A few years ago I came across a series of CDs called “Prayer Songs”. These are instrumental recordings of Jeff Nelson on piano, and are designed to be played during times of prayer.
From Whole Hearted Worship’s website:
These unique CD’s were recorded in an atmosphere of prayer. As intercessors prayed together in one studio, Jeff Nelson, a gifted keyboard artist, songwriter, and producer, sat at a Yamaha grand piano in an adjoining studio, listening through his headset and musically interpreting the spirit of the prayers. The result is over 4 hours of “fragrant sounds” that will stir your worship & intercession. (The recordings are music only – not the spoken prayers.)
These recordings have served us very well over the years. At a service or a meeting when there is going to be an extended time of prayer ministry, we’ll often play these CDs to provide a buffer of privacy for people, and help people feel more comfortable staying and waiting and praying – not starting conversation or just leaving.
I used to feel like I was stuck playing guitar or piano for a couple of hours while a time of prayer ministry went on. I was thrilled to find these CDs and highly recommend them to you. You can order them through the link to Whole Hearted Worship’s website above.
Worthily Magnify 
Very interesting post…something I have been thinking about a lot actually.
I have a piano player that is very sensitive to reverence during prayer – does not like it when anyone moves around during prayer (ie. to get to stage…which I think is almost a “Must” for flow reasons).
Also will not play when I pray during a service.
My wish is to honor her in her personal conviction as best as I can, which usually means I still walk to stage during prayer, but on the weeks that she is scheduled to play piano, we don’t have any music during prayer.
Just another perspective.
Have you ever encountered this?
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Hi Mike.
I haven’t encountered exactly the kind of objection your pianist raises, but I’ve heard similar concerns raised in different circles.
If music is being played during prayer in an attempt to either create an emotion in the room, or somehow manipulate things, then that’s dangerous.
But if music is being played during prayer out of a desire to reduce distractions, or provide what I call a “buffer of privacy” for people sharing prayer requests with prayer teams, or help singing/praying/teaching be more cohesive and intertwined, then I’d say that’s a good thing.
By the way, this CD is helpful for when there are periods of long prayer ministry, especially at the end of a service when people are free to stay and linger or free to go home. I wouldn’t recommend you press “play” on it for 30 seconds while the preacher wraps up his sermon.
If one of my pianists refused to move to the stage during prayer, or play underneath me when I pray in between or after a song, my strategy would be:
1. Ask her to help me understand why she’s uncomfortable
2. Make sure she knows that I hear and understand exactly what she’s saying
3. Ask her if she’d be comfortable with me sharing my thoughts
4. If she says “no”, I’d probably let it drop unless it was with an attitude in which case I’d mention it to my pastor and ask for his counsel
5. If she says “yes”, I’d share my thoughts… whatever they might be.
6. I’d either ask her to think and pray about it, or I’d ask her to just try it out the next time she plays and see how it feels
Your desire to honor her personal conviction is right on. Maybe the best thing to do is just drop it. But maybe you can help her grow… Who knows.
I’d still recommend this CD for when you have 15, 30, 60 minute-long blocks of prayer.