Have you ever had that moment when you find yourself singing vegetables as you fumble your way through lyrics that left your mind blank…? Do I hum? Do I break it down? Do I just stand and stare at the screen willing it to get me back on the right page? … yup. If you know me well enough you will know I am TERRIBLE at remembering lyrics! Unless I’ve really been singing the song for years I find it so hard to recall all the lyrics to my own songs, let alone the ones I lead on a regular basis!
But there is nothing worse than trying to worship lead without words. Be confident in the way you lead, by knowing that you know, that you know, that you know the words. I’ve been in various settings where the words were on the back of the screen and I became lazy in my learning which meant if there were any technical issues I was completely stuffed. I’ve also led in house churches where the words are printed out or non existent, and someone with a strong voice (because there is no amplification) sings an alternative lyric and throws the whole room off in a moment of self doubt! So if you’re like me and want to lead with confidence, here are some tips on how to memorise lyrics:
By Sight:
I’m a visual learner so I find having printed lyrics work for me – because I can make them my own.
Colour Code key words – get a print out of your words and highlight the key words of each line. You might like to highlight the first word of the line in one colour consistently throughout the song and then in alternative colours highlight the key word or the rhyming word in the lines.
Leave print out lyrics in key areas of your house – For me when I am learning a song for an item and I can’t have the luxury of words on a back screen or a music stand I pop them on my shower, where I do my hair, make my tea, and wardrobe. I find this really helpful as I scan it regularly.
Draw pictures on the lyrics to prompt you: fire = a flame etc. king = a crown. etc.
Glance and look up – you can do this anywhere with your lyrics – in rehearsal space, at home, in personal practice. Simply look down and capture the whole line – then try to not look down until you are reaching the end of the phrase and look toward the next line only. As musicians we are taught to always be a few bars ahead, same with singers – we are to be a few lines ahead. Knowing what is coming next lyrically, which means not only being very familiar with the words but also knowing the form well too – so you know exactly where to go next and can sing the right words along with it.
By Ear:
Play the songs/set list on repeat – There’s nothing like repetition to get you on track! The more you sing intentionally the more it becomes hardwired into your memory and easier to recall. Create a set list in Spotify or have it lined up so you are able to access it frequently.
Go for a walk and speak the words – I use this method quite a bit because I can’t take the words with me. I will talk through them rather than singing to access a different part of my brain. Because I am quite visual I have the colours/drawings and the words in my mind and try to access it from there.
Practice singing them in your mind – Not only is this a really good memorisation technique it’s awesome for when you’re trying to have vocal rest. Begin to sing it in your mind instead of out aloud and be conscious of the lyrics and where the melodic line goes.
Remember to lead with absolute confidence is in the fact to know you’ve done the work. There will be times where this is hard but it’s so worth it in the long run! So sweet one, begin to take a little time to prepare each week. Soon you’ll be a master of those lyrics and vegetables will no longer come to your lips unless it’s dinner time!
until next time… xox