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 the screen going blank and your mind going blank along with it! 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:
Visual:
Print out your lyrics and make them work for you!
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 (colour coded or not) 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. you get the idea…
Glance and look up: this is one of those techniques you can use 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.
When I’m driving I have the lyrics on the passenger seat and the song on repeat as I’m driving. Because I need my eyes on the road I am using a lot of concentration to try to recall the lyrics – when I need to glance I do. But this is more likely to be the latter stages of learning the song.
Audible:
Play the songs/set list on repeat – 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. Repeat.
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 – this is also a really good memorisation technique for when your re trying to have vocal rest. Begin to sing it in your mind instead of out aloud.
And once you’ve got a song down, remember to lead with absolute confidence in the fact you know you’ve done the work! There will be times where this is hard but it’s so worth it in the long run!
until next time… xox