The above picture is a real sign from a real church right down the street from me. They need a keyboardist, but they might as well get in line – all churches need a keyboardist and good ones are in short supply.
Conversely, I know of one big church with multiple campuses and multiple bands that still have guitarists coming out of their ears and in rotation. So where are the keyboard players? Everybody wants to be a rock star these days and the obvious choice is to play lead guitar. Plus it doesn’t help that most piano music majors can rattle off complex classical masterpieces yet are dumbfounded by a pop chord chart and synthesizer.
And even classical keyboard players are hard to find. In a church the size of Brookwood I was the only keyboard player, until recently, who was able to sight read music well enough to play for choir rehearsals – plunking out parts, etc.
To any young people out there I give this advice: if you want a career in music learn to play the keyboard, improvise and be a real musician for these reasons:
1. You’ll never want for a church job. I can count on one hand the number of keyboardists in this part of the country who could hold a full time job at a church that requires arranging, notating music with software, creating chord charts and improvising for transitions and under prayers.
2. You’ll always be able to play. I know one keyboard player who regularly plays at two big churches because there just isn’t anyone else. Even if you don’t want a full time career in music, a keyboardist can still make extra money on the weekends from churches who pay their musicians. If you can play both blended/traditional as well as pop keyboards in a band you’ll be even more in demand.
3. You can arrange and distribute your own music. It’s nice if you can sit in your room, strum a guitar and write a song, but then what? How will your music ever get out to the public? Learn some musical skills! Learn chords so you can create your own chord charts. Learn how to record your songs in the most professional way possible so others can hear them. Learn how to write out a piano part since the vast majority of church pianists can’t improvise. Learn how to arrange your song for choir or praise team since most volunteer vocalists don’t have enough of an ear to pick out their own parts. Even by being able to write out the melody for a lead sheet you’ll be way ahead of the pack.
Pianists are more apt to be arrangers than guitarists because the keyboard gives them a better grasp of theory and musical structure (I know innumerable guitarists and I can think of only two who read music.) And this is where the money is to be made – in creating your own songs and arrangements. With my keyboard and computer I’m able to completely and quite convincingly replicate an entire orchestra.
If you want to have the fame (not necessarily riches) of being a guitar rock star have fun. If you want a career, learn to play the keyboard – you’ll be a more well rounded musician and have a leg up on the tons of competition.
34 Responses to “Keyboard Player Needed”
January 11, 2011
BillDon, I love this article. Its funny how true this statement is on one exception. My church has three bands and soon to be starting a second campus and we have enough keyboardists (including myself) to fill those needs. We have two classically trained (including myself) pianists that have adapted well over the years playing the top 40 riffs from Air 1. Our church has been blessed with outstanding musicians over the last 5 years but what we’ve seen is a downturn with bass players! So with that, I feel that perhaps all the bassists went to the east coast and all your keyboardists are in the northwest. Thanks for the giggle and just in case, I’m for hire, okay just kidding.
Bill
January 12, 2011
Don ChapmanYes, bass players are right up there in scarcity with keyboard players.
January 13, 2011
JayHi Don.
I play both. I’m available. How can I find churches that need a keyboardist or bass player?
January 14, 2011
Don ChapmanI’d visit big churches in your area.
January 11, 2011
Kyle ReidHello Mr. Chapman,
I would like to start this email by saying thanks on behalf of all keyboardists out there; finally some recognition! (just kidding). Not to boast or show off, but I really am a prime example of what you have outlined in this article. I come from a classically trained background in piano, beginning when I was 8 years old. In my teens I came to know Jesus, and then came to know contemporary worship (typical with today’s pop/rock chords, progressions, themes and ideas). I then self-taught myself guitar, bass, drums and even dabbled in singing. Then I proceed with music and got my Bachelor of Arts degree in music (specifically piano performance and composition) from Redeemer University College (Ancaster, Ontario, Canada). I know the basics of studio production, have written/recorded/produced many of my own tracks, have know how to and have done much in the composition realm and I’ve even acted as a worship pastor & leader while employed as an interim youth pastor.
After all of this information about myself, I’m curious to the existence of all of these paid gigs at churches. I would love to be employed by a church, but the offerings are very far and few between. I’ve therefore been self-employed through playing at weddings, with cover bands in taverns and even had a couple solo & duo acoustic-based acts. Therefore, if you do have any serious leads to a paid position at a church (preferably one I could make a living and career at) then would you please send me their information my way. I would be ecstatic if one came around!
I realize this is a shot in a million, but it’s worth a try.
God bless
Kyle Reid
January 11, 2011
RaeDon, your article is priceless! Thank you for writing it. I’m one of those multi-skilled keyboardists you described in your article, who is currently working in a “guitars rule” situation, so thanks for the encouragement! Your article was definitely a Godsend for me!
January 12, 2011
Rob WeberThat’s interesting. At my church we regularly have services without any keyboard, but we went to another church to recruit an electric guitar player…
January 12, 2011
Eleanor ConnorsI am a professional pianist/organist/keyboardist and yes hear you well. From that age of 11 until present day (70) I have been in demand for performances and directed and accompanied choirs, Gilbert and Sullivan Operettas, solo performances, weddings, funerals and more. My piano (university and conservatory degree along with natural talent) has been so good to me.
January 12, 2011
Gloria WrightHi Don, Great article! I’m going to make sure all my piano students read it.
January 12, 2011
joeIt’s weird, I keep reading articles of guitarists who keep cranking their volume up, vocalists who need more monitor, sound guys who know more than the worship leader, and churches who need more keyboardists, but our church of 200 is completely the opposite.
Our guitarists have a great grasp on volume, our vocalists very rarely need more monitor, most of our sound guys don’t know more than the worship leader, and we currently have more keyboardists than we know what to do with. We are blessed with 2 ladies who play piano and can improvise on both piano and keyboard, 2 ladies who are fantastic with the keys, and we’ve just added another keyboardist.
It’s weird to read this article, knowing we’re not even close to having that problem. We actually have a lack of guitarists.
I need to go thank my keyboardists now for being so awesome.
January 12, 2011
Don ChapmanI think maybe you’ve actually died and are currently in Heaven but don’t realize it yet!
January 12, 2011
NicolePart of my job as Worship Coordinator is to train all our pianists to play from chord sheets. We start with kids who are 12 years old and I require adults to learn as well. This give us such versatility. Out of a congregation of roughly 300 people I have 6 pianists of varying abilities – but all can sight read and play chord charts. Mentoring all musicians is so important that we pair up new worship team members with existing members so that can happen.
January 12, 2011
JanetThis is sorta sad cause I’m a piano player and would love to do all those things and would love to get paid….but I’m in a small town in a small church. Maybe in heaven.
But it’s great encouragement for young people! 
January 12, 2011
Sue SchockIt seems that if there is a shortage of keyboard players, part of the reason is because worship team leaders seem to think that those of us who are over 40 have nothing to offer the “modern” worship team, & we are either ignored, never asked to play for the worship team, or never scheduled to play. They fail to realize that those of us who are trained in classical &/or traditional church music do keep up with the musical times, can make the transition to worship music, & still have a lot to offer. We have 3 of us in our church of 200, & we are never considered for the worship team–only 2 who are younger. If leaders would welcome those who are over 40, there would be plenty of keyboardists to go around.
Do churches still pay for keyboardists, pianists? I must live in the wrong place. And I have a degree in church music, have 25+ years of experience as a church musician, music director, etc.
January 12, 2011
LizWow, Sue… sorry you’re in that situation. I felt sort of the same way when I first started going to my church 8 years ago. Then I realized I never stepped up and offered to play… And even once I did it was hard to integrate at that time. But now 8 years later everything has changed and I am a leader both in the church and in the praise band. We have four services a weekend and I am the regualr guitar player in one of them (and yes, I read music Don, so now you know three of us) and sub in all three other services. Put yourself out there. Oh, and I am 55 years young.
January 15, 2011
LoriWhen we came to our small church 8 years ago, a guy was leading worship, using a keyboard and sometimes guitar. When he left, I asked my pastor husband if I could try. (I have classical and church music training from a Christian College.) I now lead our team, from the keyboard, and have done this for about 7 years. We have 2 guitars, both also like to sing, 2 singers, and a drummer who sings. What a treat this is, because worship is my greatest expression of love to Father. I do a lot of transposing, because we all seem to be most comfortable in lower keys (and because I am female). My music training makes this easy. I love it – and all I did was ask! (I also teach piano, and chord reading/playing is a part of my agenda for each student.)
January 16, 2011
LoraDitto. After college, my husband and I went back to the church where I was raised and I thought we’d be welcomed, but instead I spent 12 years at a church and was never given an opportunity to flow in my gifts and calling. AND I ASKED and made a pest of myself. But there was just one acceptable order of things there – an organist and choir and nothing else.
My husband and I met at music school. He is a classical guitarist and I was a vocal performance and piano minor. We did not have this disconnect between our training and where modern worship music is going . . . since we are children of the 60s and ’70s we cut our teeth on the chords of folk and Jesus music of that time. We write, arrange, and pulled together a sacred vocal band to minister (as former Madrigal singers we still crave the a cappella stuff). . . we minister now, but only because we found a new smaller church. We’ve found a niche, but it is a part-time job putting the chords to hymns, figuring out preludes, postludes, and offertories, anthems and special music, and running chime choir rehearsals, choir rehearsals and vocal band rehearsals. We’re recording as well now. BUT there is no compensation involved for anyone but the pastor. We too must live in the wrong part of the country — and I really agree about the over 40 part. We didn’t go to the nearest nondenominational church because I think there is an unwritten rule that no one over 30 is allowed on the platform.
It ultimately comes down to prayer and going where God tells you to go – and then stepping out in ministry.
January 12, 2011
Joyce ShultisYou hit the nail on the head when you say that many piano music majors can play classical musical well but that’s all. Our local college is turning out music majors (pianists) who can’t sight read a simple hymn. Our church had one of those twice, and some of the congregation said they wouldn’t come again if she was the accompanist. I understand she gets all A’s in class. What is the matter with our colleges?? What is the matter with someone who thinks they are qualified just because it’s a small church??
January 12, 2011
Steve Baney>>> Don writes: “It’s nice if you can sit in your room, strum a guitar and write a song, but then what?”
I use a website called http://www.ShapingWorship.com to share the music I write with others. I can upload an mp3 of my songs, even if they aren’t professionally recorded, along with chorded sheet music. Then others hear it, learn it, and can use it in their churches.
January 12, 2011
SarahInteresting! Where I am, we have a glut of piano players, but like you, can only read/ play classically.
Reading this was encouraging for me. I find leading from the piano very difficult, as most modern worship songs are guitar driven. My guitar skills aren’t quite up to leading the band with. I find it really hard to keep a tempo going from the piano. I guess I’ll have to read the “click tracks” article next!
January 12, 2011
Rig TalvorIn my situation, our band is guitar lead, they play mostly by ear, and they use the keyboard infrequently; and recently, there was a very negative stereotype projected on me because the last church I played keyboard for was “traditional” (though as worship leader I helped integrate modern music). I’ve heard the same from multiple other pianists. So as of yet, I haven’t found a very warm reception in the modern band setting even though I’m young, I sight read, and can play from charts. My background in worship is culturally and generationally diverse and I’m finding modern worship to be very limiting. I know it’s not the same everywhere, I’d just like to be able to use my talent.
January 12, 2011
LizExcellent point about keyboard players. We seem to be blessed by discovering another new one each time the need arises — thank God (literally)! Regarding click tracks – the survey didn’t include the option that we use… We rehearse to click / metronome, and we have a rock solid drummer which helps. But we don’t use the click in the actual worship services.
January 13, 2011
Jim TweedellYou are true in what you are saying but the situation at our church is that we have plenty of keyboardists who play but they don’t want to committ because they will be run ragged, bothered at all hours to practice , and also fill in at the last moments. Softball or baseball seems to be the thing now days with kids involved and they seem to think by stepping in at the last moment, they can fill in which messes up the whole practice and worship time. Also they don’t have knowledge of click tracks, synths, or any other head knowledge of the keys, just finger knowledge. I show them things from your sight and they have never heard of this type of information. and it all seems to be about money. As a guitarist, I’ve played 21 years on our team and people seem to forget that we are volunteers too and we don’t ask for money.
January 15, 2011
LoriI forgot to add that I am 51.
January 17, 2011
Jeff BlackburnI am the worship leader at Mallard Point Baptist in Georgetown, KY and we are constantly in need of both. That’s so funny.
I lead worship on guitar but the keyboard sound between songs adds so much to the flow and also lends more toward being able to speak between songs and share things.
So, where are they????? LOL.
Have a great day. Jeff
January 20, 2011
Dana MartinThanks, Don, excellent article!
I especially agree with the part about many pianists being classically trained, but not understanding how to read chord charts or improvise. I’ve been a worship keyboardist for over 30 years, and I understand how hard it is to adapt to contemporary worship music, especially with all the guitar-driven rhythms that are popular today.
Like Gloria, I’m going to forward this article to my piano students, as well. I teach my students how to transpose, improvise and read chord charts along w/ their classical training.
Blessings,
Dana Martin
pianodana.com
February 1, 2011
Charles SpenceAs a pastor who is married to a pianist/organist I regret to say that, as talented as she is, she has never been able to find churches willing to pay a living wage. I have been able to have churches that paid her for performances and rehearsal at $25 to $50 each, but that isn’t a living. Most of the churches in my career have had volunteers who made such a proclamation about playing is their gift to the church that the congregation thinks this is the way it should be. In many of the churches the pianists were not very good and played most of the contemporary music like dirges. Currently we are looking for a keyboardist. I truly doubt we will find one who can play the music. Also, as a preacher I do a better job when I can be blessed by good music that supports the whole worship experience. It doesn’t look good when the preacher crosses his eyes when the music goes bad.
February 1, 2011
JanisI had piano lessons as a child, could play (site read) moderately well. When I was approached about playing for worship (this was 20 plus years ago) I couldn’t play a chord without music in front of me. But then someone taught me how to play by chords (using the major and minor scales, whole step/half step theory) and that (and some practice) was almost all I needed to take off on the piano.
By the way, for those who get discouraged, I learned how to play drumset when I was 42 and have been playing on my worship team for 8 years now…God can make a place for us older musicians as well!
March 9, 2011
Jim tweedellAll this talk about cranking up volumes on guitars and amps and sound system. It seems to me that those that are in control of sound systems are going to give you what ‘ they’ think you need…not what you would like to hear. At our church, the sound system in in the booth above the back doors facing towards where the speakers are mounted and they hear this and lean out of the booth and say that sounds good to them or they send people to walk around to listen down on the floor and they say it sounds good. Also, in a church situation, they always crank up the leader and then comes the complaints and then add the vocalists a little louder which in turn makes the instruments not able to hear themselves and this leads to frustration and then it starts again the following week.
July 28, 2012
JordanDon, I’ve been subscribing to your emails for years, love the insight in what you do, but honestly I’ve got to disagree with you in a particular sense. I come from a very long line of musicians, its in my blood and in my destiny. I spent years trying to play the piano, but for some reason it just didn’t click in my brain. I began to hate sitting on that bench with those keys in front of me. My brother introduced the guitar to me and music theory came alive. Now much later, I’ve been playing professionally full time as a guitarist for over 5 years now. Those 6 strings support me and my family in a way the piano never could. Your post hurts and offends me because I’ve made music my life, and you propose that if you’re a guitarist you’re not a real musician. I have a degree in music and a rock solid understanding of music theory. Id go so far as to say that my fingers could do a minor pentatonic scale on a fretboard faster than yours could on a piano. I’m not any less of a musician or person because I work on a fretboard. I find this post really condescending as a professional guitarist.
July 28, 2012
Don ChapmanHurts and offends? Good grief, are you that sensitive? It simply states the facts – keyboard players are hard to find, and most guitarists can’t read music, let alone a chord chart. If you can, congrats!
September 14, 2012
Jonathan MoserSo true on all spectrums! Keyboardists are in short supply. I just recently started my first job as a worship pastor and I’ve been playing acoustic however this article has really shed light on how valueable the gift of playing piano is and I’ve neglected that. I appreciate this!
September 15, 2012
JennifrrI have played piano for 37 years…I am 42 years old. The first 17 years were playing by written music only. The last 20 years have been a mixture of written and chording. I have 2 people on my team who play keyboards…but NO guitarists. In desperate need of a guitar player!!!
May 7, 2013
spencer thuryTrue on keyboard players. I created a document for keyboardist to help them go from sheet music to chord chart playing in minutes. I need to get it out there and will email it if asked. I once put colored stickers on the keys and color coded the lyric sheets with a crayon for 6 year olds to play along with guitar worship. Modern piano is too easy (another reason why trained pianists may drop out). Piano is NOT a percussive instrument anymore, but a great fill instrument with higher highs and lower lows than any other instrument on the stage – so I encourage keyboardists to avoid the middle octaves that are saturated with sound already. Drummers? When drummers are too loud I offer them two sets of good brushes or the door. that settles them down amazingly fast