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Happy 4th of July everyone! As we celebrate our independence as a country, let’s commit anew our dependence on Jesus.  What a collision of freedom and fulfillment!
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There’s been some wonderful events in June with the Christian Guitarist Fellowship, an instrumental concert at Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea, and private lessons in both Danville and Los Altos.  Also, I’m beginning my second year with Creekside Community Church and it is such a blessing.  I oversee the Worship & Arts Ministry and work with the three pastors in the Student’s and Children’s ministries.  I taught on Love (1 Corinthians 13:7 & 8a) in the main service last month and will teach on Trusting in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-8) July 26th.  There’s a lot of ministry opportunities with good people to work with.  Please, pray for God’s continued blessing.
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Ministry Update & Coming Events

Tomorrow, July 5, is our 6th monthy Christian Guitarist Fellowship.  Hope you can make it from 2:00pm to 4:00pm at Creekside Community Church in Alamo.  I know many are out of town because of the 4th of July weekend.  But if you’re around  glean from fellow guitar players and share with them what you’re learning.  We have some good stuff planned!
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One of the best (and most affordable) two-day training conferences is Friday & Saturday, July 24 & 25.  The Lift Him Up Worship Training Conference is for all who are involved in the various aspects of woship.  Some of the training workshops cover:  Soundboard Techniques; Acoustic Guitar; Lead & Electric Guitar; Drums and Rhythm Section; Bass Guitar; Vocal; Worship Band Techniques; Platform Techniques; Worship Team Leading; The Meaning of True Worship; Genres of Worship; Prayer Worship; and Expressive Worship.  I am one of the featured presenters and workshop instructors for the conference.  Mark Kenoly and Kingdom Voice are also featured artists and instructors. The cost is very affordable at $25.00 per person for the two days of training and concert Saturday night at 7:00pm.  For more information contact New Life Christian Church at (510) 889-1304 or visit www.newlifechristianchurch.com .
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Are you a songwriter?  You won’t want to miss the Christian Songwriters Conference at the Mount Hermon Conference Center, August 31 – September 3 (Sun-Thu).  Write, learn, eat, and play!  Located in the breathtaking coastal redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this conference immerses you in songwriting with a close knit community of artists. Experience 3 plenary teaching sessions and 8 elective classes with experienced songwriters like Shane & Shane, Don Moen, Sara Groves, Charlie Peacock, Israel Houghton, and Joy Williams.  I will be one of the reviewers for the  songs submitted for competition and I’ll be teaching workshops throughout the week.  For more info:  http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/songwriters .
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In addition to private lessons in Los Altos and Danville, I’ll be an instructor with the Showcase Music Institute in San Jose (which is a part of  Guitar Showcase) beginning in the fall.  The cool thing about these lessons is that they will be twice a month with the addition of as many workshops as you’d like throughout the month.  Each instructor gives one workshop a month which is open for all the students to attend for free as a part of the lesson package (since there are about 15 instructors, you could take up to 15 workshops).  It’s great for those who want more than the hour a month I’ve been offering.  I’ll tell you more as it gets closer.  Let me know if you’re interested as there is limited availability.  Check out their site:  http://guitarshowcase.com under Lessons.
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Personal Update & Prayer Request

As a family, we’re doing really well.  We love to spend time together and have a lot of fun when we do.  Brandon has been busy doing things with new friends and attending camps and retreats.  He continues to draw daily.  Austin is enjoying summer with Tae Kwon Do, Gumdo, archery, gaming, and chess.  Both of them ended the year very well scholastically with straitht “A”s.  Sherri and I are very proud of them.  Sherri continues to be the best mom and wife in the universe which keeps her busy.  We’ve been affected by the economy, as many are struggling to make ends meet nowdays, so we’re having to change housing to something more affordable for us.  Please, pray for our transition which may take a few months.
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Your continued interest and involvement in Heartfelt Music Ministry is very much appreciated!  Drop me a note on Facebook, Twitter, or MySpace anytime.  May God richly bless you throughout this month with all the unique things that summer brings your way.

~ Reggie

The summer holds some concerts and conferences you may not want to miss.

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Christian Guitarist Fellowship

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The Christian Guitarist Fellowship is a monthly event for all Christian guitarists the first Sunday of each month, 2:00pm-4:00pm . Everyone is invited from beginners to advanced players.
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(CANCELED) Reggie Concert & Family Movie Night  (CANCELED)

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This concert has been postponed to early Fall.

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Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea,
Reggie’s Guitar Instrumental Music

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Reggie will be performing a variety of instrumental music on acoustic guitar (jazz, classical, rock, celtic, and easy listening).  He’ll be using his entertaining effects and musical artistry. Come on by to relax and enjoy the music. It’s free!

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Lift Him Up Worship Training Conference

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The “Lift Him Up” Worship Training Conference is for all who are involved in the various aspects of worship.  Reggie Coates, Mark Kenoly and the band Kingdom Voice are the featured artists and instructors.

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Mount Hermon’s Christian Songwriters Conference

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WRITE, LEARN, EAT, & PLAY Located in the breathtaking coastal redwoods of the Santa Cruz Mountains, this conference immerses you in songwriting with a close knit community of artists.

The Christian Guitarist Fellowship in May was another enjoyable learning experience.  Here’s some photos of our “Jam” time where everyone paired up and taught each other.  Come and join us for the next one Sunday, June 7th, 2:00pm-4:00pm.
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May Christian Guitarist Fellowship

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May Christian Guitarist Fellowship

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May Christian Guitarist Fellowship

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May Christian Guitarist Fellowship

Saturday, I’ll be giving an instrumental guitar concert at Yellow Wood Coffee & Tea in Alamo, Ca (check under Events for details), 4:00pm-6:00pm.  On Sunday, 2:00pm-4:00pm, we’ll hold another Christian Guitarist Fellowship at Creekside Community Church (also on the Events page).

This weekend, I’ll be leading worship for the second Father/Son “Mountain Men” Retreat at Sugarpine Christian Conference Center.  There will be over 200 men and their sons.  Pray that it will have a strong spiritual impact on the lives of all who attend.

The Coates family is enjoying life in the Danville area.  Sherri is busy nurturing Brandon and Austin as they are growing like crazy (both are taller than me now).  She is also involved at Creekside Community Church with girls in the Middle School Ministry, with greeting on Sunday mornings in the Frontline Ministry, and helping care for the babies in the Nursery Ministry.  She truly makes our house a home with her laughter and love.   Brandon is now 17 and will be driving soon.  He is enjoying drawing and the High School youth group at church.  Austin is 14 and is continuing in Tae Kwon Do and Gumdo.  Both of them like Venture School (although they think they have too much homework).  This week has been fun for me to be on vacation and spend time with family.  Last weekend was so nice to be at Sugarpine Christian Conference Center’s Father and Son Retreat.  I took Brandon and Austin and felt like it was one of the best times ever with a time of playing paintball, the cabin hang-time, prayer for each other and honest appreciation of each other.  Sherri’s birthday was this week and we’ve had some good moments of celebration.  All in all, we’re doing well.  May God bless you as you keep him first in all you do! If you get a chance, visit me on Facebook, Twitter or MySpace.

Sugarpine Christian Conference Center’s Father & Son Retreat

This last weekend went very well as I led the men and boys in singing and worship.  It was a “Mountain Men” fishing retreat with lots of fun activities and the singing and teaching time were spiritually inspiring.  Scott Simmerok, from San Jose First Baptist, did a fine job speaking.  I took my son’s with me and had one of the best times together.  Some families had been coming to the camp for 10 to 15 years.  It was great to see familiar faces as I’ve led worship there about 6 years.
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Online Guitar Lessons with MusicDojo.com

My first guitar lessons online really worked!  I wasn’t sure how they were going to work out, but the two week beginner’s course on Strumming and Finger Picking was a success.  A student from Portugal enjoyed the class and wrote, “I had a really nice time at the course.  It brought my practice routines again.  The course is very well structured, I think it’s pretty cool!  It´s been a pleasure to study, as well as interact with you!”  This course was the first in MusicDojo.com’s new series called Essential Worship Guitar.
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Creekside Community Church

Ministry with Creekside Community Church has been busy but fulfilling.  Easter, as well as the week before, was a good way to zero in on what Christianity is all about:  Jesus as King, the cross, and the resurrection.  Our four services (Palm Sunday, Good Friday, and two on Easter) reflected the celebrative and somber moods of each event and highlighted the life of Christ in us (Galations 2:20).  I’m enjoying working with the people and organizing each worship service.  We are currently going through 40 Days of Love and the musicians are studying the book The Missing Element of Worship:  What’s Love Got to Do with It? by Tom Kraeuter.
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Heartfelt Music Board Conference Call

We had a conference call a couple of weeks ago to catch up with the personal happenings of the Board members and keep the momentum going for Heartfelt Music Ministry.  I love those guys and appreciate their prayers and thoughtful insights as they oversee this ministry.  The economic crisis we’re in right now is affecting everyone.  Fortunately, faith and the “heart” of things really come out during hard times.
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Private Lessons & Coaching

I approach each lesson as I do most things with the attitude of, “What would I want if it were for me?” (Do unto others…).  So, each student gets the best treatment in lessons, better than anything out there.  Of course, learning is largely based on the student themselves.  But, the lessons are top notch with tailored coaching toward personal goals, multi-media interaction during the lesson, quality resources and materials, multiple emphasis (guitar, songwriting, voice), a Lesson Summary Video, and communication throughout the month.  I’m stepping it up because that is what I would want.  My students appreciate it!

The April CGF Group

The April Christian Guitarist Fellowship was a blast!  We had people from all over (those from out of the area were from San Francisco, Santa Cruz, Red Bluff, and Castro Valley).  We went over Alternate Tunings, Jazz Chords, the 12-Barre Blues, the Am Pentatonic Scale, and Great Songs in the Key of G.  Austin Graham shared a beautiful instrumental song he wrote and we had a good half hour of one-on-one jamming throughout the auditorium.  It was a very encouraging day.  Hope you can make it next time!

This Monday, MusicDojo.com is hosting my “Strumming and Finger Picking” online lessons for beginning guitarists.  MusicDojo.com has quality lessons by outstanding musicians like Adam Nitti, who plays bass guitar for Steven Curtis Chapman.  They are starting a new series for guitarists who play in churches called Essential Guitar Worship Series.  My coarse is the first in this series offering five strumming patterns and five finger picking patterns to enhance both faster and slower songs.  I also explain syncopation, groove, creating mood and more as each lesson opens up over the two week period.  There are video examples and clear explanation of each technique being taught.  It’s a cool way to learn online and I’ll be available daily through email and a live chat.  Check it out  (Click Here https://www.musicdojo.com/ ) and tell the beginning guitarists at your church.   More details below:
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Essential Guitar Worship Series: Strumming and Finger Picking, Level 1 (GW102)

The first guitar course in the Essential Guitar Worship Series is designed to introduce students to the most common right-hand strumming and picking techniques used within contemporary worship music. This course will help you to gain facility with the flat pick and will introduce you to finger picking techniques.   It’s only $29.95 for 10 lessons.

Lesson 1: Holding the Flatpick; The Best Way to Strum; 2/4 and 4/4 Time; Strum #1
Lesson 2: Finger Placement for Picking; Guitar Tablature; 2/4 and 4/4 Time; Pick #1
Lesson 3: Strum #2; Understanding Syncopation
Lesson 4: Pick #2; Finger Picking with Popular Songs
Lesson 5: Strum #3; Creating Groove
Lesson 6: Pick #3; Creating a Mood
Lesson 7: Strum #4; More Songs
Lesson 8: Pick #4; More Songs
Lesson 9: 3/4 and 6/8 Time; Strum #5; More Songs
Lesson 10: 3/4 and 6/8 Time; Pick #5; More Songs

Fatal accident

I am stunned to hear of the sudden death of Mike Swalley.  Last Monday, he was hit head-on by another car (the article is at http://pattersonirrigator.com/content/view/3073/42/ .  I lived with Mike for a few years during our college years in San Jose where we became friends.  We worked in Young Life together helping to change teens lives which is where I experienced his compassion and love for people.  We played guitar together and he helped me start a guitar group called JAM in the early ’80s.  Just recently, I began a new guitar group in Alamo called the Christian Guitarist Fellowship and Mike came to the first one, February 1, 2009, with his children Laura and Brian who both brought guitars to learn.  I gave them their first guitar lesson while Mike beamed as a proud father.  Mike had a heart of Gold…had a deep love for God, his family, and people.  I am in tears thinking about this tragedy, though I know He is experiencing unbelievable joy and peace in God’s presence right now.  My heart goes out to Michelle, Laura (14) and Brian (6).  My dad died when I was 6 years old and my mom died when I was 14.  Though it was very difficult, God used it to draw me closer to Him, shape my character, and value people like never before.  I pray this will happen for the Swalley family as well.  Please pray for them!