The Kingdom Sound

By: Sidone Harrison

“...And all will see how great, How great is our God...”
Hold the 1....4.....5 ..6 .. 7 5..1.

This is the mindset of a music director on Sunday morning as worship begins. As I lower the keys and synth patch and start to swell in my warm Analog pad, the perfect tone is created as the music begins to flow with the direction of the Holy Spirit. The Yamaha Motif Xf8 performance mode is where I create my sounds for each worship set. This is where the Kingdom Sound begins.

Ministering through music each Sunday morning is more than just utilizing the full concert grand mode. Finding the right sound requires intention and respect for the level of intimacy within the worship moment. As I glide my fingers over the appropriate keys and become sensitive to the shift in the atmosphere, I watch people’s lives change right before my eyes.

To the naked ear, the sounds produced on the keyboard may only seem sweet and melodic, or even be unnoticed, but those who are sensitive to the atmosphere will feel a sense of transformation. My job as a musician is to help facilitate an atmosphere where the synergy between the seen and the unseen is able to flow. When the time comes to shift the atmosphere I use the modulation wheel to open the Analog pad even more to create an exuberant sound. It's in these moments of intentional preparation that I am able to relax and watch healing and restoration take place in the hearts, souls, and minds of the individuals in the congregation. The powerful real-time play modes on the Motif Xf8 allow me to be specific in the design of that moment's Kingdom Sound, and that is why it is my first choice when engaging in any worship experience.