I started this blog for the primary purpose of writing out the deepest thoughts in my head. No matter how risky or controversial they may be. I seriously figured no one would ever read it anyway so what's there to be afraid of. With that background I want to address an issue that really challenges me every week. I am blessed with some very talented female singers and their ability far exceeds my own. The problem is finding the proper songs for them to lead. So many, and I mean many, upbeat praise songs were written by men and demand a wide male range. Sometimes, something gets lost in translation when they are led by a female. What is typically lost is the power and intensity of the words.
Slower worship songs tend to work better but songs like "Stronger" or "The Stand" feel empty and almost lose their meaning to me. So, naturally, like most worship leaders, you start to bring forth songs that were led by females when recorded. This is where I'm going to turn the intensity up in this post. As a man, many of those songs are either super lame, or almost effeminate in their phrasing and chording. I've often thought, while listening to some of these songs, that what real man would ever say these words? My solution for those songs has been to let them only be featured as a special song but by doing that you remain trapped in the "what do I have them lead?!?" loop.
It seems appropriate now that I should commend Brooke (used to be Fraser got married new name insert here) from Hillsong for the tremendous writing she has done. Brooke's songs transcend female feelings, focus on scripture, and include surreal and dreamy musical parts for the musicians. I'd call them 'perfect'. The worship world desperately needs more Brookes. I feel for the Christian female music artist. They know that women will be buying probably 90% of their releases so catering to them makes business sense. Unfortunately, you are left with cds full of songs that don't translate into the worship platform.
If you are a female worship music writer, let me offer these 2 words of advice: Scripture and God. If you get that, all will fall into place.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Age and the Worship Leader
I'm 41. That is something that has really consumed my mind lately. Am I going through a mid-life crisis looking back with regrets? NO. What has consumed my mind is that age seems to be part of the Worship Leader cliche. In contemporary churches, songs are supposed to be led by some 20'ish year old with the hip hair styles and proper uniform (random corroding t-shirt and washed out jeans).
When one enters 40, are they defacto 'not relevant'? When is one supposed to step aside? I thank God that with my age has not come the obvious signs of aging except for the graying of the hairs on the side of my head, gifts given to me by my 3 children. I can pull off the look (at least I think I can). Maybe my worship team would tell you otherwise. Truth be told, there is no way that I had the maturity to handle being a worship leader until now. God had perfect timing in putting me in this position. But, you can't help but ask yourself, "was I put in this position for me, or to help identify and raise up the next leader?"
Looking into God's word reveals people of all ages being used in critical times. Paul was no young chap, neither was Abraham. Jesus was in his 30s before God chose to bring about the series of events which would reveal the reason why he sent his Son. David was young when his journey started but he also made a lot of stupid mistakes in his younger days that he seemed to learn from with age. So, I guess I gain comfort from this.
I am not a Braveheart-speech type of individual. I am not going to stand on a mountaintop and dare all young challengers to just try and knock me off. I sense that just as God brought me into this position, he will take me out, and there will be peace about it.
Need to stop thinking about this...
When one enters 40, are they defacto 'not relevant'? When is one supposed to step aside? I thank God that with my age has not come the obvious signs of aging except for the graying of the hairs on the side of my head, gifts given to me by my 3 children. I can pull off the look (at least I think I can). Maybe my worship team would tell you otherwise. Truth be told, there is no way that I had the maturity to handle being a worship leader until now. God had perfect timing in putting me in this position. But, you can't help but ask yourself, "was I put in this position for me, or to help identify and raise up the next leader?"
Looking into God's word reveals people of all ages being used in critical times. Paul was no young chap, neither was Abraham. Jesus was in his 30s before God chose to bring about the series of events which would reveal the reason why he sent his Son. David was young when his journey started but he also made a lot of stupid mistakes in his younger days that he seemed to learn from with age. So, I guess I gain comfort from this.
I am not a Braveheart-speech type of individual. I am not going to stand on a mountaintop and dare all young challengers to just try and knock me off. I sense that just as God brought me into this position, he will take me out, and there will be peace about it.
Need to stop thinking about this...
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tempo, the worship killer
When I started my position as worship leader, I remember having many concerns: would I choose the right songs, would my singing and playing be up to snuff, will I say the right things between songs, will I have the band needed to do the quality of service I desired in my head? In the end, like I hope all worship leaders think, I just wanted to please God by creating a worship atmosphere where people could connect to the living Spirit of the Holy One.
In all of that fretting, the one enemy I never saw coming was tempo. The inability of a worship leader to control tempo can destroy every bit of time spent in song selection and rehearsal. It is like a disease of sorts, spreading from one band member to another at unfortunate times. Thus, it has become a preoccupation with myself and my team. From my own observations, I have found that tempo increases occur in 1 of 2 primary ways:
1. Members of the team are not singing the song in their heads but simply playing their instrument. To me, just playing an instrument seems like missing out on the event and greatness of worship. But, even worse, it disconnects the musician from the heart and soul aspect of the song which is where the tempo is born from.
2. Many worship songs gain and give back energy during the course of the song. All bands are prone to picking up tempo during the build up in energy. If you do not have a spot to pull most of the instruments out, musicians will keep the increased tempo into the quieter parts. This is the ultimate worship killer. A congregation shouldn't have to think about how they will get the words out, but rather how the words are a praise to God coming from their heart. They need time to 'think' about each word.
So what is the solution? The direction most people are going is to feed a metronome click track into the ear buds of the musicians onstage. But what if due to personalities, finances, or equipment/logistics this isn't an option? Then what you are left with is that the worship leader must be in full control of a song and they must have the discipline to maintain tempo. Everyone, especially those holding rhythms must, for lack of a better word, submit to the authority of the worship leader. The worship leader must be loudest element in any mix going to the stage. Sink or swim, they are responsible for the feel of a song.
In all of that fretting, the one enemy I never saw coming was tempo. The inability of a worship leader to control tempo can destroy every bit of time spent in song selection and rehearsal. It is like a disease of sorts, spreading from one band member to another at unfortunate times. Thus, it has become a preoccupation with myself and my team. From my own observations, I have found that tempo increases occur in 1 of 2 primary ways:
1. Members of the team are not singing the song in their heads but simply playing their instrument. To me, just playing an instrument seems like missing out on the event and greatness of worship. But, even worse, it disconnects the musician from the heart and soul aspect of the song which is where the tempo is born from.
2. Many worship songs gain and give back energy during the course of the song. All bands are prone to picking up tempo during the build up in energy. If you do not have a spot to pull most of the instruments out, musicians will keep the increased tempo into the quieter parts. This is the ultimate worship killer. A congregation shouldn't have to think about how they will get the words out, but rather how the words are a praise to God coming from their heart. They need time to 'think' about each word.
So what is the solution? The direction most people are going is to feed a metronome click track into the ear buds of the musicians onstage. But what if due to personalities, finances, or equipment/logistics this isn't an option? Then what you are left with is that the worship leader must be in full control of a song and they must have the discipline to maintain tempo. Everyone, especially those holding rhythms must, for lack of a better word, submit to the authority of the worship leader. The worship leader must be loudest element in any mix going to the stage. Sink or swim, they are responsible for the feel of a song.
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