KEYS
[ KEYS TO DOING A GREAT JOB | Ed Kerr ]
Threads. Connections. Themes. Messages keyboard players are able to contribute a huge ear and your musical sensibilities tell you which
you hear often enough in your life that you start variety of sounds from our instruments. String instrument best drives the song. Many of us let
thinking “I get it!” sounds, oboe lines, horn melodies, electric well-known recordings of the song settle this
piano comps. If you don’t have a modern for us, but you have the freedom to arrange the
Lately I’m finding that many times when I read keyboard but are limited to playing a piano at song differently if you choose.
Scripture, or read a book, or an online article, your church, this point is still true. A piano can or rethink conversations I’ve had with friends, make a huge variety of sounds over the range The bottom line is that you’ll either be driving
there’s one of those messages coming through. of the instrument. Fast activity, sparkling high the song or supporting the instrument that is.
It’s a simple message. It shows up in lots of notes, aggressive low notes. You can play any Do your job. Know which role you have.
variations. In fact, I heard “Do your job” during keyboard loudly or softly. Any instrument you’re the recent Super Bowl when the Eagles played playing can play repeated patterns, driving the Patriots. I Googled an article about this rhythms, and conspicuous melodic figures. The phrase. It’s become a mantra for the Patriots’ thing you and I have to determine is not what Have you ever been involved in a conversation
coaches and players. One of them summarized could I be doing at any point in each song, but with several friends where two people were
what the phrase means to the team as: “I like what should I be doing. talking at the same time? Uh huh. Me too.
to think of it like our team is kind of like a car. There are a number of questions you can ask Drives you nuts, right? Me too. We want to
Some guys might be the motor. Some guys
2. WHAT ARE THE VOCALISTS DOING?
focus on one person at a time in conversations.
might be the windshield wipers, the lights,
steering wheel… No matter what it is, you’ve
got to do your job.”
What a great restatement of 1 Corinthians
12:12-21, where we read that the body is not
made of one part but many. Varied functions.
One body. Perfect analogy for the worship
teams you and I regularly play on. Many
instruments, one purpose, presenting music
that creates an atmosphere where the gathered
people of God can offer their worship to the
Living God.
Yep. The theme that keeps coming my way
so consistently these days is that I have an
The thing you Our musical arrangements can be thought of
and I have to being sung, respect that as much as you do
determine is not
what could I be
as conversations. When the song’s melody is
when someone else is talking. Make room for
that melody to be heard. Don’t be playing lots
of melodic activity on your instrument. This
is important for keyboard players, guitarists,
drummers, bass players, and for everyone in
doing at any
the band.
point in each
song, but what
should I be doing.
We should showcase the melody in the same
way that a great lighting director on Broadway
can make every eye in a theatre turn to a
specific spot on the stage. Melody wins.
3. WHAT OPTIONS DO I HAVE?
important job to do. It’s true in my relationship
with my wife, with my children, and with the yourself throughout a song to determine what
musicians on my worship team. It’s true as your job is, and what you should be doing.
I relate to every person I encounter on my
Always remember that your contributions to
the arrangement can be influenced by several
commute to work. It’s true as I connect with 1. WHAT ARE THE OTHER INSTRUMENTS IN THE
that person who helped me check out at Home BAND DOING?
Depot today. It’s pointless and frustrating when
factors: repetition, range, and resolution.
• Are you playing a repetitive figure? Be careful
I try to be anything else but who God made Often there’s one instrument that is driving that it’s not competing with the vocal melody
me to be. the song and providing the most conspicuous and that it’s not walking over an essential part
activity. In modern worship recordings, this is another instrument is playing. If yours is the
It’s no stretch to relate this to what you and I do often an acoustic or electric guitar. It’s often an
in our worship teams. More than ever before, acoustic piano sound, too, though. Let your
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March 2018
WorshipMusician.com
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