activity that won’t compete with vocals.
Listen. Carl Albrecht, who writes the articles for stayed too big out of your first chorus instead of
drummers here, often says “A great musician coming down a bit for the second verse. Listen.
Guitarists often play busy strumming patterns has big ears!”. That means a musician listens during songs. While they are busy parts, well. Each member of your worship team I could give example after example, but the
they’re only busy rhythmically, not melodically, should be listening intently. bottom line is that you and I need to constantly
so they don’t compete with the melody. If
be evaluating whether what we’re playing
you’ve developed a keyboard pattern that’s Instrumentalists should be listening to what is right for the size of our pizza slice. What I
rhythmically repetitious in a similar way, go for the other players on their team are doing and play when I’m the only instrumentalist for a
it. Again, though, make sure that you and a to whether vocal activity is happening at the Bible study should be noticeably different from
guitarist aren’t doing similar things moment. If there’s no vocal activity, the band when I’m part of a larger rhythm section. Use
might consider playing something melodic. your ears. They’re your best tool to becoming
Listen to “Build My Life” as recorded by Pat If you’re one of those melodic instruments, a better musician regardless of the hat you’re
Barrett with Chris Tomlin. It begins with an use your big ears to listen to whether or not wearing.
intricate piano pattern that continues when the someone else has already committed to vocal enters. Because that piano figure is so something melodic.
repetitive though, it complements the melody of
the first verse effectively but doesn’t compete And, as a band, consider dynamics another
with it. part of the pie. Together as a team ask
yourselves whether you’re already too loud in
So what do you do to evaluate whether you’ve the first verse so you don’t have much room to
taken too much of the pizza? You listen. Yep. build for your first chorus. Or, ask yourself if you
February 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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