I've been playing Worship Piano all Wrong

Summary

In this insightful discussion, the speaker reveals how traditional methods of playing worship piano, particularly through layered patches, have fallen short in adapting to the evolving dynamics of modern worship music. Highlighting the complexities of contemporary arrangements, the speaker introduces a new concept: 'power patches.' These innovative patches bridge the gap between layered and song-specific patches, offering enhanced flexibility and production value for worship musicians. With the release of Power Patches Volume 1, keyboard players are encouraged to explore these tools to enrich their sound and enhance their performances, ultimately transforming their approach to worship music.

Takeaways

• 😀 The traditional approach to worship piano playing, focused on layered patches and brightness through the mod wheel, is being reconsidered.
• 🎹 Modern worship music often includes dense arrangements with multiple layers of sounds, requiring a new approach to keyboard playing.
• 🔊 Live worship recordings frequently mix in pre-recorded sounds, creating a richer and more polished live experience.
• 🎼 Worship songs today rely on dynamic sound layering, bringing different elements in and out throughout the arrangement.
• 💡 The limitations of using the mod wheel to control sound intensity and brightness in patches have been acknowledged.
• 🔍 Understanding the source and arrangement of sounds in modern worship music is crucial for effective performance.
• ⚙️ Sunday Keys introduces 'power patches,' a new type of patch that combines elements of layered and song-specific patches.
• 🌟 Power patches provide flexibility and production quality without locking keyboardists into specific arrangements.
• 🚀 The first volume of power patches is now available for purchase, featuring 10 versatile patches for worship performances.
• 🎁 Active Sunday Keys license holders can access three additional free power patches with the latest update to enhance their sound library.

Q & A

What realization did the speaker come to after 10 years of teaching worship piano?

The speaker realized that they had been teaching worship piano incorrectly and identified key improvements that needed to be made in the approach.

What are layered patches, and how have they traditionally been used in worship music?

Layered patches are sound patches that consist of multiple sounds layered on top of or next to each other, traditionally programmed to get brighter when the mod wheel is raised, providing a simple way to increase dynamic intensity during performances.

Why does the speaker believe the traditional method of using the mod wheel is inadequate?

The speaker believes that relying solely on the mod wheel for dynamic control does not reflect the complexities of modern worship music, which often involves bringing in and out different sounds and textures throughout a song.

How has worship music changed over the past decade according to the speaker?

Worship music has become denser, often featuring multiple layered synth parts, and it's common for key parts of live recordings to be supplemented with pre-recorded elements, giving a fuller sound that doesn't rely solely on live performance.

What are song-specific patches, and how do they differ from layered patches?

Song-specific patches are programmed to match the arrangement of an original song, allowing for specific sound adjustments and dynamics throughout the performance, unlike layered patches that require manual adjustments and decision-making during play.

What are power patches, and what benefits do they offer to keyboardists?

Power patches are a new type of sound patch that combines the benefits of song-specific patches and layered patches, providing enhanced production value and flexibility without locking the player into a specific arrangement.

How do power patches enhance a worship musician's performance?

Power patches allow musicians to fill a lot of sonic space in their performance while maintaining control over their sound, thus simplifying the performance process compared to more complex programming.

What does the speaker mean by saying using a great song-specific patch gives you 'superpowers' from the keyboard?

The speaker suggests that great song-specific patches provide musicians with control over the essential sounds they need, combined with additional production elements that enhance their overall sound, making their performances more powerful and polished.

What is the significance of updating the Sunday Keys Sound Library for active users?

Updating the Sunday Keys Sound Library allows active users to access new features and receive three free additional power patches, giving them a chance to explore the benefits of this new tool.

Why does the speaker emphasize the need for flexibility in worship music programming?

The speaker emphasizes flexibility because modern worship music requires a dynamic approach where different sounds and textures are brought in and out, making it essential for keyboardists to adapt their playing to reflect the evolving arrangement of songs.