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Vocalist Turning Worship Leader
Started by Hannah on 19 September 2008 - 6:02am
| 19 September 2008 - 6:02am | |
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I am a regular vocalist on our church's worship team and feel very comfortable leading the congregation in worship as either background or lead vocals. Recently, though, I was asked to lead an entire service, including rehearsal, and felt like a complete idiot when I had no idea how to lead the band during rehearsal! As a vocalist, I haven't taken the time to analyze songs the way an instrumentalist has (it comes more intuitively to me) and therefore don't know how to communicate to the band my goals for the songs. Are there any tips for me on becoming more knowledgeable and confident in leading a group of instrumentalists? I am working at becoming proficient at the guitar myself, which I think will help, but I know I need additional skills to actually lead a band. Any help? Please and thank you. |
I've come from an instrumental rather than vocal background, so I might be approaching this wrongly! I think getting to grips with guitar will help - but I wouldn't have said it's crucial. At the risk of sounding like a middle aged music teacher, I'd suggest brushing up on some music theory - I absolutely HATED this when I was younger and I can remember many tantrums with it... But it's definitely helped me, especially with relating to other instruments I don't play. I'm not saying that you have to have a solid grounding in theory before you lead at all, but if you're struggling to find the right words to use in communicating how you think something should sound it might well help.
The other thing I'd throw in is that even if you feel like an idiot explaining something because it seems really basic and you're sure there must be a much better way of saying it, it really doesn't matter! Sound can be a really difficult thing to describe, especially if you're talking about a subtle difference - but as long as you communicate that across somehow that's fine, it doesn't really matter how or if you think you seem silly doing it. :) Wave your arms around, make strange noises, whatever as long as they understand you! (In the rehearsals that is, not sure it'd work brilliantly in services!)
I've been leading worship with a guitar for a while now, and I still find it difficult to communicate with the other musicians as to a sound or a feel that I'm wanting - especially when it comes to drums.
A couple of things have helped me though:
I often look to 1 or 2 of the other musicians whose judgment I trust, and that I communicate well with to help me bridge the gap between what I am thinking/hearing and the rest of the team.
Understanding some basic general terms also help - for example, one of the most common things that I notice is if the feel of a song isn't quite right. Most often, the groove/timing of the song is being played too straight, when it should have more of a swing feel. Or Vice versa.
Have the CD on hand (especially when learning or teaching a new song) to refer back to.
Apart from that though - Michael is right, you may feel stupid - but making the sound effects goes a long way...
Hi Hannah,
I'm another vocalist turned worship leader and I feel your pain. I began to learn guitar which helped even just to run through songs in my own time to make sure they were in a key I was comfortable singing in.
My tips...
1. Build up relationships with key instrumentalists whose judgement you trust.
2. Collaborative effort - encourage input from instrumentalists - they will know their instruments and it allows them to share ideas. Hopefully you then have a place to begin from and that's why you're a team.
3. If all else fails make the sound effects - yep they might look at you as if you're crazy, but they will get used to it...especially your drummers...hee hee
4. Have the CD/iPod to hand (especially if it's a new song you've not done before)
5. Have your signals and go over them - ie end song, repeat, bridge, quieten down, build it up...
6. Keep things simple, as you get more confident then you can experiment more
6. Don't be afraid to ask. This is the way you learn.
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