One of the first tasks that will be given to any church pianist is that of providing a weekly offertory. While some may consider the presentation of a solo one of the easier aspects of the position, I feel that the quality of the weekly offertory is one of the major factors that distinguishes a good church musician from a superb one.
Because of the role music plays in the church service, the offertory must be selected with care. Think about where the solo will occur in the order of worship. Are you following a lively choral anthem that will lead right into the congregational worship? Will the offering follow a generally somber prayer for the needs of the congregants? If you find yourself in a church without a strong liturgical tradition as I do, the positioning of the offertory may be altered weekly. There are few scenarios worse than a grandiose arrangement that follows a quiet time of meditation. Without advance thought and planning, you can sometimes find yourself in an awkward situation.
Continue Reading…
Related posts
Playing in front of a congregation each Sunday is no easy feat. Make sure you are well prepared before giving your best for God and before others.
1) Practice the piano and more preferably the songs you will be playing early in the week and often.
2) Sing while you play so you can have a feel for how well your playing will mesh with the singing.
Continue Reading…
Related posts
I’m not going to get into the technicalities of the piano. I think you should understand one thing when it’s comes to playing worship piano songs particularly when you’re starting out. Understand that it’s not about you! You have to get this truth engrained into your head. Nothing you do, when it comes to worship, is about you. As a worship piano player your job is to help the church body worship God. As a matter of fact I think if you are going to play worship piano, you should worship God with your piano. Does this sound far fetched to you? If it does, you need to rethink why you are playing worship piano. If this does make sense to you, make sure even when you are practicing worship music, you are giving glory to God.
If you get an opportunity to play piano for your church or any church, remember who is giving you the chance to play in the first place. It’s not by accident that you are in the position that you’re in. I’ve seen to many pianists who play for the church thinking they are the best piano players that ever graced the face of the earth. Eventually they are brought back down to earth, hard. They no longer play the piano for anyone and they wish they had their position back. Pride comes before the fall. It’s true. God can put anyone who is willing and has the right heart in place of you if you are not humble. I tell you this because I don’t want you mess things up for yourself. Even if you are brand new to the piano, keep what I have said in the back of your mind.
Continue Reading…
Related posts