If you are the full-time pianist for your church, your day at the piano begins before the service starts. At our church, the Sunday School classes dismiss ten minutes before the worship service begins. At five minutes before the hour, the orchestra tunes up and then the prelude music begins.

Things to remember for the prelude:

If you are playing with other instruments (second piano or orchestra, etc.) be sure you’re tuned together and ready to begin.

Be sure that you are clear on how many verses to play of each song or are capable of making it clear that you are switching to another song.

If you modulate between songs, only you should play and the other instruments join in after the next song begins. (Often, I’ll skip any kind of modulation because there are so many moving parts and it’s difficult to keep things together, but it’s a great tool to use when you are playing alone!)

Choose songs that are upbeat, with a faster tempo. The worship service is about to begin! It’s not the time to put people to sleep. 😉

Play loudly and confidently. The prelude is the subconscious signal to the congregation that it’s time to find their seats and get settled for the services to begin. The room is already buzzing with conversation and activity and you need to be able to cut through the noise.

Choose songs from the hymnal that are within a few numbers of the first song you’ll be playing for the service. This eliminates the awkward silence while you’re frantically turning pages to get to the first song! 🙂

Don’t play fifteen verses of the same song while you wait for someone to begin the service. Smoothly transition from song to song, playing three or four verses of each one. I usually just get through two or three songs at the very most before transitioning to the song for the choir opener.

Play the melody clearly and simply. The prelude is not the time to get fancy-schmancy with arrangements, especially if you’re playing with other instruments. You aren’t accompanying anyone as they sing the melody, so it’s up to you to make it clear and drive the tempo of the song.

Things to remember for the postlude:

Unless it’s a very somber, introspective service (like a night set aside for the Lord’s Supper) choose a bright, up tempo song to dismiss the congregation.

Try to choose something that corresponds with the pastor’s message. I chuckle to myself often after church as I hear people humming or whistling the same song that I played for dismissal. You’re helping to put a song in people’s heart, so make it a good one! If it drives home the point of the message, that’s even better.

Play one or two verses quickly and simply as people gather their things and get up to leave. There’s no need to make them all talk over you while you play a Concerto. 😉

Modulation Chart for Preludes and Postludes

As mentioned above, modulating from one key signature to the next is a great tool for church pianists. If you are playing alone, this skill is one you want to employ while playing prelude music.

Below is a free sample page from Bible Truth Music. It shows simple 2 measure modulations from the key of C to all other major key signatures. Just click on the image to download or print a PDF copy.

Use the free sample as a guide, or you can purchase a copy with all key signatures from their website.

Homework

Choose two songs to play as a prelude. Practice playing them loudly, with a simple and clear melody. Choose songs that are in two different keys so you can practice modulating between them.

Use the chart as a guide for those modulations. I would suggest using a starting song in the key of C so you can copy the modulation exactly from the chart. Once you are more familiar with it, try transposing the patterns into another key!

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The post Playing Preludes and Postludes appeared first on Baptist Pianist.

When you think about the title “church pianist,” what do you envision?

• Two grand pianos, an orchestra, a 100 voice choir, professional music director and packed congregation
• A little spinet jammed in the corner, a volunteer song leader, and a loud soprano trying to lead from the small congregation
• A used electric keyboard, the pastor/song leader/usher/janitor up front and a small group meeting in a school

No matter what your circumstances may be, God has called you to serve in the church where you are right now.

You may have years of playing experience under your belt, or have just started taking lessons.

Your church may be a tiny new church plant, or an established church with a long list of musicians available.

You may not be the best pianist in the world. You may not even be the best pianist in your church.

But you should be striving to do your very best every time you have a chance to serve in the music ministry.

I’m an average musician. I am more advanced than some (ten or so
people, I’d guess), but they are tone-deaf. When I get sad about the
billions of musicians better than me, rather than gloat over YouTube
singer fail videos, I encourage myself another way: I blame God.
“Well, God, you made me like this, so… here you go. All I have is MY best.”
That excuse WILL fly. God does not ask us to be THE best. He asks us
to be OUR best. He says, “Do all to the glory of God” (1 Cor. 10:31)
and repeatedly encourages musicians to sing and play “unto the Lord.”
Church musicians do not have to be professional-level, but they
should, in fact, have the mindset that their music is for a higher
purpose. I appreciate musicians that care about serving the Father and
are intensely passionate about pleasing Him with their music. Our
musicians dedicate several hours per week in perfecting their art so
that they might come to God with THEIR best. Whether they become THE
best in their field or not, God does not care. He’s pleased when He
knows He has their all.
From my perspective as a church music leader, I could not ask for more
than a musician dedicated to excellence for the glory of their
Savior.
-Pastor Ryan Rench

One of the most common struggles among church musicians is a lack of confidence.

Often this comes from comparing ourselves to other pianists.

“…but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.” II Cor. 10:12

Trust me, I know it’s easier said than done, but you simply cannot allow yourself to be pulled into the comparison game. There will ALWAYS be someone who is better than you. Rather than let it intimidate you, allow it to motivate you to work harder and achieve YOUR best for God.

Another reason you might lack confidence is simply FEAR.

The doubts and nagging fears rolling around in the back of your mind are doing you absolutely no good.

Instead of wallowing in them, get them out on paper and into the light of day where they are much easier to manage. In this week’s homework, you’ll start a notebook, where you will write out your fears and then under them, write a TRUTH that will combat that fear.

For instance:

FEAR- This song is too complicated for me, I’ll never learn it well enough to play in front of anyone.

TRUTH- Every time I play it, I improve a little. I can already play the first page. If I break this into smaller chunks I can learn a little bit at a time.

FEAR- If I make a mistake while I’m playing, I’ll be so embarrassed and people will think less of me.

TRUTH- I am playing for an audience of ONE. As long as I do my best, God will be honored and glorified. I will memorize Colossians 3:23: And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men.

The last reason you may lack confidence is simply that you have not been trained and feel unprepared.

Start here and through a systematic approach to playing as a well-prepared church pianist. You will be a better pianist, your confidence will grow, and the music ministry of your local church will reap the benefit as you learn to serve God to the best of your ability.

Homework

• In a notebook, list 3 of your strengths (playing expressively, being reliable, practicing regularly, playing by ear, etc.)
• In the same notebook, list 3 of your fears, followed by truths that will help you conquer them.
• In the comments below share your name, where you’re from and how you serve in your church’s music ministry.
• If you are willing to, share your list of strengths and fears!
• Then head over to lesson 2: Playing Preludes and Postludes

The post Confidence: does it matter? appeared first on Baptist Pianist.