No more lead sheets!!!

[stephen_can_man]

We did it! We finally got our singers to lose the music stands, get their faces out of the music and sing! For a long time chord charts were my security blanket. I made the excuse that there were too many songs in our repertoire and I was singing and playing guitar...but I had to set the example first!

What really happened was that I had a problem with practices going too long so I started setting time aside to really prepare myself for practice. We needed to really focus so that we could be done in an hour and 1/2. In the process of preparing, I started playing the songs without looking at the charts. I wanted to know how long the turnarounds would be, how long the intros would be and, how our transitions would go etc. One month ago today I took the stand away and haven't looked back!

In this process I said to my singers, if I can do 4 things at once (sing, remember the words, play guitar, and lead the band) then you guys can do 2 things...remember the words and sing. Meeting me half way was a challenge that they have risen to and done brilliantly. One asterix though, we are able to see the words on a confidence monitor, or on the side of the stage, so, if they get lost they can cheat...which has forced our computer operators to really pay attention! It has been an awesome change. Any similar experiences out there?

[carguy1]

When I first started leading worship Pastor really urged me to get my face out of the music. At that point it was as much about being new to leading worship as not know ing the words. I have found since I have gotten more comfortable that I am able to connect with the congregation much better. I still have the stand of to one side so that I can glance down on occassion to make sure I am in the right place, but I spend most of my time looking at the congregation, making eye contact and being blessed by what I see on the faces of the people in the congragation.

We also have a "confidence monitor" in the back of the sactuary and I try to use that when I can, but I have found that what that congregation needs is different from what I need. As a congregational singer you tend to be thinking of the words you are singing at that moment. As a musician I tend to be thinking of the next phrase. So following the "confidence monitor" doesn't always work for me. I have, however, been convicted to make sure I have the songs memorized so that I don't have to look down at the music.

[BillyChia]

Right on man!

If I had any way to monitor what was on the screen there is no way at all that either I or the singers would be using stands. I think they are crazy tacky - and really impede the leading.

It is killing me that we don't have a way to show the person on stage what is on the screen behind them.

[dtpuga]

I should start by saying that I am the producer/tech director/sound guy and NOT a musician or vocalist, so my perspective is skewed. That being said...

Yay for Stephen_Can_Man! I have been complaining about music stands on stage for years now at our church but I get looked at like I kicked a baby when I suggest they get rid of them. I understand with musicians that they may need a crutch, (yeah i called it a crutch, only because thats what our bassist refers to it as) but I think the vocalists should be able to memorize the words to the 5 or 6 songs a week they sing. We only introduce new songs every few weeks and ALWAYS sing songs that are well circulated each week too. It seems like it wouldn't be terribly difficult to rap your arms around the words with a weekly rehearsal.

To me, music stands seem like large barriers between me and the leaders on stage. Not to mention how they can ruin the look of a decent set. I've worked with folks who have also taped the words they had to have to the stage at their feet. Looking down looks better than looking at stands in my opinion.

I keep hoping our worship leader will drop the hammer on the vocalists and get them to step up to the plate. That is easy for me to say though. Hmmmmmm.... wonder if he will read this? HaHa.

[Cajun]

I should start by saying that I am the producer/tech director/sound guy and NOT a musician or vocalist, so my perspective is skewed.

Same here. I am musically challenged when it comes to singing or playing. But, my theory is that I can repair an airplane engine, but, I am not a Pilot. Not being a musician may put you and I at a slight disadvantage sometimes, but, it clearly gives us an advantage also. I tend to question old habits more than our musicians. Sometimes the answer is "that is how we always did it"
Hence, we are undergoing a few drastic changes,, hoping and Praying for guidance from above.
Danny

[Mike Darley]

Yeah, I'd prefer to do away with the stands, but I'd have a mutiny on my hands. It's funny I rarely use the sheet music to the point that sometimes I'll look down and realize the music is not the song I'm playing.

Cajun are you learning an instrument or vocals? It's interesting that you don't play or sing, but you still lead. (Even reading the last line it sounds kind of rude...I don't mean to be.) How does that work? I play four instruments and sing melody, but I still find it hard to lead our harmony singers because it takes me longer to find the harmonies. I find myself saying, "Someone's a little off", but not being able to show them the harmony.

[free_by_grace]

I had to laugh heartily to this. We spoke about this during our monthly all-team dinner and gathering. It's very easy to stick your nose in the music as an instrumentalist or vocalist and forget what it is you are doing.

Better to have most of the details down ahead of time and blunder a little bit and allow yourself more freedom to worship with the talent and skills the Lord gave you. Enjoy the mistakes.

I think it (setting the paperwork aside) allows our hearts more opportunity to participate rather than going through the motions.

[crosstied1]

I have to say that I am a vocalist and used to be extremely afraid that I would mess up or forget the words, but we made the decision as a worship team to remove the stands and when we did it made our experience that much better. Not having to be concerned with looking down at the stands we were able to concentrate more on the congregation and each other and the visual communication between us and the congregation seemed to improve their worship experience and pull them deeper into the music as well.

[worshipthruitall]

We use a TV monitor and wire it to show what was on the congregational screen and it would show the lyrics. but its only there "just in case". It got to the point where all the vocalist had their face buried in the tv so we put it way off in the corner.

I love the idea of having a screen in the back of the santuary. then you are looking straight ahead.

now i went to this womens conference, and their was this amazing group there. There worship was so precise. There were video loops and scripture readings and all these technical things. It seemed as though they had rehearsed this one service for weeks to get everything down they way they did. THey had like 8 awesome vocalist..but with all that excellence, there were those darn music stands right on the front of stage. i didnt get it...

[worshiptheKing]

I would love to get rid of music stands and the little lead sheets that our singers have become accustomed to holding in their hands. Yes, a sheet held in their hands. Remember I took over a program, old habits have to be phased out. Right now I can't lead by example becasue I can't seem to commit chord progressions along with lyrics and leading and transitions. In the new building we will have a screen on the back wall that matches the congregation screen. Only problem with that is what if the computer goes down? I hope to raise the bar for myself and the team soon.