Do any of you guys/girls play in church? What's it like? Do you get paid?

Usually, a choir director and main pianist/organist get modest salaries due to the tremendous weekly work load.

As a fill-in pianist, organist and teen choir director, I donated my time for the cause.

zuki

in my church, being a small church, with up to 35-40 members, noone from p&w team gets payed.
in some larger churches, just like zuki said, some of the leaders gets some money, because they do have alot of things to get done in one week.
are you involved in a church ministry?

I have been in ministry for 20+ years and am currently full-time for Destiny Ministries/Gateway Prayer House in Arkansas City, Kansas.

In some larger churches (1000 people or more) you can find a salary that is very good for the worship/ music pastor and even a fulltime position for an assistant/ accompanist, etc.

Our church only has about 30-40 members itself, but it has only been around about 10 years. Our main ministry has been around 25 years and we have a mailing list of 700+ people, travel doing conferences and our pastors head up an apostolic network of 200+ people/ churches, so we have a lot more support than just the congregation. I do music full -time but also take care of properties (mow, weedeat, vacuum, clean, etc.) and we also have a recording studio in my office so we do some production work for ourselves and other ministries we are in relationship with. I also teach private voice and piano lessons.

I use a Yamaha DGX-500 for a controller and the Korg PA1xPro as the one man band worship thing, plus I have an awesome guitar player for live stuff and to help record guitar parts.

I also just recently purchased the Boss RT-20 rotary speaker simulator for the leslie effects on the organs...pretty awesome!!!


Jeff

I've been asked a number of times to play in church and although I've been playing professionally for 40 years I'm a little intimidated about playing in church. I've been doing research on the internet and found some instruction material. Now I'm trying to play from hymnals to get a little experience. You can't fake it in church.

Are you kidding me?.....oh, you mean playing.

chas

I work as the music director and keyboardist in our little (125 member) church in Florida, and as zuki said I earn a modest (very) income for the privilege.

I use my Tyros 2 and link in to the church sound system, which means I can prepare at home, and just go to church one evening each work to work with the music team preparing for Sunday. Although there is a lot involved in choosing the music according to the scripture readings (and hopefully the priest's sermon - I have to use intuition since he tells me he does not alway know what God wants him to say until the Sunday morning), getting the music ready for the team, preparing service inserts for the praise and worship songs etc, I love the flexibility that I have - I can essentially work the hours that suit me!

I do Nursing Home gigs in addition.

Blessings

Graham

I have been an organist/pianist music director for my church for 35 years. I get a modest salary for playing most of the services. I work about 15-20 hrs. per week. I direct an adult choir and pretty much handle special events too.

The key to playing for a congregation is to LEAD, not follow. I am a melody and chord person. I try to play the songs and hymns in phrases; keep good tempo and don't let the people slow you down. I started upstairs in a large basilica style church with a 3/4 second delay. My mentor forced me to play as the leader, otherwise the delay alone would slow me down.

You need to know and feel the music. Don't be afraid to substitute chords or arrangements that are more appropriate to your style. Don't try to play things that are out of your league; do the best with what you have and can do.

Playing in church is so rewarding; you'll love it. You will learn to transpose and substitute notes/chords like crazy. It is a fantastic learning experience.

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 04-30-2007).]

I have been the music director of five different churches in the last twelve years.
I too get a modest salary,but the pianist plays for the choir, so I mainly play the organ for services.

I agree with playing in the manner you are accustomed to. I was a B3 organist in restaurants and nightclubs in the sixties and seventies. I chose small churches because you can pretty much do as you please. I am self taught, and chorded the entire hymnal. When I play a hymn, I am told it is uplifting. It is because I use my old style in a reverent way.

I could not get by in a large formal church, where you have to have a degree, but it is finding you niche.

Almost all of us are volunteer since our church is small (less than 100 people). We do contemporary p&w songs instead of the older hymns. Songs like "One Way, Jesus", "How Great is Our God" and many Hillsong songs that are famous nowadays with the new generation Christians.

Even though we are volunteers, but many of us are playing at professional level. I have recently improved my level as well.