If you’re looking for Modern Worship Keys– I can help in two distinct ways: First, if you’re already at a high level of production, I can step in and give your rotation a break. Alternately, if you’re not where you want to be, bringing in a new solid player will instantly raise awareness of what is possible and make everyone pay attention in a new way. In fact, I’d suggest routinely doing that for all your band positions as a way to grow your community.
I started playing piano at age five, and was playing hymns in church by age twelve. As a teen I studied theory: chords, inversions, and even synthesis on my own, and shifted my formal piano lessons to focus on classical technique. I spent 16 years working on what to play, and all the time since figuring out what not to play. My undergrad degree is electrical engineering, which means I understand the technical aspects of synthesis and sound production, and I’ve recently created my own MainStage template which I call Intuitive Keys. My first love is acoustic piano, but I find the sound of analog synthesis to be as evocative as acoustic instruments, while at the same time allowing for new and modern textures. Today I’m a less-is-more kind of keyboardist with a style that could be described as cinematic. I score the song as I try to help tell its story. I have a strength for sound design and typically arrange sounds for each section of the song. I know how to serve the song and make space for vocals and other instruments.
Practically speaking I will do my homework, so if you set me up for success and publish the setlist (song name, key, tempo, version) one to three weeks out, I will show up prepared and with my own custom sound design. I work great with another keyboardist or can cover everything myself. If you have a pianist and run a click, I love covering all the pads, textures, pulses, and other moving parts. If you use multi-tracks I can cover anything important and let you know what tracks to mute. I’m used to working with tracks and in-ears, but can also work with floor monitors, and cover those piano ballads with just a lead vocalist as well, especially if you have a nice piano available. My travel rig is 4-octave controller running MainStage on a 15″ MBP augmented with an 3-octave virtual analog synth that I will sub-mix to stereo XLR.
In both of these videos I am on the Red Nord Stage as a controller and you are hearing only my MainStage Template. On “Hallelujah Here Below” I’m playing the atmospheric Rhodes riff while nicely coexisting with the acoustic piano, as well as some warms pads and a moving string line on the choruses. On “Worthy of Your Name” I’m covering everything except the piano: so the warm and modern pads, chimes, and even an arpeggiated dulcimer on the verses.
My rate is $150 for the first service and $50 for each additional service, plus transportation and lodging outside the DC/MD/VA area. If that’s not within your budget please feel free to contact me and if I have space in my schedule, I can offer an adjusted rate based upon my availability.