Worship Musician April 2019 | Page 180

KEYS
ARRANGING TO ENHANCE CONGREGATIONAL SINGING | Grant Norsworthy
I hope you’ve been following along each The resulting, un-musical “sonic soup” this In this next video, I chat with Lucas about his
month for these instructional videos for the produces can easily leave a congregation approach and parts. The main elements are
song “Lion and The Lamb”. The series was unsure about their role. Rather than the open demonstrated.
produced in partnership with our good friends embrace of an arrangement that intentionally at Integrity Music and We Are Worship and is leaves a congregation-sized “hole”, the band intended to help you and your teams of local may present a confusing “wall” of sound that church musicians craft a sound that leaves your leaves our people listening rather than singing. congregation with no doubt that they are being The keyboardist featured in these videos - invited to sing this powerful declaration of truth Nashville pro Lucas Morton - is a technically with you … rather than just listen to you. accomplished player. But he knows that it’s
not what you can play, it’s what you choose
Earlier
installments
have
shown a to play that makes any musician’s contribution
approach
Keyboard Tutorial (in E)
for valuable. Showing wonderful restraint, Lucas Finally, we have a static camera video of
vocals, bass and drums and electric guitar. If has developed parts for the song that fill the Lucas’s hands on the keys. Get to a keyboard
you missed any, make sure you dig them up. right role at the right time. In the appropriate and play along!
This month we move on to keyboard. Through moments, the piano gives a prominent melodic these videos, we’ll demonstrate an approach hook, matches the vocals or adds a wonderful, to creating keyboard parts that can be applied clean texture that leaves plenty of space, yet across many other songs in your repertoire - really adds to the overall arrangement.
congregational
arrangement
not just “Lion and The Lamb.”
Before watching the video of my short interview
Like a lot of the more recent songs in Church with Lucas about his parts and the rationale
repertoires, “Lion and The Lamb” is a guitar- behind them, you might want to watch my
driven song, rather than being keyboard Nashville band’s congregation-inviting version
driven. Often, chord-chart-reading Church of “Lion and The Lamb”. Hear how well the
keyboardists fail to make the distinction. As piano parts from Lucas’s keyboard complement
a result, their playing is way too busy. They the overall soundscape.
try to play in pretty much the same way
I hope these videos and the information they
contain are helpful. Watch out for the final “Lion
and the Lamb” installment - acoustic guitar –
coming soon.
they would play the piano if they were on
their own or accompanying a soloist. The
“The Lion and The Lamb”
Words and music by Brenton Brown, Brian Johnson,
Leeland Mooring.
(©2015 Meaux Mercy, Thankyou Music, The Devil Is A
Liar! Publishing, Bethel Music Publishing)
constant movement and the striking of too
many notes “fights” against the guitar rhythms
that are try-ing to move the song along in a
different direction.
“Lion and The Lamb”
Whole Band Performance (in E)
180
Play Along with the Keyboards (in E)
April 2019
Grant Norsworthy
Founder of More Than Music Mentor, providing
online and onsite training for the heart and the art
of worshipping musicians.
www.MoreThanMusicMentor.com
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