Nov. 5th Chapel

Hey everyone,
Good practice on Thursday.  We won't be able to practice together this weekend, but you can still practice at home  :-)   M.W. -  as discussed, you're the team lead for setting up the IEM system.  E.S. - again as we agreed, you're the team lead for stage set up.

Team leads - you're ensuring everyone has everything they need and knows what they doing and where they are going (refer to the stage layout handout I gave you on Thursday).  H.E. - as discussed, you'll be manning the front door from 7:10 to 7:25.  Everyone - DON'T ring the door bell.  Let H.E. get it for you.  If you arrive after 7:25.... well, you'll have to make your own way in.

F.F. - you said you'd read a scripture.  We'll get you to do it between the 2 fast songs.  Please read Psalm 136:1-3.

E.S. - If you comfortable, I'd like to you be 'the leader'.  At the beginning, invite everyone to join us.  Feel free to call out queues of where we're going (nice and loud).  Talk in between songs where you feel comfortable.  And please close our set with a prayer.

Everyone - as E.S. suggested in practice, there will be a place for any of you (if you feel lead) to briefly share after we're done with the two fast songs, or in between the two slow ones.  I'll provide some background music on the guitar.


Our agenda for Wednesday is:

• E.S. Welcome and invitation to loosen up and worship with us.  Be loud and clear.  If you can't hear yourself through the main speakers, no one else will hear you.
• You Are Good (Planetshakers)  Drums, remember to try and get the syncopated snare rhythm in the verses.  Guitars, we need to ensure that we're tight in this song, particularly in the bridge.  All instrumentalists - remember to go right to the bridge after we sing the chorus 2 times.  We also can't forget the single 'shot' in the verse on the word 'plan'.  We should also be doing a double shot on the words 'You are' going into the chorus.
• F.F. Read Psalm 136:1-3.  Again, be loud and clear.  If you can't hear yourself through the main speakers, no one else will hear you.
• You Are Good (Israel Houghton)  We'll start this song with drums and congas like we practiced.  Then acoustic guitar will play with them for 4 bars, then all instruments (big) for 8 bars and finally into the first verse.  Maintaining the tempo through the choruses is key in this song for the drums.  Guitars again need to ensure that we're not sustaining our notes when we shouldn't be (to keep it sounding clean).  Bass, don't forget your slides in the verse on the word 'forever'. 
• We sit down in the front row, stage left (west side).  Allison Springer will speak here for ~ 20 minutes.
• Healing is in Your Hands  A.W. - Start your intro as soon as you are ready and play this as background music until we're all ready.  Pretty much bass, keys, and acoustic guitar through the first verse and chorus in this song.  Remember, we're only doing half a chorus between the first and second verses.  After the second verse, singers can go into harmony and all instruments are playing.  In the Bridge, we all pull back.  Second time through the bridge we're building big (drums, help us here).  We just keep building through the chorus after the bridge to the end of the song.
• Selah....  (pause and consider...)
• How Great is Our God  Key of G.
  - First verse and 1 chorus - K.M. will play and sing the first half of the first verse alone ('the splendour of the king').  G.F.  will sing the second half of the first verse ('he wraps himself in light') with K.M playing acoustic.  In the first chorus drums do cymbal work, keys and bass join K.M. and everyone sings in unison.
  - Second verse and 1 chorus - all instruments playing, J.P. will sing the first half ('age to age he stands') and F.F. will sing the second half ('the godhead three in one').  Everyone joins in the chorus singing harmony and instruments are big.
  - First Bridge - all instruments pull back except bass, keys, and acoustic.  These three instruments play long notes first time through.  O.F. will sing the first time through - sing big and strong (I know you can)  :-).
  - Second Bridge - all instruments join and we're building big time.  Singers go into harmony.  Big cymbal roll into chorus....
  - Chorus after bridge - a cappella (no instruments)
  - Following choruses - All instruments back in big.

Things to keep in mind:

• Singers, you're never not singing.  Like we talked about in practice, there will be some times where you won't have the mike at your mouth (amplified), but you should always be singing.  When you are designated to sing, kiss the microphone!!
• Drums - keep your fills simple.  
• Let's have fun and enter in!!

Looking forward....

Looking ahead, here's how things sit:

• Our next chapel is November 5th.  That's means there are 3 Thursdays left before that chapel - one of them is a day off from school!  
• Our next chapel following that is December 3rd.  We will put together at least one Christmas song for that chapel.
• Plans are being made for a 'BCS Night of Worship' on Saturday, May 23rd.  Our band tentatively has an extended set that evening.

I think we have a pretty good bead on our set for the next chapel.  Please be praying for that chapel and how God would have you involved (aside from singing/playing).  Testimony?  Read a scripture?  Pray?

• You Are Good - Israel Houghton    Key of E    We have this song very close to ready.  Drummers need to think about the percussion intro and try and emulate the drum beats drummers do in the different parts of this song.   Instrumentalists need to ensure that our 'shots' are quick and short - not held!  Bass - there's a cool slide up (to E) you can do in the verse on the word 'forever'.  Listen to the music and you'll hear it.
• You Are Good - Planet Shakers    Key of D  This one is almost ready as well.  Drummers, remember the syncopated snare beat in the verse (he does it on the video).  Also in the instrumental the bass drum needs to stay with the beat while you hit the snare and a cymbal in time with the shots.  Remember that a lot of the shots in this song are 'pushed' - that is instead of landing on the beat, they actually land a half beat before.  Keys, there's two parts to remember in this song - the 'broken chord with no 3rd' for the chorus that I showed you, and then the 3 note 'ditty' (B, A, G#) for the instrumentals.  
• You Are Good - Kari Jobe   Key of D  This is probably our weakest song of this set, mostly because of the two things - timing of changes for the singers, and the chord progression of the instruments for the pre-chorus.  Singers, we'll work on the timing together (listen to the video for now). Instrumentalists, the chords you need to know for the pre-chorus are:  D, D/E (slide the D chorus up 2 frets), C#m, F#m, Bm, Bm/A (Play an Am slid up 2 frets), G, E.  These chord changes come pretty fast, so practice them - they consistently change on every second beat.
• Healing is In Your Hands - Christy Nockels    Key of D   Keys, you're doing a great job on this song.  Keep it up!  I think this song is getting close as well.  We just need to get more comfortable with the tempo and dynamic changes as a group.

Here's a link to the page with those YouTube videos:

http://worshipwake.blogspot.ca/2014/09/welcome-to-our-team-first-thoughts-and.html

Please practice those songs!  The more comfortable you are with them, the better.

Songs we have 'in the bag' that we could do in a pinch for a youth group or church service if the opportunity presented itself - You should play/sing these songs every once in a while to remind yourself how they go....
- Amazing Love - Key of E
- Freedom Reigns in This Place - Key of G
- I Found a Love - Key of G
- Nothing is Impossible - Key of E
- You Are Good (Bethel) - Key of G
- Everyone (Desperation Band) - Key of E

Also, please start working on these songs below for the future (some of them we've done before):

You Are Glorious  (Key of B)   This song rocks.  It gets progressively more intense all the way to the end.  Drummers, you'll definitely want to pay close attention to all the different beats in the different parts of this song.  I'm sure you'll find the very last bit of the song 'fun'.   :-)

Joy To the World  (Key of G, then up to A)  We did this one last year, but in a different key.  Electric Guitar - let's nail the E. guitar part in the 'joy, unspeakable joy' part this year as its really cool and rather easy. 

Angels we have heard on High  (Key of D)   I think I have a fun arrangement of this song for us to do.  It not like this below but it will be easy to learn.

Oct. 8 Chapel Debrief

Well, that was an adventure!  I was thinking afterwards that it was - in a way - a great object lesson for all of us on the team of what Mr. Schneider talked about.  We were going into that worship set 'dark' from a sound check perspective.  I didn't know how things were going to go.  It wasn't a very comfortable feeling.  It gives us an opportunity to trust God.

You all did great!  You are real troupers.  I can only imagine the thoughts that were going through your heads this morning leading up to playing/singing.   When the time came though, you focused on the task at hand - you were intent on doing the best you could do.  You pressed in, through all the distractions, stress, and concerns... and you worshipped.  I couldn't be prouder of each of you.

What did you learn today?  Did God speak to you in any way during that experience?  Did you learn something about yourself (or did God show you something about yourself) through it?  If so, write it down somewhere (in a journal if you have one).  Don't forget it.  These are good experiences.

*****        *****        *****        *****        *****        *****        *****

More technically speaking.....
Electric Guitar - (not me), I'm so glad you were practiced up and prepared, as everyone mostly heard you in the mains.  And you did great.  That should be a substantial confidence builder for you  :-).

Singers - Great job.  I was actually a big surprised that we were able to keep the intensity of the music going in the fast songs.  I also heard you calling out queues - nice!  Several people mentioned to me how strong you all sounded together.  Well done.  Also I saw at least a couple of you enter into worship, lifting your hands.  And then when we entered into a bit of spontaneous worship after Amazing Love...  Right On!  That is where it's at.

Percussion - Well done guys!  I know that was a bit of a challenge with the sound situation.  The congas and the cymbal rolls sounded great.  Nice spontaneous work on the set in Everyone after the bridge.  It was almost like we planned it that way.

Keys - I heard the organ and it sounded great in the fast songs.  I missed the keys in Amazing Love because of the mix, so I can't really tell you how they sounded there.  :-)

Bass & Acoustic Guitars -Similar to keys, when I heard you it sounded great.  I loved how we worked together in the slow, more spontaneous times.  It felt very natural and 'right'.

Looking forward to talking more about this tomorrow and working on some new songs!  Be encouraged, everyone!

Arrangement Reminders for Wednesday

That practice was a lot of fun!  Electric guitar -please remember the patches you used today - they were great.  Drums, we need to continue to focus on consistent tempo and clean crisp playing.  Singers - smile and listen to each other.  Here's some other reminders for practicing this week and essentially our 'order of service':

• We do the intro to You Are Good, but before we actually start the verse.....
• I will have one of you read a short scripture here.  Please read loud, slow, and clear.  You need to be understood over the music behind you (we'll be chugging, ready to start the verse).
• You Are Good (Bethel)
• Singers, clap whenever you can in this song.   Unison singing in first verse and first chorus.
• Electric Guitar - remember you have the 'elongated' lead part in the chorus.  Practice it with the video and you'll get it easily.
• Keys, remember in the bridge there's a piano part - simple 5ths.  Listen to the video and see if you can work it out.  If not, no worries
• Everyone
• This is the song where we are doing the big bridge build to a complete cut-off.  Then starting with acoustic, we build the song back up again (acoustic, then drums and bass, then everyone else)
• Singers, remember in the verse 'worthy is Your name' is fast and short.  We do not hold the word 'name'.  Every time we sing the phrase 'worthy is Your name' we are in harmony - otherwise the verses are in unison.  When there are just instrumental parts, no need be uncomfortable and wonder what you should be doing  :-)  Smile, clap along, and enjoy yourself.  
• Electric Guitar - remember the hammer downs for the instrumental.  I will join you with harmonies in some of the soloing like in practice (it sounded so cool - I've never done that before!) 
• Bass & Percussion - work together to ensure the tempo doesn't lag in this song.  Remember in the bridge we start with off-beats on the bass drum, then move to quarter notes as we build.
• Someone can share here briefly.  Let me know if you feel led.
• Amazing Love
• Keys start this song with the piano layered with a pad.  Remember to keep the tempo slower than you naturally want to start it.  We can relax into the start of this one.
• Singers, we really need to listen on this one - particularly in the chorus - for when and how the notes are changing.
• Big build in the bridge of this one back into the chorus 'Amazing Love' with a crisp, clean cut from the instruments.  Instruments come back in on the A chord like we practiced.  Big cymbal rolls are great.
• I Found a Love
• All instruments start together, drums are doing the beat using the toms.  When we get into the verse, instruments cut out except for bass, acoustic, and drums (only playing high-hat and bass drum on the off beats).
• Singers are unison in the first verse and first chorus.  
• Remember, when we come to the end of this song, we aren't really ending it.  We quietly rock between G and C, and then the bass and acoustic will start the walkup (G Am, G/B, C).  Drums, keys, and guitars will gradually and sensitively join in.  We continue to build and singers sing 'You make me come alive' and we continue to build and free worship.  Remember, we end the progression on a C chord and hold it for 2 whole bars until we finally resolve it to a G.
• Can one of the singers please close with a prayer here?  Again, nice and loud, slow and clear so everyone can hear you.