Express Your Interest

Most churches make it easy to get started in their music ministries, and musicians are always in demand. Most worship leaders are looking for musicians with experience, but if you express a strong interest, chances are you can find a place to start even if you are a beginner. Look on the church’s website for a staff directory to contact the staff member in charge of music.

Take Lessons

One of the fastest ways to learn guitar for any purpose is to take lessons. Fortunately, modern worship music is very straightforward. Even with three or four chords under your belt you can begin to take on many of the songs in your church’s repertoire. Contact a local music store, or better yet, one of the guitarists on the worship team to get started.

Join a Worship Team

If you are new to the guitar, serving in a children’s ministry or a bible study can be a good place to start. Ask about sitting in through some rehearsals until you are up to speed. You can play unplugged if necessary, then once your skill level has increased, you can plug in and join the band. While you are practicing on your own, try playing along with CDs of worship music. Once you can keep up with the recordings you will be ready to join the worship team.

Serving in a worship team can be a great opportunity to give of yourself, build relationships and grow as a musician. Just get started and you will likely find music ministry to be a life-giving and rewarding experience.

Find Out More About Play Guitar For Church? Get Professional Learn Guitar Lessons Here.

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Before I share some thoughts with you I’ll explain our church so you can understand where I’m coming from.

Our church is a small country church nestled in the foothills of North Carolina.

The people are very friendly and family-oriented. Most of the members have lived in the area their entire life.

What I’m trying to say is…the needs of the church determines the criteria for the church pianist.

In some churches, the church pianist may be the only music person available. In this case, the pianist may have to lead the congregation and choir in song while playing the piano. What a challenge! I know at least one of my readers has that situation. I admire her for her efforts.

At other churches, the pianist may serve the role as pianist only. (That’s my role)

Whether you’re the main music person or just filling the role as church pianist…the following tips will hopefully encourage and direct you as you serve in the music ministry.

The following ideas have personally helped me in my way of thinking towards serving in the music ministry.

1. I’m a servant serving the Lord.

2. Not to think of myself above others; no comparison. Every church member is of equal importance to God.

3. Love my church family

The following are natural outcomes of point #3

4. Support and encourage those in the music ministry. Example: “Your song was a blessing.” or “Thanks for being willing to sing.”

5. Pray for those in the music ministry

6. Always communicate in love

7. Use constructive guidance as needed (This can occur only after building a trusting relationship.) This applies if the person or persons you’re accompanying are seeking helpful pointers.

Please understand…these are just a few ideas that remind me of my role as church pianist.

Each church is different as far as their needs. Just ask God for wisdom as you seek to serve Him where He has placed you.

Jenifer Cook has been a church pianist for the past 35 years. She has published arrangements through Soundforth and composes for her own piano students.

Her website is a help ministry to church pianists around the world; offering numerous improvising tips and free piano arrangements.

Part two of this article will include some of the following issues:

The relationship between the song leader and church pianist. (Who’s in charge?)

Job description of the church pianist (What’s expected of me?)

Developing the Special Music Program (How the church pianist can help grow the special music program)

Article Source: http://thechurchpianist.com/church-pianist/what-is-the-role-of-church-pianist-part-two/

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There are four principles deduced from the New Testament worship which, if applied, will help produce a God-honouring music and worship ministry. These are found in Colossians 3:16,17 and they include the memorandum or message of music; means of music; medium or matrix of music and the motive of the musician.

MEMORANDUM OF MUSIC

The message of church or sacred music must be solidly based on the Word of God (Col. 3:16a). Musicians should be filled with an understanding of the Word of God and then communicate a biblically based text though their music. God’s Word must not only fill our hearts but must permeate the lyrics of the songs we use to worship God as well. Thus, in evaluating music for use in church, we must ask ourselves, ‘is the text of this song consistent with Biblical truth?’ The theology of suffering, for instance, is reflected in song. In the 1970s, most choruses sung emphasized personal confession of one’s faith in Christ and the willingness to take up the cross and identify in the fellowship of His suffering. Today, many messages identify suffering and sin or lack of faith. The chorus ‘Mi a nor go sufa, a nor go beg for bread; God of mirakul, na my Papa O” (”I will neither suffer nor beg for bread because the God of Miracles is my Father”) is very popular. It must be emphasized that even though it would be wrong to crave for or go in search of opportunities to suffer, biblical theology supports the view point that a Christian is a spiritual athlete and suffering is an inescapable part of the training programme.

Another important aspect of this principle involves the quality of God’s Word in the musician (’richly dwell in you’). The Word of God must inhabit and become a part of our being. It should be the controlling aspect of every Christian musician’s disposition. The world teaches musicians to do their thing (aspire for acceptance) and to strive to be ‘great musicians’. For the Christian, however, the Word of God should be his regulation.

The message or memorandum of the music (’the Word of God) is also evident in our lives ‘with all wisdom’. This refers to our ability to discern between right and wrong, proper and improper, ethical and unethical in our selection and use of music. The Christian musician needs the wisdom of God to know what song to use, how to minister (and not perform) it, and what innovations (if any) are appropriate in worship.

MEANS OF MUSIC

Music should focus on a two-fold method of ‘teaching and admonishing one another’ (Col.3:16b). To teach means to instruct, explain and direct. Thus, music directed to God should be far more than entertainment or personal enjoyment. It should be a tool for biblical instruction and training. A common song, ‘Read your Bible pray every day if you want to grow’, is a very clear biblical instruction. Many people have been able to remember the books in the Bible as a result of music being applied to this list of sixty six ‘titles’. This is one of the reasons why music is so important in the ministry of Christian education. Music in the church should be more than the prelude to the Bible lessons or sermon. The right kind of music can be used powerfully to teach the truth of God’s Word. Many of the great hymn writers such as Martin Luther, Isaac Watts and Charles Wesley realized the power of music to teach and that was why they wrote hymns rich in doctrinal truths. Music can also be used to help people know the very words of Scriptures, especially those which seem difficult to memorize. Many choristers know the piece, Rejoice in the Lord Always, even before realizing that the entire rendition is recorded in Philippians 4:4-7. ‘Admonish’ means to invite, encourage, shape and mold. A Scriptural music ministry provides opportunity for musicians to encourage, built up, and spiritually nurture fellow believers. Christian musicians have a responsibility to teach and to train people to understand and perform God’s work. All believers are to be involved in the ministry of music regardless of their musical skills. God desires for us to minister to Him and to one another with our sacrifice of music. No one is to be merely a spectator in the music programme of the local church.

MEDIUM OF MUSIC

Paul instructs us to use “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs”. This illustrates that there should be variety in church music. A church which only sings only one set would not be fulfilling Scripture according to this passage. Canticles and choruses could fall under psalms. A popular canticle rendered at wedding ceremonies is Beati Omnes or Psalm 128. Everyone who fears God is regarded as blessed and such an individual would eat the work of his or her hands. The wife is pronounced as a fruitful vine and the children like olive plants around the table. Seeing one’s grandchildren is regarded as a blessing. The chorus ‘I will bless the Lord at all times’ is taken from Psalm 34:1-2. The psalmist proclaims that he’d bless God at all times and would boast in Him. David thanks and praises God for deliverance from the Philistines. Other songs are classified as spiritual songs. Probably this would be a convenient portion to classify gospel songs. It is evident that God admonishes to use different kinds of Christian songs to praise the Lord.

MOTIVE OF THE MUSICIAN

The musicians must have the proper motives in their music – “Singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father” (v.17). Misguided motives and selfish ambitions have hindered many gifted musicians from communicating the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is no room in the service of God for musicians with arrogant, self-righteous, condescending, or self-serving attitudes. For our music and worship to be acceptable to God, it must begin in our hearts. God is more concerned about the music in our hearts than that on the lips. God is in the business of changing hearts – molding, strengthening, developing and sanctifying them for His glory. Music is a means of communicating outwardly what God is doing inwardly. The Christian musician should not aim just drawing attention to his own gifts but to bring praise to God. As we minister to God through music, God will minister to us. Many Ministers of Music, music groups, soloists or instrumentalists have been fooled by Satan into thinking that God is impressed with abilities, talents, technology and ego and that He will bless us according to the level of the compliments we receive for our performance. An old saying paraphrased says, ‘the musical talents you possess are God’s gifts to you. How you develop and use those musical talents are your gifts to God’. Do we use musical gifts to glorify the name of the Lord or for personal gain? Do we concentrate on lifting the name of the Lord with a Christ-like life style or do we exhibit lax moral standards and rely on our musical gifts. Amos 6:23-24 clearly warns us to “take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy voils. But let judgment run as waters and righteousness as a mighty stream”.

AUTHOR SIGNATURE
Oliver L.T. Harding, who obtained his GCE O & A Levels from the Sierra Leone Grammar School and the Albert Academy respectively, is currently Senior & Acting Librarian of Fourah Bay College, University of Sierra Leone. He is a part time lecturer at the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS), Fourah Bay College and the Extension Programme at the Evangelical College of Theology (T.E.C.T) at Hall Street, Brookfields; Vice President of the Sierra Leone Association of Archivists, Librarians & Information Scientists (SLAALIS); a member of the American Theological Library Association (ATLA) and an associate of the Chartered Institute of Library & Information Professionals (CILIP). His certificates, secular and sacred, include: a certificate and diploma from the Freetown Bible Training Centre; an upper second class B.A. Hons. Degree in Modern History (F.B.C.); a post-graduate diploma from the Institute of Library Studies (INSLIBS, F.B.C) a masters degree from the Institute of Library, Information & Communication Studies (INSLICS, F.B.C.) and a masters degree in Biblical Studies from West Africa Theological Seminary, affiliate of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, where he won the prize for academic excellence as the Best Graduating Student in 2005. Oliver, a writer, musician and theologian, is married (to Francess) with two children (Olivia & Francis).
Email: oltharding@yahoo.com
Mobile: 232-2233-460-330

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