Welcome to Keyboarding Church! I am glad you are here, and I hope this will become a valuable resource and connecting point for you. As the creator of this site, I wanted to share a bit of who I am, where I come from, and my passion for equipping others. If you are looking for more info about the site itself, see our FAQ page (coming soon).

My Faith

Before getting into my piano and keyboarding experience, I want to share my faith journey, as it is central to all that I am and do. My faith is also responsible for nurturing my musical talent to where it is today.

I grew up in a Christian home and attended a small, but vibrant and growing church in central Illinois. I accepted Christ and was baptized at an early age. Over the years, my faith grew as I read handfuls of books, took college courses, and studied history and science. The knowledge and life experience I have acquired has affirmed and strengthened my faith.

Even though I only play keyboard (I don’t sing on mic and do not have a position on staff as a music pastor or associate), I still view my role (and yours!) as a worship leader. According to the Bible, everything we do in the name of the Lord is an act of worship.

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. - Colossians 3:17 ESV

We also have several examples where musicians and singers went ahead of an army leading it into battle.

And when he had taken counsel with the people, he appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” - ‭‭2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:21‬ ‭ESV‬‬

So while you may think you are just playing a keyboard, in reality you are leading worship. This is why I implore you to take your role seriously and strive to be your best. More than that, if you are a church musician and don’t have a personal relationship with Christ, please consider placing your trust in him even in this very moment. If you would like someone to talk to about this, please don’t hesitate to fill in the contact form on the homepage. That will email me directly and I WILL respond to you.

Music without Christ is just music and is one-dimensional. Music with Christ is a spiritual act and is much deeper.

My History

I have been playing piano for almost 30 years and have 20 years behind keyboards. I was classically trained from 1st grade through high school (and have the home videos to prove it…thanks Mom), and I have continued learning through various alternative methods since then. This means I am just like the majority of church pianists/keyboardists today. I am one of you! My journey has included working through the struggles, trying to find time to practice, trying to learn new things, having feelings of doubt and inadequacy at times, and making my share of mistakes.

I have also loved technology for as long as I can remember (in fact, that is my profession), so when I was introduced to keyboards in junior high, they caught my attention. I loved that you could utilize different sounds, connect them to a computer, and even program them! However, I only had a teacher with this skill set for a short while, which led me to fend for myself.

As I continued with piano lessons, I slowly merged my passions and applied the combined skills in keyboarding. The majority of my playing has been dedicated to the church. Over the years, I gained a lot of experience and learned many lessons along the way - from playing as an auxiliary to primary keys player, from small to large churches, from cheap keyboards with 3 sounds to flagship workstations, and from being a guest keyboardist to serving on a worship team as a primary player. My goal is to share that with you, so you can reduce my 30 years to just a short while and be well on your way to becoming the keyboard player you’ve always wanted!

The Idea

As a church musician, I have helped train new volunteers, spoken with fellow church keyboardists, and chatted with a few professional players along the way. I noticed a common thread with all of them, including myself. None of us were taught how to play keyboards! We all learned (and are still learning) ourselves. It is this common thread of isolation that spawned the idea for this site.

It is my heart’s desire to share my knowledge and experience, equip others, and foster community among church pianists/keyboardists. The keyboarding journey can be a desolate road. Let’s face it, most of us musicians are introverts (especially piano players), and the demand for church piano players versus supply is pretty one-sided, so we are spread thin! The opportunities to meet, talk, and encourage one another are few and far between.

I hope you will come along with me and build this “keyboarding church."

Current Status

For the last 12 years, my wife and I have both served on the Northwoods Community Church worship team. Due to family demands, I currently only serve about once a month, give or take a weekend. I have not served in our Christmas production the past 2 years, again due to family responsibilities, but before that I played every year. I also help with some of our worship video recordings and various tracking needs. So, while I’ve had to reduce my time playing, I am now able to invest in you worship warriors, and help connect and equip you to be your best.

Technical Details

On the typical weekend, we primarily use the Nord Stage 2. MainStage is also always on hand for pads and other sounds. Occasionally, I’ll utilize the Korg Kronos X or a midi controller. A Yamaha S90 and MOX-8 make rare appearances as well. On the rarest occasions, due to several factors, the grand piano or Hammond organ will grace the stage.

Please enjoy the latest worship video recordings from Northwoods Community Church, featuring me on keys (not pictured in the thumbnail below).

About This Site

For more details specifically about this site, such as why I chose the name, logo, theme, or more about its purpose, please view the about section on the homepage (more details coming soon) or head over to the FAQ page (coming soon).

Thank you again for visiting the site, sharing our content with fellow musicians, and taking the time to get to know a small part of my story. Over time, I hope to learn about some of you and how these resources have contributed to your growth!

In Christ,

Chris Sereno