I played very well, and understood music theory, I felt that the fact I did not have extensive classical training meant I could not teach.

What I found though was parents coming to me saying they simply wanted their children to enjoy music. They were not interested in recitals, and contests. They wanted their children to understand and enjoy playing their instruments. So I signed up my first guitar student on a trial basis.. for both of us. He did great, and apparently so did I.

Since that time I have had a number of students. Some tried music, and found they did not enjoy it or did not have time for it. Some found they liked it, and desired to go on to more formal training, and they found a teacher to better suit their needs. Most have spent at least a few years working with me before schedules became hectic, or they learned what that had set out to do.

Sometimes we use books, sometimes we learn popular songs, sometimes lessons are one on one, and sometimes they are in a group. I try to match the method to the student, how they learn, and what they want to accomplish. I try to make sure they all have an understanding of things like note names, chords, rhythms, counting, dynamics, chord patterns and other basic music concepts.

It has been a joy to teach and see the moment that they “get it.” Whether “it” is a guitar chord their fingers finally go to, or a piano song they have struggled with for weeks. I love it when they tell me how they played “Jingle Bells” for grandma at Christmas, or how they loved to show their friends their new song.

It also has been a great way to bring in some extra money. With us trying to become debt free, including paying off adoption costs, every last bit helps.

Worship leaders.. have you been asked to teach lessons?

Would you consider doing so?