When you mentioned:
“Create an online youtube / video to help train - another thing I’d love to do - again with a lack of time”

check out godtube.com/crashchords, hope it helps your bloggers.

I teach worship keys to students fairly often. I’ve never had a major problem with this because early on I really try and develop the students’ sense of independence. I teach them to basically accompany voice (not just play a song). Their goal as a keys player is to create a foundation that the vocal lead can sit on. I start there and then move to ensemble playing LATER. I do this by a lot of imitation and emulation. They listen to and watch what other musicians are doing.

And regardless of what some of the previous posts have said, you can’t teach anything at all without some form of emulation in the early stages. Anything taught correctly utilizes imitation and emulation, while developing independent thought and creativity.

Eventually students will develop their own style. But I’ve found a Biblical principle to come into play here. If our students are faithful in the “beginners” things, then they will be given the “advanced” things.

Teach them simple worship progressions… I IV I IV (etc) and have them just play those over and over learning how to use the best inversions as you teach them chords. They get it pretty quick.

Show a young, developing keyboardist exactly what to play on a song. SHOW them. Then have them do it back. Show them again and again and again. Once they master that, then challenge them to add their own little flare.

Personally, I think it depends upon the potential of the student themselves. Often times, I’ll have adult students who want to write simple worship songs and be able to worship at the house or in small groups. They would benefit from learning to read music, but I usually don’t go much deeper than teaching them the notes on the keyboard so they’ll be able to build chords with a chord sheet.

Children on the other hand I typically take through 6 weeks of reading exercises to determine their potential and to decided whether to carry on or not.

I think the big thing is to teach in a way that “hooks” our students. If we overload them with too much reading and theory they get bogged down and overwhelmed. But if we can show them a few songs that they can go home and worship with or even wow their friends with they’ll come back for more. I say it’s all about developing what little or great potential within and really buckling down with the individual to find which avenue is the best bet for them.

I do think that someone can be taught to be creative, however. I think it’s a skill that comes with time, practice and listening. I used to not have a clue how to come up with original fills/licks/runs whatever - but after many years of practice, listening to others and experimenting - I can now do it.

I’m glad many people stopped by to give some suggestions. Thanks for that!

Good post.

Teaching creativity is difficult. But there are some exercises we do in our band practice to foster this and also I do as a test in auditions. I’ll start playing some riff or progression on guitar nobody has heard and then one by one I’ll point to an instrument and it’s their job to introduce themselves into the song. One by one we start layering instruments. We’ll play it out for a while and then we’ll discuss what stunk and what parts were cool. Then play it over and try to improve each time. This forces people to creatively find parts but not be afraid to make mistakes.

The biggest barrier to creativity is people’s fear of making mistakes. Have to break that. I hope something here is of use or helpful in some way.

Enjoy your blog and enjoy even more getting connected with other worship leaders to exchange these kind of ideas.

But what if you can’t allow that sort of prerequisite or don’t want to?

I don’t want emulation like you said - I want creativity, but…

I want to work with who I have available and most of the people I have available don’t necessarily have a lot of creative experience but have a heart to learn anything new to make things sound as good as they can.