Ableton Live , the software that hosts my tracks , clicks and guides , hundreds of times . I ’ ve watched tutorials and searched online forums for answers to questions I had . There are still things I could learn about Ableton ’ s features for sure , but I am comfortable with the features that do what I need from the software .
I ’ ve chosen the sounds I ’ ll use from Sunday Sounds ’ Sunday Keys 2021 carefully . I know which pad sounds work well when layered with piano . I know which synth lead sound is going to fit our opening song . I ’ ve listened to our songs enough that I have a sense of what the dynamics should be from my keyboard parts , when I should play loudly and when I should bring it down .
The point of all this detail here is to encourage you to take a realistic inventory of stuff that stresses you out from week to week as you serve on your worship team . Some of the stresses may be beyond your control , but , like me , there ’ s a lot you could do to help your work be more productive and enjoyable .
For example , in our last Livestream service I noticed that I had an awful lot of cables running here and there in my keyboard setup . A friend of mine who works for Triad-Orbit had showed me some of the mic stands and other gear they make for performing musicians . With his help I fitted my keyboard desk with a few of their super sturdy pieces like a laptop desk ( the IO- Desk ) and the O1-L boom for my vocal mic . Rugged stuff .
The result of all my planning and sketching out the keyboard desk is that now my footprint on the platform at church is going to be
significantly cleaner . I ’ ll have just an 8 pair snake and an extension cord running to my spot . All of my cables for my laptop and iPad and Nano Kontrol will be hidden in my desk . All four of my lines from my audio interface stay plugged in to my two stereo direct boxes .
Again , lots of detail , but maybe I ’ ll be the nudge you need to resolve some of the frustrations you have with your current keyboard setup . Invest some time in researching your challenges . If , for example , it ’ s taking you a while to trust that your MainStage setup is going to work or you still can ’ t consistently have all of your sounds respond as you need them to , ask another keyboard player for help . Email me ( ed @ kerrtunes . com ). Take advantage of all the great online resources that could help you . Don ’ t let yourself settle for another week of frustrations with issues you ’ ve let go on week after week . I can tell from my experience this week that the time you put in now will pay off big time .
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