KEYS
SMOOTH TRANSITIONS – THE KEYS PLAYER ’ S ROLE | David Pfaltzgraff
Transitions in your worship set are some of the most important moments , so why are they often the least thought out ? I ’ ve been a part of many a worship set filled with awkward spaces , abrupt key or tempo changes , and long gaps while waiting for that one person who always misses their cue to actually get up on stage to transition into announcements .
If you ’ ve been playing worship keys in church for a while , I ’ m sure you ’ ve been a part of a train wreck or two yourself .
Here ’ s the thing - we know that transitions are where things often go off the rails . We also know that the worship keys position can often be the most important factor in whether a given transition makes or misses the mark .
Is it possible to get better at these moments ? Maybe to even prepare for them ? I would argue absolutely yes , but practicing and rehearsing for transitions requires a different mindset than covering a popular worship song . Let ’ s explore three distinct aspects of transitions , and what ’ s required of you as a modern worship keys player .
BUILDING BRIDGES
Good transitions can transform a collection of songs into a cohesive worship experience . Bad transitions can emphasize any disconnect between songs , pulling your congregation out of the moment .
What separates a good transition from a bad one ? There ’ s no one size fits all answer , but there is a common ingredient across all good transitions : intention .
If you put the effort into doing the transition on purpose , treating it as a specific , musical moment and opportunity , then you ’ ll be 90 % of the way there . Good transitions don ’ t always have to be near the same tempo or in the same key , they don ’ t even necessarily need to be in complementary keys . You just have to take the time to evaluate the bridge you need to build and build with intention .
It all must start with intention , or it will always feel thrown together on the fly . If your church uses an online planning app , start adding the transitions as unique service moments in between your songs , and practice them as a team . It will go a long way towards improving these often-neglected moments .
As a keys player , your ability to blend seamlessly from one song to the next maintains continuity and keeps the service moving forward without unnecessary distraction .
ELEVATING DYNAMICS
The second key aspect is all about the feeling . If you ’ ve ever found yourself unprepared for playing in the background while someone prays , and stumbled along with a poorly executed chord progression , or an out of place synthesizer sound , you know first-hand just how much the feeling we convey during a transition can impact these moments .
Your ability to transition from part to part and
104 August 2023 Subscribe for Free ...