This blog and website is a resource for church musicians. It is my hope that it provides useful insight into the practical matters of music ministry, a “how-to” site, if you will. I encourage you to share your thoughts and comments, and if you find the information here useful, that you share it with your [...]
We have had a warmer than usual December here in Atlanta, but word to the wise…If you play an acoustic instrument, your central heating system may be killing your instrument. In winter months, the central heating system in your home can dramatically reduce the humidity and wreak havock on your acoustic guitar, piano, and other [...]
A new month began today for a fitness program that I participate in called “Operation Bootcamp”, and I wasn’t there to see it kick off. I know that participating in the program yields me great results. Here are the goals for this December camp… Get enough sleep to show up and workout. If work or [...]
For Catholics in North America, this weekend (1st Sunday of Advent), welcomes the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal after years of prayer, interpretation, and changes. It is now time to pray with the new responses, and sing the new parts. People in your congregation are going to be looking to you and your pastoral [...]
This blog and website is a resource for church musicians. It is my hope that it provides useful insight into the practical matters of music ministry, a “how-to” site, if you will. I encourage you to share your thoughts and comments, and if you find the information here useful, that you share it with your teams, twitter tweeple, and facebook friends…
Growing up, we all spent time in front of the family television watching the great Peanuts holiday comics come to life. Classics like “It’s the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown”, or, who could forget the loveable Linus van Pelt in “A Charlie Brown Christmas”. He confidently walks out onto the stage, requests “light’s please”, and then delivers my one of my favorite passages of scripture detailing the birth of Jesus. Go ahead and take a minute to relive this great moment…
Last weekend I was serving my parish on their yearly confirmation retreat. We brought a large lighting and audio rig to get the job done in a room of 125 people. There I was, guitar in hand, amps on, with an extremely bright intelligent light in my face. This very cool light completely blinded me and rendered my security blanket absolutely useless. My security blanket? A MUSIC STAND!
How many of us operate with a music stand? Let’s look at what this security blanket does to us as music ministers…
In reality, by the time I am ready to lead a group of people with a particular song, I’ve already played the tune a few dozen times. Memorizing modern worship songs isn’t rocket science (I have a friend who is a rocket scientist, and we have discussed such matters). This morning I took a look at the CCLI Top 100 list and wasn’t a bit surprised to see that the first 10 songs are all 4 chord songs that repeat the same pattern over and over again. I wasn’t surprised because repetition is the intended delivery of this style of music. These are songs of prayer, so by repeating a chord structure or lyrical passage you are more easily engaging a group into deep worship. So let’s pick a song and dive in… (we will go right to number 1 – Chris Tomlin’s “How Great Is Our God”)…
The original key is C, but that key is a bit of a stretch for my vocal range! The key that works well for my parish is Bb. If I am leading a small group in adoration etc, I will lower further down to A to make it more welcoming for a small group. That being said, if I am leading the song in Bb the chord progression is [Bb-Gm7-Eb-F] or Capo 3 on the guitar and play [G-Em7-C-D] – over and over again. Repeat!
I can easily remember chord progressions. I just hear them and my hands follow where they need to be, kind of like rain man. Lyrics are tougher for me to remember, so I have developed a method of getting them memorized. I try to embed the first line of every pass into my mind instead of memorizing the entire verse. In other words, when my mind can recall the first line of a verse or chorus, my memory fills in the remainder of the verse as I sing. So, with this song I would commit to memory..
Now, all that being said, those of us that work in liturgy do not have the benefit of a working band that plays the same set of music, every single night, the exact same way. I recognize that if we work in liturgy, the songs on the plan this week are different than the songs from last week. However, your ministry team probably (hopefully) has a seasonal or common group of songs that the entire group knows well, and that your parishioners sing well. In reality, you probably have these songs memorized already. With these types of songs, make a strong effort to not use the chart on the stand, but instead be focused on leading the song and being plugged into what is happening in the liturgical action and engage the room with your eyes and prayer.
So, back to Linus. He walked out on that stage and boldly proclaimed the nativity story. He didn’t need his security blanket, but it was on stage with him. My challenge to you (and to myself), is to ditch the security blanket this year and get rid of the music stand. If your working situation requires you to have one, make a strong effort to spend more time looking over the top of it and less time staring into it. After all, we’re not worshiping the music stand, are we?
We have had a warmer than usual December here in Atlanta, but word to the wise…If you play an acoustic instrument, your central heating system may be killing your instrument.
In winter months, the central heating system in your home can dramatically reduce the humidity and wreak havock on your acoustic guitar, piano, and other wooden instruments (even drums!). As the furnace in your home burns and circulates the air, it removes the natural humidity that exists in the house and your acoustic instruments need that humidity to maintain their tone and playability.
Don’t let your instruments dry out and incur the damage you’ll see demonstrated in the video’s below. Use dampits on your guitar, and damp chasers on your pianos. If you have a room where all your instruments live, try to make use out of an ordinary humidifier, and you’re shooting for 45% relative humidity in your room.
You spent a fortune on the best gear your money could buy. Take a few minutes each week to make sure you are protecting that investment! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure…
Video #1 – Signs of a dry guitar…
Video #2 – How to correct the problem…
Video #3 – Finish the rescue…
A new month began today for a fitness program that I participate in called “Operation Bootcamp”, and I wasn’t there to see it kick off. I know that participating in the program yields me great results. Here are the goals for this December camp…
In the past, I’ve had great success and huge setbacks. I have achieved my goals and fallen far short. The greatest wisdom I have gained from all of it is that there’s no finish line with regards to eating healthy and exercising. It’s time to get my mind set around consistency. In addition to Operation Bootcamp, I have my mind made up to train for the Half-Ironman next summer in Augusta or Boise.
For Catholics in North America, this weekend (1st Sunday of Advent), welcomes the 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal after years of prayer, interpretation, and changes. It is now time to pray with the new responses, and sing the new parts.
People in your congregation are going to be looking to you and your pastoral team for assurance. I call this the “Flight Attendant” syndrome (When I fly through rough air, I always look at the flight attendants on my plane to see if they are nervous). When you begin playing your new (or revised) mass settings this weekend, do so with confidence. Lead the parts as if you’ve been singing them since 1974. In addition, I am using familiar hymns and songs this weekend to give the people at Holy Trinity a chance to really focus on the new parts.
Welcome 3rd Edition of the Roman Missal…we are delighted you are here. Lord Jesus, guide your Church through this transition. Maranatha!
10 Essentials to a healthy ministry experience for your team…
Writing the essentials could easily become an e-book. These are 10 simple suggestions to start with. Peace and blessings to you…
This past weekend, I wrapped up my fall vacation time by spending both days with my family. We had two fantastic days together. On Saturday, my youngest son played in the regional 9u football superbowl. I flew back from the west coast early to make sure I was there for this big event. They took the lead and won the game with just 45 seconds left on the clock. I am so proud!
The other aspect of my vacation was that it allowed me the rare opportunity to attend mass at a neighboring parish. As a family, we decided to go visit St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church in Fayetteville GA. As we arrived in the narthex, we were greeted by one of the teens handing out songsheets. We quickly found a place to sit and prepared for mass. I was delighted to see my friend Amy Metzger, Director of Music, up at the front with the music ministry team. I knew from Facebook that she had also been traveling recently, so I wasn’t sure I’d have an opportunity to visit prior to arriving at mass.
I really appreciated the song selections, as there were familiar tunes and two pieces that I had never heard before. I always enjoy the opportunity to learn new pieces and have other ministry teams lead me in worship. The team did a great job presenting the material. Throughout the mass, I felt very welcomed to sing and participate.
Here’s my challenge to you…
Get out there and see what the churches in your area are doing. For many of us that minister in a Life Teen Mass, it can be challenging to visit another Life Teen mass at a neighboring parish as we all tend to have a mutual late afternoon mass time. Don’t let that stop you from visiting other parishes to checkout a morning liturgy, or even a vigil mass nearby.
In our faith lives, we experience, we learn, and we change…in that order. Think about how that formula applies to your faith journey. To continue growing as Christians and ministers, we need to constantly continue moving forward. Working inside “our box” can limit our sight and effectiveness. Get out there and meet some new people, expand your network of friends in the area, and keep growing. The Church is bigger than our home town parish. Thanks be to God!
I arrived in Los Angeles today for the 2011 Taxi Road Rally. I’m here with 2,000 other songwriters, musicians, producers, poets, and dreamers. I’m also here with grammy winning songwriters and producers.
In early spring of this year, I was praying in the church before leaving for the day, and clearly heard the Lord asking me to write songs for the church.
I have all the tools, all the skill, and all the encouragement of my family and friends. Now, all I need is the discipline to get to work…
Here is the setlist of songs the band and I used on the St. Brigid Confirmation Retreat “Emmaus”. If these songs led you into prayer, I encourage you to pick them up at iTunes and continue praying them over the next several weeks. The band and I were blessed to be with you at Covecrest. Peace to you my friends…Greg
Friday night…
Lean on Me- Bill Withers; Fires – Theme song from Matt Redman; Your Grace Is Enough – Matt Maher; Marvelous Light – Charlie Hall; How He Loves – Mark McMillan; The Stand – Hillsong; Open My Eyes – Jesse Manibusan
Saturday morning…
Days of Elijah – Robin Mark; Holy Is The Lord – Chris Tomlin; Everlasting God – Brenton Brown; Mighty To Save – Hillsong (Fielding); Open My Eyes – Jesse Manibusan
Saturday afternoon…
Big House – Audio Adrenaline; Our God – Chris Tomlin; I Will Follow – Chris Tomlin; Fires – Matt Redman
Adoration…
He Is Exalted – Twila Paris; Worthy – Matt Redman; Revelation Song – Phillips Craig and Dean (written my Jamie Riddle); How He Loves – Mark McMillan; Dwell – Casey Corum; How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin; Tantum Ergo (Traditional); Divine Praises (Adapted by Matt Maher)
Sunday morning…
I Saw The Light – Hank Williams; I Will Follow – Chris Tomlin; Your Grace Is Enough – Maher;
Two years ago I was at a conference for Whole Community Catechesis, where I got to hear Steve Angrisano present a musical workshop. One of the takeaways from his session was the expression “Near Faith Experience”. You know, it’s where you are at a retreat, or at mass, yet not really present to Christ and what is happening. I think NFE’s happen occasionally when you work in full time ministry. I find myself, after three masses and four rehearsals this weekend, having had a NFE. I know what the Gospel was about, I barely remember the second reading. The First reading from Ezekiel escapes me completely, and I heard it three times!
Lord, grant us the grace to enter completely into the liturgy when we serve You there, to remove the distractions, and love You with everything we have. Lord, I know that when I play and sing, it’s for an audience of One (Three, in Trinity). I love you, and I can’t wait to meet You in the liturgy again. Greg
