Playing Together: Dynamics

Ah, this is a subject dear to my heart!  Where to start?  Yes, since this is such a lengthy subject, this will be the start of a series of posts on the music ministry discipline of playing together.

Dynamics.  Think of some of your favorite songs.  This post content should work for any type of music I know.  Picture one of these songs in your head.  Especially focus on the instruments.  Remember the beginning.  Now the middle.  Now the end.  If that doesn't work, try this during the next song you hear.

Was the same instrument playing throughout the song?  Likely there is more than one instrument.  Were all the instruments playing throughout the entire song?  No.  (If someone finds an exception, let me know!  And don’t go writing a bland song, just to prove me wrong!)  :)



Why is this?  It would be a boring song.  It would have little variation.  Little color.  Stagnant.  In church boring songs can often be lifeless prayers.  Our ears need to hear that the song is going somewhere.  It needs emotion.  It needs beauty.  It needs dynamics.

 What is dynamics?  In simple terms, it is contrasting parts of a song.  This could be through varying loudness, varying tempo, varying key, or varying the use of instruments.

This is a fun concept to experiment with in a music group setting.  One easy idea (and my favorite) would be in contrasting a Verse with a Chorus.  Simplify the Verse.  Often flowing instruments are best.  Then for the Chorus bring in instruments with volume or added character.  The result will be a song that takes the church on a journey, swells their hearts, or strengthens their souls.

This is a simple, easy idea to implement some dynamics into your music pieces.  I know there would be more than a thousand variations to this.  What are your favorites?  Will this benefit your music ministry?

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