By playing piano at her church, Liz Berghout has been able to worship while providing nostalgia and holiday cheer to the congregation.
As local churches prepare for holiday services, church pianists are making sure they create the perfect atmosphere to get the congregation in the Christmas spirit.
“There’s a little more excitement in the air to have the sanctuary full of people here to worship and so it’s an exciting time,” said Berghout, an associate professor of music at KU and the pianist at Eudora United Methodist Church.
Berghout has played piano for the church for seven years, so she has seen her fair share of Christmases as a performer. Playing familiar Christmas carols helps people remember Christmases from the past, she said.
Serving as the pianist for Christmas and the four weeks of Advent plays an important role in creating an atmosphere for the services.
“I think it can really add to the spirit of worship service and the overall mood, and so starting with my prelude, I try to bring in music that will set the – not to sound theatrical but – set the stage of the worship that will be happening,” Berghout said.
Berghout also rehearses with the handbell choir and adult choir on a weekly basis. During the holidays, everything picks up the pace as they have to learn more music for more performances and holiday festivities.
“I just love that I am able to share Christmas music with all of the people who are here,” she said.
The music helps people separate themselves from their normal everyday life to God and worship time, she said.
“I love to look at the text when I’m playing something, just remind myself of the message behind the music, and so during the holidays, I’m remembering all the times that I’ve played this music before and the special season of Christmas,” she said.
She grew up in a musical family, so getting to play music brings a lot of memories back. Her mother was a piano teacher, so she started playing when she was 3.
Berghout said she’s not just the church pianist but also a member of the church community, and she loves being able to interact with people on a personal level. The sense of connection is even more special during the holidays, she said.
Berghout’s favorite tradition is passing out candles and singing “Silent Night” at the Christmas Eve service.
“It’s really a joy to be a church accompanist and be able to support people in their worship and to have my own worship time as I am participating in the service.”
For Debbie Kirschner at Holy Family, playing Christmas hymns and traditional songs gives the congregation a sense of comfort.
She’s been playing for the church for about three years, but has played the piano for various churches since college. She was even more excited to work at a Catholic church, as a Catholic herself.
With 50 years as a church pianist, she considers the job part of her, it’s just what she does, she said.
Getting to learn new music, make new friends at the churches, learn new liturgies and play with the choirs keeps her passion going. Although it is a busy time for her, the bigger crowds and extra services are rewarding.
She spends a lot of time practicing on her own, about an extra hour a day to make sure everything is ready.
Kirschner, like the other musicians, does not get nervous to perform for the bigger crowds, but she does feel pressure to perform her best. She wants people to get the most out of the service.
“The most rewarding thing, I think, is when people have a good experience, like spiritually at church, and if the music adds to that, then I think we’ve got a good thing going on,” she said.
She said she would play extra well this Christmas to send out positive vibes.
“We’re not seeing a whole lot of peace in the world right now. Some peace, some happiness, maybe a smile, hope,” Kirschner said.
For Crystal Hardin at Eudora Baptist Church, this will be her first Christmas serving as the church’s pianist.
She just took up piano recently, but she’s been playing violin since she was 10.
As a music theory major at KU, Hardin had to take up piano. When she heard Eudora Baptist Church was looking for a pianist, she volunteered to play.
Since she started in September, it has been a pretty big time commitment on top of her schoolwork, but it has also been fulfilling, she said.
“Sometimes I have to remind myself why I’m really doing this, because it’s not a performance per se. It’s worshiping the Lord,” she said.
Hardin said playing the piano will bring a lot to the melodic lines that may otherwise be missing with just a guitar.
She said making music helps her support the community and make a difference.
“I feel like God gave me all these gifts to play all these different instruments, and to learn how to play all these different instruments in a way that can help provide for other people,” Hardin said.
Hardin has a knowledge of music theory since she has played multiple instruments. She said the piano tends to make music fuller. She hopes it will bring a lot to the Christmas season.
“Everybody comes together for Christmas for a reason and mashing all those things together, doing my favorite things, worshiping the Lord – it’s so lifegiving” she said.
Reach reporter Sara Maloney at [email protected].
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