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Carson Bruce | The Worship Keys - Churchfront Worship and Tech Podcast

Carson Bruce | The Worship Keys - Churchfront Worship and Tech Podcast

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 Podcast Notes: Interview with Carson Bruce of The Worship Keys Episode Overview In this episode of the Church Front Worship and Tech Podcast, Luke Jackson interviews Carson Bruce, founder of The Worship Keys platform—a resource dedicated to helping keys players in worship settings improve their skills and understanding of their role. About Carson Bruce & The Worship Keys Founder of The Worship Keys platform, which focuses on four main areas: music theory, gear/software, ministry, and industryClassically trained pianist who now lives in NashvilleThe Worship Keys podcast releases weekly on Wednesdays, featuring interviews with keys players Origin Story Carson created the platform because he "wished something like this existed" when he was youngerPiano has been central to his personal faith journey—often serving as his "prayer closet"Noticed a gap in resources specifically for worship keys players Essential Skills for Worship Pianists Heart Posture: "If your heart is not in ministry...you're not going to stay on that stage satisfied"Playing by Ear: Learning to listen and replicate what you hear is crucialNashville Number System: Understanding music theory through the number systemEar Training: Practice playing unfamiliar worship songs by ear, then verify with chord chartsFocus on Fundamentals: Learn to play well before worrying about gear Transitioning from Classical to Contemporary Classical training often emphasizes sight-reading and technical precisionWorship contexts require playing by ear, improvisation, and band awarenessMany pianists struggle with this transition because the learning approaches are fundamentally different Nashville Number System for Keys Players Despite some believing it's mainly useful for guitarists, Carson advocates for pianists using the Nashville Number System because: It facilitates whole-band communicationMakes modulation easierNumbers are quicker to call out than complex chord namesWorks internationally across language barriersPromotes collaboration rather than piano-centric leadership Common Mistakes Worship Keys Players Make Overplaying the Low End: Creates muddiness when there's already a bass playerDoing Too Much: Sometimes simplicity serves the song betterPlaying Full Triads in Both Hands: Consider simpler voicings like fifths or suspended chordsNot Understanding Context: Different musical styles require different approaches Technology Tips Software Options MainStage: Good for Mac users, moderate learning curveAbleton Live: Most powerful but steeper learning curveSunday Keys App: User-friendly iPad app with AI capabilities ($120) Hardware Highlight Atmosphere Pedal by Aerospace Audio: Physical pedal with high-quality atmospheric pads built inAllows pianists to trigger pads without needing a computer on stageFeatures 10 different pad sounds based on atmospheric layersSmall footprint allows it to be placed directly on the keyboard Keys Players' Rigs Carson's typical setup includes: Arturia KeyLab MIDI controllerMainStage software for soundsFocusrite 18i20 interface when running tracksSoftware from Sunday Sounds or Aerospace Audio for pads Decision-Making for Keys Equipment Carson's advice: If your keyboard works well, keep it and upgrade your sounds through softwareConsider Sunday Keys app for simplicity and ease of useMainStage for Mac users who want more controlAbleton Live for those willing to invest time in learning a comprehensive systemUse iPad apps when available to avoid complex computer setups Sunday Keys App Highlights Features AI-generated sounds based on text or emoji descriptionsAllows easy sharing of setlists between multiple campusesAffordable one-time purchase with optional annual updatesLimitation: Cannot currently import custom-created patches Artists That Inspire Carson Red Rocks Worship (particularly Spooky Scott)Elevation Rhythm (especially "Goodbye Yesterday")The Ramp Worship from Hamilton, AlabamaVarious gospel artists for technical inspiration Connect with The Worship Keys Instagram: @theworshipkeysYouTube: The Worship KeysEmail: Carson@theworshipkeys.com Key Quotes "If you're not using the number system as a pianist, maybe you're not meaning to, but it's like you're trying to say one up almost.""It's like buying a Lamborghini and driving it in first gear everywhere you go.""The piano was once looked at as a secular instrument that you only play in the bars and the pubs, and then it was brought into the church and people had big problems with that.""A lot of times they're asking you to do less in a full band context." Apply to Join Churchfront Premium Apply to Join Churchfront Pro Free Worship and Production Toolkit Shop Our Online Courses Join us at the Churchfront Conference Follow Churchfront on Instagram or TikTok: @churchfront Follow on Twitter: @realchurchfront Gear we use to make videos at Churchfront Musicbed SyncID: MB01VWQ69XRQNSN
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