Hello all,
I use to play the piano in a church...in a choir group. But the piano is so soft that they can't even hear it. There is one guitar but that only plays the chords and the volume isn't too loud.
The piano is not an electrical one...so I can't "make" the volume louder.

My parents say that the main problem is the choir group usually sings very loud!

Erm....I can't bang the piano since it is the church's property. I try to play more notes but it doesn't help(it becomes..too noisy -"too many notes".).
I try to play the melody an octave higher but the choir group members doesn't agree....
I try to hold the pedal longer but it makes the melody "too noisy" too!

This really challenges me...can anyone suggest anyway to "make the piano sounds louder"...? Thank you very much..

If they are singing too loud for the piano to be heard how on earth are they keeping in tune and in time??

Do you have the top open to let the sound out more?

does the church have a sound system? consider putting a microphone next to the piano, although this might cause more problems than it solves.

As some one who occasionally plays a piano in church, when you are accompanying congregational singing, there is no such thisng as subtle.

Ocassionally, you find yourself putting the right hand up and octave and doubling the bass notes at the octave, very much as an organist would do if pulling out 4ft and smaller stops for the manuals and 16ft stops for the pedals.

Try opening the top. Save any finesse for passages where you are playing on your own, and good luck.

It's quite hard to physically damage a steel-framed piano by hitting the notes too hard, much easier to damage youself through contant use of whole arm and body weight just to be heard.

Well, they know most of the songs so the piano is not so important to them, it is just for the others(other than the choir group members)....
Piano just.."important" when a new song comes out- they will be standing around the piano to wait for you, even get the manuscript prepared..ha!

Have the top open? I never try that before...okay, I will try, just that...thanks!


Yeap, they have the microphones..but putting it beside the piano? Perhaps it will be better if I don't take the risk...the priest is....--he wants everything to be perfect.


Erm...I tried that before-right hand an octave higher, but the choir group doesn't agree--that will make them confuse, they said.
About doubling the bass note, I am told to play the bass line softer, as the guitar is playing it. So I just have to concentrate on the melody line...I think.

Whose in charge you or the choir? As someone who regularly plays in Church, stuffing the Right Hand up an octave is normal.

If you are music director in Church you LEAD the music not accompany it. Sometimes you have to tell people who is boss.

Knowing the songs doesn't mean they will stay in tune and in time witihout hearing the accompaniment.

Well, I am not the boss there. I am the youngest of all(all of them are about 30~50 years old, and I am only 15 1/2) .
And also--I am new there.
The director is not...a specific one--they take turns, every week.

stuffing the right-hand an octave...okay, I will try--maybe just for the chorus.

They give me the chance to lead the music sometimes, but mostly not because I am not used to the songs yet. Anyway, the guitarist can play much more than me(he don't need any written notes or chords-he knows it by heart).

But they sing it really in tune and no mistake for correction-other churches sing in that way too.(mostly I am the one who do the correction(s) if the tune or rhythm are different from each other.)
When I used to play the piano in school, the pianist are the one who have to stay in time with singings of other students...If they sing it too slow, you have to play slower too! So, I just follow them, plus I am not really get used of the songs yet.

Must be a pretty impressive singing group if they never go sharp or flat when they can't hear the accompaniment.

If they slow down (or speed up) you have to learn not to let them... my congregation don't get away with that!!
Things should improve as you get more experience.
There is a difference between accompanying, where you let the soloist lead, and leading congregation or choir where you (or conductor) set the pace and make sure they stick to it.

Unless you are playing as part of a music group where you all lead the music in worship, playing for a church service, and accompanying othe musicians are completely different.

So you might only be 15, and others my be older, but your job is to take the lead, and set speeds. Try to assert yourself without being aggressive, but don't take any nonsense from the singers, as a singer and someone who plays piano in a church setting, I know just how far they will try to push you. The music group or pianist is there to lead not follow.

Sorry, but they don't have a conductor now(they have it before) so I have to train my ears to be more "aggresive"...
I will try to "lead" them as you said. Thanks.



Thanks for the advices.
Hope there will be some changes for tommorow night's choir practice.

One trick I picked up on a course was to play staccato if they slow down... it works...

Really? I will try that.
Phew....just back from practice....I opened the top of the piano and it works! I put a microphone in it but it sounds too loud...haha!

And also--I play the right hand part an octave higher for the chorus part and it seems really effective!

Well, I lead some songs just now and with no mistake at all except for the speed of the intro part(I played it too fast)..

Thank you very very much! Jod and Sbhoa, I really owe you guys a thread!

Pleased to hear that things are going better.
Do be careful with the intro... should be at the speed that the song will be sung.

Yes, I will be "careful" next time.