Why I am Launching a New Piano Master Class

March 31, 2015 By Stanton Lanier 2 Comments

What is something new you are working on?

I have been developing Creative Composing: A Master Class with Stanton Lanier. This new online video course is designed to help pianists (and other musicians) grow in their playing, and learn composing techniques. The first class will launch May 1st. Registration closes April 30th, and there is special discounted pricing I am extending through tomorrow, April 1st.

Why I am I launching a new piano master class? Most pianists are like me. They did not major in piano in college, they don’t have a PhD in piano, and piano is not their career (I majored in chemistry, have a master’s degree in business, and spent fifteen years working mostly as a financial advisor). I learned to read music growing up, but I have always composed by ear. Growing in music performance and composing is not as hard as most people think. Below is one of three free videos with some composing tips. But there is more the story…

https://vimeo.com/120727185

This dream has evolved from 3,000 pianists in 40 countries purchasing 1,600 piano books and 1,400 individual sheet music songs. When I started piano lessons at age six, and composed my first song by ear at fourteen, I never imagined I would one day be a pianist and composer. Fifteen years ago I first had the idea to create Scripture inspired piano to refresh your spirit™. Music to Light the World was founded in 2004 to offer God’s peace and rest in a hurried world. Today there are ninety compositions, ninety-nine recordings, nine albums, eight piano books, ninety-four sheet music PDFs, and five million people have heard my music in 130 countries. This journey has been humbling, amazing, scary, mysterious and marvelous all mixed together.

My desire through composing, recording, and now teaching, has always been to make a positive difference in people’s lives — to inspire their faith, creativity and calling in their life journey. If you are pianist, please check out the Master Class and all the free bonuses by clicking here. If you know a pianist, please forward this to them to consider. Piano teachers can receive a student group discount.

If you are working on something new that is challenging you to be brave, and to stretch your creativity, I would love to hear about it. Just contact me and I will respond personally to encourage your dream.

In closing, here are two verses that help me keep dreaming and creating…

Isaiah 41:10 (MSG) — Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.

Psalm 37:4 (ESV) — Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

5 Ways to Blossom this Spring

March 26, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to Always in Blossom from the album A Thousand Years as you read. If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album, or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and more).

How do you plan to blossom this spring?

With trees, shrubs, and flowers budding, the wondrous colors of spring will be revealed soon. This is my second favorite season after autumn. You will see this in my April and May posts.

Always in Blossom was inspired by Psalm 1, which contains a few ways our lives can “blossom” more fully — making a positive difference in the world and the lives of others. I added a few inspiring thoughts of my own which align with this theme to come up with what I am calling 5 Ways to Blossom this Spring…

1. Eyes up, knees down, hands open. Gaze upward to heaven, kneel in prayer asking God to bear fruit through your life, have a posture of “open hands” to receive His guidance and blessings.
2. Experiment with random acts of kindness toward family, friends, those you serve, those who serve you, and even strangers. See what happens when you love others with grace.
3. Take good things into your heart, because out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks (Luke 6:45). Speak encouraging, life-giving words to others.
4. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart (Psalm 37:4). If this is hard, ask God to help you delight in Him and His Word. Meditate on Scripture. Use biblegateway.com to search verses, words and topics of interest.
5. Allow the beauty of creation to set your thoughts and praise on our Creator. This is what Saint Francis of Assisi did in 1225 A.D. when he penned words inspired by Psalm 148. These became the great hymn All Creatures of Our God and King (which inspired my song — and blog post about — Alleluias Dancing).

Which one is your favorite to live a more radiant life this spring?

Instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night. You’re a tree replanted in Eden, bearing fresh fruit every month, Never dropping a leaf, always in blossom. — Psalm 1:2-3 (MSG)

Whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither — whatever they do prospers. — Psalm 1:2-3 (NIV)

A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. — Luke 6:45 (NIV)

Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle Meets It Is Well with My Soul

March 17, 2015 By Stanton Lanier Leave a Comment

Click above to listen to the title track A Thousand Years from my 7th album as you read (featuring original, Mozart’s Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, and It Is Well with My Soul melodies). If you enjoy, consider ordering the CD or MP3 Album, or Sheet Music (the song is also on iTunes, Amazon, Spotify, Pandora, and more).

What is one of your favorite childhood memories that filled you with wonder and awe?

As you listen to the music stream and read this post, I want you to think of a favorite childhood memory filled with beauty, then recall something recently that stirred this same child-like faith, wonder and awe. I can remember climbing to the top of a 100-foot tall sweet gum tree in North Carolina at age nine, the first time I saw the Rocky Mountains when I was ten, or trying to outrun the ocean waves washing up on the beach at age eleven. Just a few years ago I got to visit northern Minnesota for a week of canoeing and camping. I awoke at 3 a.m. several mornings to gaze at night skies filled with more stars than I had ever seen.

For me, these kinds of moments are breathtaking. They remind me that creation has a Creator, and the story I am living has a Storyteller. They point me toward God’s beauty, adventure, and intimacy he reveals to me, and his incredible gift of grace and forgiveness. Connecting physical and spiritual wonder and awe is so powerful and reviving.

This was all contained in my heart as I created the song A Thousand Years, combining original composing from Psalm 90:4 with Mozart’s famous melody best known as Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, and the famous 1871 hymn It Is Well with My Soul. Musically I wanted to interweave the wonder and awe of child-like faith with the peace and hope of spiritual peace with God through Jesus in my soul.

If this music and topic inspires you, please take time to watch or bookmark the newest music video Far Away from Home, from my 9th album Treasures of Peace. The music and story are a visual illustration of Isaiah 41:10 child-like faith and living life without fear.

Where is a place you could go to nurture your child-like wonder and awe?

Psalm 90:4 (NIV) “A thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by, or like a watch in the night.”

Isaiah 41:10 (MSG) “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”