We have 2 services each Sunday - One is musically blended with traditional and a touch of modern hymns & choruses. The other is more edgy/contemporary with a band and a few singers.

I'm strongly considering the T4 since its voices would work nicely in either setting, plus many of the styles would be appropriate also.

Anyone else use the T4 in a church worship setting?


Tim

I won't say I use it for Worship music, but I do use my T4 for Wedding Ceremonies and play the usual ceremony music. The Choirs and vocals voices alone will knock your sox off. There are some great classical music styles in the T4. Good luck with your decision.

I think T4 would be a great keyboard. I personally when using a smaller keyboard would try to find an 88-note controller. I am considering a P95 as my next keyboard purchase before buying anymore arrangers or workstations.

Jeff

I had what I consider an unsuccessful stint as church keyboardist playing a Tyros 2. It was an all African American non denominational church (not sure if that matters) The choir director felt the styles were too produced sounding so I ended up just using the drum accompaniment and playing some piano/organ parts. Perhaps I could have edited/tweaked the styles better to get a more “live” sound. Too my surprise the director has called my back wanting me to play full time with them, but I politely declined.

Coincidently my church director has asked me about playing for masses. He knows I’m an “arranger guy” but still I’m a bit reluctant. Catholic churches are very traditional so I’m not sure how an arranger keyboard would fit in.

The T4 will be OK for Church services.
In the Spanish Ministries in the church that I am member we use a Korg PA588 or a Korg PA500. We combine Latin, traditional and modern (non Latin) music in our services. The korg arrangers, because the very live drums and percussions, are ideal for us.

In another matter, Montunoman working with Korg-USA produced 32 great Latin styles that we like and use in our services. Thanks Montunoman !!!

Machetero, I believe you have me confussed with Manuel Dorantes. I use some of Manuel's styles on my Tyros 2 and they are very good. Glad you like your Korg, I'm considering getting one too. I'd be interested on your thought on arrangers and Latin music. Hope we can talk sometime.

Sorry for misplace names.
Yes, MDorantes is the person that did the Latin Korg styles.
Sure ,talking about latin music and arrangers will be a nice topic.

We currently use a PA588 but it's moving to our Activity Center / Gym, which has a stage. The selling point of the T4 is it's user-friendly OS and its top notch voices. The arranger section would be used only on occasion.

We previously owned a Motif, but it was way too deep for the level of players we have, plus it died after just a few years and we ended up selling it for parts.

If you are the only player of the keyboard, then that's great, you can decide - or the decision is easier, your keyboard , your style. But, if there are other players, they may not like to play a non-hammer action styled keyboard. Saying that because, all the local churches where I live have piano action keyboards weather they are arranger style or stage pianos are the only ones considered.

The great thing about the any of the Tyros boards , are that they have the voices that are bread and butter to the church and many "extra" voices to enhance the worship music as well. You don't need the styles with a live band with you, but they come into their own when the choir is practicing or the drummer is late.

Korg4god mentioned a 88 key controller - that is a great idea for the piano player in the church.

Do any of you use the arranger keyboard in style mode at church?

We do, because we don't have a band. Look like that is no the situation of the others.
Most of the local churches use keyboards like Motif, Fantom or Tritons. Very few churches use arrangers. The old perception that they are home toys.
When you mention arrangers, most of the musicians give you a weird look.

Most of the musicians I encountered during the past five years are in the audiences of locations where I'm performing. I'm playing and they're out of work.

Ironically, the church my daughter attends now uses a Tyros2 instead of an organ and piano--they, and the congregation, love it!

Gary

i play almost entirely using my arranger at church in both straight keyboard but mostly arranger style for the choir.

check out my youtbe site http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lubAqrhzzxo

Very nice Spalding! I played that same tune at the church I mentioned.

The use that I forsee us having for this kb excites me. Our music is so varied at the church and the T4 will rise to just about any occasion.

When used with the worship band, it can do string or synth pads under our live guitarists and rhythm section. Plus the organs and EPs will fit the genre of many of our songs.

In our more conservative service it can mix nicely - even with our piano and organ, with the T4 adding some tasty solo clarinet, oboe, trumpet, or sax obligatto or as a stand-alone instrumental solo accompanied by our grand piano. (can you tell I'm excited?)

Sorry. But I'm dreaming of how beautiful it would be to have these high quality voices (oh and not to mention those incredible choir vocals on the T4) adding to our song mix.

It will enhance our worship whether it's used on a high church classical piece, or rocking out with the band.

Now all I gotta do is convince the finance committee!

just take our laptop to the church committe meeting and some good speakers. let them hear any demo from Martin Harris or Peter Baartmans and collect the cheque on your way out....

I have used a Ketron X1, a Tyros, a Ketron Sd-1, and my Roland g70. Any TOL arranger should work fine.

Tom

Tim,

Go with the T-4...maybe they'll let you take it home, to practice.

Larry

Hey Larry,

That's a given.
Since I'm the full-time staff guy in charge of all things music, I must take it home to learn my way around it so I can teach the other players how to use it.

Just one of the perks of the position - YAY!

Tim

NEW TWIST - before I settle on the T4 I think I should give the PA3 a listen, too. One of my keyboard players insists on at least 76 keys (how dare he). Plus, we've been using the PA588 for the past couple years, so it would be a logical step to stay in the Korg line. Personally I think I'd prefer the T4, but I haven't yet been able to see a PA3 and would have to travel 2 hrs. to see one at Alto Music in Middletown NY.

I guess in all fairness and in the interest of being informed, I should at least take a look before leaping.

Tim

Tim,
On the Korg Pa3x: The work involved is a bit more but the final product is awesome. It does not sound as refined as Yamaha but it has far more drive – it sounds like a real band. And, DRUMS UP FRONT!

I feel the people in your church will have a greater desire to put their hands together. (And that’s what the music is all about)

John C.
PS, Anyone interested in my Kn7000 it is up for sale???

Hi John,
sounds like you're keen on upgrading to the PA3X. Really like mine.

Hey Tim, you never did say what you finally settled on,and how it all went.
Can you give us an update please?

Allan

Did this thread really just come back to life after almost 7 years!?

Paul I never had the guts to ask my pastor if I could play in church. And they needed an organist a couple of months ago! But I do play Catholic worship music at home using styles.

My current main axe is a Tyros 5. I bought the "Church and Christmas" expansion pack when it first came out. That added several new organ voices and at least 3 new "free play" styles which are great for traditional hymns.

Maybe a little OT but there are at least a few hymns I've learned which have a time signature change at the chorus, or even for just a few measures. Thus, these songs would be difficult to play with a typical rhythmic style. The free play (rubato) styles work well for this purpose and were a big part of my decision to go with Yamaha.

However, there's nothing exclusive or terribly advanced in the programming of the Tyros. Anyone with a good theoretical knowledge of how arrangers work can create a "free play" style on any MOTL arranger. I've created rubato / triggered styles for my Korg and Roland arrangers. These consist of only a sustained chordal accompaniment ("pad") track playing triads, and monophonic bass. (I.e., No drum, percussion or rhythmic phrases.) Generally these tracks are voiced with sustaining instruments like Organ, Strings, Brass, Synth, etc. My styles work just like Yamaha's Free Play styles. I often wonder whether a listener could discern that I was triggering an arranger accompaniment, as opposed to someone playing fingered chords on the lower manual and pedal bass played on the organ?

Or play Spalding's You Tube video - that'll do it The voices are predominant in that video and an arranger is the tool to set it all in motion. Think about being 'moved' during a musical performance with a full blown choir. Most of the time, it's just a piano in the background. Now add in strings, etc........

BTW, the lady instilling the song in that young fellow was truly emotional to me.