Method of learning new song quick - Help please !

[dora96]

Hi everyone,

I play at church once a month for church singing service. The problem is the song leader will give the a set of songs for 48 hours before the service. The song is mostly like hymns, some modern Christian songs. They are not hard ( songs are about grade 5 level) ,I am diploma level,  I am quite good at sight reading. However, come to playing hymns, there is 3 or 6 verses. It is really boring playing straight from the book without variation. I find that hard to play modern songs to make up my harmony in the left hand. 48 hours is really short period to prepare them all . By the time Sunday morning is ok to play, but when I get to church on the stage with song leader. I am bit nervous,  lack of concentration, not quite well coordinated with the song leader. Some of song has been screwed up. The people can't catch up with what we sing, I make it mistake. It is really complete embarrassment. ( I always think that people hear me playing the hymn, making mistakes, they may be wondering are you sure I am diploma level ? )  I don't know anyone play at church or accompany with people sing. What is the method to prepare very quick new repertoire in short period of time? The most difficult thing is the tempo, counting for beat, I can do in classical music, there is no problem, come to modern piece, it is strange to me. I don't even understand why can't I count properly. 

I want to do, because it is good practice and gain performance experienced. Every time, when I screw up, I feel bad and shaking my confidence bit. The people said to me " Don't worry, everyone makes mistakes, but I don't like it. I want to play prefessional, What is the skill to accompany people ? Could you share your experience thanks

[timothy42b]

Dora,

I have the same problem.   I played really really badly this past Sunday despite many hours of practice.  Holy Holy Holy, Immortal Invisible, Holy God We Praise Thy Name:  none of them really came off at the service. 

But sometimes I do play smoothly and fluently, but very simply. 

SATB hymns particularly with moving lines are hard for me.  Of course I'm nowhere near your skill level.

Here's what I do.  First, play within my ability, which means playing a hymn like a praise and worship leadsheet instead of trying to do it as written.  That, of course, is what I failed to do Sunday, those hymns are so familiar I felt obligated to really play them.  The congregation would have preferred I fake them with three guitar chords in close position, and I could have done that with  minimal practice.

Second, for the early service and for the praise and worship set I always get enough time because I either pick the songs myself or I assist the other leader.  Dora, somehow you have to get yourself into the decision loop.  Last Christmas I picked every praise and worship song from January to June, printed a spreadsheet, and gave it to everybody.   You should recommend doing at least a month at a time, and help the leader do it.  At the very least, if the choir rehearses Thursday you must meet with the leader Tuesday to pick the songs - then trick him into picking the next week at the same time. 

Third, have a standard approach to lead sheets.  Go to Greg Howlett's website and read about how he makes church piano music interesting.  Then don't do it.  Sorry, his advice is great but I'm not at that skill level yet!  I play lead sheets as block chords in the left hand, broken chords second time through, mostly triads.  I practice changing inversions, etc., but I don't perform that way - it's really about the choir, it's not about me.  You say it's boring on verse 5 - it is for you, not for the rest of them. 

Fourth, sing along while you practice.  I think like many pianists you do too much practicing and performing solo, and need more work accompanying.  Playing duets would be ideal if you could find someone.

Fifth, specialize in key of D.  Really.  You don't need 12 keys to do praise and worship, the guitars can't play more than 2 or 3.  Get really good at D and you're ready for 90%.  When you pick songs go for D or ones close you can easily rewrite. 

I don't know if this helps at all, I struggle too.   

 

[dora96]

Thank you Timothy ! This burden has been in my shoulder for some time how to service properly and faithfully in church. In my church, there are so many young people know how to play music, great musicians  especially pianists. They grow up with it and study it .  I have become Christian for 8 years. I have not been playing the piano in the service for 3 years due to pregrency, family and children commitment. I love servicing my church and give back what God has given me the ability to play the piano. Somehow, people in the church think I can play the piano, I can do any music or any accompanying.

I know that playing the music is not about me, it is about how to draw people to God, and the great God has done to our lives through the music, witness for Jesus. I do feel inadequate in my music aspect. How to coordinate with people, how to accompany the choir, how to look at the conductor, how to not panic if I make mistakes or can't follow the whole team smoothly.

I play the same hymn like you do. Somehow, every time I come to same hymn nothing seems sinking in the brain. When I am not in the service, I feel great singing it along, no pressure. It is a stress to work with people.  I think you have given a very helpful and emotional support in this post. If you or any members of this forum do have anymore suggestion in the future, please share with me. How do your church work in their music service ? How do you get to practice the song with the band? How do you improvise the technique for more interesting and touching?

[slobone]

Fifth, specialize in key of D.  Really.  You don't need 12 keys to do praise and worship, the guitars can't play more than 2 or 3.  Get really good at D and you're ready for 90%.  When you pick songs go for D or ones close you can easily rewrite. 
 

Really, D? When I was accompanying a chorus it seemed like G was better most of the time.

Dora, I'm sure you know the basic rules of accompanying:

1) Always keep a steady beat. If you get to a hard part, you have to keep going at the same tempo. Which leads to

2) Cheat, cheat, cheat. Leave out anything you don't feel confident about playing. The most important parts are the melody and the bass line. Then add as many notes from the chord as you can fit in.

When you say modern, are you talking about music that sounds like pop music? That can be hard to read if you're used to classical, because the rhythms and harmonies are different. But I think rule 2 will help. If you have time to practice, make sure you know the melody well, then the bass line, then the rest of it. If the chords are written with tricky syncopation, see if you can simplify it.

3) And whatever happens, never tell other people afterwards that you made a mistake! Most likely they didn't even notice.

[timothy42b]

When you say modern, are you talking about music that sounds like pop music? That can be hard to read if you're used to classical, because the rhythms and harmonies are different. But I think rule 2 will help. If you have time to practice, make sure you know the melody well, then the bass line, then the rest of it. If the chords are written with tricky syncopation, see if you can simplify it.

The syncopated rhythms in the contemporary stuff is very difficult to read.  There are three versions:  how it is actually notated if you knew how to count, how it is intended to be sung which is slightly different, and how the choir will actually sing it which is yet a third rhythm. 

Unless you are very very experienced I think I'd recommend just chording in the background and leaving the melody to the singers.  A classically trained pianist is going to read the melody rhythms correctly as written and that will be wrong. 

I will relate a short anecdote in the hope that nobody will recognize themself.  I was playing one of those contemporary pieces with the praise and worship choir and one of the guitar players stopped me and said we don't do it that way, the congregation doesn't read music and they won't be able to sing it that way.  You'll never teach the congregation to read music.  Well, I thought I'd lighten the mood with a little humor, and I said, "I know, you're right.  But I was hoping maybe you'd learn to read music."  (Yeah, it sounds a little harsh in print, but in person, with a grin..........)  But her reaction was very interesting.  "I DO read music.  I've had piano lessons.  I've sung in college choirs that required auditions.  I DO know what I'm doing.  I can read notes fine.  I just don't understand all that quarter note, eighth note, rhythm stuff!"

Yeah, D and G are both favored by guitar players.  Lately in my church D has been more common but you're right, you need both.   

[dora96]

Yes Tim, you have hitted the nail on the head. The syncopated rhythms in the contemporary stuff is very difficult to read. I even bought and borrowed some the Praise and worship CD, and hope that I can listen the rhythms and sing the song. However, when I come to play the music, the song leader sings it slightly different from the CD. Even the written music don't match up what they are singing. Some sing it fast and some sing slower than other. In my church, there is very experienced pianist, she said only time will teach you how to do it. The more I do and the longer I do it, the more experience and efficient in the future. She is doing for 10 years since she was a kid.
Some of the pianists in the church, when they play the piano, they are leading the whole worship and congregation, as well as being condutor themselve, using the full keybaord, and changing key within few verses. It is amazing, and very moving. I know I can't rush through this thing. But I  can't help that I want to learn it. I have some pianist coached me at one stage, but they can't explain it. They said just do it and play around with chord and make up my run and fill in the note. But how can I do without any written material or some example in the music . Please listen this youtube, and see you can understand what I am saying about the variation and improvision. 

https://au.youtube.com/watch?v=6gllpUue1Xo

[Petter]

Sounds like you could use a few funk patterns 

[keyb0ardfweak]

hi

I also play in a church, and I'm known all over the other churches all over the world.

It's incredible but I think I  play 1000 times better church stuff rather than ordinary pieces or songs...

The bishop of my church is well pleased with my improvements..


They give me the songs also like you, 48 hours b4 the mass.
I only have practice with the song leader and with the choir/band every friday. After this, we can play any songs we like cuz we have a charismatic service.

Then, at the day of the mass, I usually improvise with the sheet they gave me.

I've been playing in that church for at least 3 years. I remeber the first day they recluded me...I sucked a lot..XD, they were only impressed with the 2nd mov of pathetique, the bishop told me that I would go far. Right now, he's really proud of me, he's the one that will provide me a piano teacher, but still I dont know when...


The trick is this...if the sheets have chords, just improvise them, use arpeggios, use patterns, and most specially, use your imagination!!!You don't mind what others think of your playing, cuz you're playing for GOD!!


People won't care if you make a mistake!!It's for the glory of God, they don't even have time to check if you're wrong or not, they're concentrated in worshiping GOD!!


So be confident with yourself and think that you don't play for yourself!!



I think you could do wonders with that diploma, so open up your mind and forget about the sheet music, concentrate on the chords!!


What I usually do, the bass chords and the melody-chords. Sometimes I vary the order and play like bach for example. In the left hand the melody and the lright hand play around...

Just be creative.


Good luck!!