Why have I never seen a male keyboardist in a church band?

[they don't love you like i love you]

Something that just struck me. I never have. A little weird.

For that matter I've never seen a female drummer either, but the only bands I've ever seen a female drummer in are all girl riot grrl type bands.

[dead0man]

My church growing up's main pianist was a lady, but the head of music was always a dude and he played the organ (they only had a piano and an organ back then...not a cool pipe organ either) and the piano sometimes.

They do the whole "band" thing now too though....I have no idea of the sexes of the various instruments though.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Because most men prefer to play pipe organs.

My father was a church organist probably from the 1980's, if not earlier, up until 2010 (not that this is of any relevance at all).

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Of the six churches I regularly visit (obviously not each one every week), only one has a male keyboardist.

[Enduro]

I've only seen one Church with a band, and it didn't have a keyboardist iirc.

[MASHED POTATOES. VOTE!]

Because nobody cares.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

Because most men prefer to play pipe organs.

My father was a church organist probably from the 1980's, if not earlier, up until 2010 (not that this is of any relevance at all).

I am only half-joking. I've seen very few men playing keyboards in church bands, but almost all of those few are organists. My original guess was that the high proportion of women on keyboards only reflected the high proportion of women involved in church activities generally, but maybe something else is happening here.

The two instruments are better suited for different types of music that may reflect the personal inclinations of those who play them. The man that had my dad's job after him uses a lot more piano, much to my occasional chagrin whenever I'm at mass back home.

[RI]

The two parishes I visit where I live have a male organist and a male pianist. We don't have a keyboard per se.

[Illiniwek]

Church...band...? Oh my.

[Tender Branson]

Because you have been to the wrong church bands ...

[they don't love you like i love you]

Because most men prefer to play pipe organs.

My father was a church organist probably from the 1980's, if not earlier, up until 2010 (not that this is of any relevance at all).

I am only half-joking. I've seen very few men playing keyboards in church bands, but almost all of those few are organists. My original guess was that the high proportion of women on keyboards only reflected the high proportion of women involved in church activities generally, but maybe something else is happening here.

Not in bands. As noted I've never seen a female drummer, and guitar/bass players tend to be about 3/4 male.

Possible explanation: Keyboardists probably originally learned to play piano, and amongst Millennials that's far more likely for females to do.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Because your adopted.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Ha. I make this thread and look what happens on Sunday:



Granted he's really only sort of a half keyboardist since he's only playing it in relevant spots and guitar the rest of the time, but I guess it counts.

[RFayette]

Church...band...? Oh my.

We prefer to call it the "music team" or "praise band," but this is normal in Protestant churches.

[IceAgeComing]

Church...band...? Oh my.

We prefer to call it the "music team" or "praise band," but this is normal in Protestant churches.

it really isn't

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Because most men prefer to play pipe organs.

My father was a church organist probably from the 1980's, if not earlier, up until 2010 (not that this is of any relevance at all).

My Taid (d. 2012) was one - in various places - for over half a century.

[they don't love you like i love you]

Church...band...? Oh my.

We prefer to call it the "music team" or "praise band," but this is normal in Protestant churches.

it really isn't

My parents' church has a band and it's a Lutheran one.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

I really need to start taking piano lessons again. It's been way too long. I used to really enjoy it.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

I really need to start taking piano lessons again. It's been way too long. I used to really enjoy it.

I'll echo at least the first two sentences.

[Illiniwek]

Church...band...? Oh my.

We prefer to call it the "music team" or "praise band," but this is normal in Protestant churches.

it really isn't

My parents' church has a band and it's a Lutheran one.

I don't want to dismiss your methods of worship, because if it works for you that is good; its just that I cannot fathom having a band as the source of music in my church. Coming from the Benedictine Catholic background where I sang Gregorian chant in the choir, if a band came into my church I would hightail it elsewhere. To each his own of course, but I am going to stick with my organ based music in church.

[World politics is up Schmitt creek]

Church...band...? Oh my.

We prefer to call it the "music team" or "praise band," but this is normal in Protestant churches.

it really isn't

My parents' church has a band and it's a Lutheran one.

I don't want to dismiss your methods of worship, because if it works for you that is good; its just that I cannot fathom having a band as the source of music in my church. Coming from the Benedictine Catholic background where I sang Gregorian chant in the choir, if a band came into my church I would hightail it elsewhere. To each his own of course, but I am going to stick with my organ based music in church.

I can deal with piano and in some cases trumpet as long as the music itself is decent, and there's something really warm and intimate about unaccompanied singing, but a band is where I draw the line too.

[Kingpoleon]

Church...band...? Oh my.

We prefer to call it the "music team" or "praise band," but this is normal in Protestant churches.

As a proud Methodist, this isn't true. My church has a female choir director, a female pianist, and a slight majority female choir of about eight.

[Sensei]

Chiming in for my biennial contribution: i saw not one but TWO bands with female drummers the other day. Indie Pop is apparently flush with riotgrrl tradition.

[IceAgeComing]

The only music I've ever had in the churches I've ever been to (CoS mostly which is Presbyterian; some CofE as well which is Anglican) and they either had a piano or an organ: the CofE one had a choir as well.  The idea of a full band at a church service just seems really odd: I mean why do you need it?  That could be a bit of the Scottish sentiment shining though though; I don't know...

[they don't love you like i love you]

The only music I've ever had in the churches I've ever been to (CoS mostly which is Presbyterian; some CofE as well which is Anglican) and they either had a piano or an organ: the CofE one had a choir as well.  The idea of a full band at a church service just seems really odd: I mean why do you need it?  That could be a bit of the Scottish sentiment shining though though; I don't know...

Uh, do you expect songs like this to be played on piano or organ? That song is of course by a guy who played in influential post-hardcore band Thrice, who recently did a reunion tour with La Dispute, one of my favorite contemporary bands. You think he's going to compose piano and organ music? Or for that matter, this?

Besides it's a church where people have times gone dancing in the aisles and even crowdsurfing. How do you do that without a full band?