The offertory

Sometimes musicians can think of the offertory time as the only opportunity to showcase their talents and skill set.  Although the offertory should give glory to God and be our best, it should not be ostentatious or distracting from the message of the song.  It is not "concert" time for the pianist, organist, or instrumentalist.

The purpose of the offertory is a time to take up tithes and offerings and also to prepare the hearts for the message to come.
Just last week we had an offertory instrumentalist cancel a solo.  I chose a piano duet of "Sunlight" that we hadn't played in several years.  As we were going through the beginning of the service and listening to the prayer requests and announcements, the Lord impressed another song on my heart.  I looked over at our wonderful organist and told her the hymnal page number and the plan - (chorus, verse, chorus, tag.  Organ melody, first verse.)  As soon as we started the song we knew it was the right choice.  The message of the song prevailed over the simplicity of the arrangement.
Here are a few guidelines when you choose offertory music:
1. The song should be recognizable to most of the congregation.
2. The melody should dominate.
3. Simplicity can be more beautiful than a bunch of "high-fallutin mumbo jumbo."
4. Variety is needed between offertories and within the offertory itself.  Some parts should be loud, some soft.  Some parts should be low, some high, some slow, and some more up tempo.
5. The length should be timed to coincide with the ushers leaving the auditorium.  There might be a few exceptions if the verse and chorus cannot be played because this time is too short.
6. The offertory could become a contest between musicians.  One musician could play a song, the next one could have the attitude of outdoing the other one in volume and speed.  If this attitude becomes apparent, a change needs to be made.
7. A good barometer to know if you're on the right track could be the response to the offertory.  "That song was a blessing to me. Wow! I needed that message.  I love that hymn" are all better responses than "You are a tremendous musician!"

If you can play an offertory that impresses the congregation with thoughts of God the Father, Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit or spiritual encouragement for people's hearts, you have succeeded in planning a great offertory.

Back to Basics Part B

This is a continuation of the blog titled "Back to Basics" for the church pianist.  Part one discussed the major keys of most of hymns and the primary chords of each key.

When I was a young piano student I memorized the I-V-IV-V7 chord cadences.  I didn't understand the "why" or "how" of each chord.  It was beyond my grasp for some reason.  For the traditionally trained classical pianist it was knowledge that was required, but it was not a skill that was measured or really "needed" for the note-reading-only musician.  For the church pianist, however, it is the basis of all of our hymnplaying and of our accompaniment.

This is basic, let each point soak in and make sure you thoroughly understand each one before proceeding to the next.

1. Learn and practice the major scales regularly.  Buy Alfred's Complete Scale, Chord, Arpeggio Book for beginners.  One octave scales in the following order - C major, G major, F major, Bb major, Eb major, Ab major, Db major, D major.  Practice them until you can play them with your metronome set at 120 = beat.  (when you hear the click, you play two eighth notes)

2. Play the major chords for each key all over the keyboard in as many ways and combinations as possible.  Play strongly, don't be a wimp.

3. After you feel very confident with the C scale and chords, practice three songs in your hymnal in the key of C and try to incorporate the chord movements you practiced.  Don't stay in one place the entire hymn.  This is just a practice technique to get you away from the center of your keyboard.

4. After the key of C, do the same thing with each scale and its major chords.

5. Hymn playing for the church service is important.  If you are the pianist, you are the pianist.  Fear and feelings of inadequacy or unworthiness must be put aside.  You must be confident and know that the Lord with help you to improve each week.

6. Don't spread out your practice time so thinly that you don't improve.  Focus on this Sunday's music.  As you improve, you can begin thinking further ahead.

7. There are textbooks that are very helpful and give details for hymn playing.  Sometimes they can seem overwhelming because they are very thorough.  They are written for those who have four years to prepare for their ministries, you might have four days!  You can still apply one principle at a time and try not to overwhelm yourself.  The books I recommend to start with are: the Hymnproviser Work Text Level 1 (Majesty Music), Hymn playing by Mike Zachary (NVBC publications), You Can Teach Yourself to Play Gospel Piano by Mel Bay Publishing, Creative Hymnplaying by Lillenas (oop but on Amazon).  You don't need all of these, one will do.

8. For you who have mastered these points but still feel like there must be more, there is.  Practice classical music.  Yes, there I said it.  Classical music will help you with your technique, confidence, and accompanying skills.  You will be able to incorporate scales and motions that you never dreamed possible when you add new techniques to your "tool box."  If you don't believe me, that's fine.  I don't play classical music because I worship it, but because I want to better prepare my mind and fingers to perform the tasks they need to perform.  Play some of the Bach two-part inventions, then open your hymnal and play.  There will be an improvement in your hymn playing.

9. Hymn playing is a spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical activity.  When I get home from church on Sunday evening I feel like I have been running a marathon.  I am exhausted and I have to take a shower.  I put every thing I have into playing the piano for the service.  Hymn playing demands all of you from your toes to the top of your head.  Can you tell the difference between whole-hearted and half-hearted playing.  Never let it be said that you are the latter.

10. Listen to yourself play.  Make recordings of the church service or listen to your church service CDs or videos.  Do you sound the same all of the time?  Are you too soft?  Are you too loud?  Are you following the song leader?  Do you add interesting elements to each verse of each hymn?

Never settle for where you are musically.  Try to learn different songs and different ways to play them.  Rome wasn't built in a day and you won't be where you need to be by this Sunday, but there are fifty-two Sundays in a year and if you learn one new thing each Sunday...?
:)