Part of the beauty found in worship and creative arts teams is our musical diversity. Whilst some might disagree, depending on where you sit: trained or amateur, I think we have an incredibly beautiful gift that can serve each other which is often lost in our fight over where we fit musically. There is a lost art of coming alongside or meeting in the middle ground and embracing, encouraging and uplifting each other in a spirit of family and unity on worship teams.
I’ll be honest in my early years, I thought I was awesome. I truly did. For years people were constantly showering me with accolades in their attempt to be encouraging… however my pumped up ego combined with my untrained, out-of-rhythm-free-formed singing (though delicious to me) was a cliff waiting for me to stumble over. Whilst my pitch and the colour of my voice is beautiful, I began to let pride take deep roots in and embellish in my mind how awesome I thought I was. I’ll say this now, how I interpreted my gifting impacted how I treated and reacted to other team members and also who/what I made worship about. It wasn’t about loving people or God. It was all about me.
A few years after my pride took a hefty fall, I formally studied and I found out very quickly the hardest reality check I’ve ever had: I actually in reality, didn’t know a thing. Like, legitimately clueless. I was in the deep end, overwhelmed by a new all encompassing world, and a new language I didn’t fluently speak! My mind was being unraveled only to be knitted into a new outfit over three excruciatingly hard yet indelibly formative and amazing years. I hated that process, something I once found joy in was being torn apart. Music which I used to loved to listen to now became my every thought, I could no longer listen to background music as my brain automatically went into analyzing mode. Although I now knew all the terms, and I knew how the system worked, I still felt like my rote ear wrestled with the new found knowledge my brain now contained. Sitting here reflecting, I value both sides of my coin. On one side, the freedom found in not knowing anything allowed creativity to stem beautifully and flourish uninhibited. Yet on the other, the freedom in learning all the scales and methods meant I could find breakthrough in new areas of my voice allowing me new territory in breaking the ‘rules’ only now without forming a train-wreck or being a distraction.
So my gorgeous family, let’s gather around and have a little chat. Wherever you fit in the body of Christ, we are in this together.
To the untrained musician/self taught artist: I’ve been there.
I’ve seen, felt and adored those private creative moments where something beautiful came from imaginationland. Your journey of being in your head then making it your reality is precious, what an incredible gift you bring to the team. However, even if you have practiced for years and years remember you don’t know it all. So stay teachable, stay humble. It’s easy to feel invalidated by someone who has done a music degree, but don’t feel threatened by someone who knows more than you. Learn from them. Get to know their story, and empower them to help you and your other team members. Help bridge the gap by learning a bit of the language your trained counterparts speak, whilst God is the One who ultimately qualifies you it is still helpful to learn how to communicate musically in a band setting. Come prepared and give your best, if your best is still in progress you are doing good. We are all a work in progress.
To the trained musician: I hear you.
Creatives unbound by knowledge have an incredible perspective – though they may not be able to articulate it in the language you speak and understand so well, they have gifts to bring. Remember you still don’t know it all – even if you have a degree or title to your name. You have not made it. You now possess the power to impart (unselfishly) a wealth of wisdom and expertise from your experience and education. Excel in encouragement and foster those on your team who are new. Don’t be-little the beginner or the amateur. We all started somewhere, recall to your mind what it was like to be there and encourage those around you and help them with their next steps. Though you might find it hard, speak their language. Find your common ground and don’t use fluffy musical terms to assert your awesomeness. Show grace when someone might think they know it all, even when they don’t.
Just like when someone reveals your bestie chews loudly with an open mouth, something you never noticed before, you suddenly can’t unsee or unhear it. Your eyes are now opened to this new thing and it’s likelihood of reverting to your ignorance is significantly small. It’s like this when you study anything, so to each side: be willing to see it through the other persons lens – where are they coming from? Are you really the expert? What is the real issue – are your feelings/pride hurt? Are you willing to extend your ability? What can you learn from this moment? What can you give to this moment? Learn to craft your instrument well, which will only come from you choosing to take on board the wisdom and expertise from those that are a few steps (or leaps) ahead; sometimes it might mean undoing some of your rigidity to be more flexible. It means learning to serve one another in the moment.
No matter where you fall on the spectrum of musicianship the whole point of the matter is missed if we get lost in technicalities. If we miss the heart behind serving one another then we miss the heart of God. Our primary purpose is not to show off how sick our guitar solo is, or how connected we are to the spirit because we can improv. Our excellence in our craft is important yes, but our heart is more so. Have a heart for your team members – even if you struggle.
We have an incredible opportunity to strengthen unity when we bring what God has given us to the table and work together. If we all knew it all it would be terrible. Growing is a good thing. Even if you ‘know it all’. What a beautiful partnership we can create if we chose to invest in each others journeys rather than put up walls and build forts which don’t benefit anyone – they isolate you and rob others of what you can impart to them.
Ultimately part of working together with the main goal as unity – is to overcome our musical diversity. Jesus kept it real simple for us: Love God (Worship), Love People (Unity)
Teamwork makes the dreamwork!