The Worship Keys Podcast

Watch on YouTubeCarson sits down with his childhood piano teacher, Tim Abel, for a heartfelt conversation full of music, memories, and ministry. They talk about the power of playing by ear, the journey from trombone major at JSU to worship leader, and the real stories behind leading worship. Tim shares practical tips for key players, from the basics to creative improvisation. Plus, Carson pays tribute to the amazing legacy of keys player and artist, Keith Green, who passed away in July 1982. Tim AbelSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeWelcome Natalie Layne, to The Worship Keys Podcast! Natalie opens up about life on the road, her early days in music, and how she went from indie artist to signing with Centricity Music. We talk about everything from her classical roots to her creative songwriting process. Natalie also shares about her journey on social media, the story behind her new album All Joy, and what it’s really like carving a path in today’s music scene. Plus, she gives us a taste of her favorite tracks live—don’t miss out on this episode. Natalie LayneFree Gift Grateful ForFree Gift The Long WaySupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeIn this episode of The Worship Keys, Carson Bruce chats with Evan Fernald from The Belonging Co. about all things tracks in worship. Whether you're new to using tracks or looking to level up your setup, this conversation dives into the heart behind it all—how to keep worship spontaneous and structured. Evan breaks down his process for running tracks with flexibility, training your team, setting up gear, and navigating live worship without missing a beat. Plus, get a behind-the-scenes look at his Ableton Live session layout and real-world tips for integrating tracks into your service with confidence.Evan FernaldAbleton Session Templates & Touch OSC FilesSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeCarson Bruce is joined by Evan Fernald, music director and keys player at The Belonging Co. In this episode, Evan opens up about his spiritual journey and gives an in-depth look at his worship keys setup from how he blends hardware and software to create seamless worship moments, to his personal approach to sound design, layering, and dynamic control. Whether you're a seasoned player or just starting out, you’ll walk away with practical tips, creative insights, and inspiring stories to fuel your worship journey.Evan FernaldAbleton Session Templates & Touch OSC FilesSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeIn this episode, Carson Bruce sits down with special guest Alex Smith from Georgia to break down five must-know chord progressions every worship keys player should have in their toolkit. Recorded live at Foothills Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, this session is packed with practical tips for beginner and intermediate musicians from embellishments and inversions to building confidence behind the keys. Alex also shares her personal journey, demonstrates on a Juno DS keyboard, and unpacks how to stay creative while staying rooted in purpose. Don’t miss the part where they talk about the deeper why behind worship music—and how your playing shapes the atmosphere.Alex SmithSupport with a small monthly donation!Support the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeJoin us in welcoming Micaiah Wesler to the Worship Keys YouTube channel as we dive into the world of auxiliary keys in worship music. In this episode, Micaiah shares how he first discovered aux keys back in 2012 at The Ramp and how years of learning and dedication helped him master the craft. We’ll cover the key differences between main keys and auxiliary keys, why auxiliary keys matter in worship, and must-know techniques like low-pass filters and synthetic leads. Micaiah also shares insights from playing at Ramp conferences and offers practical tips for musicians wanting to level up their worship setup. Whether you're serving at church or playing on a pro stage, this episode has everything you need to take your aux keys game to the next level.Micaiah Wesler InstagramSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTube Welcome Josh Brown, a renowned producer, songwriter, and musician. The discussion takes listeners through Josh's incredible musical journey, from starting out on drums to mastering the piano and creating multi-tracks for worship services. Josh shares insights on crafting stems from scratch in Logic Pro, emphasizing the importance of blending skill and anointing in church music. The episode includes a step-by-step tutorial on building a song from a blank template, aimed at helping church musicians and producers elevate their worship experience. See the link below to get the free worship stems of exactly what Josh builds out today, plus including drums, bass, and guitars. Free Worship StemsBrownstoneJosh BrownSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeDavid O. Ramirez joins us once again for another episode of The Worship Keys! In this episode, David gives a detailed look into his song production process from pre-production and working with bands to post-production techniques. He breaks down his workflow using Logic Pro X templates and shares practical insights on editing, mixing, and adding organic texture to your recordings. We also dive into his work with Heart Room, a youth conference project, and explore the creative choices behind it.David O. RamirezInstagramGnome StudiosFree eBookSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeDavid Ramirez is back to take us inside his Logic Pro X template that streamlines workflow and elevates worship production. He breaks down his full process of song production, synth layering, key programming, and organizing sound palettes. You’ll see how he uses plugins like Arcade for micro loops, layers warm, organic piano textures, and dials in synth presets to shape a rich, expressive sound. David also shares his take on gear and how he’s built a personalized setup that serves his creative flow. If you want to level up your worship keys workflow, this one's packed with insight. Don’t miss out on this episode, where David and Carson will walk through a full project step-by-step. David O. RamirezDavid Ramirez InstagramFree eBookSupport the showThanks 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!

Watch on YouTubeJoin us in welcoming David O. Ramirez to The Worship Keys YouTube channel for an inspiring conversation. David is a renowned keys player, producer, songwriter, and sound designer. In this episode, he shares his journey of playing with the band Leeland, his passion for sound design, and his experience touring around the world. David also breaks down the key differences between being a producer and a programmer, and opens up about the importance of keeping the right heart in both music and ministry. He talks about working with artists like CeCe Winans, Phil Wickham, and Chris Tomlin, and the incredible story behind transforming Gnome Studios into a premier recording space in Nashville.David O. RamirezDavid Ramirez InstagramFree eBookSupport the showThanks 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!