Earlier this month, I took my Guitar 2 & 3 class from Valley Christian School to Santa Cruz to perform on the street in public (busking). We had so much fun! You can see excerpts by clicking HERE. Music education doesn’t only have to be in a classroom. This year has been so meaningful and fulfilling teaching the guitar students and investing in their lives. One student wrote in my yearbook, “Thank you so much Mr. Coates! This year, I have gained such a fondness for guitar, especially through seeing your deep passion for it. You are by far the most joyful, kind, and encouraging teacher I’ve ever had. This is my first time going to a Christian school and it’s so refreshing having a teacher that visibly loves Jesus so much.”
Since training is a large part of what Heartfelt Music Ministry is all about, this month I’m making available for free a Vocal Workshop training video for the singers on your worship team. There are a lot of tips I’ve included from the seminars I’ve taught at the National Worship Leader Conferences. May these videos inspire skill and confidence as you worship.
This is a vocal training workshop for singers on a worship team. It includes the six points to good vocal production, the five parts of the vocal instrument, the four elements of sound, and tips for increasing your confidence while singing in front of others. I can train your musicians in person as a worship band or as singers on a worship team. For more info, click HERE.
I’ve been working on my backyard this Spring. It’s turning out so beautiful and is a haven to rest and reflect before summer begins. I’m wrapping up teaching at Valley Christian School for the year and finalizing the Mount Hermon Christian Summer Concert Series starting in June. Ministry is thriving, but it always helps to stop and smell the roses.
The Easter season is here when we reflect on and celebrate Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and Resurrection Sunday. I hope this year proves to be very meaningful for you! I’ve recorded what I think is one of the most powerful Easter songs. It’s by Don Francisco called He Is Alive and you can view it on my YouTube channel by clicking HERE. “He’s alive and you’re forgiven! Heaven’s gates are open wide!”
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Worship Leading Insights & Training
Training is a part of what Heartfelt Music Ministry is all about. We have just made public a Worship Training video for your worship team. I cover the Four P’s to help everyone make worshiping together more meaningful: Pray, Prepare, Participate, and Practice. With the worship team from Gilroy Presbyterian Church, they share why they play on a worship team and what they are thinking about while they are leading. We introduce four popular songs and play a full arrangement of them. Another series of videos are called Worship Leading Insights by various experienced worship leaders (see below). May these videos inspire and motivate you to find more meaning as we worship.
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Worship Team Workshop Video
This is a training video for your worship team. I have used this video in my training sessions with various churches and now I’m making it available to you at no charge. It is an inspiration for a worship band to see. I include explanations of how to introduce four popular songs. We at Heartfelt Music Ministry hope this video inspires and motivates you to lead worship effectively and confidently.
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Worship Leading Insight Series
This series on Worship Leading Insights highlights worship leaders from all over the San Francisco Bay Area and nationally sharing their experiences and tips. Check out my YouTube Channel Playlist for more details. Some speakers are Rory Noland, author of The Heart of the Artist; Bob Kauflin, author of Worship Matters; and Tom Kraeuter, author of The Worship Leader’s Handbook.
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Reggie’s March Home Concert
I shared a Home Concert at Mount Hermon last month and it’s now available on my YouTube Channel. The songs included are:
– I’ll Worship with My Life
– Radically Committed
– Go the Distance
– Take a Stand
– Here & Now (Give Me Wings)
– Touch My Heart
– Partly Cloudy [new song]
– Abundant Sunshine
– Jesus Lives in Me
This video is a Home Concert of Reggie Coates sharing nine of his songs created in March of 2025. He shares songs he wrote for Mexicali Outreach with Azusa Pacific University (Radically Committed, Go the Distance, and Take a Stand), one new instrumental called Partly Cloudy, and six songs to uplift you and strengthen your faith in Christ (I’ll Worship with My Life, Give Me Wings, Touch My Heart, Abundant Sunshine, and Jesus Lives in Me). Each song has an introduction from the beautiful Redwood forest of Mount Hermon, California, for your inspiration and enjoyment. It was first viewed on March 16, 2025, but now is available to view any time. This concert is just under 40 minutes long. Visit Reggie’s YouTube channel for more concerts and training resources.
Spiritual maturity and strength is of utmost importance at a time when there is so much confusion and uncertainty. Many of God’s biblical truths are being twisted and ignored. Growing in biblical understanding and spiritual wisdom is a practical way to get grounded in truth. Valley Christian School (VCS) gives each faculty member an incentive to learn more about biblical and relational truths by requiring us to earn Bible and Educational unit credits. Last month, I watched three video series on The Book of Job by Francis Chan, The Book of Romans by J.D. Greear, and Winning With People by John Maxwell. Each of these were so encouraging and motivational for me. Other avenues I have for personal spiritual growth is daily reading the Bible and creating devotionals for the Conservatory of the Arts department at VCS (see below). Are you taking time to nurture your faith and ground yourself in God’s Word? .
A noteworthy event is happening this Sunday through my YouTube Channel. I’ve been working on an inspirational video which includes a performance at my home of nine significant songs with meaningful introductions to each song filmed at the Mount Hermon creek close to my house. Join me at 5:00pm to watch this new Home Concert Video and share comments with real-time interaction. If you can’t make it Sunday, once it opens at 5:00pm, you can watch it anytime after that. My goal is to enrich your relationship with Jesus and inspire you to live confidently in Him.
Home Concert Sunday, March 16
I am sharing significant songs of mine through a Home Concert Video at Mount Hermon, Sunday, March 16, beginning at 5:00pm through my YouTube channel. One new song is called Partly Cloudy reflecting on how life doesn’t always bring us sunshine.
VCS Encouraging Devotionals
One of the online devotions used to inspire the faculty at Valley Christian School is a short message by Francis Chan on having Jesus as the center of our life. I encourage you to watch it! He explains how a Christian is not just someone who goes to church.
Help Support Heartfelt Music
You can contribute to Heartfelt Music Ministry through Pay Pal Giving Fund with no fees taken out. We are a Non-Profit 501(c)3, which gives you a tax write off. You can give a one-time gift or a monthly reoccurring gift helping us with ongoing ministry. Thank you for your support!
Heartfelt Music Ministry has been investing in people for over 25 years. We’ve been touching lives through conferences, workshops, concerts, worship leading, private lessons, songbooks, recordings, and more. A recent emphasis has been on mentoring young people through guitar training and outreach classes. I teach Introduction to Guitar and Electric Bass, Guitar 2, and Guitar 3 classes at Valley Christian Schools in their Conservatory of the Arts program. I get to guide these amazing students toward intimacy with God and excellence in their music artistry. I also teach a junior high class called Community Outreach Fellowship, which is a wonderful opportunity for 26 students to go off campus to minister and help other organization. I’ve really enjoyed teaching this year and being able to encourage and influence students on a weekly basis.
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We would love to have you join hands with us in ministry through your prayers and contributions. You can donate to Heartfelt Music Ministry through Pay Pal Giving Fund with no fees taken out. We are a Non-Profit 501(c)3, which gives you a tax write off. Thank you for your support!
Guitar Training Classes
Music and Guitar have been powerful tools to inspire young people to express their passions and faith! They are having so much fun learning worship songs, new chords, creative techniques, how to write songs, and play in front of their peers.
Community Outreach Classes
In the Community Outreach Fellowship class, the students become “the hands and feet of Jesus” by helping package food at Silicon Valley Second Harvest and Martha’s Kitchen in San Jose. They also work with elementary students to teach them computer coding.
Home Concert Sunday, March 16
I am sharing new songs and significant songs of mine through a Home Concert Sunday, March 16, at 5:00pm through my YouTube channel. One new song is called Partly Cloudy and is a reflection on how life doesn’t always bring us sunshine. I’ll add the link in the next newsletter.
Christmas is a beautiful time to reflect on Jesus and be encouraged through music, family, friends, with hopefully some time to relax a little. Last Sunday, I did a short concert to share some personal songs and familiar carols. The year before, I put together a Christmas sing-a-long for families to enjoy together with words on a screen. In 2020, I recorded a Christmas Album which is available on Spotify, Pandora, iTunes, YouTube, etc. Visit https://reggiecoates.hearnow.com/i-wish-you-a-mary-christmas to find out more about this album (as well as my other 7 albums).
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Home Concert – Christmas 2024 (22 Minutes)
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Christmas Carol Sing with Reggie Coates (30 Minutes)
I hope you can join me this Sunday at 5:00pm during my Home Concert through my YouTube channel. I’ll be celebrating Christmas with a number of Christmas carols and some of the songs I’ve written that have encouraged me over the last few months.
Thank you to those who have generously donated to Heartfelt Music Ministry this last year! We appreciate you so much and definitely couldn’t do this ministry without you! Here we are at the end of 2024. Would you consider a contribution to enhance the impact of our ministry? You can donate to Heartfelt Music through Pay Pal Giving Fund with no fees taken out. If you buy anything on eBay.com with eBay GivingWorks (listing Heartfelt Music as your Charity), we receive a contribution at no cost to you. Thank you for your support!
The Heartfelt Music Ministry Board of Directors and I hope this Christmas is full of joy for you! May you feel refreshed and uplifted during this holiday season.
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I Wish You a Mary Christmas
This is my Christmas album with familiar, joyful, meaningful, worshipful Christmas carols. Hear how it sounds and where it’s available – CLICK HERE. You can purchase it digitally through Gumroad – CLICK HERE. You can purchase a physical CD though our website – CLICK HERE..
Live Online Concert on Sunday
I am doing a concert this Sunday, December 15, at 5:00pm through my YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/live/4uHKLEE70q0?si=Zzh_WUZZxKpo9vjD. Sing-a-long to Christmas carols and make a joyful noise!.
Donate to Heartfelt Music
If you would like to contribute to Heartfelt Music® to propel this ministry, click the image above or CLICK HERE. No fees will be taken out and your gift is tax-deductible since we are a nonprofit 501(c)3. This would be a wonderful End-of-the-Year contribution..
There’s a lot to be thankful for! Relationships are at the top of the list. I’m truly grateful for my family & friends! I’m glad to be influencing all ages through Heartfelt Music Ministry, working with the students and faculty at Valley Christian Schools, presenting talented artists to bless others at the Summer Concert Series at Mount Hermon Conference Center, and walking alongside the Mount Hermon Community for over 20 years.
The Thanksgiving holiday is right around the corner, but it’s never too early to be grateful. It does something to calm your soul and inspire joy. May this Thanksgiving be especially meaningful for you!
On behalf of the Heartfelt Music Board, we want to thank you so much for your prayers and support. We are so appreciative of your words of encouragement, generous contributions, and caring prayers. Happy Thanksgiving!
I hope you have a meaningful Thanksgiving this year! Take advantage of special gatherings of family and friends. Take nothing for granted. Let’s be truly grateful for what we have.
End of a Season at Mount Hermon
I just stepped off the Executive Board of the Mount Hermon Community after serving for 20 years. The people here are a joy to work with and I’m so glad for the new leaders who continue to care for this community.
The Mission Statement for Heartfelt Music Ministry is to lead others toward intimacy with God and toward excellence in artistry. Wherever I go, I share stories from my own life experiences to build faith in Christ and pass on significant lessons I’ve learned from life. I also want to train and coach others to be their best in serving the Lord through music. It’s been so fun to see students go from beginning to advanced in their music skill. One thing in common is that they want to keep getting better. Hearing of students progress brings a lot of joy, but seeing their motivation to use their talents to glorify God is so fulfilling! Here’s a letter I came across from Tyler Woodall, one of my guitar students who graduated from Valley Christian School a couple of years ago.
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“Dear Mr. Coates, I’ve taken your class all four years of high school and it’s honestly been my favorite class and something I look forward to during the week. I’m so thankful for your teaching getting me to where I am today as a guitar player! I started as a freshman having never picked up a guitar before. But being able to learn simple songs in the class gave me a desire to want to keep getting better. All the exercises, techniques, and songs I’ve learned in your class have been so helpful in my development. But beyond the guitar, I really appreciate the life lessons you’ve incorporated and the positive energy you have every class. Thank you for the impact you’ve had on me and helping me to find one of my passions.”
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My schedule has changed for this weekend and I will not be doing an online Home Concert this Sunday. I’m looking forward to doing an online concert in December.
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On behalf of the Heartfelt Music Board, we want to thank you so much for your prayers and support. You really help us steadily care for and equip all the lives we touch!
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Upcoming Events
• No online home concert this Sunday, October 13.
• December 15 (Sunday) I’ll be doing an online Home Concert through YouTube on Sunday, December 15, 5:00pm-6:00pm. I’ll be performing familiar Christmas carols and some of my songs to enhance your Christmas celebration.
It is wonderful to begin a new season with both familiarity and freshness. I’ve started my 14th year at Valley Christian School and really look forward to this coming year. The students are eager to learn and are having a blast playing guitar. I take seriously my responsibility and opportunity to influence these young students toward intimacy with God and toward excellence in artistry. .
I will be doing more Home Concerts online this Fall to share new songs and remind us of God’s miraculous work and changeless love. Just a couple of weeks ago, I made a video of my song Seasons. Ever feel overwhelmed with all the rebuilding, reorganizing, reshaping and changes going on? God is not taken by surprise and He will make a way for you. We can really enjoy life as we seek to stay close to the Lord in all we do. .
Thank you for your prayers and continued support. Your loving corroboration in ministry truly gives strength and inspiration to us.
Reggie’s Song, Seasons, on YouTube
Seasons is one of Reggie’s songs written as a prayer reminding us of God’s changeless love through the various seasons of life. Hope it lifts you up today!
Extend Our Reach
By donating to Heartfelt Music Ministry through PayPal Giving Fund, you are opening more opportunities to train and spiritually encourage those we minister to.
Valley Christian School Ministry
I’m teaching junior high and high school at Valley Christian Schools again this year: Guitar, Video, and driving for a Missions Outreach class.
This blog is a way to know the latest news from Heartfelt Music & Ministry. I’ll share what’s going on through our ministry journey and tell you of significant life changes and events to encourage you along the way. Click on your Really Simple Syndication (RSS) button to receive posts, pray for us, and even leave comments to dialogue with me and others. We welcome your involvement in this way.
