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.

To answer your question what it is like in summary without going at it too long:

There are a lot of churches that do contemporary worship which require a lot of prefessional skills that the other club gigging prof do. For churches that do hymns, totally different skill set. I can start with the technique and skill sets required. We also do sets of songs and make sure the transitions are smooth from one song to the next. We make sure the flow of songs are natural and uplifting. These are all using the same basic skills and techniques as the pros.

But the most important thing to have is the connection to God. Here on earth, in practical term, we must be sensitive to the Holy Spirit movement. Holy Spirit is a real person and can communicate to us as to what songs to play and how to play it and what duration. This is the real KEY to successful praise and worship. Even if your playing skill is minimal(must still be acceptable), you can go a long way to bring the congregation to a great worship experience and connection with God.

I was not operating in this manner before until recently. When I developed a relationship with the Holy Spirit person, I started to get messages. And I tested the relationship and see if it was real. And it was. How do I know ? Holy Spirit is God Himself and as you know God is all knowing. I would get an idea about a song from the Holy Spirit that is not played often and lo and behold it is the same song that our pastor who is sensitive to the Spirit has in mind as well. We connected in this way often and we all amazed at the results. Life changed, people's turned to God and we ourselves are amazed too at the Holy Spirit awesome work. Many of our songs are prophetic in that wonderful way. Every worship is always new and meaningful and we know that we are connected to God because of His guidance and the real evidence in the real world. Even our playing techniques are improved when we flow with the Holy Spirit.

This is the REAL and right way that I and many others have found.

You can play the worship songs with many pro techniques and sound good but if the connection to God is missing - it will not be the same. It can still be uplifting but it won't be the same - not even close. There are 2 ways to do it: one with skill alone and the other with skill and the anointing of the Holy Spirit.

Does that give you an idea ? Most of the churches these days do contemporary worship instead of the hymns. The older generations, many are not keeping up with the times but that is changing as well. Our older members now enjoyed the new songs more and more.

Does that give you some idea ?

Hey lukitoh,

Our worship is Spirit-lead and prophetic as well. We often make up songs on the spot given a certain chord progression. Very free form and ad lib... Much like a jazz set would be.

I've been playing this way and in this kind of ministry for over 20 years now... love it!!


Jeff

Korg4god, glad to meet another fellow musician that operates in the same way. Most if not all of our musicians at our church are gifted and anointed as well. There are actually many out there like us believe it or not. Probably many thousands.

I remembered 10 yrs ago, at a conference hosted by Maranatha music (Don Moen, etc) was packed to the gills. Songs like "Let it Rise" was big back then. Songs like Give Thanks are now like hymns eventhough it is less than 20 yrs since its release.

Even Yamaha now has special styles for praise and worship !!

Can you share some of your songs to us ?

I will do the same one of these days when I get a chance to record it.

Chas...Great minds think alike!

R.

lukitoh,

I'm in the studio right now working on original material and have not copyrighted anything as of yet, so I am not putting anything on the net or anywhere else for that matter until it's done. I'll probably release 1 -2 songs at a time as CD singles until enough are ready for the full album.

Besides originals, we also do a lot of Hillsongs, Clint Brown, Israel Haughton, etc.

Jeff

In 1972 I started directing the choir in our then small church, working for $25 a week. Today, my position has evolved into a full-time position at the same church. Our official worship philosophy requires a 'blended' approach - using the best of the traditional hymns along with the best of current worship styles. It's been quite a ride. Even tho I own and enjoy playing keyboards, I do not play in our services. I am in charge of the entire music program and we are blessed with very talented individuals who all volunteer their time and talent. (Our organist is paid) I hesitate to give more boring details about my ministry position, but if anyone has a question, I'd be happy to answer. In conclusion let me just say that I am doing what I love to do and feel it's a priviledge to serve in this way. It's very fulfilling.

Tim

There seem to be a lot of church musicians here at the SZ. Are there any other BBS that you read or contribute to? Would it be a good idea to ask Nigel for a separate forum? Just thinking out loud.

Also, I want to amplify lukitoh's message of needing to feel at one with the music. I too am not classically trained and often feel that my music is lacking in some areas. But when my congregation says to me that my music is different and special than those of other churches, it makes me feel rewarded that my talent has found its niche.

You must play from the heart and be filled with the Spirit.

[This message has been edited by cassp (edited 05-03-2007).]

Our church has almost 1000 members, no-one gets paid. only the people that clean the church. even thou I think our choir director should get paid, because of all the hard work.