drifting away from things that are important to more steadily with a metronome? Block out five It’s easy to give in to intimidation or insecurity
me. minutes of your time to use a metronome app when facing something that’s unfamiliar and
on your computer or phone, set a tempo for a challenging. Fight that feeling and choose to
Ever wish you had more time in the day? I familiar song, and start playing the song with commit a small chunk of time to growing in your
think you and I would be shocked if we spent click. Play a quarter note pulse. Play 8 note understanding.
some time using a Distraction Tracker to see activity. Play whole notes or whatever note how much time we give to mindless, frivolous value matches the chord changes of the song.
th
activities. Are you wondering if I doubled my
Because I don’t want you to finish this article
thinking that it doesn’t sound like a lot of fun
usual dose of crankiness for the day? I didn’t. I Five minutes! Maybe less depending on the to track ways you’re wasting time, consider
just want you to see that some of your goals as song. The point is you’ve chosen to give your combining your Habit Tracker with your
a pianist or keyboard player could very well be time to something that’s important to you rather Distraction Tracker. Take note of things you do
delayed because of these issues. than to a distraction. that are constructive uses of your time as you
also track things you spend time on that just
If you’re anything like me, there are probably If you’re hoping to develop a broader palette two or three things you can think of from the of sounds for your worship songs from your last time you played on your worship team that instrument or from your computer, don’t I’m attaching a link to a simple Tracker you can
could be improved. Maybe it’s the fact that give in to the pressure that I often feel, the use. I really hope you’ll do it. It’s becoming a
you want to memorize your chord charts more pressure to become a master of every aspect more consistent part of my week, and I’m
effectively. Maybe you want to find a different of your keyboard’s features or your software’s seeing some encouraging results. I hope you’ll
pad sound to use or create a new layered capabilities. Do a Google search for the topic find the same.
piano sound. Perhaps you found it hard to play that is challenging you with your instrument or steadily in time to the click track. software. Then choose one of the tutorials that
shows up to view. Take a deep breath before
Do you need a block of four interrupted hours you start watching it. Have some notepaper
to do these things? No, you don’t. You need handy. Pause and review material as often as
time, though, and if the goal is important to you you need to. Your takeaway may be one simple
you’ll find it somewhere. Are you wanting to play concept you hadn’t grasped before. Fantastic!
October 2019
don’t deserve the time you’re giving them.
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
Subscribe for Free...
163