The Worship Keys Podcast

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Carson welcomes back “Spooky” Scott Miller of Red Rocks Church to share how his team uses aux keys to create a fuller, more dynamic worship experience. Scott shares practical tips on using synths, pads, and keyboard layers, controlling tracks with TouchOSC, and reducing reliance on backing tracks. He also explains how churches can get started with aux keys on a budget and why communication, listening, and serving the team are essential to creating a great worship sound. Whether you’re a worship keyboardist, music director, or worship leader, this episode is packed with practical ideas to help you grow your skills and bring more creativity to your worship arrangements. Don’t miss out on this conversation with Spooky Scott Miller! Like, subscribe, and share with your worship team.

Spooky Miller

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Let's talk with Micah Weber of Red Rocks Worship about Experience Conference 2026, his PT calling, and prophetic worship keys moments.

Micah recaps Red Rocks Worship’s recent pace after releasing Promised Land, touring, then taking time off before campus worship nights and Experience Conference 2026 in Orlando. At the conference, the band led a session and Micah joined a packed backline Q&A; he also shares a surprising moment where parents recognized him as their daughter’s physical therapist, connecting his PT work and worship ministry.

Micah explains his journey from an Oklahoma kinesiology degree and PT school acceptance to moving to Colorado in 2024, continuing clinic work, and aiming to apply for PT school in fall 2027. He discusses his simple keys rig (Nord Stage 3, Logic/MainStage, That Worship Sound pad, Kontakt 7 Noire Pure with felt, and Arturia), instrumental worship, and gives advice on career crossroads, keeping focus on Jesus, and approaching prophetic flow through surrender, unity, and listening.

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Part 2 is here with Josh Brown. In this episode, Josh takes viewers behind the scenes of building a complete keys and stems arrangement for I Thank God, walking through his production process from foundational pads to layered synths, leads, drones, orchestral elements, and other finishing touches. Along the way, he demonstrates MIDI editing and quantization techniques while sharing practical workflow tips for creating polished arrangements that enhance a live worship experience.

Josh also discusses the role of stems in supporting a band, his favorite production tools and sound resources, and why musical collaboration remains something AI cannot replace. Drawing from his experience as a touring musician and music director, he shares valuable insights on creativity, workflow, and perseverance, including how he navigated recent hearing challenges while continuing to serve and create at a high level.

John Brown

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Josh Brown returns to break down how he builds worship stems in Logic Pro X using Maverick City Music’s “I Thank God” as the foundation. From loops and guide tracks to transitions and arrangement ideas, he shares practical techniques to help your worship team sound tighter and more intentional.

More than a production tutorial, this conversation explores why excellence is the starting point, not the goal. Josh shares insights on preparation, consistency, competency, and loyalty in worship ministry, making this a must-watch for worship leaders, producers, music directors, and musicians. This is Part 1 of a special two-part series, so be sure to catch it before Part 2 drops.

John Brown

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

Thanks to our Sponsor: Aerospace Audio

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Roger Ryan

Producer/arranger Roger Ryan joins Carson Bruce to discuss how the music business has shifted from label-driven support to indie entrepreneurship, with artist development now often missing as more people self-produce with laptops.

They compare the pros and cons of being signed versus independent, including owning masters but carrying the burden and cost of marketing, content, and hiring top players, mixers, and mastering.

Roger emphasizes that songs and genuine gifting still matter, that music for film/TV/games offers new opportunities, and that success often requires long-term investment and relationships rather than shortcuts. They also address AI tools like Suno as both helpful and risky, noting current hesitation from music supervisors and the need for future checks, balances, and royalty clarity. Roger outlines how to choose a producer through listening, fit, trust, and a servant mindset, and highlights his Berklee PEARL artist development work in Abu Dhabi.

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Carson Bruce continues a music theory series on the Worship Keys podcast, moving beyond last week’s circle of fifths episode into passing chords. He explains secondary dominants (the “five of” the next chord) using a memorization tool called the “musical phone number” 736-2514, derived from the circle of fifths, to help choose what chord can precede another in a progression. In C, he demonstrates how these ideas spice up simple progressions in songs like “Amazing Grace” and “How Great Is Our God,” emphasizing slash-chord/left-hand approaches and using major dominant chords before IV, V, and vi (e.g., I7→IV, II7→V, III7→vi). He then introduces tritone bass substitution, replacing a dominant 7 with another dominant a tritone away (often thought of as playing a dominant a half-step above the destination), demonstrates it in “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” and encourages practicing these concepts in every key.

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

What is the circle of 5ths? How is it used in context? Why is it important?

Let me teach this from a simple beginner perspective and how to apply it to piano playing in a church/worship context.

Aerospace Audio

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Carson Bruce welcomes Garrett Miller back to The Worship Keys podcast for a behind-the-scenes look at how The Choir Room captures and mixes live recordings. Garrett shares how the production has grown from a simple recording setup to larger, multi-night events with expanded inputs, advanced microphone techniques, and more detailed tracking for choir, band, drums, and guest musicians. He also breaks down the recording systems used across several Choir Room events and shares practical tips for reducing bleed, cleaning up tracks, and improving live recordings using tools like iZotope RX, Acon Digital, gating, and de-feedback processing.

Garret Miller
Garret Miller Productions

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Join us for a full studio tour with Garrett Miller as he takes us behind the scenes of his home studio setup. From keyboards, synths, and microphones to recording workflows and creative processes, Garrett shares practical insights on building a studio that inspires creativity and serves the music.

Whether you're a worship musician, producer, audio engineer, or gear enthusiast, you'll find valuable tips, creative inspiration, and real-world advice throughout this episode.

This is Part 1 of a special two-part series. Next week, Garrett opens up Pro Tools and gives us an inside look at real recording sessions and his production process.

Garret Miller

Garret Miller Productions

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Let's visit The Choir Room in Nashville for a short surprise bonus Worship Keys Podcast episode!

Marcus Perry explains how each Choir Room gathering is different, emphasizes planning while leaving room for the Holy Spirit, compares the community-style format to church services, and details his live setup: CP88, Hammond B3 with Leslie, and a MacBook Pro running Logic Pro, MainStage, and Ableton with a custom template and interface feeding to the audio board.

The Choir Room

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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This new update adds an in-app click/metronome. Let's demonstrate building a setlist with different keys, pad textures, tempos, time signatures, click accents, and multiple click sounds, then test moving through songs while playing along.

Thanks for being a part!

Aerospace Audio

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Let's unbox and demo the Aerospace Audio Atmosphere pedal Version 3 on the Worship Keys podcast, comparing it to Version 2.

Version 3’s redesigned layout has fewer buttons, two screens, USB-C power capability, an added expression pedal input, updated MIDI connection, and a microSD card slot for loading custom drone pad files.

Let's demo the new tonality options (major, minor, and neutral) that weren’t available on Version 2, explore menu features including settings and an arcade game! AeroPads iOS app is a lower-cost alternative with similar sounds and setlist/live controls.

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Let's welcome Otto Gross to The Worship Keys as he takes us behind the scenes of Christ Church Nashville's worship setup and shares the heart behind the gear. More than a gear breakdown, Otto offers practical wisdom on maximizing what you already have, embracing creativity through limitations, and keeping technology focused on one purpose: leading people into God's presence. Whether you're a worship musician, keyboard player, or worship leader, this episode is packed with encouragement and practical insights you won't want to miss.

Otto Gross

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Join us as Carson sits down with Ryan Loche, co-founder of The Church Collective and professor at The Belonging Co. College and Liberty University, to answer a question many worship musicians wrestle with: Is worship ministry school worth it? They discuss the value of formal education, when experience may be enough, and why growing as a worship leader is about more than earning a degree. They also explore theology in worship, serving the local church well, and the mindset needed for lifelong growth. Whether you're considering ministry school or looking to grow as a worship leader, this episode is packed with practical insight. You won't want to miss this.

Ryan Loche

The Church Collective

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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In Part 2 of our conversation with Clark Beckham, we go beyond chord substitutions and dive into the heart behind worship reharmonization. Clark shares why reharmonizing worship songs should never be about sounding impressive but about drawing closer to God and expressing worship in a more meaningful way. He also walks through his unique arrangements of How Great Is Our God and Graves Into Gardens, offering practical music theory insights while showing how every musical choice can point back to worship. Along the way, Clark reflects on the artists who shaped his musical journey, his experiences after American Idol, and the valuable lessons he learned while working with Quincy Jones' team. Whether you're a worship pianist, keyboard player, worship leader, songwriter, or simply passionate about growing as a musician, this episode is filled with wisdom, encouragement, and practical takeaways to inspire both your playing and your faith. Don't miss out. You won't want to miss this.

Clark Beckham
Clark Beckham's School of Music

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Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Clark Beckham Breaks Down Reharmonization for “Goodness of God” + “Great Are You Lord” on today's episode! Don't miss it!

Aerospace Audio Sponsor

Clark's chord charts and resources can be found in the YouTube description!

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

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Let's talk and demonstrate the Nashville Number System, with its origins in Nashville studios in the 1950s–60s with the Jordanaires as a shorthand for quickly notating chord progressions (e.g., C–G–Am–F as 1–5–6–4).

So much value for worship teams and professional musicians, especially for transposing on the fly, improving rehearsal efficiency, and strengthening ear training.

Aerospace Audio

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

Another episode with Josh Dunn, recorded in his studio, where we discuss the real cost of producing a song from start to finish. Josh shares what goes into a music production budget, from pre-production and session musicians to mixing and mastering, and explains how a clear vision can help artists spend wisely. He also talks about common mistakes, the role of AI in music production, and realistic pricing for different types of projects. Whether you're recording your first single or planning your next release, this episode offers valuable insight into making informed decisions and getting the most out of your investment.

Aerospace Audio
Josh Dunn

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

Join us as we sit down with producer, songwriter, and worship pastor Josh Dunn for an inspiring conversation on the Worship Keys Podcast. Josh shares the story behind his vintage rescued Baldwin upright piano, his sound design secrets for getting that raw authentic tone, and an honest take on AI and Suno in worship music today. We talk creativity, authenticity, and what it means to stay true to your sound in 2026. Don't miss his thoughts on why true creativity can't be replaced by AI. Next episode, Josh breaks down what it really costs to produce a great demo from start to finish.

Aerospace Audio
Josh Dunn

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!

50% off code on Sound Shop: THEWORSHIPKEYS

Sound Shop: https://www.soundshop.co/sounds

Christopher Wohrle Stock Ableton Presets: https://www.soundshop.co/product-page/ableton-stock-keys-presets-by-christopher-wohrle

Join Daniel Dauwe on the Worship Keys Podcast as we sit down and talk about something every worship musician needs to hear. Daniel is the founder of Soundshop.co and has played alongside some of the biggest names in worship music. In this episode, he opens up about his journey, shares some incredible sounds live, and drops wisdom that will challenge the way you think about your role in the band. Don't miss out on this episode.

Aerospace Audio
Soundshop

Support the show

Thanks for listening! Subscribe here to the podcast, as well as on YouTube and other social media platforms. If you have any questions or suggestions for who you want as a featured guest in the future or a topic you want to hear, email carson@theworshipkeys.com. New episodes release every Wednesday!