Worship Moment on the Acoustic Upright with Micai George

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In part two with Micai George, Micai discusses preferring keys while still loving organ and aux keys, then shares advice for music directors at church: the role requires grace, heavy responsibility, and strong preparation; leaders must be sensitive to the Spirit, intentional, humble, and willing to sacrifice space so the whole band can shine and sound locked in. They discuss setting the atmosphere at the start of service and the value of expressive, structure-free moments with just piano and a drone pad. Micai describes his early faith upbringing, spiritual growth at Tower Prayer in Leeds, praying for his own sound, and the importance of anointed playing rooted in a relationship with God, before Carson invites him to play a soaking-style piano moment.

Micai George

Aerospace Audio

Transcript

Speaker: 0:08

Welcome to the Worship Keys podcast. My name is Carson Bruce. We talk all things music theory, gear, industry, and ministry for your worship keys playing. I'd like to thank Aerospace Audio for being a sponsor of this episode. They create unique incredible high quality atmospheric drone pads to be used for your worship services, productions, songwriting sessions, whatever it may be. They have an analog physical drone pedal that they call atmosphere. There's actually a version three out. They also have a MIDI end capability, so you can work in tandem with Ableton Live or any other dog that you have to be able con to control everything through that ecosystem. Or if not the physical analog pedal. They also have an iOS app that you can run the pad straight from your iPhone or iPad. It's called Aero Pads. Definitely check them out, aerospace audio.com and let's get into today's episode. Guys, welcome back to the Worship Keys podcast. I'm with Micai, you're gonna be playing this acoustic CROs Baldwin from the 1960s, which I'm super excited to hear you play. I can't wait, man, you know. Okay. I got, I do. Gotta ask, do, do you like playing keys more or Oregon? That's tough. Oh, it is cl Okay. Okay. It's tough because both instruments play a major role in music. Right, right. And I've come to realize that because I used to like downplay playing Oregon. Like, man, I don't have to lead road like, but I had to realize like, man, we we're all painting a picture. Yeah. So to answer your question. I would say keys. Keys. Okay. I would say keys. Everyone love just getting down at the main piano, right? Yeah. Yeah. That is, that's the fun part. Yeah. But I, I love playing organ too. That's all. And I've seen you on ox keys before too. I love playing ox. And you do some ox stuff. Yeah, because it's just fun little synth runs and Yeah, stabs and be just playing that role, like that, having that responsibility. I love playing ox. The last time I played ox I had the ball, so come on. I love it. I hear you. I hear you. Yeah. So as the keys player, a lot of times the keys player is the md, the music director on talk back on the stage, as most of you guys know. Talk a little bit about your MD at your church in Birmingham, Irondale specifically. Mm-hmm. As we talked about last, last episode. Talk a little bit about some tips for MDs and like, I guess. People do MD from the organ as well. Uh, but yeah, talk about that role and some, any tips for MDs out there? I'll say like, that role is not just for everybody. Like you really have to be graced for that role. Yeah. You know what I mean? Because it just man, it, it comes with so much like the, the weight of it itself, that responsibility is heavy. Mm-hmm. You know what I mean? So I would tell people and what I tell myself daily, like, preparation would kill a lot of the, the stuff that, that can hinder you from executing to the best of your ability as a leader in that, in that role. Yeah. Yeah. Preparation is, is super key. Yes. You, you know, overly prepared. Yeah, overly prepared. Like that's something that I tell myself, you know, because I know if I'm not prepared enough to lead my band mates and to lead, just them alone, like the whole ship can sink. You know what I mean? I think just being prepared is like the biggest thing and being sensitive to the spirit as well too, while you're leading, especially in church, like Yeah, because the spirit can go anywhere in service. So you always have to have a open mind and just have the humility to, to go where God wants to go in service. Yeah. You know what I mean? And especially when it comes to like, I love the beginning of service, bro. Yeah, yeah. Like setting the atmosphere. Yeah. Setting the tone for the service. Come on. I take so much pride in that. Like so much pride in that man because what if, if the tone is set, you don't have to do too much in praise and worship mm-hmm. To, for God to move. Yeah. You know what I mean? For people to get what they need because you already don't set the bar high. Come on. So you can relax and then, you know what I mean? So Yes. Being prepared, being sensitive, and just being intentional too, you know? Totally. As a leader, I learned, man, over these last couple of months, you have to sacrifice a lot too. Especially when you playing in a band where everybody's killing Right. And everybody's a one. Everybody really can be a MD too. Mm-hmm. So you gotta be intentional. You gotta sacrifice. Getting in one thing. I'm learning, I'm getting into placements in my plan. Yeah. Sometimes I can probably be too much. Sometimes it is not that I'm trying to be busy Carson Uhhuh, it's just, man, I have such a big heart and I play from the heart. Yeah. Like, and I, I like to play everything I feel too. Yeah. Come on. So you, you know, as a leader, I've learned like I can't take all the spots when I have. A drummer that is very musical, that needs to be heard. A bass player that's very musical, that needs to be heard. A guitar player, a organ player, a ox player, like Sure. So everybody has to eat. Yeah. You know? Totally. And everybody's painting a picture. Um, totally. just being intentional, and just being humble enough to, um, to take a backseat so others can shine and, yes. So everybody, we can sound like a unit, you know? And that's another thing too, man, like I'm trying to like get a hold of that, like making sure. That whoever I'm locking in with, we sound locked. Yes, yes. You know what I mean? Like that, that's a task itself. Yeah. But again, preparation will will help that. Yeah. Being intentional, being sensitive to whatever is going on to, to your peers. Yes. Knowing how to listen to. Yeah. You know, have to listen is key. That's a big one, man. Well, we're about to let you just take it away here on the piano. I'm not sure what exactly you're gonna play, um, but I know we'll just have a little drone pad, which, you guys heard about a aerospace audio in the the beginning. Our sponsor, that has drone pads, high quality drone pads. We're just gonna have that pad playing in the background and just let you go at it almost like a soaking moment, a prayer moment, Antar moment. Just with you, man, just sitting down at the piano and playing and talk about that for a second. The, the idea of just sitting down at the piano and playing, there's no talk about structure and being locked in. You got the loops, you got the click tracks, you got all this stuff on Sunday, on Sunday going on. But sometimes there are moments where you're just, things are kind of out. Everything's out. It's, it's maybe a pad and then it's just keys. And talk about how expressive you can be. Just with that. I'm glad you went there because I believe that expression has no limits at all. Mm-hmm. And just being in that type of like place where it is just free is, is a musician's best friend. Yeah, man. You know what I'm saying? Yes. Especially like. When you, when you playing on the Keys and it's just you and the Holy Spirit, like, yeah, man, it is, it is not a, I don't think it's a better feeling than that in any musical setting. Like, yeah, I knew the Lord at a very early age. And that's credit to my family, my parents, my grandparents, them just loving the Lord and being obedient to the Lord. Yeah. I grew up SCA. Okay. Okay. I had to know the Lord. You feel me? Like that upbringing was strict. Anybody that grew up SCA, y'all know, like we had a bad, you know what I mean? Um, it is other, you know? Yeah. I knew the Lord at a very early age, and just putting in the time to, to worship at home, you know what I mean? And just, you know, try to build that relationship with him that way. You know, there's times where like I'll be at home. I'll just get on the piano and just start playing. At, in that time, like I'll either ask God for what I need in that moment, or I'm just singing praises to his name and, and showing gratitude. Um, because, you know, we can't just ask and, and not give, you know what I mean? Like, we, we gotta put some work in too, we gotta meet God where he's at. Learning that, i, I just give a lot of credit to my parents, man, like just. You know, keeping me and my brothers in church, keeping us involved in church with all the activities, being the pathfinder and getting baptized at the early age. But when my spirituality really grew is when, I wasn't around my parents, which is kind of crazy. Like being at my home church. That's right. Entire prayer in Leeds. Mm-hmm. Um. Apostle Shaman Webster. Shout out. He's incredible. Shout out apostle man. Incredible vocalist too, man. I know he can preach, but he can sing. Man Gifted. He can sing beyond gifted. My, my spiritual Wawa God grew tremendously there. And I, I think that's very crucial, like our relationship with God. Just having a good relationship with him would, I think it'll amplify our plan. Just being anointed to play, like having that anointing, like that's what we need, you know what I mean? To, to do what we do. Like if we ain't got his presence, his anointing, nor his will, it is like, why are we doing it? And one thing I tell God, I, or at least I try to tell him, it's like, God, I can't do this without you. Right. Right. Like, I need you with me. And I think he honors that when we do that and. You know, so, and I, and I remember telling God too, bro, just to let you know. Um, yeah. Cool. I remember one time, I prayed to God, I said, God, like I, I want my own sound. I don't wanna sound like anybody else. I, I, I want to have a wholly anointed sound. Yeah. And I remember getting prophesied to, that Sunday, , at Tower Prayer and Simon was, apostle Shae was like, man, you're gonna have your own sound. God's gonna bless you with, and it is. And I knew then that man, God really like hears us and he's there for us. It's okay for us to ask God and be like, God, can you grow me on my instrument? God, can you, can you show me different approaches within my plan? And like, he'll answer those prayers like, come on. You know? So I think that's how I, I grew spiritually too, you know? Right. Asking and praying and he just delivering it. Thank you for sharing last week and today all on, uh, the piano. But I think that heart of worship is gotta be key. You know, our relationship with God first and foremost before we try to play Christian music or worship music. You know, we can't just have the form without knowing him, without knowing the father, without the relationship, without the connection. Micai will get a new MacBook. Hey man, uh, you know, I know he's rocking in 2014 right now, so we are praying and believing for him to, to get at least. Yeah, that in one chip, at least to 2021, it would've hurt for you. I had to look out for a brother, man. You know what I'm saying? I'm in need right now, man. Someone messaged him on the to prayer. Say, I have a gift for you. Good on man. Anonymous. Anonymous donation to Micai. Oh, but guys, thank y'all for being a part of this episode and just turn this on as you're, whatever you're doing, maybe you're around the house right now. Maybe you're on the car ride or at the gym. And just worship to this, to this moment. but praise God for your gifting Micai and for tuning.