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This year, our Praise and Worship Team is focusing on new and original music. We have a few songwriters, including myself, whose songs have been lying dormant. It is time to revive them. So how do you introduce an original song to your Praise Team? Read on for some ideas to help you out.
As worship leaders, band directors, or choir directors, you may be like me when it comes to introducing a song that is not original (meaning that it has been written by someone outside of your team):
1. You play the CD of the completed, beautifully mastered song.
2. You hand out the chord charts and lyrics and give the team a chance to look them over.
3. You go to practicing. If you miss a beat or a harmony, you replay the CD and try to copy.
Sound familiar? Please don’t misunderstand me; there is NOTHING WRONG with this style of running a rehearsal. When doing music that is not our own this is how we rehearse and it works and it is blessed. But when you do your own music there is a bit more creativity involved. Here are some tips on how to introduce a bare bones original song to your Praise and Worship Team.
First – Before a rehearsal even begins, I email the team the lyrics to the new song. I ask them to read them, get them into their hearts and pray about it over the week. That way, when they come into rehearsal, they know what the song is saying.
Second – Once at rehearsal, have the writer share how the song came about. Try to get the team to hear your heart (assuming you are the writer). I always tell the team where I was, what I was going through, and what the Lord was talking to me about when I introduce a new song. It helps them to hear my heart and to get into my head a bit.
Third – Before they even hear the song, I tell them the style I am thinking about. For example, another team member and I co-wrote a praise song this week. I told the team that we were hearing a Caribbean/Latin type of style for that particular song. Before a single note is played, they must know the direction you are headed.
Fourth – Assuming I am the writer, I play the song for them – just me and the piano. I often find this the most vulnerable part of the songwriting process. It’s the part when you unveil your baby to the world!!! You are worried that they may hate it, that they are critiquing every note you sing and play, I could go on and on! But we must get that way of thinking out of our heads. While I am always open to constructive criticism, I am also always in tune with the song the Lord has given me and focus on Him – my “audience of ONE”.
Fifth – After that first introduction, I remind the team of the style, and invite them to join in with me as best they can. I encourage the drummer and percussion to use different beats until we get the right one. I encourage the singers to see if they can hear harmonies that I have not heard. We simply “jam” on that song until we develop a groove. Then we go back, pick it apart and let the creativity flow.
Sixth – Practice, Practice, Practice. If the song is not coming together within the first 5 minutes, don’t give up!!! Keep on practicing. Keep encouraging your team to share some of their own creative ideas. As the songwriter, be OPEN to new ideas, to different ideas and to what the rest of the team thinks. If you are a unified group, your team will only encourage the song writer and strive to make that song the best it can be.
I encourage you to “Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth . . .”. Is. 42:10. Sing a new, FRESH song unto the Lord in your Praise and Worship Teams. If you have writers, utilize and encourage their gifts. You will be amazed at what the Lord will bring to your church family!!!
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