1.   PARTS: (play with purpose)
Rather than constantly using the piano to drive the songs, we’ve taken an approach of writing specific parts for each song, similar to the other instruments…. I.e. If someone hears the bass riff to “take it all” it is quite signature, and one immediately picks up what song is about to be sung, or the drum intro to “run” etc.    The same goes for keyboard players.   We aim to write specific parts for songs within the band setting that make the song recognizable and put a signature feature on each song, i.e. The Synth line in “Freedom is Here,”(Latest United Album: Tear Down the Walls)  or the piano riff in “His Glory Appears” (Latest Hillsong Live Album: Faith Hope Love)

First step to writing a great part is to listen to the song itself.  Listen to the melody, the feel, dynamics, the “possibilities” of what the song could sound like.  For example, if you hear the intro to desert song, the kick intro, the 3 note piano riff, and the guitar line, it automatically sets the lyrics up with a great platform to go off of.   Once you have had a listen to the song, have a listen to what other ‘riffs’ or ‘parts’ are in place.   If we are in a new song workshop, and the guitar player is already playing a great guitar riff, my approach would be something more background and supporting of that, out of the way of whatever register it is in, something that aims to cause the riff to feature and gives it good support, even a constant sound like a pad, harmonium, or organ.

2.  SOUNDS: (not just piano playing)
Many keys players see themselves as ‘piano’ players.   Piano is one of the sounds we use, but to think of yourself as a ‘piano’ player might inhibit your thinking with regards to the rest of the sound spectrum available to keys players.   Synths, leads, pads, moving pads, rhodes, electric pianos, organs, harmonium, effects, delays, overdrives, filters, and many more sounds and tools are available for you to browse through in your approach to a song and playing, rather than just strictly bashing out a piano sound with all your strength.  A few examples of different sounds below…
-“Tear Down the Walls” off the latest United Album, … Verse 1 has a fat pad supporting everything, and once the drums/bass kick in, the same sound is played in a rhythmic pattern with delay, which gives a totally different vibe and actually provides a platform for the rest of the song.
- “For Your Name” off the latest Hillsong Live Album, has a keys intro line that is a synth bass line with 2 different types of distortion on it that runs through the intro/verse line
-  “Freedom is Here” - already referred to previously, but has a constant synth line that runs the entire way through the song that the rest of the arrangement ‘hinges’ around.
-   “King of All Days” - the repetitive rhodes line with delay throughout the song (intro/verse/bridge)
Then, if you do a piano line, make sure that it is with purpose, rather than just chugging out the chords -
-  “You Hold me Now” - United Album version – piano line the whole way through
-  “Its  Your Love” – Hillsong Live Album – piano lines in intro & bridge etc.
-  “His Glory Appears“ – Hillsong Live Album – piano based song with chords as well as specific parts/riffs

3.  CONTEXT:  (what is needed from me?)
One of the best ways to approach different settings of playing is to ask yourself the question, what is needed from me for this song, with this band? Adapt playing to the musical setting you are in.   If you are in a setting with a full band (2 electrics, drums, bass, 2 keyboards), the way in which you will approach your playing, sounds etc, will be very different than say if you are in a setting with a keyboard and 2 acoustics.   If you are playing in a ‘full band’ setting, there is room for different sounds/parts as you might not be relied on as much to cover the silence or drive the song as much of this will be done for you.   Often, with a full band, think “less is more,” and stop and listen to what the song ‘needs’ from you as a keyboard player. What is not being played that should be?  Often a simple line that stays out of the way of the guitars, and is complimentary to the feel of the song can be a brilliant addition.

If you find yourself playing in a smaller setting, say with a keyboard and 2 acoustics, you would need to learn to distinguish the ‘signature’ parts of the song that cannot be left out, and also think about what the song ‘needs’ from you in whatever context you are playing in.   Perhaps your playing will need to drive things a bit more, or perhaps if you are playing with 2 acoustics, it might be better to stick to a pad or an organ sound as both acoustics will most likely be driving the song rhythmically.

The overall aim of our approach to keyboards is to be both creative and purposeful, not just playing what always has been played, but finding and utilizing great sounds and great ways of playing those sounds to enhance the songs being played.

A good overdrive pedal is like a favorite pair of old jeans. Keen to hear your thoughts on what overdrive pedals are out there that represent good value and most of all, standout tone..

I use:

Xotic Effects- RC Booster

Maxon OD-820 Overdrive

Jekyll & Hyde Overdrive/Distortion

Expandora

Timmy Drive (new addition)

Let the conversation begin.

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There is truly nothing like well written prose that moves and meets people in a way that no sermon, dvd, or conversation ever will.  And, what better story teller than music?

About a month ago someone told me the story behind the hymn ‘It Is Well With My Soul’ by Horatio Spafford. There’s this brilliant line in the first verse that says “When sorrows like sea billows roll…”.

Spafford it turns out, was a lawyer, who was ruined financially in the great Chicago fire and had planned to travel to Europe with his family, but sent the family ahead while he was delayed on business. While cross ing the Atlan tic, the ship sank after a collision with an o ther ship, and all four of Spaf ford’s daughters died. His wife Anna survived, and as Spaf ford traveled to meet his grieving wife, he was inspired to write these words as his ship passed over the place where his daughters had perished.

Suddenly ‘When sorrows like sea billows roll’ was a lot more than a clever line, and ‘It is well with my soul’ was more than just a good chorus. This was his life.  A confession in tragedy and a prayer in heartache. A song that more than 130 years after it was written is still resonating with those walking through their own valleys, sowing tears and believing in faith. It reminded me that songs always have a story, and that new chapters are added to the story for as long as it is sung.

So with that thought in mind, how do you craft great lyrics that give sound expression to your personal revelations, ideas and experiences? Sure, It’s great if you can use rhyme well, even better if you can avoid using cliches and lines that have been used before.  In all honesty, one of the things that has been the most helpful to me in the quest to write great lyrics has been to approach songs like stories. Because stories connect with people, and help them to connect with God.  After all, Jesus was the greatest storyteller.  Confused? Let me explain.

First things first, a good story has a good theme. I often find that when I am writing I’ll get more than one great idea for a song. Maybe a lyric idea about God being a divine and completely personal Creator. Another perhaps about never actually having walked on water like Peter, but feeling like I’m ’stepping out of the boat’ in life . And maybe another about Jesus dragging a heavy cross up a lonely hill. Now, if I went ahead and put all these idea’s in one song, it might be a little hard to follow and end up leading people into a place of head scratching instead of worship.  One of the things I think is really important for writers to remember is that putting all your best ideas into one song doesn’t necessarily make it your best song. Often, this can make it feel disjointed. Certainly; talk about an idea from more than one angle and flesh out your personal revelations.  However, keep in mind that to have a solid theme running throughout will really help the overall lyrical flow of your song. A song like ‘Amazing Grace’ is a great example. Though it talks about different aspects of salvation and the Christian journey, it never strays from it’s theme- GRACE.

Something else that I find I often do, is to make sure that the song feels like it takes people on a journey. Not just musically, but also lyrically. Music in and of itself has this wonderful ability to take people somewhere, but I would hope, that in calling ourselves ‘writers’, we would never become lazy in our lyric writing or rely on the music to do all the work and just settle for words that ‘fit’. It’s second nature for me, once a song I’m working on is near completion, to read the lyrics over and over as though they were never going to have music put to them. One of the reasons I do this is to make sure that the lyrics are the best that they can be. We ought to write in such a way that if no one ever ended up hearing the tune that had been composed, the words alone would still strike a chord and lead people into all truth.

  
All good writers, somewhere along their own journey, have become great at pulling apart their own work. It’s one of the most important parts in the writing process. Being able to edit and re-edit is essential.  Making sure you’re expressing exactly what you are trying to express and that it sings well with your melody is non-negotiable. Even double checking to make sure that the content of your song is doctrinally correct, and that there isn’t anything unclear or too cryptic, is a really good thing to habituate.

Every story has a beginning, middle and an end, and so should every song. Start your lyric at the beginning, take it somewhere, and end it well. Sounds simple, but it’s amazing how often we can forget the simple things.

Another thing that is true of every great writer that I have ever met is that great writers are great readers. I make a point of reading other peoples lyrics, poetry, thoughts, quotes, speeches etc. I think it helps to expand your thinking and it’s a great way of learning how to place words together, say things in fresh ways and use rhyme well. You are only ever as good as what you are reading, writing and listening to. What you put in will come out.

I used to think songwriting was something that was a gift or a natural talent, something you just had or didnt have. However, I keep being reminded even within my own songwriting community that perseverance is often the great decider in separating good songwriters, from standout ones. You just have to stay consistent, and when discouragement comes, STAY CONSISTENT. The greatest stories are yet to be told.

I’ve just been up in Brisbane at our Hillsong Brisbane Campus for the weekend. I’ve got to say, I’m impressed by our team.. Bright are the days ahead in Brisbane.

I was sharing with the team in Brisbane on Thursday night on the kind of worship that moves the heart of God. This is obviously a crucial consideration for our worship teams. We want to honor God by developing the gifts He has given, though even more than writing and learning songs, creating stage designs, mixing sound, etc, we must be aware and moved by what it is that God is looking for.

Worship That Moves The Heart Of God

Psalm 51 says:

15 O Lord, open my lips, and my mouth will declare your praise.

 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; 
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; 
a broken and contrite heart,
 O God, you will not despise.

I love the way E.Peterson puts it in the Message:

“Unbutton my lips, dear God; I’ll let loose with your praise. Going through the motions doesn’t please you, a flawless performance is nothing to you. I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered lives ready for love don’t for a moment escape God’s notice.”

An Act Of Worship Is Not Enough

Our worship must involve a move of our own hearts

I remember planning my proposal to my now wife Karalee. Yes, it was a successful proposal. It is interesting how the proposer, who creates an elaborate plan, then executes it with intricate detail, will often retell the story with particular emphasis on how successful the plan itself was. My proposal plans were elaborate. I flew to London, where Karalee was staying, to surprise her on the banks of the river Thames with a diamond ring. There were a lot of details to be taken care of. But imagine in all that, if I had missed the point, that I had never expressed my heart, my love for her, that I had rushed the experience with my concern for the next part of my plan. “Quick take the ring, we have dinner plans in 5 minutes…”.

Similarly our worship must involve a move and expression of our own hearts. God is not after a heartless, obligated act of worship, rather, a move towards genuine humility and an awareness of our need for Him and His grace. (Read Romans 5 and 6, it provides some more perspective).

Amos 5 says:

21 “I hate, I despise your religious feasts; I cannot stand your assemblies. 22 Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offering, I will have no regard for them. 23 Away with the noise of your songs! I will not listen to the music of your harps! 24 But let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!

Quite a wake up call. The problem here is that with one hand God’s people are oppressing, and with the other they are offering sacrifices.

Our worship must also involve a move towards justice, towards restoring our own communities and bringing our world to rights. In God’s eyes there should be no discontinuity between singing our songs, and standing alongside someone in need; rather with one hand raised to God in worship, let the other be extended to the poor.

God’s Heart Is Moved By Us

I imagine God receiving our worship, like a dad who receives a picture from his young son. A picture of a cat, that comes out looking nothing like a cat, with a use of colours that will never and have never been seen amongst the feline population. Though when you go into that dad’s office, up on the wall, with pride of place, sits that very picture. An inaccurate, slightly tainted attempt, received as if it were fine art.

God’s wisdom confounds the wisdom of the world. He sees beauty where we do not.

Where To From Here?

We must continue to move well beyond viewing worship as 20mins of singing on a weekend, or even our greatest and most exciting projects. God wants all we are. He is looking for worshippers who will come in spirit and in truth, with hearts of humility and transparency, people desperate to meet with Him.

So let us be a people attentive to the point of obsession with God, the object and subject of our worship, desperately seeking His will and His purposes, and let us do our best with what we put our hands to, to the glory of his name.