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By Branon Dempsey | Band :: Vocals :: Leading :: Ministry

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May 26, 2013 Service-Rehearsal Programming
Stick to the Plan: Don’t Change it! The most frustrating issues among the team are changes that are either unannounced or spoken at the last minute. Believe me, I’m speaking from experience. As leaders, we may be able to roll with the punches, but this may not be the case for our volunteers and even professionals. Whenever you set plans in stone (hopefully this is accomplished in rehearsal), stick to the etchings of your own commands. Changes to the key, lyrics and especially the entire song itself can throw a huge curve to the team. This means they’re back at the drawing board and all their preparation is now out the window. Yes, we are lead by the Holy Spirit in worship and we follow His lead. However, being a good leader also means that you keep you vows (Ecclesiastes 5:4 ) and move with your people (Ex 19.17). When you have a plan in stone, it serves as the foundation. When the Holy Spirit does lead, you have a basis of operation – it’s also called planned-spontaneity. Over all, stay true to your words at rehearsal to service. Your consistency will be esteem your band and serve your church.

May 23, 2013 | Rehearsal | Be Clear
During Rehearsal and Run-through, be clear in your direction. This involves key, tempo, song mapping, flow and making adjustments. Communicating the sections of the verse and chorus to mark out where you are going is huge to the team. Don’t assume they will read your mind. Even if you’ve done the song 10,000 times for 10,000 reasons, doesn’t mean your band mates and singers will know where you are going in the event of changes. Mapping out when and where voices/instruments entrances/exits, verse/chorus/bridge sections, as well as volume and dynamics will make a great blue print for your band. My old composition professor reminded me once, “if ever your musicians have questions as to what you’re doing, it’s because you’re not clear.” His words still ring in my ears when I rehearse/lead my own team. Simply, good communication will bring confidence to your team.

May 12, 2013 | Real-Time Music Tips | Saving Sunday Vocals
Save your voice before the service! Keep your warm ups minimum and your system hydrated with water - avoid coffee when you get to church. Rather than sing in full voice for the entire Sunday run-through, sing half and/or sing in a lower register to get through the song. Speak less in conversations as well. The more you use your voice, the dryer it will become. Once you have the green light of beginning the service, your voice will be more than ready with better endurance and strength. You'll notice that your energy will not tire, your tone will stay in tact and your singing will be effortless in the Lord's worship.

April 25, 2013 | Real-Time Music Tips | Song Selection
In choosing keys for your songs, have input from your female singers. What may sound great for your voice may not be great and reachable by others. If your desire is to have more people sing in worship, learn how to sing the song in their voice. This will go a long way in both their trust in you as a leader and their participation of the service. At the same time, their focus becomes more on the Lord and less on hitting the Olympic high notes.

February 25, 2013 | Real-Time Music Tips | Planning
When planning your current worship set, make sure they are with songs that are playable by your team. If you have to ask, it maybe too much. Keep it simple and make it fun. The best kinds of songs are those that others don’t have to think so hard about, but can worship in the groove without fearing the notes.

February 22, 2013 | Real-Time Music Tips | BandWork
James 1.9 tells us to be quick to listen and slow to speak. This is true to leading worship and making music great. Our responsibility as a team is to hear one another not compete with each other. In creating groove, 70% is using our ears, the 30% is actually the amount of energy it takes to propel a song - it doesn't take much - it just takes the right notes being played at the right time - all by listening rightly.

February 6, 2013 | Real-Time Music Tips | Soloing Instrument
What to play? I typically, pull out memorable sections of the song that people know. This is not a new concept. Using a line from the opening verse and chorus sections are great. They help maintain the continuity of the song and keep you from rabbit trailing (or rabbit hunting). To make the solos more interesting, after you choose your section, pick out the best 5-6 notes that really stand out. Solo on those memorable notes that frame out the section. Try repeating the notes, playing them in different order and doubling or elongating the rhythms. You will find that you have more varieties and colors to explore that are already built into the song.

February 5, 2013 | Real-Time Music Tips | Piano Band?
Instead of the piano player trying to Lone-Ranger all the music and playing all the parts, it is easier to break everything down by section. Use the analogy of the basic building block - the three person band: melody, harmony and rhythm (lead guitarist, pianist and bassist). Here each instrument is responsible for their individual part - not covering everyone else's' part. Let the bass replace the left hand and the lead guitarist to replace the right. Where does that leave the piano? Exactly. In the middle. This means the pianist is to play in the middle register with tight chord voicings. It also means that the piano player is going to play half of what they would normally play. Most often, people typically overplay/oversing their part. The easiest solution is cut back one half or one quarter of the music; use the other half to listen. Try it out on your own and play your part in the team. Remember, less truly is more.

January 30, | Real-Time Music Tips | Instrumental Soloing
Great solos come from great skills in listening. Learn to also match the music and the moment. Matching the music requires a skill that incorporates notes that are already heard in the tune. Like a great conversation, using familiarity draws people's interest. We connect better to words and language that is common. In attempting a solo, we need to stay within the same musical language: key, tempo, progression, dynamic and texture. Think about a solo in the style of Eddie Van Halen's "Jump," may sound like to the tune of "The Stand." Ok, the solo may be great by itself, but was it really in context and mood of what the song is saying? Also, think about the number of notes that are used. If I am playing a fast tune, then I would use fast notes to match the conversation. In a slow song, like the Hillsong reference, employing slow and long notes would help widen the spaces. Complying or contrasting the speed and length of notes is another method to help shape the musical context and will better your solo + matching the mood and tone of the lyrics.

January 9, | Real-Time Music Tips | Vocal Leading
1. Quality in regards to worship, is to put your best forth so others find their place among the banquet table. Through your gift, your vocal skills are a guide and a tool. In being a worship leader, you are a waiter or waitress. How you use your vocal abilities will help serve those in worship.

a.    Practice does not perfect, but you can perfect your vocal practice
b.    Sing as you speak: over signing = loss of pitch and breath control
c.    Maintain adequate – not amplified vocal monitor support
       - work with the Engineer
d.    Cognizant vocal/mike placement – fist away directly from the mouth
       - the mike is a tool, your voice is the instrument
e.    Listen more than you sing: the vocal team and band
f.     Enunciate your words & sing with clear rhythms
g.    Possess a mindset of vocal clarity / be clear to help the church
h.    Practice at home by vocalizing notes by piano: tone, pitch, & stability

December 5, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Practice
Vince Lombardi once said, “The measure of who we are is what we do with what we have.” Sweat equity - the time you take with your craft: instrument, writing or voice will be refined as gold due to your hard work. Even as little as 10 minutes a day, can make all the difference. Practice makes perfect? How about perfecting our practice? In application, check out Luke 12.35.

October 2, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Worship Leading
To lead worship with Guitar or lead with Piano? For the worship leader, it's better to lead from the basis of what is most comfortable. I've seen allot of piano players try to lead with guitar because it's the "cool thing to do," and vice-versa but their skills are not as adequate. In fact, most often the music ends up in train wrecks. The reality is that both the band and congregation is relying on you to be solid, consistent and in control of your leading. If you are not confident in your ability, whether by instrument, voice or even music style, it will not translate well in a service. Hence, if you and your team appear timid, the congregation will notice and may not be as engaged. It's WAY better to keep things simple. Remember, the goal in the end is to glorify God skillfully and artistically, as we minister to the congregation confidently and competently.

September 11, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Worship Leading
Get your head out of the charts and into the eyes of the people. There is nothing engaging about burying yourself in the music stands. Remember, the church wants your leadership and confidence without distraction. God wants your worship without obstacles. Remove the barriers of fear and doubt. Trust the Lord as he leads you and connect with the people. Once you do, you'll hear more than just music, you'll hear songs from the soul that sing about the workings of God in your church.

August 16, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Backing Vocal
Singing harmony and add-libs can be fun but also dicey. Be sensitive to whom ever is leading, figure about a 60/40 split (Lead to BGV). Listen more than what you sing, don't compete with the melody, but rather compliment. Sing off the mike, not direct, allow the mike to breathe. Less is more. If you listen to any Top artists/bands, you will hear less than 30% harmony in the recording. #1 job? Worship the Lord through your voice, as you back the main vocal leader and engage the church.

July 19, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
Microphone technique is critical to your vocal leading abilities. There are two out of a thousand ways that can effect your delivery: singing to close-up on the mike and too far away. Too close causes overbearing volumes and clipping, too far away minimizes the sound engineer's ability to bring you in the mix. My rule of thumb is to stay about a fist away from the mike to the mouth and point it directly to your voice. Let the sound engineer best advise you and they will adjust your volume level - they know better :) Main key-point, keep your mike placement consistent throughout the song and set-list. Extra movement away from the mike - up and down or side to side - out of the mike's proximity will detract the sound continuity. Speaking/singing clearly into the mike with good placement will be a win-win-win to your church, audio team and your band. Plus, you'll sound great.

June 21, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Music Reading
It's not written in the music! Exactly. Classical composer, Aaron Copland put it this way: it's not about the number of notes that are written, but what's not written. Music comes from your heart, not from the manuscript. Try learning how to read both a lead sheet and a chord chart, practice chord voicing and take a stab at improvising. Look at any accomplished jazz combo or symphony and you will see each musician swaying in tempo, because they are making melody in their heart. Isn't that our task according to Col. 3.16?

May 30, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Piano
As a pianist in a worship band, you need to spend more time on learning and voicing chords rather than playing through music. It's the same discipline as learning scales back in those early days of private lessons. Exploring colors, sounds and chord shapes will increase your reading, following and improving of your contribution to the band. Learn stacked chords such as Major/minor 2nds, 4ths, 7ths, 9ths and suspensions, as well as poly-chords (slash chords). Contribute your practice time and skills to the team - how and what you prepare will only benefit others. So how are you serving God and others in tending your gift? Go and make it happen!

May 16, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Music Product
iSing Worship :: Amazing new App that does what it says: iSing. For the love of your small group worship, youth, children and even for your band, check-out iSing Worship! With it's proven flexibility to be both a backing track and on-screen lyric projection device, this easy Free App will keep the flow of your worship in the palm of your hand. At the ridiculous cost for each song, you will be impressed by its minimal effort for such a maximized tool your Worship Ministry! Visit: iSing Worship and Follow them

May 15, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Drums
The best quality trait of a worship drummer is one who approaches their instrument as a musician and a servant. Flashy fills, accents and tricks, will pass away, but a groove that's solid and spiritual will always remain. Cut the volume in half, listen to the musical conversation among others and apply the words of rhythms to create an engaging dialogue that ultimately serves the worshipper. If you think more in context to how and what is being played, you begin a better discipline in improving your musicianship, as well as contributing to your team. Get out of the rut and into the groove of listening, matching, serving.

May 10, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | BandWork
But it's not IN the music! We've never done it THAT way before!! Music is not black and white. It comes from the heart. Just because it's not written doesn't mean it can't be played. Because it is written, doesn't make it the Law. Learn to take risks and lean on your band. Creating music is an art, not a science. Aaron Copland put it this way: it's not about the notes that are written, but what notes that are unwritten. If you never try, you'll never grow. That's what music is about, an expression of the creative soul along with a melody that comes from the life of the worshiper. Simply, the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

May 2, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Guitar
Get out of the way! When playing with 2 or more guitars - electric or acoustic - make sure you share the road. Instead of all the guitars playing the same time, pattern and style, mix up the placement and the arrangement. Have one pick, while the other strums; use a capo, while the other plays open strings, use finger-style playing and different combinations of picks. Learn to play in parts of the music, rather than being a road-hog. Knowing when, what and how to play with each other, will help keep you on the map for making great music.

April 23 | Real-Time Music Tips | WorshipPlanning
In choosing #songs for #worship, seek out the present needs of your church. God is most honored when we heed the words of Col. 3.16. When we allow our preferences, politics and pleasing-for-others to dictate our set-lists, we undercut God's movement of reconciliation, healing, and victory. Songs about unity, loss, found, brokenness and victory not only strengthen to the local church, they continue to carry out the missional work of the Gospel! Bringing people together is communal - upon every page of the #Bible; no where does it encourage the worship of God to be divisionary. #BeTheChurch #fistbump #worshipleaders

April 17 | Real-Time Music Tips | Rehearsing
To split or not to split? Rehearsing both vocals and musicians can be challenging. Splitting your rehearsal time can greatly benefit your team. Having time to focus on parts, textures and trouble spots will give you a huge edge. Why not spend 45m per team, then bring them all back together for another 30m. Total time running is about 2 hrs, provided that you manage your time well. Try it and see if it works for you in maximizing your time.

April 12 | Real-Time Music Tips | Teamship
John Wooden's 3 rules: (1) Never be late (2) Be neat and clean (3) Never criticize a teammate. You are rehearsing more than just music, you are rehearsing the true sense of team: cooperation and determination. De-throne the drama queens and unnecessary distractions (2Tim 2.16). Prepare your service of worship by prioritizing the worship of God and not the waywardness of compromise (Prv. 29.18).

April 9, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Piano
Outplay, outwit, outlast? The worship team is not stranded on Survivor Island, neither is the piano the only life-raft. The most effective use for piano (and any instrument) is to blend and breathe - not overplay and outperform the other instruments. Leave out the right hand, let the vocals take the melody; avoid using the left hand to allow the bass guitar to move freely. Don't feel compelled to play every note; there's no finish line. Importantly, it's not about what you play, but when and how you play your instrument to contribute to the overall sound of the band.

April 4, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Rehearsing
In 5 checks >> how do you maximize your rehearsal time? 1) Practice at home - rehearse what you practice at church. 2) Get the plan - know your rehearsal objective before you hit the door. 3) Prepare your gear, equipment and music ahead of time. Change those strings, drum heads and music in your binder before you roll. 4) Be early to be on time. 5) Stick to the plan, fellowship later, use a proper amount of time per song and if it doesn't sound good in 15m kill it.

April 2, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
Don't fear the mike! Open your mouth and sing! Too often we have the barriers that hold us back. 1. Confidence 2. Confidence As God called you to use His talents for service, sing and lead from that foundation. Joshua 1.9 beckons us to be strong and courageous: so enunciate your words clearly, shape the words with your mouth, be strong in your breath control and be courageous in your spirit :: allowing God to do the leading through you. Keep going leader of worship, you're doing great!

March 28, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Guitar
The rhythm guitar strumming patterns should lock-in rhythmically with the hi-hat, just as the bass guitar should punctuate with the kick drum. Patterns are great to learn, but simple things like time, consistency and control speak more truthfully from note to note. A good rule of thumb is to base your pattern on what the song is already doing. In practice, use a metronome. In live playing, lock in with the hi-hat and snare. Pick patterns that highlight and esteem each instrument - not steam-roll over them! Developing good timing is key in being a consistent player.

March 22, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
Develop your listening skills to your surroundings. Use your ears to hear back to the group (as Jesus said: “He who has ears let him hear…”), adjust your dynamics, vowels, rhythm and vocal placement to the group. If you cannot hear your neighbor, your singing too loud. Listen to the vocal “sound” of the room – the vocal acoustic atmosphere and find your place accordingly. You benefit the overall vocal sound of the team when you listen and think like a team.

March 17, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Worship Leading
As a team, it is a privilege to worship Him through our instruments and voices. It is truly a unique and humble invitation (not a right) by God to minister to him through music, while leading others into His worship. There’s the key - His worship - not our worship. When we combine our personal agendas/griefs/etc. when others have a sincere goal of commitment, we are heading for a spiritual train wreck. Our real goal: to exhibit Christ-like leadership in being used by the Spirit to facilitate the worship of God (Col 3.16). As we lead in worship, may we esteem others better than ourselves - not steam-roll or brothers and sisters.

March 12, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
You may not know this, but there is a misconception about the usage of vibrato. It can either sound very good when used and placed rightly, or very bad like Aunt Ethel's high C solo. Vibrato is not to be used on every note, sung at every phrase. Too much vibrato can obscure the true natural tone of your voice and may have you trying too hard to produce other vocal gymnastic-effects. Try singing with less vibrato to focus more on breath control, pitch and tone. Like icing a cake, use your effects sparingly to make your notes sweet and tasty.

March 7, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Worship Leading
Be sensitive to not just the Holy Spirit, but also to the people you're leading. Sometimes people seem slow to engage, but trust that God is already at work. Don't go ahead/sing ahead of them, just be right where they are, hence, where God has placed you. Forget the wars, leading worship is built upon relationships and won with sincerity. As leaders, when we pray for God to lead us (and we do it), people will follow as God directs - we are God's facilitators.

March 5, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
Show Up! It's not your physical presence but your spiritual attitude, mental preparedness and unified heart. When you show up, you demonstrate to the team what is truly important. You "being there" shows your capability and dependability to others in order to serve the greater good.

March 1, 2012| Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
Singing in a “connected” manner between head and chest voice involves singing from your most comfortable low registers of your chest, through your mid to upper high notes in your head, all at speech level position. When you sing naturally in your upper register, both air and pressure from the cords will increase gradually for higher notes. You won't need to physically do anything else, higher notes will speak on their own. Lower notes will require less air, but more space to achieve rich and clear low notes. Never should you force your voice to do anything, as you may experience strain and tension. This simply leads to over-singing rather than singing freely and connected.

February 25, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Musicianship
Keep it Consistent. All playing volumes and styles - all the time. Play all your notes evenly across the registers. Just because the melody goes up or if the song's momentum pushes, means that you are to become louder: no. Follow the natural dynamics of the groove. Play accordingly to the band's level and song's changes: i.e. Verse - play softer Chorus - medium forte and so-forth. Once you develop a better sense of playing consistently and equaling your volume, your band will actually tighten-up and notes become cleaner/clearer. As each musician's volume is consistent from player to player, your Sound Engineer will be able to do their magical and yet mythical job called "Mixing."

February 15, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | TeamWork II
The Power of Team is defined by vision and motivated by an end-result. There is no "i" in the spelling of TEAM. Jesus said, the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you.' A team is an interdependent body. True power is found in courage, humility and professional will. True team is found in the action to adapt to change, to harness the weaknesses/strengths, and to celebrate the wins/losses, while together, moving in the same direction. If our people are only paddling on one side of the boat, we are just going in circles.

February 7, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | TeamWork I
A healthy team is looking for mutual results. There are no prima donnas. Everyone is critical to the team's effectiveness. Each team member is a contributor to the end result, and that is to bring honor and glory to God. In doing so,a team experiences synergy, a situation in which the output is greater than the sum of the individual parts. A formation of geese is a good example of synergy. Did you know that geese flying in formation adds 71 percent more flying range than when they fly individually? Geese understand the value of teamwork!

February 2, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
Minimize the barriers! When using music stands keep them lowered to your belt line and angled-up slightly. This enables your ability to engage and not to be blocked, plus people like seeing faces. Best case is to memorize your music to better engage in leading!

January 28, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Rehearsing
The power of audio recording your rehearsal can make a huge difference in remembering details, riffs, style and groove of your music. You can always rewind to hear all those ideas again. Plus, it enables you to be a great listener as you learn how to better musically serve the team members around you.

January 22, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Guitars
Get the amp off the floor and up on a stand, case, or a shelf like surface. Elevating the amp helps isolates unwanted noise and reduces floor reflections to the stage.

January 17, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Vocals
To maximize relaxation and increase stamina, begin singing warm-ups (breathing, neck rolls, scales, intervals) before singing your selected piece of music.

January 10, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | Drums
NO need to constantly Pull-the-Punches! You know those cymbal crashes that occur every 2-4 measures? For a tastier approach, punch the crashes on every song section change or every 16-32 bars: i.e. Verse, Chorus and Bridge transitions. Keeping time and creating simple groove is more important than washing over the band with high powered brass crashes. Punching every now and then creates more space, cleans up the parts, and balances the drum to band volume. Plus, when the crash cymbals aren't being used, that time can be spent polishing them! :D

January 5, 2012 | Real-Time Music Tips | TeamWork
The Power of Team is defined by vision and motivated by an end-result. There is no "i" in the spelling of TEAM. Jesus said, the eye cannot say to the hand, 'I have no need of you.' A team is an interdependent body. True power is found in courage, humility and professional will. True team is found in the action to adapt to change, to harness the weaknesses/strengths, and to celebrate the wins/losses, while together, moving in the same direction. If our people are only paddling on one side of the boat, we are just going in circles.

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Copyright 2012 Branon Dempsey | Worship Team Training | www.worshipteamtraining.com

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