KEYS
LISTEN FOR THE ECHO | Ed Kerr
No one knew. No one knew when we read words, those truths coming back to you? yourself what type of sound you’re hearing. Is
the last edition of Worship Musician Magazine Perhaps like me there are days when you’re it an acoustic piano sound? Are solid chord
that by the time the next issue was released only listening to the sobering details in the voicings being played or melodic figures? Is the
the world would look different. Our church news about our current situation. But, like me, piano heard from the beginning of the song or
services would look different. Our lives would you have another option. You can choose to not until later in the arrangement?
look different. take a deep breath and remember that the God who you worshipped when your church met Do you hear a pad sound? Are the notes
So much has changed since I wrote my last together for worship is as present and as loving changing regularly or do you hear notes
article. For at least the next month my church and as personal today when you are confined sustained through chord changes? Can you
will only livestream our services. None of us will to your home. Take that deep breath, friend. figure out what those sustained notes are?
gather in our sanctuary for worship. We won’t Listen for the echo.
be playing a big orchestrated version of “Christ
Are there spots in the arrangement where no
the Lord Is Risen Today” in our traditional Easter Next, dig a little deeper. As I write this I was keyboard or piano is heard? Are there spots
service. I won’t be scheduling a bigger worship thinking I’d encourage you to spend some time where only piano or keyboard are heard?
team than usual for our Modern Service on sitting at your piano or your keyboard and make Easter. Every song heard will be pre-recorded, music. Then I realized that some of you might Make some notes about what you hear. Make
with me gathering audio tracks from singers only have an instrument at your church. So, some notes about features your keyboard has
and instrumentalists to mix as part of a lyric playing your instrument isn’t an option for you that you haven’t been using. Research how
video I create for our broadcast. right now. Still, we can make use of the time software like MainStage or the Sunday Keys
we have by learning something more about the Template could enhance your sonic arsenal.
music we make. Explore how Facetime or Skype or Zoom could
Around the world, churches are finding a
way through this unusual season. And like
allow you to have some real time interaction
every season that’s gone before, this season There are so many great tutorials available will pass. So, as you and I endure all the online for just about any topic in music. What uncertainties, stresses and challenges of this brand of electronic keyboard do you play? This season of isolation will pass. Find ways to
season, I thought I’d list a few ways you and I Search for tutorials on that brand. Search for grow as a keyboard player as these days go
can grow through these days. tutorials on your specific model. Learn about by. Let this season be a time for remembering
a feature of your instrument that you haven’t the reason you love being involved in worship
been utilizing. ministry. The songs you’ve played and sung so
First of all, listen for the echo. Yep. The echo.
Remember that experience of yelling “Hello”
many times still are true. Listen for the echo.
into the night and waiting to hear your voice I’m a keyboard clinician for Yamaha. As I
echo back to you? Whether you’re a full-time type this article I’m sitting in front of my CP88
worship leader at your church or you play once keyboard. This instrument has great sounds
every three weeks or haven’t played for two and great features. And there are features I can
months, you have given some of your creative learn more about and layers I can create that
energy to playing worship songs. What did I’ll be able to use when my church finally has
those songs say? They said that God is love. services in our sanctuary again.
That God is with us. That God will never leave
us or forsake us in dark valleys.
You could spend some time listening to
worship music, intentionally analyzing what is
Hmm. Hear the echo? Do you hear those
124
with a musician on your team.
going on in the keyboard parts you hear. Ask
April 2020
Ed Kerr
Ed Kerr lives in Seattle with his family. He serves as
worship arts director at First Free Methodist Church,
teaches keyboards in Paul Baloche’s leadworship
workshops and is a clinician with Yamaha’s House
of Worship. He also manages the Yamaha Worship
Facebook group and invites you to join the group.
www.KerrTunes.com
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