About being forced to play the piano

[BimmerFan99]

Has anyone ever been told they had to play the piano instead of the organ?

I've been playing for this church once a month for over a year and a half now.  In August of 2005, one of the pastor's donated a C-2 to the church, and I moved to playing the organ regularly thereafter.  It was only me on the keys and a drummer.

Now, after playing solely the organ for the past several months, I come to choir rehearsal today and the director tells me that she wants me to play the piano only on the fast songs and organ on the slower songs (which usually boils down to one or two choir songs out of say 5 or 6).  The director tells me the choir just "isn't used" to singing with the organ and is more used to the piano.  I'm basically being forced to play the piano and I don't want to.

I don't know what to think, but it makes be angry for two reasons:
1) The organ adds SOO much more richness to the sound of the music, especially since there's no bassist.  (I don't have to go on further here.)
2) It sounds like they don't like the way I play it and don't want to tell me straight up.

Mind you, this choir isn't a #1 choir.  They are dedicated and great people, but there's a serious learning curve and they have trouble singing in correct parts and harmony.  Oftentimes, they also can drag a song down or throw it off, whether I'm on the piano or organ.

Even more, I'm the only person who regularly plays that organ, and if I don't play it, it'll just collect dust.  I can't stand to see a Hammond go unused and unloved!!!!

[sjonathan02]

Has anyone ever been told they had to play the piano instead of the organ?

I've been playing for this church once a month for over a year and a half now.  In August of 2005, one of the pastor's donated a C-2 to the church, and I moved to playing the organ regularly thereafter.  It was only me on the keys and a drummer.

Now, after playing solely the organ for the past several months, I come to choir rehearsal today and the director tells me that she wants me to play the piano only on the fast songs and organ on the slower songs (which usually boils down to one or two choir songs out of say 5 or 6).  The director tells me the choir just "isn't used" to singing with the organ and is more used to the piano.  I'm basically being forced to play the piano and I don't want to.

I don't know what to think, but it makes be angry for two reasons:
1) The organ adds SOO much more richness to the sound of the music, especially since there's no bassist.  (I don't have to go on further here.)
2) It sounds like they don't like the way I play it and don't want to tell me straight up.

Mind you, this choir isn't a #1 choir.  They are dedicated and great people, but there's a serious learning curve and they have trouble singing in correct parts and harmony.  Oftentimes, they also can drag a song down or throw it off, whether I'm on the piano or organ.

Even more, I'm the only person who regularly plays that organ, and if I don't play it, it'll just collect dust.  I can't stand to see a Hammond go unused and unloved!!!!

You don't live in Pa, do you? Your situation sounds too familiar with one exception, the choir would want the piano on slow songs, and the organ on fast songs. 

[RMS2003]

I pretty much know how you feel. This guy from my church was singing a special and I was going to be playing the organ that night. So I just assumed I would play the organ during his special as well. During our rehearsal, he asked me to play the piano because he said something about the organ throws him off. I hate playing the piano if I'm gonna be by myself because, like you said, the organ has a more rich, full sound. And any time our ensemble sings, it's just assumed that I am to play the piano. Usually our organists doesn't play and most of the songs the ensemble sings, so I'm by myself.

I don't mean to have a nasty attitude about it. I try to take things with a good attitude and just let it go, but it irks me when I'm told what I have to play. If I'm by myself, I'd prefer the organ because at least you're not lacking in sound. Years ago it was totally different. Long before I started playing the piano, some times the pianist for the choir/ensemble wasn't there, and it'd just be the organist. No one told her what to play.