Koerts Music

I recently attended a seminar in which the clinician gave helpful hints on how to play background piano music during specific service elements, such as the invitation, or under someone speaking. Although the majority of the piano playing in my church is covered by very capable and talented pianists, I usually play during the invitation time.

Here are a few things I’ve learned that might help you begin to become the kind of “background pianist” your church may be looking for.

1. Play softly and slowly.
Playing softly goes without saying. You’re not in a competition with the speaker; you’re obviously there to play in the background.

Playing slowly is a little trickier, especially if you are used to taking a particular song at a faster speed. Even if the song should be sung at a fast speed, if playing while someone is speaking, it will be distracting if you play it at a fast speed. In addition to playing slowly, I often add extra measures following phrases, or even an extra beat following certain words.

2. Avoid playing exactly what is written.
When it comes to congregational singing, the hymnbook is well written. When it comes to piano playing, the hymnal should merely be your reference point for melody and rhythm. So here’s your big chance! No one is singing or playing with you (assuming you’ll be playing alone). Break away from the mold of the often trite harmonies in the hymnal, and add different chords and chord progressions. Greg Howlett, the clinician I referred to above, does an excellent job of explaining this concept in his very helpful site under Free Christian Piano Lessons.

3. Play with simplicity.
Maybe this is an obvious point as well, but it just makes sense that if you’re not the main event, try not to compete with the main event. I almost entirely avoid runs and arpeggios (although, if done right, they arguably could work). In fact, although I use various chord substitutions, I tend to keep the chords very simple. I’ve even been known to leave out a few notes of the melody (heresy!) if it is very repetitious.

4. Match the speaker’s theme and “mood.”
If the pastor is describing the elements during a reflective communion service, play music about the blood or the cross, and make sure you do so slowly and thoughtfully. During a baptism, the mood might be more joyful and soaring. When I play for our invitations, I will play a familiar invitation hymn (something like “Just as I am” or “I Surrender All”), and I’ll continue to play softly while the pastor closes the service in prayer. Then, when he switches to share a final thought with the congregation or a few announcements, I change the tone and the mood to match. Once he dismisses the congregation, I usually segue again into a postlude song, keeping it in the same key and with similar improvisational elements used earlier. It’s still background music (while people talk and gather their things and exit), but I’m sending them off with the “mood” I want to, which is usually upbeat, encouraging, and hopeful.

It might be good to mention that with time and practice, you’ll get better at this. Study your pastor and get to the point where you can anticipate his direction. Even though my pastor’s prayers are not rehearsed, I can usually anticipate when he is nearing the final, “In Jesus’ name, Amen,” allowing me to cadence and end on a tonic chord at the same time he finishes. While it may not be a necessity, it certainly helps complete the “setting” that the Holy Spirit can use to touch someone’s life.

I hear it a lot: someone will come up to me after a service and say, “I could listen to your piano playing all day.” I have to admit that I internally cringe when I hear that. Hopefully their compliment doesn’t mean they didn’t pay attention to what the pastor had to say. (In fact, I’m almost sure it doesn’t mean that.) Hopefully it means that my music was effective in drawing their attention exactly where I want it: to what the pastor had to say.

And if you are fortunate to have a pastor like I do who is passionate about the truth and about souls coming to Christ, you will have no greater joy than to provide the very best in background piano music.

Related posts:

1. Tips for Playing Piano Preludes
2. Improve Your Piano Accompanying
3. Music Style
4. Choosing Wedding Music
5. Christian Music Day