Jan. 21st Chapel Debrief and New Songs!

Hi Everyone,

Well done, today!  I think you did a great job of being flexible and sensitive to the mood, plan, and what was going on.   I actually found it a little hard to hear everything today, so it's hard for me to give an opinion on how it think things sounded overall.  Other than a missed intro (like the start of the first song) and perhaps some forgotten words in places, I thought overall things went great.

There's always a new wrinkle - today it was a different location for our set up.  We handled it well, and managed to do a sound check on most of our set list for 'go-live' time.   Its funny, I think the parts that we didn't practice turned out really well - like the playing and singing in the background.  Instrumentalists did a great job of following along and adding in harmonies and melodies to complement the atmosphere.

Looking to our next chapel, I've got several new song suggestions for us (see below).  There was a slow one that a couple of you were suggesting last week, but I don't remember what it was.  Send me an email and I can post it as well.


I Am A Friend of God       Key of A

Happy Day     Key of G

Salvation is Here    Key of G

Prepare Jan. 21st!

I spoke with Mrs. F yesterday afternoon, and here's what this Wednesday will look like...
We will be playing on the stage!  Mrs. F's team will be setting up some 'ambience' for the Encounter (special lamps on the stage with us, and other things)  I think there will be a nice atmosphere.

We (our team) have the talent and ability to do a fantastic job this Wednesday.  We just need to remember a couple of things:

• Practice for it  :-)
• Keep it simple.  Drums, bass, and E. Guitar in particular.
• Be sensitive to what is happening.  Keep your eyes and ears open.
• Keys - play an octave higher in your right hand  :-)

Here's the plan (these times are approximate and subject to change):

8:30  G.F. or K.M. to talk about the focus of the chapel

8:31  This is Amazing Grace.  (key of D)  F leads us.

• Drums - straight, driving beat for whole song except the bridge (where we need cymbals)
• Verse 1 - F leads us and sings solo.  At 'Who shakes...'  everyone join her singing in unison. Only drums, bass, and Acc. guitar play to first chorus
• Chorus is vocally in unison (no harmonies).  All instruments play
• Verse 2 - everyone sing (in unison), and all instruments play.
• Chorus - vocals in harmony.  Instruments, hold the 'D' chord on '...all that you've done for ME' 
• Bridge - vocals strong and in unison first 2 times though, then into harmonies.  Instruments start with solid chords (drums on cymbals) and we gradually build in intensity.
• 2 Choruses and instrumental out to end the song.

8:35  God is Able.  (key of E)  G.F. leads us.

• E. Guitar starts us.   Keys in the background.  
• Verse 1 - G.F. sings solo to chorus.  Instrument build to chorus
• Chorus - Vocals in unison.  Drums on bass drums offbeat and a cymbal or highhat.  
• Instrumental with guitar
• Verse 2 - everyone sing in unison (no harmonies).  
• Chorus - vocals in harmony.  Instruments BIG.  
• Instrumental - E Guitar solo
• Bridge - Big instrumentally and vocally (E. Guitar, please play chords)
• Chorus - a cappella then build into another BIG chorus
• Tag - 'For the Lord, our God is able' several times.

8:39  Mrs. F talks about praying for missionaries.  

There will be boxes of paper airplanes on the stage with us.  When Mrs. F gives us the 'signal', we will throw the paper airplanes into the crowd.  Kids will catch them and pray.  Everyone will pray for several minutes - we will provide background music.  I'll transition us on the keyboard to the key of A

8:40  Forever Reign (key of A)  E.S. leads us.

• Drums, guitars and bass chugging to start.  
• Verse 1 - E.S. leads us and sings solo (this is good because its low  :-)  )
• Verse 2 - Everyone sings in unison
• Chorus - Everyone sings in unison.  
• Verse 3 - Everyone sings and instruments BIG
• Chorus - BIG, but remember, end on a D chord to head into the bridge.
• Bridge - Everyone sing in unison. Vocal and instruments subdued, but building.  Last time end Jesus higher and go right into chorus BIG.  
• Chorus - BIG.  End the song quieter.

8:45  Phil (Mr. M) talks us into Themed Prayer.  

Again, we will provide background music while this is happening.  I'll transition us on the keyboard to the key of G.

8:55  Be Lifted High / I called, You Answered  (key of G)  O.F. leads us.

• Keys will play the melody to start.  The E. Guitar will play it (nicely)  :-).  Then O.F. will lead us (In my life) singing solo 2 times.  
• Everyone joins O.F. singing (In My Life....) in unison  2 times.  Instruments building, building...
• O.F. cues us to go into "I called, you answered.."  Sing it 2 times.
• Quietly end with singing In my life, be lifted high.

8:59 Perry (other Mr. M) talks about the name on the card everyone received on their way in.  

Intro into everyone praying for the person on their card and committing to praying for them for the month.  We will play background music through this.

9:05  How Great is Our God (key of G)  K.M. leads

• Chorus - K.M. plays acoustic and and sings first chorus solo.
• Chorus 2 - Everyone joins her in unison vocally.  All instruments join gradually, but building.
• Name above all names - everyone BIG and harmonies.  Sing this bridge 2 times.
• Chorus - a cappella  (no instruments, just voices)

9:10  Conclusion.

Our Next Chapel - Jan. 21st

Hi everyone,
Our next chapel is Jan. 21st.  It's a prayer chapel so we'll be on our instruments for the whole 40 minutes.  The direction I got was:

"Worship - 40 minutes. This is a more reflective chapel and will require the worship team to be in the background at times. Please prepare some instrumental songs as well."

We only have one practice left before this chapel.  Please, please, please practice these songs and know them well.  There are 2 songs below that are new to us as a band, but they are easy.  Here's the plan:

• We will do the songs we've been practicing:  
• This is Amazing Grace (see the youtube video in the post below)
• God is Able  (see the youtube video in the post below)
• Forever Reign  (see the youtube video in the post below)
• We will add to that:
• In My Life Be Lifted High (I Called You Answered) in G    This is an easy song we all know.  We can sing it and do it instrumentally.  Please see the chord sheet I attached to the email for how we will do it.
  
  
• My Heart is Yours (All to Jesus I Surrender)  in G   This song is on the radio right now done by Passion/Kristian Stanfill.   Again, please see the chord sheet attached to my email as to how we will do it
  
  
  
  
  
• How Great is Our God in G.  You should have the sheet music for this.
• Vocal practice on Tuesday at lunch with Mr. D in his classroom.
• All Singers - memorize all the words!!  
• All Musicians - memorize and know the songs!!!  Be prepared to vamp!  

We will likely repeat choruses and bridges of some songs in different places.  We will also potentially be doing some of these choruses and bridges slower so be prepared to be attentive sensitive to what is happening.