In Psalm 98:4, King David tells us to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth; make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praises." There is no better way to "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" than by using the power and majesty of musical instruments in support of the congregation and choir as we "make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praises."

The use of musical instruments in worship goes back to Old Testament times. In 2 Samuel 6:5, it states, "Meanwhile, David and all the house of Israel were celebrating before the Lord with all kinds of instruments made of fir wood, and with lyres, harps, tambourines, castanets and cymbals." Today we use musical instruments in a variety of settings, including church orchestras, praise teams, small ensembles and as soloists.

The music minister has many options before him as he considers how and when to use musical instruments in worship. What instruments should we use? Should we use acoustic or electric? What brands and types of instruments? Who will play them? These are just a few of the questions that must be answered in deciding to use musical instruments in your ministry.

Team of Advisors
Many of us in music ministry do not come from an instrumental background, or, if we do, it is focused on one or two particular instruments. There may be specific instruments about which we lack the knowledge and experience necessary. Therefore, it is important to build a network of instrumental advisors and consultants to give you expert advice on those particular instruments.

The first place to start is within your own congregation. You may have professional or highly skilled amateur musicians already at your disposal. You are most likely to find pianists, guitarists and drummers, but you may also find some who used to play band instruments in college or high school. These musicians may be knowledgeable about their instruments and their use, but they may also know other musicians outside the church who would be willing to share their talents and knowledge with you.

The most important outside source for information is your local music store. The staff at most music stores are knowledgeable in a wide variety of musical instruments. They can advise you on the usage of individual instruments, help you decide which instruments would work best in particular situations and help you with ordering, purchasing and rental options. Music stores also have a staff of private teachers who are experts on their instruments, many with professional experience, who would be more that happy to share their knowledge and experience with you. These teachers and/or their advanced students are also an excellent resource if you need to add additional musical instruments to your orchestra or praise team for a major production.

Piano/Keyboards
A piano is one of the most expensive purchases that a church will ever make. A wonderful sounding piano will add quality and class to all services and performances.

It is advisable to buy the most expensive piano you can afford. Anything less, and you may be disappointed in the quality later. Have a good idea of what you are looking for before you go shopping. You will find different sound characteristics between American, European and Japanese pianos, but even among different pianos of the same brand and model, you will notice that they each have their own personality. You will want to look for a piano that has a good balance, pleasing tones and even action throughout the entire range of the instrument.

If you already have a piano and are looking to augment its capabilities, or if you are limited by budget, space or the necessity to move frequently, you may consider a digital keyboard or piano. A digital instrument can give you portability and variety of sounds that an acoustic piano cannot. A digital keyboard is usually relatively light, typically has only 61 keys and may or may not have weighted keys. Its sound is usually fed through external speakers that can be placed anywhere. Digital pianos are usually much heavier, housed in wooden cabinets, have 88 keys, almost always have a weighted touch and usually have speakers that are built into its case. Ideally, you will want a digital keyboard or piano with MIDI capability and one that is user-friendly.

Drums
Most drummers own their own sets, but I find it beneficial for several reasons for the church to own a set. It is easier for the drummers to not have to set up and tear down for each rehearsal and service. It also makes it easier for drummers and sound techs to get a consistent sound each week. I prefer the sound of acoustic drums, but if you are in a room where volume is a concern or if you need the ability to move the drums frequently and quickly, then you may want to consider an electronic drum set. Electronic sets also require a different approach to playing from the drummer than do acoustic sets.

To help with volume concerns, you will want to invest in a drum shield. This will help with the volume and allow the drummer to play freely without being concerned with holding back. A drum shield will also allow you to better mike the drums in a larger room so that the sound techs will have more control over the sound.

If you have more than one percussionist, a percussion table full of various "toys" will add a lot to the overall sound of the ensemble. Suggested instruments might include tambourine, cabassa, cowbell, claves, egg shakers and many other possibilities. If you have a little more money to invest, you could add a conga set or even electronic tympanis. In addition to adding to the overall sound, this also allows you to involve a second or even a third percussionist.

Guitars/Amps
Most guitarists not only have their own instruments but are quite particular about what guitars they do play. If you find yourself with an abundance of guitarists but no bass players, you may find it helpful for the church to purchase a good, moderately priced four-stringed electric bass and convert one of your guitarists.

One purchase concerning guitarists that I would consider is amplifiers. This frees the guitarists from having to bring their amps to each rehearsal and services, plus it guarantees that you have good sounding amps available. There are two types of amplifiers available: tube and transistor. Tubes amps have a more traditional blues and rock sound, tend to be more expensive, require more maintenance and emit a low-frequency hum that drives sound techs crazy. Even with all that, there are some guitarists that won't play on any other amp. Transistor amps tend to be lighter and more versatile in the amount of different sounds and effects you can get from them.

Band and Orchestra Instruments
Most musicians who play a band or orchestra instrument will have their own, but there are a couple of exceptions. You may have some adults who played in high school or college, but haven't played in years and don't own an instrument. You may also have some high school students who play instruments owned by the school, usually larger or unusual instruments, and they have to turn in their instrument over the summer or when they graduate. There may be people in your church who own instruments that are no longer being used and would be willing to donate or loan their instrument to the church. If that option is not available, you can rent an instrument from your friendly neighborhood music store.

Other Accessories
There are some other items needed to equip the instrumental music ministry. You will need almost one music stand per musician depending on the size of the group and how many musicians on each instrument and part. You also will need stand lights, especially if the lighting is dim or evening concerts or services are planned. There are smaller, battery-powered lights that are easy to use, but the bigger electric lights provide much more light. You also will want to have at least one electric chromatic tuner available.

By equipping God's musicians with the quality instruments required for each worship situation, we can indeed "make a joyful noise unto the Lord."

John Stevens is a church music consultant. He has a diverse music background as a professional musician, music educator, instrumental conductor and clinician, and worship leader.

Sidebar
Product Roundup

Clearsonic ClearSonic Manufacturing offers ClearSonic Panel drum shields, SORBER absorption panels and isolation packages (IsoPacs) to suit a wide rage of acoustic isolation and budgetary needs. ClearSonic Panels are an excellent solution for reducing stage volume, while SORBER absorption panels increase the effectiveness of the clear panels by soaking up reflected sounds. IsoPacs featuring the ClearSonic Lid system greatly reduce the amount of sound that would normally escape upwards and are especially helpful in rooms with high ceilings and hard walls. IsoPac A, pictured here, will reduce sound by 50 to 60 percent.
www.clearsonic.com

Drum Perfect
Improve the sound quality and reduce the volume of your praise band with drum shields and sound control products from DrumPerfect.com. With a drum shield the sound of the drums is contained, which lowers the overall stage volume. Lower stage volume allows the musicians to hear better, and church members in the first few rows have a better experience as well. With more than 30 drum shields and sound control products to choose from, DrumPerfect.com is able to match the product to your unique situation. The staff features musicians with hands-on experience performing in all types of venues, including churches. Buy factory direct with confidence knowing your purchase is backed by their 3-Star Guarantee for quality, low price, and delivery.
www.drumperfect.com

World Music Supply
World Music Supply is a one-stop shopping source for churches, praise bands and musicians. World Music Supply offers discount musical equipment, guitars, drums and other percussion instruments, professional sound equipment, microphones, keyboards and lighting equipment. Their Web site features a complete directory of musical merchandise, secure shopping and inventory availability. The sales staff at World Music Supply is made up of musicians and sound technicians. Different needs require different equipment, and World Music Supply is capable of helping, no matter how large or small the application. When professional musical equipment is needed, World Music Supply has the latest technology products from the top manufacturers at guaranteed lowest prices.
www.worldmusicsupply.com

Helpinstill Piano Sensor
The Helpinstill Piano Sensor is a pickup system that permits the use of an acoustic piano in a Praise Band setting among amplified instruments like guitar, bass or drums. Its unique design eliminates feedback and keeps the sounds of the other instruments completely out of the piano channel. By sensing the strings magnetically, the Helpinstill turns sound system speakers into an equivalent of the piano soundboard, reproducing every nuance clearly and faithfully. The Model 120 fits any Grand Piano and installs in minutes without tools. Other models are available for upright pianos, electrically noisy environments, even a stereo version. For contemporary service or traditional, the Helpinstill Piano Sensor does what a microphone can't.
http://www.helpinstill.com

Audix I-5
The I-5 from Audix is a dynamic microphone that can be used for any instrument miking application for stage and studio. With its sleek styling and unique probe cap design, the I-5 features a durable cast zinc alloy body and black E-coat finish. Every model is attractively laser etched with its model and serial number. T he I-5 is designed with a cardioid polar pattern, allowing it to focus on the particular instrument that is being miked without picking up other instruments or ambient noise on stage. With a smooth and uniform frequency response of 50 Hz - 16 kHz and an ability to handle sound pressure levels in excess of 140 dB, the I-5 can be used for a wide variety of applications and for all genres of music.
www.audixusa.com

Peavey Sanctuary Series Microphones
The PVi 2 from Peavey is a dynamic unidirectional cardioid microphone with On/Off switch. It comes with carrying case, mic clip and choice of XLR or 1/4-inch cable. Peavey's PVM 22 dynamic cardioid mic features a neodymium magnet, which provides more than twice the sensitivity of conventional microphones, and a cardioid polar response pattern, which allows freedom of movement while maintaining a constant sound. Its patented Amorphous Diamond-Coated Diaphragm ensures flawless transient and frequency response, making the PVM 22 a great practical mic for vocals or other instruments. The PVM 46 is a dynamic hyper-cardioid vocal/instrument mic utilizing a diamond-coated diaphragm to provide superior response. It includes a carrying pouch, mic clip, neodymium iron boron magnet, 15 dB (typical) front-to-back rejection, 400 Ohms (balanced), 45 Hz to 16 kHz frequency response, -51 dB sensitivity and 140 dB maximum SPL. The PVM 480 is ideal for the most exacting sound reproduction applications, including digital sampling, studio or location recording, instrument pick-up and hi-hat and overhead cymbal recording. The VCM 2 small microphone can be suspended over choirs, instrumental ensembles or stage areas for sound reinforcement and recording applications. The PM 16S is a fully adjustable, shock-mounted podium microphone ideal for crisp voice reproduction.
www.peavey.com