What is a Good Church Pianist?

Filed in Free Lessons on June 11, 2011



Before you start down the journey with me, evaluate yourself in the eight areas below. I have listed them in my opinion of their order of importance.

1. Passion to learn. Good pianists understand that they have not arrived and feel a desire to continue to develop their skill. This trait is fairly rare among church pianists especially as they grow older. Even if you have a college degree in piano performance, that is at best a beginning step toward learning to play the piano well in a church setting. Start taking lessons again.
    
2. Ability to practice. Most church pianists do not have time to practice. Regardless of whether they admit it or not, that is almost always by choice. If you want to learn, you will have to readjust your priorities so that you can play the piano almost every day.
    
3. Humility. Good pianists step aside for better pianists and take the opportunity to learn from them. If you are clutching your church piano bench with a death grip when you know in your heart that you are not the best person for the job, defer, listen, and learn. If you are diligent, your time will come.
    
4. Versatility. Clearly, a church pianist needs to be able to play in a variety of styles. In addition, good pianists will be able to play well by ear and sight read well. They will be able to transpose, modulate, improvise, and accompany well.
    
5. Sight reading skill. Regardless of the church, there will be situations where you have to sight read to accompany a soloist. Or perhaps, the normal choir pianist will get sick and you will have to substitute during a rehearsal. Sight reading is a skill that you simply have to have.
    
6. Improvisation skills. Improvisation is used heavily in most church settings today and yet it often overlooked even in college music programs. Learning classical music is great, but there are numerous great classical pianists who are not very good in improvisation. In the 21st century, improvisation skill is no longer just a nice thing to have—it is a necessity.
    
7. Ear skills. Some people think that learning to play by ear is an inherited trait. I am living proof that they are wrong. I did not learn to play by ear until I graduated from college. How did I teach myself? By playing and listening. You can learn too.
    
8. Technique expertise. Yes, I have technique last. The fact is that church music is not necessarily technically difficult, and it can be extremely effective when it is the most simple. The key is to honestly assess your technical ability and play within your ability. I would much rather listen to simple music than complex music that is too hard technically for the performer.

What to work on this week
Evaluate yourself on these eight characteristics. Especially consider whether you are passionate about improving your skills and whether you have the time to do so.


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