Worship Fertilizer - the what you need to grow in worship

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How Songs are Built
Free mini-conference on January 21, 2012
365 Days of Growth

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 365 Days of Worship Leadership Growth

 

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Why do you need to know how a song is built? Why do you care?

 

Because knowing how songs are built enables you to:

 

~ Learn it without "playing it on repeat 18 times"

~ Rehearse it as a band without just "playing the whole thing 8 times"

~ Know what you can change in it so it's still fresh and worshipful after singing it 28 times

~ Encourage the congregation to sing more (without asking for it)

~ Adapt it to your band...(especially if your electric guitar player still thinks solid state is king)

~ Heroically decide not to play it when you realize (before Sunday morning) that your rhythm section (that carries that particular song) just doesn't have what it takes to pull it off (yet)

 

This Fertilizer is going to give you the blueprints to songs so you'll be able to do all of that. And if you'd rather listen, here's the podcast.

 

I also want to invite you to a super way for you and your team to start off 2012. Thomas Miller and Walker Beach from Gateway Church in Texas are coming on January 21st for a free mini-conference called "Thriving In Worship." Details below.

How Songs are Built
Red Rocket Box

 

So first, what are the elements that make up a song? Melody, Text, Form, and Accompaniment (which is harmony, rhythm, tone, tempo, and dynamics). There are things in a song that you can rework and there are things that if changed, make it a completely different song. Text, Form, and Accompaniment can all be modified to different degrees. Melody is the DNA of a song - change that, and it's no longer the same song.

 

We'll start with what is most flexible, Accompaniment:

You may be able to change the chords and still sing the melody as written, but you may need to change what harmony you can sing with it. You can change the rhythmic feel of the song, and it may still work - like laying a rock feel, or a jazz swing, or a pop groove on it. You can play the song with only an acoustic guitar or a full band, but you'll need to play it differently to achieve similar energy, feel, or even style. You might use instruments the original author never dreamed of using. You can play the song slightly faster or slightly slower (about �10 BPM unless you're doing a drastically different groove). You can change the key (thankfully). You can play different voicings on the instruments, use capos, and chord inversions. It may work to add or subtract harmonies. You can play a really quiet version or a REALLY LOUD version (sorry for the shouting). Ask "Would this song make sense if sung a cappella?" or "Would this song work without a drummer or a strong lead guitar player?" Then change at will...the sky is the limit. In fact, next rehearsal, try playing the same song once with only the players on the left of the stage, and then once with the ones on the right (and yes, the drummer has to pick one or the other). How did it work? What didn't work? What did you learn?

 

Form:

A song may be written V1, Ch, V2, Bridge, but you can totally start on the Bridge if you'd like. You don't need to sing both verses. You can sing just the chorus of a song. I'll often repeat whichever verse I'm feeling like God wants to highlight in that moment. I recently led Here I Am To Worship and repeated the second verse twice (without going to the chorus) and went right into the bridge because it seemed right to be singing about God coming to earth "Humbly You came to the earth You created, All for love's sake became poor" ...and then go right into "I'll never know how much it cost..." So it's Outback Steakhouse here...no rules, just right.

 

Text:

Sometimes, you can slightly alter the text and still keep the song as it is - personalizing a pronoun for instance. You might change a chorus on the third time around from "God is great" to "God You're great" or change "He" to "You." But if you change it up too much "O praise Him, He is holy" sung as "I praise You, You are holy" doesn't really work. But be careful here, purists may harpoon you after the service (in love, of course). Some of us feel like changing the "sloppy wet kiss" in How He Loves to...any of the dozen substitutes for the original lyric ruins the song. Some of us can't stand the original. So alter with taste and tact...and good reason.

 

Melody:

But melody? Nope. Don't change that. Every note and every rhythm is foundational to that song. It's the only thing that separates it from every other song. Think of it as its DNA or fingerprint. If you don't sing it true to the original, your singers will have a hard time following you and the congregation will certainly have trouble following you and singing along. (this may very likely be on of the main reasons they don't sing if they aren't!)

 

Now I know, I know...you're artists just expressing yourselves. Good for you. You are, but you're servants first. Just like you should "Worship first; Play second" you must be a "Servant first; Artist second." There are lots of ways to be creative and artistic, but altering the melody is not one of them. (unless you're teaching it as a new song)

 

Which brings up your next question...how do I learn melody? The next Fertilizer will explore how to learn melody and then how to play the accompaniment in such a way that supports the melody (chords, rhythms, and groove).

 

So what are you going to do? Let us know by commenting on the blog!

 

(oh, and if you like those pretty little boxes at the top of this section, head over to http://www.redrocketbox.com/ and pick up some gold)

Free "Thriving In Worship" mini-conference on January 21

Walker and Thomas 

On Saturday, January the 21st from 9:00 AM to noon, Thomas Miller and Walker Beach from Gateway Church in Southlake, TX will be pouring into you at a free "Thriving In Worship" mini conference right in our backyard! Freedom Life Christian Center, located at 447 Noble Road in Christiana is opening this up for you to bring your whole team to learn...for free! (Thanks Chad!)

 

You'll learn how to develop your "CORE, CHARACTER, and CRAFT."

 

Session 1: CORE (Learning about the worshipper's foundation and the worshipper's heart.  This session will help you develop your knowledge of true biblical worship)

 

Session 2: CHARACTER (This session will teach you the importance of walking in the Character of Christ.  Talent can take you places, but character is what will keep you there.)

 

Session 3: CRAFT (Developing the worshipper's craft is an important part of being the worshipper God has created us to be. In order to lead people effectively in worship from the platform, we must cultivate our gifts with excellence and determination. Here are the key elements to this session vision, preparations, rehearsals, ministry protocol, and platform presence.)

 

Thomas and Walker will also be leading worship and speaking at the 7:00 PM Saturday night service and again on Sunday Morning at 8:30, 10:00, & 11:30 AM services.  It's going to be an amazing weekend...one that you won't wanna miss!

 

Oh, did you read that little detail...free? Yeah, you'd be crazy not to bring your whole team to this!

 

For more details, contact Worship Pastor Chad Fisher at [email protected] or (610) 593-5959 and go to www.freedomlife.tv for directions. 

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365 days

 

We're going to be planning for Christmas at the end of 2012...in what will feel like tomorrow. How will you have grown in that time? What nagging issue will still be nagging you then, staring you down like an old student loan on your to-do list? Are you lonely in leadership? Charles "Tremendous" Jones once said "You will be the same person in five years as you are today except for the people you meet and the books you read." Your growth requires intentional investment. 

 

So you want to develop into a more effective leader, but where do you start. Well, imagine if you could spend time one on one with an experienced worship coach who will pour into you, be a mirror for you, and help you know what to ask and what to do. And what if there were three or four other worship leaders also focused on growing in their leadership that you could have breakfast with where you would breathe strength into each other. And what if your worship coach would lead worship for you so you can have a break (and worship with your family "from the pew"). Or if you'd rather, he would tailor a training (or two) for your worship or tech team in place of leading worship. Plus, you'd get all the latest information on local training events, be privy to special opportunities and events, and have unlimited access to support from your coach via email. 

 

Dive into "The Year of Worship Leadership Development!" Instead of "Shady Mapling" your training by going to the next big conference in Texas, spread the training out over the whole year and grow like never before. This Leadership Development package is limited to the first 10 participants and the cost is $2,500 plus travel for the full year of growth. 

 

Here's the specific breakout: 

A "Coaching Moment" each month, typically 1-3 hours, in person (or via Skype if you're out of range)

A "Coaching Group" that meets every other month (or every month if the group prefers)

Two "Guest Worship Leading" dates or "Worship Training Events" at your church

 

Email [email protected] or call (717) 468-6428 and we'll set up a time to either meet face to face or over Skype. 

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DaveYou are receiving this email because at some point in your journey, Dave Helmuth, Ad Lib Music, or someone connected to us, helped you grow in your relationship with the LORD through worship. If you ever find this resource unhelpful, simply unsubscribe below and continue on your merry way. 

 

�nimo!

Dave Helmuth
Ad Lib Music
...coaching and resourcing for the worship arts
962 East Orange Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone - 717.468.6428
www.AdLibMusic.com 

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