This year looks very promising as Heartfelt Music Ministry will be doing more training, concerts, and worship leading throughout the Bay Area and nationally. Two new CDs are in the works:  A new solo album with songs never recorded and a new instrumental album with various guitar styles.  Next month, I’ll begin concerts with the band Cede which I’ve been recording with (their new CD has two of my songs on it Ain’t Nobody and Getting Stronger which you can check out at ReverbNation.com).

I just began ministering with Open Door Church in Mountain View part-time as Interim Worship Leader.  This church is an extension of Menlo Park Presbyterian Church which I have been on Staff with before.  I just finished up a fantastic four months with First Presbyterian Church of Hayward as Interim Worship Director.  What a positive experience!

Let me know if I can be of service to you this coming year through encouraging music (8 CDs available), private lessons (still teaching in San Jose, Los Altos, Danville, and Mount Hermon), speaking or worship leading (services, retreats, and special events), or a concert (even with band).

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!  Your contributions make a huge difference in keeping us moving forward.  If you’d like to be a part of what I’m up to, following me and Heartfelt Music Ministry’s activities on any of these Networks, join the “conversation” by clicking on an icon below to jump in.

Looking to Jesus (Col. 3:2),

Reggie

I now have eight of my recordings available on CDs.  People have been asking me to put my first 3 recordings on CD since they were created on cassettes only.  Now they are available!  Also, Confidence and Intimacy have been out of print for some time now, but they are available now. You can even pick an 8 CD Bundle of all my CDs available for a fantastic discount.  The CDs included are:

~ Here To Worship
~ Heartfelt Praise (Disc 1)
~ Confidence
~ Intimacy
~ Heartfelt Celebration
~ Take It To Heart
~ No Greater Love
~ Living In Jesus

Click here to go to our updated “Products Page” and order some.  You’ll hear songs such as All For You and Peace which are award winning songs recorded only on these early collections.

I have accepted a new position as Interim Worship Leader with Open Door Church in Mountain View as I continue ministering with Heartfelt Music Ministry as well. Thank you for your prayers during this decision of which position to take and continue to pray for this new adventure starting the end of December.  I’ll be finishing up as the Interim First Service Worship Director of First Presbyterian Church of Hayward at the end of this month.  It has been such a good experience and I have grown in love with the people.

Private lessons are one of the most fulfilling things I do.  Training and coaching musicians to thrive in their skill and use it to glorify the Lord.  I am teaching in Danville, San Jose, Los Altos, and Mount Hermon.  If you know of anyone who would like private lessons, let me know. [click here to find out more about lessons]

December sometimes means an end-of-the-year giving for businesses and individuals.  However, this year is pretty tight for everyone.  As you know, Heartfelt Music Ministry is partially supported by contributions, so if you feel led to give at this time, we would appreciate it so much.  We are behind this month and could use some extra help.  Thank you for your generous support!  Each gift is tax-deductible [click here to read more about donations].

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October was such a rewarding month for me and Heartfelt Music Ministry.  I’m continuing to touch over 60 students a week through instruction and coaching.  The National Worship Leader Conference in Pennsylvania was my third time with them encouraging over 150 worship leaders to play skillfully on both electric and acoustic guitars.  Heartfelt Music Ministry came to First Presbyterian Church in Richmond and with 6 instructors to train and equip in Effective Worship Leading.  It went very well and ended with me giving a concert (which some songs made it to YouTube.com through a student’s phone camera).  Also, I’ve been recording with a talented band called Cede headed up by Scott Metcalf and they have recorded two of my songs with a Gospel flavor that rocks (Getting Stronger and Ain’t Nobody).  Hopefully a CD will be out soon.

Picture of Reggie by Bryan Morrison

As Executive Director of  Heartfelt Music, I am training and encouraging Christians throughout the country.  But locally, I’m teaching music to over 55 students between private lessons and group courses at four different Christian Schools as well as Guitar Showcase in San Jose.  Ten hours a week, I’m ministering with First Presbyterian Church in Hayward as their Choir Director and Traditional Service Director.  Next week, I’ll be teaching guitar workshops at the National Worship Leader Conference in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  Later this month, I’ll be leading worship for the Mount Hermon Men’s Retreat (Oct. 22-24).  It’s been a busy month, but it’s a joy to daily be used by God in significant ways continuing to have a high impact on many lives.

I’ll be doing two concerts in the next couple of months, so I hope you can make one of them (see the events below or go to Events online).  I’ll be sharing about my faith journey as well as encouraging you in Christ.  Hope to see you there!

• Concert & Training in Richmond
  October 16 (Saturday) – First Presbyterian Church, Richmond, CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm.  There will also be a Leading Worship Effectively & Team Building workshop Saturday, October 16 from 1:00pm to 4:00pm with breakout sessions from 4:00pm to 5:00pm on Voice, Guitar, Drums, Keyboard, and Sound.  The cost is only $10.00 and includes dinner from 5:30pm to 6:30pm.  You can make a whole day of it. For more information contact the church office at (510) 234-0954.

• Concert in Los Altos
  November 14 (Sunday) – Bridges Church (formerly known as First Baptist Church of Los Altos), CA. Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm. For more information contact the church office at (650) 948-5698.

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I am teaching more private lessons this fall in San Jose, Los Altos, San Ramon, and Mount Hermon. Here’s a quote from Ted Kroger who is a current student.

“I have been Reggie’s student for about 18 months. I had been playing guitar for years but I had hit a plateau in my growth. A friend of mine handed me one of Reggie’s CDs, and I decided to take lessons. I wanted to learn more right-hand techniques and chord voicings so I could play improvisationally and apply them in songwriting. Having Reggie as a teacher has helped me make the most out of a limited amount of practice time.  Reggie’s enthusiasm for teaching guitar has been constant long after our first impressions. Each lesson, after a robust greeting, we begin by reviewing a bit of my progress from last time. Often I’ve told him in advance where I’ve been struggling or what I’d like to learn next, so he has come well-equipped with handouts that aid in retention. He even sends me a downloadable video summary of each lesson so I can refer back to it weeks later. Reggie has taught at the collegiate level, but his teaching doesn’t get bogged down in theory. Instead he tailors lessons that move students toward the goals they’ve set, and fills in precepts of theory as they seem relevant. Reggie is a very skilled guitarist, an enthusiastic coach, and a businessman who structures things so they are very user-friendly. And his walk in Christ adds a dimension of fellowship to each class!  My wife says she has never seen me move around the fingerboard so much. And I feel more excited and confident in my playing than I’ve ever felt in my life.”

Ted Kroger,
Private guitar student with Reggie in San Jose, California

Come join the fun!  Call (925) 206-9895 to get started.

Boy Scout Jamboree Band - Austin, Reggie, Dean & Brandon

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I hope your summer has been a good one overall.  Mine has gone by so fast, but it has been great!  I can’t believe there’s only a couple of weeks left.  I took the family to Washington DC for two weeks and we had a rich time together as well as some memorable ministry events.  I am now lining up all kinds of events for September doing what I love: encouraging others through leadership, music, and training. [click here to see a list of coming events]

I’ll be doing two concerts this weekend, so I hope you can make one of them (Felton Bible Church Saturday night and Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church Sunday night).  I’ll be sharing what’s new with me as well as encouraging you in Christ (see below).

This is a new season for Heartfelt Music Ministry where, in order for more ministry to take place, I will need to raise support.  I will be raising $2,000 a month as I will be serving with Heartfelt Music Ministry full-time now.  Would you pray about supporting me and the Coates family as we devote ourselves to the Lords work in this vibrant ministry?  I will be sending another letter in a couple of days explaining it more and asking for your help.  Thank you for your consideration.  [click here to read more about donations]

I’ll be teaching a number of 8 week music courses throughout the Bay Area starting in September.  These are mostly for children and youth, yet there are a couple of beginning guitar classes for adults.  I’ll teach in Danville (band and guitar at San Ramon Valley Christian Academy), San Jose (guitar with Valley Christian Schools and Showcase Music Institute), Los Altos (voice with Los Altos Christian School), and Scotts Valley (guitar with Baymonte Christian School). [click here to find out more about the courses offered]

Mark your calendars to pray for the following events and come if you can.  You’re welcome to get involved with any of these events.  Your prayers are so much appreciated.  Here’s what’s coming:

• August 21 (Sat) – Felton Bible Church, Felton, CA [http://www.feltonbiblechurch.org].  Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm.

• August 22 (Sun) – Morgan Hill Presbyterian Church, CA [http://www.mhpc.org/].  Family worship and concert.  Reggie will be sharing in concert at 7:00pm.
• August 29 (Sun) – First Baptist Church Watsonville, CA [http://www.fbcwatsonville.com/].  Reggie will be leading worship and sharing in concert for their special 10:30am service at Koinonia Christian Conference Center [http://gotocamp.org/].

• August 30-September 2 (Mon-Thu) – Christian Songwriters Conference, Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center, CA [http://mounthermon.org/adult/professionals/songwriters].  Reggie will be teaching songwriting workshops and judging for the songwriting competition at the conference.  He will share in concert Monday night.

• September 3-6 (Fri-Mon) – Labor Day Family Camp Weekend, Sugarpine Christian Conference Center, CA [http://www.sugarpine.org/camps/FamilyCamp/FamilyCamp.shtml].  Reggie will be leading worship throughout the weekend.
• October 5-7 (Tue-Thu) – The National Worship Leader Conference, LCBC, Lancaster, Pennsylvania [http://www.nationalworshipleaderconference.com/home].  Reggie will be teaching both the Electric Guitar and Acoustic Guitar training workshops.

• October 22-24 (Fri-Sun) – Fall Men’s Retreat, Mount Hermon Christian Conference Center, CA [http://mounthermon.org].  Reggie will be leading worship throughout the weekend.

There will be a special concert with Phil Keaggy in Monterey on Thursday, September 16^th at 7:00pm.  The concert is in honor of a recent double lung transplant for Justin Mompean.  Phil and other friends are doing the concert to help with the medical costs.  Tickets are $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. [click here for more info and tickets]
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Tenth Avenue North leading worship

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What a powerful time of worship renewal, refreshment, training, and fellowship with over 1,000 worship leaders.  I taught both acoustic guitar workshops and electric guitar workshops with over 70 in each class.  It was so fun to help guitarists understand the technical ways to be more expressive and make it easier to lead worship on guitar.  The worship nights were rich times full of energy with Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, Tenth Avenue North, Phil Wickham, Israel Houghton, Starfield, and even teaching by Luis Gigleo.  I was particularly blessed to see the freshness of the worship wave that is flowing over the church today.  God is on the move and I’m glad to be on the wave with Him!  Of course what makes it truly relevant is what’s happening in my heart (and your heart).  It’s fun worshiping together with a huge group of worship leaders.  Yet, God’s looking at each of our hearts and that’s how He reaches the world.  As I sit here alone in my hotel room, I’m filled with awe of the One who loves me so much.  Jesus deserves all our worship.  He is worthy of all our praise!