KEYBOARD

By Ed Kerr

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I’m starting this article in a Starbucks near the campus of Liberty bars of this intro figure. The second chord in each of these 3
University in Lynchburg, Virginia. I’ve been on campus three measures changes on the “and” of 2, creating a nice contrast
days giving suggestions to worship teams, coaching keyboard to the chords of the verse and chorus, which all move directly
players and songwriters, and enjoying everything about my on one of the beats in the measure. Letting chords push in some
visit. God is doing amazing things in the lives of the students sections and not in others can help clearly define your sections,
here, and the Spirit of Jesus is so evident in them. I’m inspired. an important aspect of a strong arrangement.
I’ve shared something with them that I want to share with you. Reuse Your Hook: The class let the re-intro begin right on the
Before you read any further, please visit my website, www. last note of the chorus rather than playing a measure of C first.
kerrtunes.com and follow the link on the home page to Here’s the result:
“Permission Slip”. Download and print the document. Make
copies. Keep them with you so you’ll have them on hand to
distribute next time your worship team gets together.
Okay. Since I’m certain that each of you has printed the
document and the smell of laser toner is permeating the room
(I’m kidding, though I do hope you’ll print the document), here’s
Here’s that measure of C that might normally be heard when
what the permission slip is about. It reads: “I do not have to
the Chorus ends. Play these two examples. I think you’ll hear the
perform a worship song the way it was recorded. I can create
momentum that’s gained by omitting that measure of C.
my own arrangement”. Then you sign and date the form.
What’s the point of the Permission Slip? To free musicians
on worship teams from thinking they should always perform
a worship song as close as possible to the recorded version
they’ve heard. While there’s value in scrutinizing and duplicating
the instrumentation, arrangement, and vocal roadmap of
a recording (and sometimes that’s what you are assigned to Below is the chart for the verse and chorus we created. Small,
do), there can come a point where the musicians playing and I know. Visit my website for a full size chart you can print.
singing that arrangement might feel that their creativity and
musical instincts aren’t needed.
In my work with bands here at Liberty, in my home church,
and in churches around the country, I’ve seen that giving
musicians their Permission Slip to do whatever they want with
an arrangement can bring fresh energy and inspiration to their
presentation of a song. You’ll find that there’s extra time and
effort required to create the arrangement, but the payoff is
fantastic. I saw it on the faces of the musicians here, and I want
to give you a few bullet points that can free you to create your
own unique arrangement of a song you love.
One of the classes presented 3 worship songs as a set. The
3rd song was the hymn “It Is Well With My Soul”. This classic
hymn followed Hillsong United’s song “The Stand”, and the
stylistic contrast between the two was extreme. Giving yourself
permission to create a new arrangement for “It Is Well…” could
make these two great worship songs more musically compatible.
Let’s jump in.
Start with a hook: Rather than quote the melody of “It Is Re-harmonize: As you play and sing through the chart,
Well…” for the intro, create an original melodic idea there. you’ll hear that we used many alternate harmonies. As the first
note of the chorus is sung, for example, the original hymn uses
a C chord. We chose to use the F2. The congregation sings
the unaltered melody, but they hear a fresh harmony. In creating
your own arrangements, explore alternate harmonies for your
melodies. There are many chord options for any note. Explore
them.
A guitarist in the class came up with this melodic line. It has Take some time with your team to rearrange a song. The
nothing to do with the melody of “It Is Well…” but sets a great payoff is great for you, as well as for those who’ll be listening.
mood as an intro. It also works nicely as a re-intro when the first
Lesson here: Always be listening to melodies the
As a songwriter Ed has written over 100 songs with
band is creating in rehearsals. One of those melodies, like this
Integrity Music. He has a Masters Degree in piano per-
one, could make a great intro hook for your new arrangement.
formance. Ed and his family live in Washington State.
Create Contrasts Between Sections: Notice, too, that Ed plays Yamaha’s Motif XS8.
there is a “push” when the chords change within the first 3 www.kerrtunes.com

12 MAR/APR 2012 WORSHIPMUSICIANMAGAZINE.COM