Continued…
Now it’s Time to Pick the Songs
Start off by picking a handful of songs, once you’ve prayed for direction, check in with your order of service to keep continuity and flow and discuss any major changes you’d like to do with your leaders first, (prior to rehearsals as a sign of courtesy and respect for their leadership. Be humble if they say no… that ones hard sometimes – just lay it down). Try keep in with the following as a helpful guide:
- Themes
- This will come directly from your senior leadership or ministry team/Worship Pastor. Check out what the current series is. If you’ve not been at church for a few weeks and you are mid way through a series, download the podcasts – be consistent and be on the same page.
- Current themes your church is exploring: grace, character, praise, honour etc.
- Keys
- This can sometimes be tricky if the team is used to doing particular songs in specific keys. So think of what is going to work for everyone.
- As a Worship Leader if you pick a key you can’t sing, you take away the focus onto your inability in the moment. Have a run through in your own personal space before sending it to the team or putting out there live.
- Pick keys that the congregation can sing also – a high song might sit well in your vocal range as a vocalist however the average congregant won’t have vocal training and might not be able to reach above a D in Treble Clef (aka D5 on the piano).
- Musician skill set
- Think of the least experienced person on your team, will they be able to do the guitar lick? Will they be able to learn a new vocal part? Will they, will they, will they? Your decision for song choice is not solely based on all your team members – its a mutifacedt process. But be mindful if you are picking songs a few days out from your service or the day of your mid-week rehearsal (if that’s applicable) you aren’t doing your team any favours.
- Try to incorporate as many resources for those who are still learning and create a buddy system for rehearsal in those early days of your more experienced matched up together so the newbie to your team/instrument can not only be equips but feel confident and valued.
- Pick songs that will work within the instruments you have for that rostered week. A song with a heavily reliant on a driving beat or particular rhythm might not work in an acoustic setup.
Timeframes
With all of this in mind prepping in the lead up is ideally done with a few weeks ahead of when you are actually rostered on for. However, I recognise if you are on regularly this can be hard. Either way, start to let the songs soak over you in your own personal worship at home. By getting these things in order behind the scenes with time to spare you are allowing space for your team members needs to practice, learn harmonies, memorise lyrics as well as your own preparation to be at a level you can lead confidently. Especially if you are introducing a new song – be mindful of contacting your team giving them the tools they need: i.e. recordings of song, vocal parts, charts, lead sheets, form, key, bpm and arrangements (or as much information you can give them) from the outset so they can practice the song in advance and come to your weekly rehearsal prepared.
Before Sending through your songs
Once you’ve chosen songs, figure out how they will compliment one another and tell the story or message central to your service.
Helpful practical hints to doing this are:
- Align keys of songs that will work well together – this might require a little prior music knowledge – i.e. Same Key, dominant chords etc. If thats a new concept there are many tools you can use and check in with your worship pastor, it might be an area they are willing to teach you or getting a few music theory lessons might help too.
- Think through segues and flow: Fast, Medium, Slow. Medium, Tag. Reflective. These are all helpful categories to suit your context. Be mindful of that. If you typically do a fast song to begin, probably a good idea to not being with a reflective song. Work within your framework and read the room. People are creates of habit yet also like breathes of fresh air. Some of that will change when rehreasal happens and might be further adapted in the service.
- Where possible send through your songs a week or two in advance or with as much lead time as possible prior to your weekly rehearsal for your given Sunday. Not only is this a gesture of organisation, it is also showing you are looking out for your team members. Life is busy and sometimes church isn’t your first priority – that’s okay. Be honourable with your Yes’. Honour their time and yours. If your team are musically competent/professionals then getting them the songs with a good time frame is still helpful – you might be comfortable with a song, but someone, even experienced musicians still need practice time.
- On a side note: if you know you don’t have time to prepare then think about whether this is something you are really available for in the moment. Preparation is key when working in a team.
In Rehearsal And On the Day
Be on the look out for ways to encouraged and edify team members. If your team is in a habit of on the spot, that can create a lot of pressure for a new team member to walk in and feel included. Be thinking of others by allowing enough time to run through songs completely and room to make any changes or rework sections.
Be flexible if something you thought would work in your own time doesn’t work with in rehearsal space.
Work together with in your context giving opportunity for team members input and building into individuals.
Encourage your team members and take time before or after to personally connect with each member 1:1 and collectively.
Be present to what God is doing in rehearsal and overflow that into the service. Read the room and be considerate to the collective one.
At the end of the day God delights in seeing His children gather and honour Him. So sweet one have fun, worship God. Keep the main thing the main thing.
Until next time… xox
For the first part of this article click here