Thursday, July 31, 2008
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Quick Tips for Church Guitarists
Greetings!
I came across this list of tips for playing guitar in worship, and I thought it was worth passing along. You can find the original source here: http://www.in2guitar.com/praise.html.
Playing guitar for Worship
Okay, you've been asked to play for praise and worship for the first time. Now what? Maybe these ideas will help:
1. Pray that you play well and are able to check your ego at the door.
2. For a start, find a site with lyric/chord sheets and tab. Unfortunately, this will only help you if your song leader uses the same chords. Praise leaders are notorious for re-arranging songs to fit their own voice ranges (hehehehe). It's a funny little conceit offered by the position.
3. Your praise leader shouldn't expect you to "use the force" to play in front of a crowd, and, for that matter, he may not be expecting it. Remember what Paul said about doing all things decently and in order? Nicely ask your praise leader to provide you with copies of HIS lyric/chord sheets, just in case he's overlooked it or doesn't know you are uncomfortable. Ask him to rehearse. If your praise format allows it, ask for music a few days in advance.
4. Praise leaders are notorious for having a sense of timing discernable only to them. Start your adventure with a willingness to adjust meter in the middle of the measure. No kidding. Be ready and don't be embarassed if keeping a steady tempo sometimes makes you stick out. Some folks just don't understand that an instrumental ensemble typically reacts with intertia more akin to a tour bus than a sports car. Oh well. Don't be surprised if musical measures, verses, and beats, spontaneously either show up or get dropped. Try to surround yourself with a little "bubble of professionalism" which allows you to adjust to anything pleasantly.
5. To quote my wise Mom, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you are an idiot than open it and remove all doubt." Thus, don't be afraid to lay back and play quietly. Learn a light touch which allows you to come and go as needed. Remember, you are not performing, you are leading. Act like you know what you are doing and are comfortable, and the congregation and your fellow leaders will be more comfortable. If you feel a little lost, drop back in volume, act like you are playing but don't, and try to catch up. What is it Tom Hanks said in That Thing You Do? "Smiling! Smiling! We are always smiling!"
6. Get a capo. A nice one. One which can be set with one hand. I use a Kyser. Praise music publishers are notorious for re-arranging songs to be keyboard-friendly, using E-flat, B-flat, and their cognates as keys. Of course, the result is that they are often guitar-unfriendly. The capo is your friend!
7. Learn to take your capo on and off and change locations quickly, because praise songwriters are notorious for pulling a "Barry Manilow" (key change) before the last verse or chorus. That's a funny little emotional manipulation, isn't it?
8. Bring your own supplies (picks, spare strings, cords, pencils, etc.), even if the church offers to supply. Be a Boy Scout. In a pinch, you are prepared.
9. Can't hear yourself, even through the monitors? You might want to consider investing in an acoustic guitar amp which has a line out for the P.A. Tuck it in close and run it just loud enough to be heard. Are you suffering through "monitor wars"? Things getting too loud and muddled on the stage? Look HERE
10. In the book, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, for the Compleat Idiot, by John Muir, I read a most excellent quote, supposedly from the Bible:
"Come to kindly terms with your ass (donkey), for it bears you." In this context, we are speaking of the sound mixer. The mystery is great.
(Note from the MusicShareGroup Facilitator: This is a little bit more colorful humor than I like to employ, and no, that phrase is not found in the Bible. I'm leaving this item in to preserve the integrity of the author's work.)
11. It seems the halls of the church are strewn with the bodies of musicians roasted, toasted, roughly handled, or burned out by supporting worship. It's funny that something which is supposed to be so positive can be so hard. Remember that in any ensemble, you are going to have at least as many opinions, maybe more, as you have musicians. If it is at all possible, let others have the opinions, make the demands, and take the spotlight (in worship?), for where those are is where the pressure and controversy really are. Just support the effort as a service to the Lord and His body.
Well, there you have it! I hope you found this brief post helpful and enjoyable.
Be blessed!
The Facilitator
MusicShareGroup@gmail.com
MusicShareGroup.blogspot.com
I came across this list of tips for playing guitar in worship, and I thought it was worth passing along. You can find the original source here: http://www.in2guitar.com/praise.html.
Playing guitar for Worship
Okay, you've been asked to play for praise and worship for the first time. Now what? Maybe these ideas will help:
1. Pray that you play well and are able to check your ego at the door.
2. For a start, find a site with lyric/chord sheets and tab. Unfortunately, this will only help you if your song leader uses the same chords. Praise leaders are notorious for re-arranging songs to fit their own voice ranges (hehehehe). It's a funny little conceit offered by the position.
3. Your praise leader shouldn't expect you to "use the force" to play in front of a crowd, and, for that matter, he may not be expecting it. Remember what Paul said about doing all things decently and in order? Nicely ask your praise leader to provide you with copies of HIS lyric/chord sheets, just in case he's overlooked it or doesn't know you are uncomfortable. Ask him to rehearse. If your praise format allows it, ask for music a few days in advance.
4. Praise leaders are notorious for having a sense of timing discernable only to them. Start your adventure with a willingness to adjust meter in the middle of the measure. No kidding. Be ready and don't be embarassed if keeping a steady tempo sometimes makes you stick out. Some folks just don't understand that an instrumental ensemble typically reacts with intertia more akin to a tour bus than a sports car. Oh well. Don't be surprised if musical measures, verses, and beats, spontaneously either show up or get dropped. Try to surround yourself with a little "bubble of professionalism" which allows you to adjust to anything pleasantly.
5. To quote my wise Mom, "It's better to keep your mouth shut and have people think you are an idiot than open it and remove all doubt." Thus, don't be afraid to lay back and play quietly. Learn a light touch which allows you to come and go as needed. Remember, you are not performing, you are leading. Act like you know what you are doing and are comfortable, and the congregation and your fellow leaders will be more comfortable. If you feel a little lost, drop back in volume, act like you are playing but don't, and try to catch up. What is it Tom Hanks said in That Thing You Do? "Smiling! Smiling! We are always smiling!"
6. Get a capo. A nice one. One which can be set with one hand. I use a Kyser. Praise music publishers are notorious for re-arranging songs to be keyboard-friendly, using E-flat, B-flat, and their cognates as keys. Of course, the result is that they are often guitar-unfriendly. The capo is your friend!
7. Learn to take your capo on and off and change locations quickly, because praise songwriters are notorious for pulling a "Barry Manilow" (key change) before the last verse or chorus. That's a funny little emotional manipulation, isn't it?
8. Bring your own supplies (picks, spare strings, cords, pencils, etc.), even if the church offers to supply. Be a Boy Scout. In a pinch, you are prepared.
9. Can't hear yourself, even through the monitors? You might want to consider investing in an acoustic guitar amp which has a line out for the P.A. Tuck it in close and run it just loud enough to be heard. Are you suffering through "monitor wars"? Things getting too loud and muddled on the stage? Look HERE
10. In the book, How to Keep Your Volkswagen Alive, for the Compleat Idiot, by John Muir, I read a most excellent quote, supposedly from the Bible:
"Come to kindly terms with your ass (donkey), for it bears you." In this context, we are speaking of the sound mixer. The mystery is great.
(Note from the MusicShareGroup Facilitator: This is a little bit more colorful humor than I like to employ, and no, that phrase is not found in the Bible. I'm leaving this item in to preserve the integrity of the author's work.)
11. It seems the halls of the church are strewn with the bodies of musicians roasted, toasted, roughly handled, or burned out by supporting worship. It's funny that something which is supposed to be so positive can be so hard. Remember that in any ensemble, you are going to have at least as many opinions, maybe more, as you have musicians. If it is at all possible, let others have the opinions, make the demands, and take the spotlight (in worship?), for where those are is where the pressure and controversy really are. Just support the effort as a service to the Lord and His body.
Well, there you have it! I hope you found this brief post helpful and enjoyable.
Be blessed!
The Facilitator
MusicShareGroup@gmail.com
MusicShareGroup.blogspot.com
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Update - Concert, Loop Software
Greetings! Time for a quick update on what's going on with the Music Share Group
But First...
If you watch or read the news, I'm sure you've heard about the tens of thousands of people who have lost their lives and the many more injured in the typhoon in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. My heart hurt when I saw some of the images of the devastation of those areas. These are God's people just like us...no matter the geopolitical region where they find themselves. Please pray that God would move to bring comfort, healing, rescue and restoration to the people impacted by these events. Thanks for being a part of bringing God's heart into the brokenness of the world.
Concert
You may remember I sent out a post about a Shane and Shane concert back in February. It was a great time! Here are a few of the photos that I snapped that night:
shane & shane band
Shane & Shane
Shane & Shane band with Bethany Dillon
Bethany Dillon
Shane Barnard. Yep, sometime it seems like he plays that fast...
Every part of the concert (that I was able to stay for) was great...Bethany Dillon (now Bethany Barnard since she married Shane Barnard recently) performed a few songs alone in an acoustic set. After breaking a string, she was joined by Shane B. and the band to finish up the set. David Nasser delivered a heartfelt cry to reach out with compassion in practical, relevant ways (e.g. through World Vision sponsorship opportunities). Then Starfield kicked off the loud time. The Canadian band was great! They had a great sound, but more than that, they were sincere and relatable in their approach to engaging God and the audience. Then Shane and Shane took the stage. Wow. If you haven't heard their music, check it out. If you haven't seen them live, don't miss it the next time they are close! It's an experience. You will not find two people that are more humble or more talented. They are so self-depreciating and yet their songs are so deep and rich with truth. They cut up a lot, but they are the real deal from my perspective. In addition to all that, we guitar players out there can learn a thing or two from Shane.
Loop Software
I've been toying with a few ideas to augment our rhythm section in our worship band. One idea was to buy a loop/phrase sampler and use it to play loop-based rhythmic guitar stuff along with the band. That might work, but I think it would be tough to pull off. After that, I started looking at loop software. I looked through several products (free and commercial) and I ended up buying a copy of FL Studio Fruity Edition. We had a practice a couple of weeks ago where we started working with a loop. It was interesting, to say the least! I'm not doing a good job of explaining what loop software does or why I think we'll benefit from it, but I at least wanted to mention it. FL Studio is a versatile and cost-effective Windows-based loop and recording program. I'll probably write more about it when we get a few kinks worked out and start to really use loops in our sound more. It's a great learning experience thus far!
That's all for now. I wanted to spend only a couple minutes doing this, but it's taken about 30. You're worth it! I hope you are encouraged and informed in your journey to fulfill your musical potential.
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
But First...
If you watch or read the news, I'm sure you've heard about the tens of thousands of people who have lost their lives and the many more injured in the typhoon in Myanmar and the earthquake in China. My heart hurt when I saw some of the images of the devastation of those areas. These are God's people just like us...no matter the geopolitical region where they find themselves. Please pray that God would move to bring comfort, healing, rescue and restoration to the people impacted by these events. Thanks for being a part of bringing God's heart into the brokenness of the world.
Concert
You may remember I sent out a post about a Shane and Shane concert back in February. It was a great time! Here are a few of the photos that I snapped that night:
shane & shane band
Shane & Shane
Shane & Shane band with Bethany Dillon
Bethany Dillon
Shane Barnard. Yep, sometime it seems like he plays that fast...
Every part of the concert (that I was able to stay for) was great...Bethany Dillon (now Bethany Barnard since she married Shane Barnard recently) performed a few songs alone in an acoustic set. After breaking a string, she was joined by Shane B. and the band to finish up the set. David Nasser delivered a heartfelt cry to reach out with compassion in practical, relevant ways (e.g. through World Vision sponsorship opportunities). Then Starfield kicked off the loud time. The Canadian band was great! They had a great sound, but more than that, they were sincere and relatable in their approach to engaging God and the audience. Then Shane and Shane took the stage. Wow. If you haven't heard their music, check it out. If you haven't seen them live, don't miss it the next time they are close! It's an experience. You will not find two people that are more humble or more talented. They are so self-depreciating and yet their songs are so deep and rich with truth. They cut up a lot, but they are the real deal from my perspective. In addition to all that, we guitar players out there can learn a thing or two from Shane.
Loop Software
I've been toying with a few ideas to augment our rhythm section in our worship band. One idea was to buy a loop/phrase sampler and use it to play loop-based rhythmic guitar stuff along with the band. That might work, but I think it would be tough to pull off. After that, I started looking at loop software. I looked through several products (free and commercial) and I ended up buying a copy of FL Studio Fruity Edition. We had a practice a couple of weeks ago where we started working with a loop. It was interesting, to say the least! I'm not doing a good job of explaining what loop software does or why I think we'll benefit from it, but I at least wanted to mention it. FL Studio is a versatile and cost-effective Windows-based loop and recording program. I'll probably write more about it when we get a few kinks worked out and start to really use loops in our sound more. It's a great learning experience thus far!
That's all for now. I wanted to spend only a couple minutes doing this, but it's taken about 30. You're worth it! I hope you are encouraged and informed in your journey to fulfill your musical potential.
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Quick Update
Hi everyone!
I'm still here...just haven't had much time to post anything of late. We've been doing some cool stuff at my church with the band...we've brought on a violin player! The greatest challenge has been creating or finding sheet music. She reads staff, so our chords + words transcriptions don't work for her. We had to figure out how to get sheet music for her, but we have transposed a lot of our songs into different keys so we can't just go and buy music. We had to make it from scratch.
I found a great free program called Finale NotePad. It might be of benefit to some of you who are involved with composition. It's a basic sheet music creation tool that also has a MIDI interface. Here is the site where you can learn more and download Finale NotePad: http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/
More to come...soon, I hope!
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
I'm still here...just haven't had much time to post anything of late. We've been doing some cool stuff at my church with the band...we've brought on a violin player! The greatest challenge has been creating or finding sheet music. She reads staff, so our chords + words transcriptions don't work for her. We had to figure out how to get sheet music for her, but we have transposed a lot of our songs into different keys so we can't just go and buy music. We had to make it from scratch.
I found a great free program called Finale NotePad. It might be of benefit to some of you who are involved with composition. It's a basic sheet music creation tool that also has a MIDI interface. Here is the site where you can learn more and download Finale NotePad: http://www.finalemusic.com/notepad/
More to come...soon, I hope!
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
Monday, February 18, 2008
Training Event in Abbeville, SC
Greetings!
I hope everyone had a great weekend! We experienced a great time of encouragement and ministry at my church yesterday morning. We also had a much needed time of fellowship and sharing at a church home group meeting last night. If you are disengaged from your local church body, you're missing out!
Training Event - Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Location: Friendship Worship Center sanctuary
Time: about 8:30pm (following the Youth Prayer Service)
Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Contact: Andy Johnston
Email: musicsharegroup@gmail.com
We will be hosting a training event this Wednesday evening, February 20, 2008. We will begin at about 8:30pm. I say "about 8:30" because Wednesday evening is the slot for our Youth prayer service and we will begin after that service is finished. The agenda includes training and discussion on listening to each other, locking into the groove, and being sensitive to the Lord as we play. This training was scheduled specifically for the band at Friendship Worship Center, but anyone that is interested may attend. Short notice and long distance will make it difficult for some to attend...come if you can.
As I have said many times in print and in person, the goal is not to become technically excellent just for the sake of playing better. My goal is to equip musicians with technical skill so that we are competent and confident to the point that the technical side of music becomes like second nature. When we deal with the technical issues, those issues won't be dealing with us and hindering our worship.
I hope you all have a great week...see you Wednesday!
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
I hope everyone had a great weekend! We experienced a great time of encouragement and ministry at my church yesterday morning. We also had a much needed time of fellowship and sharing at a church home group meeting last night. If you are disengaged from your local church body, you're missing out!
Training Event - Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Location: Friendship Worship Center sanctuary
Time: about 8:30pm (following the Youth Prayer Service)
Length: 1 hour 30 minutes
Contact: Andy Johnston
Email: musicsharegroup@gmail.com
We will be hosting a training event this Wednesday evening, February 20, 2008. We will begin at about 8:30pm. I say "about 8:30" because Wednesday evening is the slot for our Youth prayer service and we will begin after that service is finished. The agenda includes training and discussion on listening to each other, locking into the groove, and being sensitive to the Lord as we play. This training was scheduled specifically for the band at Friendship Worship Center, but anyone that is interested may attend. Short notice and long distance will make it difficult for some to attend...come if you can.
As I have said many times in print and in person, the goal is not to become technically excellent just for the sake of playing better. My goal is to equip musicians with technical skill so that we are competent and confident to the point that the technical side of music becomes like second nature. When we deal with the technical issues, those issues won't be dealing with us and hindering our worship.
I hope you all have a great week...see you Wednesday!
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
For all the bass players out there...
Greetings!
I received a newsletter email from Musicademy yesterday. I have mentioned this resource on this blog in the past, but I hadn't really seen their products. In the newsletter they included a link to the trailer for their bass guitar DVD series. I just watched the trailer and it is incredible!!! This type of product is something that any bass player, especially worship-oriented bass players, would benefit from. This type of practical instruction is exactly the sort of thing that I want the Music Share Group to be about. When we become skilled worship musicians, the technical stuff no longer becomes the focus...that's when it really gets fun and that's when God is truly glorified in us. The goal is to focus on Him, not worry about what to play.
When you have about 6 or 7 minutes, go to this address and watch the trailer:
http://musicademy.com/basscoursepromo.mov
To buy this product, you can visit the Musicademy online store:
http://www.musicademy.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8
I guess you could consider this email an ad for Musicademy except for one major difference...I don't receive any compensation from Musicademy. For bass players out there, using this DVD series will save you a lot of money and a lot of time on your way to becoming equipped, competent and confident in your playing. It's not just a way to learn new songs; the content will equip you and teach you how to think like a bass player (teach a man to fish vs. handing him a fish).
FOR THE NON-BASS PLAYERS READING THIS:
If you know anyone who plays bass or wants to learn, spread the love...send them this information today!
Have a great weekend!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
MusicShareGroup@gmail.com
MusicShareGroup.blogspot.com
I received a newsletter email from Musicademy yesterday. I have mentioned this resource on this blog in the past, but I hadn't really seen their products. In the newsletter they included a link to the trailer for their bass guitar DVD series. I just watched the trailer and it is incredible!!! This type of product is something that any bass player, especially worship-oriented bass players, would benefit from. This type of practical instruction is exactly the sort of thing that I want the Music Share Group to be about. When we become skilled worship musicians, the technical stuff no longer becomes the focus...that's when it really gets fun and that's when God is truly glorified in us. The goal is to focus on Him, not worry about what to play.
When you have about 6 or 7 minutes, go to this address and watch the trailer:
http://musicademy.com/basscoursepromo.mov
To buy this product, you can visit the Musicademy online store:
http://www.musicademy.com/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=8
I guess you could consider this email an ad for Musicademy except for one major difference...I don't receive any compensation from Musicademy. For bass players out there, using this DVD series will save you a lot of money and a lot of time on your way to becoming equipped, competent and confident in your playing. It's not just a way to learn new songs; the content will equip you and teach you how to think like a bass player (teach a man to fish vs. handing him a fish).
FOR THE NON-BASS PLAYERS READING THIS:
If you know anyone who plays bass or wants to learn, spread the love...send them this information today!
Have a great weekend!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
MusicShareGroup@gmail.com
MusicShareGroup.blogspot.com
Friday, February 8, 2008
Upcoming Events for Musicians!
Greetings to all!
In keeping with my aim for the Music Share Group to be a resource for encouragement and training for musicians that love God, here are some upcoming events that I wanted to let everyone know about. Mark your calendars!
Vision of You Spring Tour
Artists: Shane and Shane, Starfield, Bethany Dillon, and speaker David Nasser
Where: North Side Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC
When: Feb. 24, 2008 at 7:00
Tickets: $12 advance, or they will be $15 at the door. Call 864-229-6010 to order tickets or stop by the North Side Baptist Church Bookstore.
Thunder School
"Forging Media Warriors, Musicians and Evangelists for the Harvest."
This is an intensive 3 month program designed to equip people for Kingdom purposes in Media, Arts, and Evangelism. It is not for the faint of heart!
When: March 1 through June 1, 2008 (yes, this is a 3 month course)
Location: The Fortress of Hope/Foundry
1419 Clinton Street Nashville, 37203 USA
Contact:
thunder@harvestsound.com
phone: 615-327-1200
Cost: $2550.00 - includes most foods (except on Mondays) and lodging and course expenses.
All applications must be in by Feb 18th! Limited acceptances… do not delay for application as applications are processed in the order received. References needed.
2008 Thriving Musician Summit
Come learn with Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster and others!
Where: Bayside Church in Roseville, CA
When: September 19 & 20, 2008
Registration: $109 Register online
If you have any questions about the above events, use the contact information provided to get in touch with someone directly connected to the event. I am not affiliated with the events (except I plan to attend the Vision of You Tour and the Thriving Musician Summit!).
Know of an event that needs to be promoted here? Send me an email to let me know.
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
In keeping with my aim for the Music Share Group to be a resource for encouragement and training for musicians that love God, here are some upcoming events that I wanted to let everyone know about. Mark your calendars!
Vision of You Spring Tour
Artists: Shane and Shane, Starfield, Bethany Dillon, and speaker David Nasser
Where: North Side Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC
When: Feb. 24, 2008 at 7:00
Tickets: $12 advance, or they will be $15 at the door. Call 864-229-6010 to order tickets or stop by the North Side Baptist Church Bookstore.
Thunder School
"Forging Media Warriors, Musicians and Evangelists for the Harvest."
This is an intensive 3 month program designed to equip people for Kingdom purposes in Media, Arts, and Evangelism. It is not for the faint of heart!
When: March 1 through June 1, 2008 (yes, this is a 3 month course)
Location: The Fortress of Hope/Foundry
1419 Clinton Street Nashville, 37203 USA
Contact:
thunder@harvestsound.com
phone: 615-327-1200
Cost: $2550.00 - includes most foods (except on Mondays) and lodging and course expenses.
All applications must be in by Feb 18th! Limited acceptances… do not delay for application as applications are processed in the order received. References needed.
2008 Thriving Musician Summit
Come learn with Paul Baloche, Lincoln Brewster and others!
Where: Bayside Church in Roseville, CA
When: September 19 & 20, 2008
Registration: $109 Register online
Know of an event that needs to be promoted here? Send me an email to let me know.
Be blessed!
Andy Johnston, the facilitator
musicsharegroup@gmail.com
musicsharegroup.blogspot.com
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