Playing in Church

[dwerden]

I've met an awful lot of people who don't think to take advantage of an opportunity that is right there in front of them - playing in a church/worship service. For the player, it's a good way to gain experience. For the congregation and worship leaders, it's a nice addition to the service and offers some variety. You probably won't get paid, but it's a very enjoyable experience, and many church settings provide excellent acoustics for a low brass instrument. Here is an example of an early-August service where I played at 4 different places: Prelude, hymn, offering, and postlude. There are videos of each instance and a brief explanation of what I was doing. (I'd be curious to hear if there are some good, flexible tuba resources for this kind of participation as well.)

http://www.dwerden.com/forum/showthread ... 1?p=147294

[Heavy_Metal]

Well done, Dave! I'll have to remember how you re-purposed the tenor part as a countermelody. That worked well.

To add to your points- our brass ensemble serves as "brass in residence" at a local Presbyterian church, and they let us rehearse there in exchange for playing at various times of the year- Christmas, Easter etc. Last year we also played for my father's memorial service, and Reformation Sunday (just prior to Halloween, this was the 500th anniversary) and this year we filled in when the organist had surgery (shout-out to our own hbcrandy for his excellent Stanley Voluntary 1 arrangement), and might play the installation service for their new pastor if they ever get around to picking one. We were lucky to have this happen, since it means we don't have to rehearse at members' homes.

Just thought I'd mention this- it's a win-win deal that might also work for someone else.

[Ace]

Nice post, David! Thanks for that fine playing.

Ace

[opus37]

I play in 2 brass quintets that play in church. We play festival Sundays as a stand alone piece and with the the organ in some of the hymns. It adds a lot to the service. In one of the churches, we play counter melody to a rock band. Dave is right, it is a great experience and it broadens your opportunity to play many different styles of music.

[Three Valves]

...and it beats falling asleep in the pews!!

[Mark]

So many of our local churches now feel that their musical offerings should be performed by Christian rock bands. Easter is about the only time they seem to want brass.

[Leland]

I took up tuba by playing in my church brass group (kind of a quintet-plus) with my mom. They might not have had a tuba in the group before. What I remember is playing alongside the second trombone player for several months, then he eventually left, and it remained a standard five-person group for quite a few years.

Learning how to COUNT (you don't survive Bach fugues if you can't listen and count), taking full responsibility for my part, and trying to emulate the pipe organ during the hymns helped lay a solid foundation that has helped my playing ever since.

At the same time I started tuba in church, I switched to contra in my drum corps. The skills I developed in both groups fed into each other (you do well in corps by doing the exact same things I described about the quintet).

[Davidus1]

I play in church often. The Curnow literature works well. Great job Dave! Love to hear you play and you are definitely an educator! Thanks for sharing.

[iiipopes]

Playing for a religious service is necessary to the overall development of all musicians. Playing to facilitate the service, and the attendees in their worship, as opposed to simply playing a solo or concert, is a shift in focus that not enough players do, much less understand the importance of doing so, whatever the religion, denomination, or type or style of service.

I am lucky. I have been a part of religious music ever since as a toddler my parents got me up on the chancel steps with the other toddlers and choir director to sing "Jesus Loves Me," and later explain why that is important to help the others worship, and is not as merely a performance.

I see more unity, appreciation and tolerance among musicians who play for religious services, irrespective of religion, denomination, or type or style of service, than any other group of persons otherwise.