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After watching the 4 videos, student Tosyn Omojola had these touching words for me:
Aug 12 2011 03:37 PM tal******[email protected]
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Subject: TOO MUCH WORDS FOR YOU.
Jermaine,
Throughout the period of this special video release, I’ve been preparing for a professional certification, but I ensured that I watched and learned from the videos.
My soul keeps blessing you each time.
Let me tell you what you’ve achieved in me…
I never had problems picking the key to a song. I sort of have ears for music (even before I started playing Lead and Bass guitars), but in all of the four videos I learnt these two crucial lessons that I will always be grateful to you for.
1.
I have always known there are 3 major (1,4,5) , 3 minor (2,3,6) and 1(7) diminished chords in a scale. You know what the puzzle is over the years? I never knew what makes a major chord major, nor what makes a minor chord minor let a lone a diminished chord. I used to think those were the names given those chords by the inventors of musical theory.
Now in this video series I learnt and now understand why a major is a major and why a minor is so called, likewise a diminished (7th) chord.2.
I have read books talking about the cycle of fifths or fourths and, somehow, I always carry the image around in my head trying to figure out its meaning and application. Recently, I started playing keyboard in church and, because I promised myself not to ever transpose but play any song on its natural key (which I’ve been faithful to, with some challenges of course, for a starter). When I play bass accompanyment, I placed my left hand on the keys such that my little finger and thumb rest on the key octaves while my index finger rests(automatically) on the 5th note of the octave. This has been part of me such that I dont have to look at my left hand. I just know once I locate my target note, the 5th note will harmonise it and others would follow depending on how I choose to play.So I’ve been trying to find a relationship between each root note I play and the corresponding 5th tone. After I watched this video four…I almost cried…I felt you’ve been spying on me. I felt like shouting. The Circle (or cycle) of 5ths just sank deep in me. That is what I’ve been looking for.
You made it happen. I don’t know what to say to you. You transformed my understanding. Now my playing will be impacted in a BIG way.
T.H.A.N.K. Y.O.U. GOD BLESS AND INCREASE YOU. You have been megaly helpful. I will always treasure you.
My response:
Tosyn,
While I’ll take credit, you’re the true hero here because you temporarily suspended any thoughts of “I already know this” and continued to study the videos anyway. And your breakthrough came in the minor details that eluded you in times past. I applaud you for your eagerness to learn and I appreciate your kind and encouraging words. They’ve made my day and I just had to share them with the rest of the community.
Keep up the great work and continue to excel. Applied knowledge is power.
All the best,
JG
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