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European Journal of Education Studies ISSN: 2501 - 1111 ISSN-L: 2501 - 1111 Available on-line at: www.oapub.org/edu Volume 3 │Issue 11│2017 doi: 10.5281/zenodo.1066326 THE DYNAMICS OF PIANO PLAYING IN CORPORATE CHRISTIAN WORSHIP Samuel Onimisi Olusegun Auda D.MA, The Dean, Faculty of Church Music, Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso, Nigeria Abstract: According to Davidson : , “Corporate Christian Worship is the dynamic, dramatic and dialogical encounter between the triune God of the Bible and His people, in which God reveals Himself to His people and His people respond positively in an appropriate and Biblical manner.” For effective use of musical instruments in Christian Worship of which piano is a major one, care must be taken so that there can be a clear demarcation between the secular and the sacred. The appropriateness of the instrument with the issue of how and when it should be used must be taken into special consideration. As we know that, the matter of reverence and awe in worship must not be taken lightly, for our worship is to God Almighty our creator, redeemer and sustainer. Also, sensitivity in the part of the instrumentalist(s) or pianist(s) must be taken seriously. The pianist (instrument) must play with care and reverence. Issues of loudness and softness of instrument and when to play should also be taken seriously. For example, no instrumentalist should be playing the instrument prayer is on, he or she should also pray, when scripture is read, he should also open his or Bible and read along, when preaching is on, he should listen attentively, without distraction etc. The use of musical instruments in worship should serve an accompaniment role in worship, a means to an end, which is encountering God in a meaningful worship (Auda, 2012). Keywords: piano playing, corporate Christian worship, musical instruments 1. Musical Instruments (Piano) and Worship appropriateness Magee (1987) rate some musical instruments in the order of appropriateness for public worship – a accordion, b guitar, c organ, d piano and e zither. Against Magee’s Copyright © The Author(s). All Rights Reserved. © 2015 – 2017 Open Access Publishing Group 452 Samuel Onimisi Olusegun Auda THE DYNAMICS OF PIANO PLAYING IN CORPORATE CHRISTIAN WORSHIP categorization, I am sure most church people, especially musicians will tends to categorize these instruments in the order of (a) Organ, (b) Piano, (c) accordion, (d) guitar and (e) Zither etc. Although through the ages the organ has long been the instrument most used in worship especially in orthodox, highly liturgical settings, e.g. Catholic and Anglican etc, but for a number of reasons that prominence of organ over other instruments, may be waning. Many congregations are now discovering that the use of piano in Christian Worship is an excellent alternative to the organist to have a break, whole others, have decided to accept the use of piano in place of the organ on a regular basis, especially in smaller chinches. They have discovered that the piano accompaniment for their music, Solo Ensemble, Choir and congregation is most suitable and preferable to the use of organ music in their regular corporate worship. Nowadays, the most common keyboard instrument in most congregations is the electric keyboard, especially in non-orthodox settings, evangelic and Charismatic renewal churches. The reason is not for fetched, these electronic keyboards are in ranges of various prices, depending on how much a church can afford financially speaking. These keyboardist to choose any sound effect he or she wants and which is suitable for the music being presented, in style, mood etc. Even with the presence of the electronic keyboards (Yamaha series, Korg series etc.), Most Orthodox still see the need for them to keep their organ, especially for congregational hymns singing accompaniment and for choir singing anthems and classical stuffs, while the electronic keyboards are used to accompany congregational singing of praise worship songs and to accompany the choir for native air because of the flexible nature of the instruments. For example there are sound effects of flute, saxophone, conga, bell, Gong, organ, piano (even different kinds of organ like electric organ, theatre organ etc., and various Piano sounds-like Grand Piano, Bright Piano, etc.), different kinds of percussive instruments, both Western and African. This is Marvelous; it is like have more than a thousand varieties of kings in one. Although some of these sound effects may not sound like the live instruments, but it all depends on the quality of the electronic keyboard instruments, because some of these effects, coupled with a quality public address system, will sound almost like the live instruments. For viewing / downloading the full article, please access the following link: https://oapub.org/edu/index.php/ejes/article/view/1223 European Journal of Education Studies - Volume 3 │ Issue 11│ 2017 453