Arthur L. Farnsworth


POSITION DESIRED

I seek to serve in a church music ministry position as a synthesizer player on a contemporary praise and worship team or as an organist/pianist/choir director (any combination thereof) on either a substitute or temporary basis.



MUSICAL TRAINING

Piano lessons from August 1971 to April 1977 (age 9 to age 15).

Learned guitar in seventh grade school class and via private lessons.

Trained/experienced on trumpet in high school band (1977-1980).

Took lessons from church organist on Hammond church organ in 1984.

Self taught on Allen ADC 3160 electronic organ in 2001.

Self taught on Apple MainStage software in 2013.



EXPERIENCE

Church music ministry at Morning Star Fellowship, August 2011 to present.

Musician - I am a keyboard player for this Assemblies of God church in Quakertown, Pennsylvania.  Our praise and worship team presents contemporary Christian music (Hillsong, Elevation Worship, Vertical Church Band, Chris Tomlin, et al) to more than 800 people each Sunday.


Church music ministry at Fairton Camp Christian Church, May 2007 to April 2009.

Musician - I played synthesizers and guitars and sang for the non-denominational services and served as organist (playing synthesizer) at the Catholic mass.

Service preparation - Responsible for song selection for Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday services.  I prepared an Order of Worship sheet for the non-denominational church to use at its Wednesday and Sunday services.

Other contributions - Worked with others to design and fabricate synthesizer music racks, Catholic mass "Today's Hymns" board, guitar stands and music stands.  Prepared song lyric packets for use by the congregation.  I taught piano on two occasions, voice, and assisted with the song writing efforts of a few men.

Choir director - I served as director for the men's choir from summer 2007 to autumn 2008.


Church music ministry at Ridge Valley United Church of Christ, 1999 to 2007.

Player/vocalist - Piano/guitar/vocals in folk group, tenor/bass in the adult choir, youth choir accompanist, accompanist on piano to organist on select hymns.  After becoming self taught on the Allen ADC 3160 electronic organ, I began to serve as a substitute organist.

Service preparation - I helped the church prepare a Godspell-based summer series of services in 2002, in which I played keyboards and sang.  In the summers of 2002 and 2003, I co-wrote two Jesus Christ Superstar-based services in which I scored the music, played keyboards, acted (as Pontius Pilate), and sang.

Other contributions - I enhanced our church music program by suggesting songs, creating key changes for hymns, playing organ/piano duets with the organist, accompanying the pastor for special service music, and implementing synthesizers on occasion for additional instrumentation.

Choir director - I served as director for the adult and youth choirs for the 2004/2005 season.



Substitute/temporary church music ministry, 1982 to present.

I have substituted at a number of churches on a variety of organs.  I would be happy to provide specific information upon your request.



Other musical experience

Keyboard player for Christian music group Sojourn from winter 2003 through summer 2005.

Played trumpet in school band from seventh grade through junior year of high school.

Played piano, synthesizers, and rhythm guitar in various bands from 1985 to present.  I also served as a backup vocalist.  I now play occasionally with other musicians at Carlucci's in Trumbauersville and The Wagon Wheel Tavern in East Rockhill Township.

I have played organ, piano, and synthesizer for several weddings.

I have collaborated on several songwriting efforts.

Equipment - I have a good-sized inventory of keyboards, some of which I have utilized for worship service music.  Brands include A.R.P., Hammond, Kurzweil, Moog, Roland and Yamaha.  I currently score songs using Finale and program almost all new songs for church in Apple's MainStage software using virtual synthesizers.



INTERESTS

Music, church, Toastmasters, Sudoku, home automation, crossword puzzles, reading.



OTHER EDUCATION/VOCATION

Past American Guild of Organists member.

I have a bachelor of science degree in electrical engineering, a master of science degree in engineering science with an emphasis in computer design, and achieved professional engineer status in Pennsylvania.  I have worked as an engineer specializing in embedded microprocessor firmware for the better part of two decades.



CONTACT INFORMATION

Arthur L. Farnsworth
c/o 413 Country Club Drive
Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania
Telephone: (267) 287-3577
Facsimile: (267) 287-3577
e-mail: Art@ArtFarnsworth.com
http://www.ArtFarnsworth.com/music

12 November 2014