Songs to Work On

Great practice this week everyone!  Y'all sounded great.  Looking forward, here are the songs we need to be ready to play - in other words you should have these songs practiced up so that we can play them with a week's notice..  That shouldn't be too hard since we were either ready to do them, or we've done them already...

• Beautiful One   Key of A    Chord Chart
• Good, Good Father   Key of E    Chord Chart
• I Will Exalt   Key of D    Chord Chart
• Deep Cries Out   Key of E   Chord Chart
• Let God Arise   Key of E   Chord Chart
• Great Are You Lord   Key of E   Chord Chart
• The Lion and the Lamb   Key of E    Chord Chart
• This is Amazing Grace   Key of D   Chord Chart
• You Are Good    Key of G   Chord Chart

That's a nice little list of songs we already have in our repertoire!  Good enough for an all worship chapel if need be!!

Other songs we worked on this we, or songs we should be also practicing are:

Your Grace is Enough    Key of E    Chord Chart

Happy Day   Key of G   Chord Chart

No Longer Slaves   Key of D   Chord Chart

At Your Name   Key of E   Chord Chart

Nov. 30th Chapel Song Agenda

Hi everyone,  Here's the song agenda for this Wednesday.  Please remember to arrive at the school at 7:15am, bring your earphones, and SMILE!

Beautiful One    Key of A (but starts on D)

• Intro - BIG BAND
• Verse 1 - everyone sings in unison
• Chorus - Everyone sings in unision
• Verse 2 - Everyone sings and smiles - harmonies too
• Chorus - 2 times!  Singers smiling, grooving, and moving!
• Bridge - 2 times - Quiet first time. 2nd time full band and BIG
• Chorus - 2 times
• 2nd Bridge (my soul must sing) - 2 times - All instruments - shots!
• Chorus - everyone end on 'sing'

Joy to the world (Joy Unspeakable Joy)    Starts in G, changes to A

• Intro - BIG BAND - Guitar solo - keys playing chords
• Verse 1 - Singers in unison.  Guitars chugging.  Keys holding back
• Instrumental - same as Intro - BIG BAND
• Verse 2 - Singers with harmonies.  Guitars and keys fuller.  Build BIG into chorus
• Chorus - BIG BAND - singers harmonies.  
• Verse 3 - KEY CHANGE TO A!!   Start really quiet and build through the whole verse.  Drums shots in 'wonders of His love'  
• Chorus - BIG BAND - everyone going for it.  Drums on crash cymbal the whole time.
• Instrumental outro - same as intro.

I Will Exalt    Key of D

• Intro - Keys and a. guitar with cymbals on drums
• Verse 1 - singers in unison.  cymbals on drums.
• Instrumental - same as intro
• Verse 1 - Singers in unison.  Drums playing quiet beat with snare.  Guitars playing quietly
• Chorus - Singers in unison.  Drums a bit fuller but definitely not all the way.
• Verse 1 - Band full sound.  Singers in harmonies.  Building to chorus!
• Chorus - BIG BAND
• Instrumental - keys lead with BRIDGE CHORDS.
• Bridge - At least 4 times! Band quiet first time but building each time.  Singers breathy and in unison to start, but as we build, go for it... in every way.  Focus on God, give him your attention and devotion.  STAY BIG INTO CHORUS
• Chorus - BIG CHORUS
• Instrumental outro - same as intro

Good Good Father   Key of E

• Intro - Keys and A. Guitar start
• Verse 1 - One singer to sing - be prepared everyone.
• Chorus - everyone in unison
• Verse 2 - One singer to sing - again, everyone be prepared.  Others who aren't 'singing' should still be singing, just no mic!
• Chorus - 2 times - All singers in harmonies.  Big Band
• Bridge - 2 times - BIG BAND
• Verse 3 - Everyone quiet.  (its love so undeniable...)  TZ to start singing.  We'll join her in the second time through 'draw me'
• Chorus - 2 times
• Bridge
• etc.

New Songs for Nov. 30th

Hey everybody - great chapel last Wednesday as discussed in practice.  Great practice yesterday as well!  We'll arrange them fairly close to how we played them in practiced.  Here's the songs to work on for the Nov. 30th chapel:

Beautiful One   Key of  A  Chord Chart

Joy to the World    Key of G, A   Chord Chart

I Will Exalt    Key of D   Chord Chart

Good Good Father    Key of E   Chord Chart

Chapel Wednesday Nov 7th Song Agenda

I'm looking forward to Wednesday, and I hope you are too.
Everyone remember to RELAX and SMILE!!!!!!
Here's the song agenda for chapel:

Let God Arise   Key of E

• Intro - Instruments BIG.  E.Guitar solos.  Drums - once you get to the rock beat use either open high-hat or crash cymbal
• Verse 1 - Everyone sings in unison.  Keys - organ playing the whole time like you have been.  Keys - synth - hold off on your part until 'our God is a God who saves'
• Chorus  - Instruments - whole notes on chord changes (drums, cymbal crashes on chord changes).  Singers all in unison
• Instrumental - Same as beginning - all instruments BIG
• Verse 2 - Everyone sings.  Both keyboards playing.
• Chorus - 2 times - Singers
• Instrumental to bridge - Whole notes again - drums, cymbal crashes on the chord changes.
• Bridge - 3-4 times - Singers in unison first time.  Drums quiet first time, but building every time.  REALLY BIG bridge last time!
• Chorus - Acapella until 'Our God Reigns...' and then we're all big
• Instrumental outro.  E Guitar solo.  Band is BIG.  Singers are clapping, grooving, and dancing!

Deep Cries Out    Key of E

• Intro - Instruments BIG.  E. Guitar solos.  Tambourine!
• Verse 1 - Everyone sings in unison.  Keys - organ plays.  Keys - synth - wait to play until 'We're stirring up...'   No tambourine.
• Chorus 1 - Singers in unison.  Instruments going for it.  Tambourine!
• Verse 1 - Every sings - melodies too.  Keys, same as first verse.  E. Guitar chugging.  Tambourine with snare
• Chorus - 2 times - Singers grooving and smiling and harmonizing.  Tambourine!
• Bridge 1 (We're falling..)   Tambourine with snare
• Bridge 2 - I think everyone knows what to do (Please do something!  Don't stand there and do nothing - do the actions if nothing else!)   Tambourine building like you did in practice.  Simple first, then getting busy.
• Instrumental - E. Guitar solo.  Watch for my signal to go back into the chorus.  Tambourine!
• Chorus - everyone big.   Tambourine!
• Instrumental outro.  E. Guitar solo.  Band big.  Big long crash on the cymbals at the end.  Tambourine!

I'll talk here a little bit so keyboards can change their patches.

Lion and the Lamb   Key of E

• Intro - Big instrumental intro (drums too!)  Keys - synth and E. Guitar soloing.  Tambourine on off-beats (like in practice)
• Verse 1 - Drums - steady rock beat, no syncopation with the bass drum.  Guitars chugging
• Chorus - Mostly just vocals.  Drums, keep bass drum and high-hat going.  Then we'll build back into...
• Instrumental - band is BIG - just like start of the song.
• Verse 2 - Drums - steady full rock beat, building to the chorus.  Guitars, chugging but bigger.
• Chorus - Big Band,  Singers - full melodies.  Tambourine on off-beats (like in practice)
• Bridge - 4 times, building every time to REALLY BIG last time
• Chorus - First line is acappella, then band back in BIG on 'Judah'.  Tambourine on off-beats (like in practice)
• Instrumental outro - big band.  Keys synth and E. Guitar soloing.  Tambourine on off-beats (like in practice)

Great Are You Lord   Key of E

• Instrumental - Keys - piano starts us, drums, bass and A. Guitar playing as well, but quiet.
• Verse 1 - 2 times - Singers in unison.  Drums subdued. 
• Chorus - Singers in unison.  Band still quiet (holding back).
• Verse 1 - Drums playing full beat.  E. Guitar swells.  
• Chorus - 2 times - Band is BIG.  E. Guitar power chords.  Tambourine!
• Bridge - 4 times - Starts quiet, but building all the way through until we're all out before going back into chorus.  Tambourine playing on last bridge.
• Chorus - 2 times - Totally going for it.  Everyone.  Tambourine!

New Songs to Practice!!

Hi Everyone!
We had a great practice today, running through probably close to 10 new songs and choosing for to work on for our next chapel.  They are:


Let God Arise    Key of E    https://youtu.be/TrKdcfWwhLM   Chord Chart

• Keys - one on organ and the other something electronic
• Drums - This song is a good workout.  Try to do EXACTLY what this drummer does in every section of the video.  Its a bit of a listening exercise, but a great learning exercise too.
• E. Guitar - You can have lots of fun with this song.  You're carrying this song  :-)

Deep Cries Out    Key of E   https://youtu.be/CkJH3zGM-cs     Chord Chart

• Drums - Same idea as the last song - this song will make you sweat.  Try to do EXACTLY what this drummer does in every section of the video.  Its a bit of a listening exercise, but a great learning exercise too.
• E. Guitar - Learn the solo at the beginning.  In the verses you'll be chugging the chords.  Chorus and bridge you be playing full power chords
• Keys - one of you on organ an the other doing something electric sounding 

Lion and the Lamb   Key of G   https://youtu.be/rT-HulZ6TQA   Chord Chart

• Drums - With the exception of the 'hiccup' beat in the verses (don't do that), learn this song EXACTLY as this drummer does it in the video.  Again its a good exercise.  Notice how he has certain beats that he's consistent with in certain sections of the song.
• Keys - one with a piano/pad sound.  The other with an electric sound like they have going in the first verse.  We'll have to find the right patch.
• E. Guitar - see if you can learn the solo licks.  You'll be playing power chords in the chorus.

Great are You Lord    Key of  E  https://youtu.be/4EDr0GVhFFg   Chord Chart

• Drums - notice where the drummer does NOT seem to play.  Listen how he builds from there, and how he (again) has certain beats for certain parts of the song.  The consistency the beat is key for the drummer and the bass player to stay in synch.  Practice the builds.
• Keys - again, the beginning and the bridge are integral parts for you to know.  Maintain a E bass all the way through the bridge.
• E. Guitar - Swells in the quiet parts of this song, but when it gets big, you're playing power chords!

Songs for Next Chapel

Hey everybody - I've updated this page with several things:

• Who is singing solos and where - please have a look below and correct me if I'm wrong anywhere
• This link with a list of instructions/reminders for sound system setup
• This link with the stage set up (EVERYONE needs to get familiar with this document)  You numbers on this document are assigned to you, as are your positions.  This will help everyone in set up and also help the guys running sound.
• N.N. - Can you please show D.H. (the other drummer) the ropes around setting up the drums, where and how they plug in, and how the IEM's are set up and configured for drums?  Thanks!
• L.C. - You're responsible for setting up your microphone, instrument, and IEM and related cables.
• S.M - You're also responsible for setting up your microphone, instrument and IEM and related cables.
• C.M. - Your responsible for setting up your microphone, instrument and IEM and related cables.
• T.Z. - Can I get you to set up your microphone, IEM, and related cables, and show T.B. how to do hers?  Thanks!  You two will need longer cables.
• R.B. - Can I get you to set up your microphone, IEM, and related cables, and show E.B. how to do hers?   Thanks!
• J.H. - Can I get you to set up your microphone, IEM, and related cables, and show H.B. how to do hers?  Thanks!
• B.S. - I think you're probably quite familiar with setting things up, so once you're done with your gear, can you help anyone else who needs it?

I'll print off the stage setup sheet and have them for reference on Wednesday morning for everyone.  Please be familiar with it though before then, and send and questions, concerns or suggestions to me (don't wait until Wednesday morning, as we'll be quite busy then)

Please remember to bring headphones with a long(er) chord for your IEM.  See you all 7:15am, Wednesday, Oct. 5th

You are Good   Key of G          https://youtu.be/lVL32yQywsA

• Intro - All band in big.  E. Guitar solo.  Drums doing the funky beat like the recording.  Everyone - remember the space and the guitar strum before the first verse
• Verse 1 - Drums (bass drum steady kick on the beat and hihat - like the recording), guitars chugging, no keys.  Big build up to chorus, and then...
• Chorus - Sung almost voices only.  Drums - just bass drum keeping the beat, and bass guitar
• Intro - Full band all in.  E. Guitar solo
• Verse 2 - Drums (bass drum steady kick on the beat and hihat - like the recording), guitars chugging, no keys.  Keys - organ single note, no pedal.  Big build up to chorus.
• Chorus 2 times - Full band, everyone singing.
• Bridge - Keys - listen and learn the piano part here.  Drums - half time first time through.  Building intensity second time through.
• Chorus - Band cuts out - just singers.  Big Band shot on 'Shout'  build back up and do the chorus again, full band
• Outro - E. Guitar solo, full band to end of song.

This is Amazing Grace    Key of D         https://youtu.be/XFRjr_x-yxU

• Intro - All band in big.  Keys solo.  Drums, solid driving beat.
• Verse 1 & 2 - Drums, still full driving beat.  E. Guitar single muted note playing (listen to the video with good headphones and you should hear it)  No keys.  A. Guitar - single strums on chord changes.  Singers in unison.
• Chorus - Full band in, singers in unison.  Keys, learn that solo part, other keys play chords on organ patch, no pedal.
• Intro - All band big.  Keys solo.
• Verse 3 & 4 - no pause in between verse 3 and verse 4.
• Chorus - Full band in.  Singers can harmonize.
• Bridge - Just starts with A. guitar (learn that strumming pattern) and keys.  Band builds back in.
• Chorus 2x. All band in big.
• Outro - Keys solo, full band to end of song.

Good Good Father    Key of E          https://youtu.be/NjEYtaD-Ywg

• Intro - Keys (pad) and A. Guitar start this song.  Just hold an E chord.
• Verse 1 - J.H. sings solo.  Keys (pad), A. Guitar, drums (cymbal for snare).  E. Guitar swells. Singers in Unison
• Chorus - E. guitar picking (listen to the video).  Drums, add bass.
• Verse 2 - C.M. sings solo. Drums, full beat with snare.  Band building to chorus.  Singers can sing melodies
• Chorus 2 times - Band and singers full.  Please listen to the video
• Bridge 2 times - Band is big
• Verse 3 - T.Z. starts solo.  All quiet, just A. Guitar and keys (pad), band building on 'call me deeper still'
• Repeat 'Deeper still' - Band building to chorus
• Chorus 2 times - Big chorus.
• We'll see where it goes - back into the bridge possibly

Jesus We Love You    Key of G       https://youtu.be/dOExT9JqB7s

• Intro - Keys (pad) and A. Guitar start this song.  Like we did in practice.
• Verse 1 - T.B. sings solo.  Keys - pad playing chords.  Other keys - piano doing 5ths - these keep the beat.  E. Guitar - swells.  
• Chorus - A. Guitar, Keys (pad), drums, cymbal.
• Verse 2 - Drums - simple bass and snare.  Keys pad playing chords.  Other keys - piano doing 5ths - these keep the beat.  E. Guitar - loader, broader swells.
• Chorus 2x - Full band.  Singers harmonizing
• Bridge 2x - T.Z. starts solo.   Everyone cuts out except A. Guitar and Keys (pad)  Band slowly comes back in and builds as we move back towards the chorus.
• Chorus - Acapella 1 time through, then full band in to finish.

Songs to work on

Great practice, everyone!  It was nice to meet you all.  I'll post links of the songs to work on below, along with notes about who should do what, in some cases.  Get a good pair of headphones, listen & learn these songs :-)

Singers - there aren't a whole lot of notes for you below, but generally things to be aware of:

• Practice singing with the songs to find harmonies.
• Memorize the words and the melodies
• Please, PLEASE feel free to vamp - great examples of this below can be found in Great Are You Lord, Lion and the Lamb, Good Good Father
• Find new singing parts - there are several songs below that lend themselves to echo parts (or something close) but no one sings them.  Try to listen for where they might find and make up your own part 

THIS IS AMAZING GRACE

• Listen to this version for the drum solo beginning:  https://youtu.be/qStLwsPxWXI
• Otherwise, listen to this version below for:  https://youtu.be/XFRjr_x-yxU
• Keyboard parts clearer - there's the intro solo, then during the chorus, there's a similar part  
• Acoustic guitar - listen to the strumming pattern during 'Worthy is the lamb who was slain'  
• Elect. guitar - listen to the muted picking during the verses

JERICHO

• https://youtu.be/F-zOP9rp2W4
• Singers, please get very familiar with this song this week (know the words and the melody)
• Drummers, this should be a fun song to practice to since there is no drummer and you can actually drum with him.
• Keyboards - please get familiar with the chord patterns and changes
• Acoustic Guitar - learn his strumming pattern  :-)
• E. Guitar - find a good, full, moderately distorted patch if you can and play full chords

NO LONGER SLAVES

• https://youtu.be/f8TkUMJtK5k
• Keyboards - learn the keyboard solo part (both of you).  The song actually doesn't start with the keyboard solo, if that helps  :-)  Also, listen to the string section that starts at the second chorus. One of you could do that.
• E. Guitar - notice in little ditty that's done all through the second verse (picking).  When the song gets bigger, you'd play full chords
• Acoustic Guitar - you chug a lot in this song, just like this guy.
• Drums - On the set there's lots of tom work - pay attention to what he does.  Otherwise, listen hard for the 'jingle bells'/tambourine  Bethel loves to use them and they are in here.

YOU ARE GOOD

• https://youtu.be/lVL32yQywsA
• Everyone - notice the break after the intro where these's just drums before the verse
• E. Guitar - try to match that patch.  Chugging in the verses.
• Keyboards - listen how the pad is all the way through the second verse (its light, but its there).  Notice the keys part in the bridge - learn that as well.  2nd time through the bridge it changes to octaves in the right hand.  See if you can follow the guitar solo as well as it will be handy to have one of you doing that (instrumental part and chorus part)
• Drums - You need to nail this drum part just like it is.  Try not to add too many extra fills as it can get easy to loose your place and get distracting.

AT YOUR NAME

• https://youtu.be/jByyHnoEcFQ
• Keyboards - Learn the intro part - also listen for the 'angelic organ' in places where it gets quieter.  
• E. Guitar - there are several different patches used in this song.   I like the one used in the chorus.  You can mute it during the verses (like in the second verse) and then play full, open chords in the choruses.
• Acoustic Guitar - listen to the simple open strums the E.Guitar is doing in the first verse and the beginning of the bridge in this song.  Try to emulate that in those parts.  Otherwise, find a strum pattern that works for this song.  Sing and play together - that will help you find a good strum pattern.

THERE IS NO ONE LIKE YOU

• https://youtu.be/A1Z1v20NE-I
• E. Guitar - I LOVE the patch he uses in this song.  Find that one and I'll be a happy guy (and you'll sound awesome)
• Drums - You will sweat practicing to this one.  Copy exactly what this drummer does (pay particular attention to the changes with the high-hat) in the whole song - its a bit of work, I know, but you'll learn a lot if you keep listening
• Keyboards - listen to this version to hear a keyboard part https://youtu.be/uMZfgPjl_xA  It three notes that keep repeating over and over.  

LET GOD ARISE

• https://youtu.be/TrKdcfWwhLM
• Guitars - you have pretty much the same parts in this song.  E. Guitar - see if you can match that patch  :-)
• Keyboards - There's an organ in there - try and find it.  Get used to the chord progressions and know them.  I'll have some fun stuff for you to do (remind me if I don't show you)
• Drums - Another good song to listen carefully and learn precisely what the drummer does (one of the best ways to be a better drummer playing with a band - copy someone else)

JESUS WE LOVE YOU

• https://youtu.be/uL9DKXtLmU8
• Acoustic Guitar - study his strumming pattern 
• Drums - I don't think we'll do the big toms in the first chorus unless you can nail them as they are tricky.  Listen to the beat in the second verse and how he builds into the chorus.
• E.Guitar - The sliding around soloing is tricky.  See what you can do
• Keyboards - I think the bridge is the hardest part of this song, but they are super fun chords to play and listen to.  Otherwise, its just following the chords on the chord sheet I believe.

GREAT ARE YOU LORD

• https://youtu.be/tax3zND4fTE   The first song in this 60 minute set.  Its a fantastic arrangement.  Listen to it all (as he restarts the song a couple of times before he goes into How Great is Our God)
• Drums - this is another song in 6/8 Jesus we Love You.  Same thing here - practice drumming to this song - notice the different things this drummer does to keep the beat going when its quiet, and then to build intensity - its great!
• Keyboards - essentially there's a piano and a pad in this song.  Listen for them and see what they do.  Its essential to know the bridge part in this song.  :-)
• E. Guitar - lots of different parts in this song to choose from.  Find something you're comfortable with.  Patch choice is huge  

GOOD GOOD FATHER

• https://youtu.be/NjEYtaD-Ywg
• Keyboards - piano and pad patches again.  The bridge (again) is essential to know in this song.
• E. Guitar - there's a nice picking riff he does in this song - particularly noticeable in the pre-chorus and chorus.  
• Drums - One of the keys to drumming in this song is the tempo and the fact that even though its a slow song, he drums solid (read hard) when its loud.  Again, notice how he keeps the tempo going with this cymbal work when its quiet.  When it gets louder, pay attention to how he continually adds something new to the beat to increase intensity.

LION AND THE LAMB

• https://youtu.be/ty5Nx3j9NJ0
• See what you all think of this one

Worship Band 2016-2017!!!

Hey everybody!

Welcome to our team!!  Yes we will have practice this Thursday, Sept. 15th.  I will bring music for us to go over and we'll also talk a bit as well - get to know each other.  Perhaps do a team building exercise...   :-)

For those of you who don't know who I am - I'm Mr. McKenzie - Erik and Kornelia McKenzie's Dad.  This will be my 4th year leading one of the senior high worship bands at BCS, and I'm looking forward to it.  Please be prepared to:
- Practice.  I expect singers to know the words of the songs we're singing by heart (from memory).  I also expect the musicians to know their parts by memory as well.
- Lead.  Each of you is now a leader.  Everyone is watching the example you set.
- Be Prompt.  Everyone  (EVERYONE) should be in the practice room, setting up equipment, mics, etc. by at least 3:30 on practice days and 7:15am on days when we play during the Encounter (are we still calling it that?)

- Why are we here, on this team?  What is our goal?  Motivation?  
    - Glorify God (ourselves)
    - Help everyone else glorify God.  How can we do that?
       - Start simple
       - Listen.  Ensure we are playing together, as a team, and we are knowing how a song goes.
       - Smile.  be involved with all of us, not just our voices or hands.
       - Know our parts.  Know the layout of the songs.
       - Be Confident.  Own your part, stand in it, and stall strong and tall.  Each note/beat lives - don't let it die an early death

Since we're a senior high band, they like to get us into the rotation in the next 3 weeks.

We should have a repertoire of 10 songs would could comfortably do by the end of October.

Attendance at every practice unless you're sick or you have an appointment.

If you don't agree with something, or you've got questions, please ask.  I'm totally willing to consider other options.

Songs to put on your play lists to become familiar with:

- There is no one like you - David Crowder
- Agnus Dea - Michael W. Smith
- Jesus Loves Me  - Chris Tomlin
- Deep cries out - Bethel
- No longer Slaves - Bethel
- Everlasting God - Lincoln Brewster
- Great are You Lord - Bethel
- Good Good Father - Bethel
- How He Loves - David Crowder
- Jesus We Love You - Bethel
- Your Grace is Enough - Chris Tomlin
- Let God Arise - Chris Tomlin
- You are Good - Bethel
- This is Amazing Grace - Matt Maher
- Jericho - Bluetree
- At Your Name - Phil Wickam

Feel free to send me your song ideas - we'll definitely consider them.  (Many of mine are old)  Things we do need to consider with new songs:
- Vocal range - sometimes the vocal range of a song is too broad for everyone to sing.
-  Music Arrangement - sometimes songs sound great recorded, but its very hard to make them sound good live with the band/technology that we have.
- Words & Theme.

Jubilee Sunday June 5th Agenda

Hi Everybody,

I've had A LOT of positive feedback from our acoustic chapel.  Great work everyone!  Good job keeping  your eyes and ears open and being flexible  :-)

Because we've only got 1 practice to get ready for our worship set this Sunday at Jubilee Christian Centre, I ran a list of 8 songs past Mrs. Freeman to see which ones would work with their congregation.   Below is the list we came up with for Sunday.  I'll be playing keys as I don't have a bass and I don't want to put too much pressure on A.V.  There is a possibility that M. Freeman will be able to cover the bass guitar with us.

We need to be at the church (here the address:  458 35 Ave NW, Calgary)  at 8:30 am Monday morning.  Please be on time so we can set up and do a good sound check and run through of our songs.  C.Z. - this will be an acoustic drums set (that is mic'ed so wonderfully!) so you might want to prepare yourself to play a little less heavy handed  :-)

This Is Amazing Grace   Key of D   Chord Chart

• Intro - Instruments full in - Big Band  
• Verses 1 & 2 - A.V. leads.  Everyone else clapping :-)  Drums, bass and chugging guitars  
• Chorus - A.V. leads.  Everyone else sing in UNISON.
• Verses 3 & 4 - Everyone singing, clapping and grooving.  Band does shots  (M.F.  you'll pick these up easy - don't worry)
• Chorus - 2x  Big Band  Everyone singing.
• Bridge (worthy is the Lamb)  band quiet right down.  Bass drum off-beat. 
• Bridge - again building
• Bridge - Big Band, going for it.
• Chorus 2x.
• Instrumental out (start as song start).

Mr. M. - Introductions talking.

Everlasting God   Key of G   Chord Chard   Chord Chart for Bass

• Intro - I'll count us in (as I want this to go a good tempo).  Guitars alone first time through, then full band
• Verse 1 -  C.M solo    E.Guitar chugging following the bass line (like you know how)
• Pre-chorus - 'Our God...'  Everyone sings in unison
• Chorus - Everyone sings in unison
• Verse 1 - Everyone sings harmonies (we really had this sounded good last practice)
• Chorus 2x
• PRE-CHORUS 2x - 'Our God....'   first time quieter, second time really big
• Chorus - bass drum (on off-beat) and bass only.  Singers belting it out.  Other instruments build back in on '...don't grow weary..'
• Chorus
• End.

I Will Exalt  Key of D   Chord Chart

• Intro - Keys, acoustic guitar, & Bass
• Verse 1 - T.Z. solos   Piano, acoustic guitar & Bass accompany with light cymbal work on drums
• Intro again - Keys, acoustic guitar, & bass
• Verse 2 - A.J. solos  J.L. harmonizes.  Piano, acoustic guitar & Bass accompany.  Drums, bass drum and hihat - no snare yet.  Building into chorus
• Chorus - Vocals all on melody.  Drums in with snare.  E. guitar in with chords.
• Verse 1 - O.F. Solos  J.L. harmonizes.  Drums full playing.  E.guitar full chords.  
• Chorus - 2 times  Singers harmonize on second time.  We're big.
• Instrumental into bridge - Keys and bass play bridge chords
• Bridge - This is it everyone.  This is where we shift into another gear and really worship.  No matter what has happened in our set to this point, this is where the rubber really hits the road.  We start lifting our hearts to God HERE.  T.Z. starts us off with the first time through.  
• Bridge 2nd time - J.L. joins T.Z. here with harmony.  Make no mistake, the rest of us aren't just watching - we need to be all in with our hearts, just not with mics yet.
• Bridge 3rd time - We're all in, all on melody.  Instruments all in.
• Bridge 4th time - Big build on drums - snare, floor tom, and bass all together.  Vocals harmonizing.... giving our all....
• Chorus - acapalla - no instruments.  All voices. 
• Chorus - instruments back in on 'exalt'
• Outro - Keys, acoustic guitar, and bass play intro chords.

J.L. talk here?

How He Loves Us   Key of E   Chord Chart  Josh leads us.

• Intro - guitars, keys, and light cymbal work on drums
• Verse 1 - J.L.  Instruments quiet.  No percussion.
• Chorus - J.L.  Instruments quiet. No percussion.
• Verse 1 - J.L.  Instruments fuller, some percussion
• Chorus - Everyone
• Verse 2 - Everyone Big
• Chorus - quiet
• Bridge 2x
• We'll see where it goes from here.

Photo from our acoustic Encounter

Acoustic Chapel Agenda

Possible Stage Setup

You are Good  8:30 - 8:34  Key of G   Chord Chart   (keys - organ)

• Intro - guitars - M.W. soloing.  C.M. - remember the space before the first verse starts
• Verse 1 - C.M.  everybody else clapping and into it
• Chorus - everyone singing practically acappella
• Verse 2 - C.M.  Instrument- shots
• Chorus 2x - everyone singing
• Bridge (full 2 verses) 2x - C.M. leads us
• Chorus - totally acapella
• Chorus - with instruments
• Instrument outro

Josh - greeting, prayer and intro

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever  8:34 - 8:38 Key of E    Chord Chart  (keys - piano/pad layered patch)

• Intro - guitars
• Verse 1 - O.F. sings - everyone else groovin'
• Chorus - Singers all in.  Instruments do shot chords
• Verse 1 - O.F.  sings - everyone else groovin'
• Chorus 2x - we're all in big
• Bridge - stay big
• Chorus - acapella
• Chorus - everyone big
• Instrumental out

Josh talk?   Band plays quietly behind - Intro to How He Loves

10,000 Reasons  8:46 - 8:52 Key of E   Chord Chart    (keys - piano/pad layered patch)

• Chorus - J.L. quiet
• Verse 1 - J.L.
• Chorus - everyone, breathy
• Verse 2 - C.M.
• Chorus - everyone big

         Time for student Testimonies?  I think this is really important - band will play background.  It doesn't need to go right in the middle of this song, but given the words of the song I thought it might be interesting to break it up like this.

• Verse 3 - J.L.  quiet
• Chorus 2x

How He Loves Us  8:40 - 8:46 Key of E  Chord Chart   (keys - piano/pad layered patch)

• Intro - guitars
• Verse 1 - J.L.  Instruments quiet.  No percussion.
• Chorus - J.L.  Instruments quiet. No percussion.
• Verse 1 - J.L.  Instruments fuller, some percussion
• Chorus - Everyone
• Verse 2 - Everyone Big
• Chorus - quiet
• Bridge 2x

Set a Fire  9:05 - 9:09 Key of G   Chord Chart     (keys - piano/pad layered patch)

• Set a fire 3x   J.L. leading us  quiet and building
• No place I'd rather be  3x    start quiet and build again, but not full.
• Set a fire 2x   build big

Closer  9:09 - 9:14  Key of E   Chord Chart    (keys - piano/pad layered patch)

• Intro - Instrument play through chorus chords.  M.W. can solo the chorus melody
• Verse 1 - T.Z.  quiet
• Chorus - T.Z.  leads  everyone sings quiet behind her
• Verse 2 - Everyone
• Chorus 2x - Everyone
• Instrumental - chorus chords, M.W. soloing again.
• Bridge 3x - T.Z. starts  3rd time through we're all in big.
• Chorus

Reprise I Could Sing of Your Love Forever  (just chorus and bridge to work up to Deep Cries)


Deep Cries Out    9:15 - 9:19  Key of E   Chord Chart  (keys - organ)

• Intro - guitars  M.W. soloing.
• Verse 1 - C.M. sings.  We're all groovin' and movin'
• Prechorus - we're all singing.  Instrument shots.
• Chorus - Everyone singing and big.
• Verse 1 - Everyone singing.  Instrument shots
• Prechorus - everyone building
• Chorus 2x - Big BIG!
• Bridge 1 - 2x
• Bridge 2 -  the breakdown - guitars muted strums
• Chorus

            Let God Arise   Encore in needed?  Key of E  Chord Chart   (keys - organ)

• Intro - guitars  M.W. soloing
• Verse 1 - O.F.  sings
• Prechorus - everyone singing, instruments building
• Chorus - everyone big
• Instrumental
• Verse 2 - O.F. sings
• Prechorus - everyone singing, instruments building
• Chorus
• Prechorus 3x  - J.L. leads here
• Chorus acapella

April 27 Debrief and New Songs for Acoustic Chapel

Great job on the prayer chapel everyone!  Special kudos out to:
- Keys for carrying us all the way through with solid background foundation!
- Acoustic Guitar for doing the same through the pain of your fingers
- J.L. for leading like you did - not just calling out queues in the songs, but also for the talking and direction you gave through the mic.

I thought as a band we provided great continuity for the chapel and communicated will with our song transitions and background music.  I also thought that we could work on knowing/memorizing our song mappings  :-)  It would help our confidence and that would help everyone follow us.  That gives us something we can improve on for our next chapel....

We're doing an all worship acoustic chapel next on May 25th - just after the long weekend and just before Grad.  We have 4 practices to put this together.  I'm excited and looking forward to this and I know you are too.  Here's the songs we discussed and agreed upon on Thursday:

Deep Cries Out    Key of E   Chord Chart

Set a Fire  Key of G   Chord Chart

You are Good  Key of G   Chord Chart

The Happy Song   Key of D  Chord Chart

10,000 Reasons   Key of E   Chord Chart

How He Loves Us  Key of E  Chord Chart

How Great is Our God   Key of G   Chord Chart

Closer  Key of E   Chord Chart

I Could Sing of Your Love Forever   Key of E    Chord Chart

April 27th Chapel - Positioning Ourselves to Pray

Environment – Lighting dim, candles, tables, vases paper, pens, elastics

8:25 a.m. - Worship team playing instrumental intro to Great are You Lord (key of E) as the students come in. Greeters stand at doors and let students in.  Keep doors closed until 8:25 a.m.

8:30 a.m. – Opening – Amal   - Band plays continues playing quietly in the background

8:31 – 8:36 - Francis Chan Video

8:36 – 8:45  - Amal talks briefly – Band can quietly start intro to Great are You Lord (key of E) when Amal starts talking

~ 8:41 - Worship team – Great are you Lord  (Key of E)

8:45 – Sebastian – Introduce Humility  -  Band playing ‘end instrumental’ of Great are You Lord quietly

8:48 – Worship team - I Will Exalt (key of D) - after song continue to play softly in the background  as Perry introduces the next topic.

8:53 -8:56 – Perry introduce Contempt and Forgiveness – Band quietly playing ‘Intro’ to I Will Exalt (key of D)

8:56 - Amanda explains the call to action and students can take the steps they need  Worship team plays instrumental in the background to Good Good Father (key of E)

9:06 - Band plays/sings Good Good Father (Key of E) to bring all of the students back together.

9:10 – Gabrielle Introduces Faith and Trust and prays for students  Pray on your own or with a friend – Band quietly, instrumentally plays verse chords of Good Good Father (key of E) in the background

9:18 - Worship team- At Your Name (Key of E)   

Perry Dismiss the kids

Potential songs for our next chapel (Apr 27th)

At Your Name   Chord Chart   Key of E

I Found a Love   Chord Chart   Key of G

I Will Exalt   Chord Chart   Key of D

No Longer Slaves Chord Chart    Key of D

Good Good Father  Chord Chart  Key of E

Great are you Lord   Chord Chart    Key of E

March 9th Encounter Debrief and Song Thoughts

Hi everyone,

Great job today!  Our fast songs went quite well I thought.  I heard some good things about how the E. Guitar sounded - particularly in God's Not Dead.  I thought we probably could have shortened our arrangement of I Am Free a bit - essentially that was my fault thought I think.

Another impression I got was 'When You Walk Into the Room' was new for a lot of people, but that's ok.  Its a great song.  Unfortunately we had to cut 'Set a Fire' a bit short because of our time.  I don't really like being (or feeling) rushed in worship, and so we'll likely do 4 songs in our next set instead of 5.

We have two chapels left in the year this year!!!  April 27th and May 25th.  As far as I know, May 25th will be our all acoustic chapel, so our next chapel on April 27th will be the last one with the full band.  Here's a list of the songs we did this year (and some others).  We need to pick 4 for our next chapel.....

God's Not Dead
I Am Free
When You Walk into the Room
Rooftops
Set a Fire
The Happy Song
Happy Day
Everlasting God
Came to My Rescue
Cornerstone
Awake My Soul
I Surrender
Great Are You Lord
No Longer Slaves
Good Good Father
Deep Cries Out
I Will Exalt
Don't Ever Stop
Amazing Love
Let God Arise
You Are Good
Your Grace is Enough
Here I Am to Worship
I Found a Love

March 9th Encounter Agenda

Good practice today everyone.

Based on what we've been practicing, here's our agenda for next Wednesday:

I am Free   Key of D   (keys - piano and pad patches)

• Intro - Big band start with O.F. on the tambourine like we did in practice.  If you're not playing you need to move, relax and get everyone clapping  :-)
• Verse 1 - T.Z. singing.  As we practiced.  Keys, remember those little riffs like we've been working on.  Build up to chorus
• Chorus - Just singers in unison and bass drum.  Everyone clapping
• Instrumental - same as intro
• Verse 2 - T.Z. singing.  Just like we practiced.  Build into big chorus
• Chorus - 2 times - big.  Everyone singing, smiling, movin', groovin', and clappin' to the music
• Bridge
• Chorus - acapella with bass drum
• Chorus - Big, everyone in, full on.
• Outro - same as intro.  Drums remember to slow us down right at the end.

God's Not Dead   Key of E  (starts on C#m   - keys organ patch)

• Intro - Big band start just like we've been practicing.
• Verse 1 - C.M. sings.  Just like we've been practicing
• Chorus - Everyone sings in unison
• Instrumental - same as intro and as we've been practicing
• Verse 2 - C.M. sings.
• Chorus - 2 times.  Big everyone going for it full on.
• Bridge - 3 times -  C.M. be ready to go right into the bridge after the second chorus above
• Chorus - 2 times
• Instrumental - same as Intro to finish.

When you Walk into the Room  Key of A  (keys - piano and pad patches)

• Intro - Just keys.  A.V. starts singing when she's ready, just like we practiced.
• Verse 1 - Just A.V. and keys.
• Chorus - Just A.V., keys, a little bit of drums, and a little BG vocals
• Instrumental - as we practiced.  A little more drums and guitars here.  Keys, do that riff we practiced for this song.
• Verse 2 - J.L. sings.  Instruments are building gradually from the start.  Half way through we go bit and J.L. goes up and octave singing.
• Chorus - Big - everyone full on, worshiping
• Instrumental - Big band, freestyling worship like we've been doing in practice.
• Bridge - 3 times - Just keys, bass and J.L. first time.  Everyone building from there 2nd and 3rd times.
• Chorus - Big - huge!  
• Instrumental - big - Remember to end the song on the D!  Keys, hold the D chord until we start the next song.

Rooftops   Key of G  

• Big instrumental intro like we've been practicing.
• Verse 1 - T.Z. sings.  M.W.  do your cool stuff on E. Guitar like you were in practice.
• Chorus - acapella with bass drum
• Instrumental - just like intro like we practiced
• Verse 2 - T.Z. sings.  Same as we practiced
• Chorus - 2 times - everyone in big
• Bridge - 2 times - like we practiced big
• Bridge 2 - 3 times - quiet, but building.  Arms wide open....  Here I am..   Heart wide open
• Chorus
• Bridge - end on G.  Simple transition, J.L. will start us into

Set a Fire  Key of G

• J.L. will lead us entirely through this song.  We'll follow his lead.

Chapel debrief and New Songs

Great job today everybody!!

As I thought later how everything went, I kind of chuckled to myself...  The song I thought we'd nail (The Happy Song) was actually rather flat, and the song I was most concerned about (Came to My Rescue) turned out quite well.  I thought our dynamics were really good - particularly in the slow songs.  Solo singers did great and you instrumentalists did awesome as well.  It was great to hear the acoustic guitar a lot more, and that E. Guitar patch rocks.  We need to figure out a way to make your pedal a volume pedal rather than a gain pedal on that patch and it will be even better (I think).  Drums were solid - you and I were locked in on the slow songs and the tempo stayed pretty consistent - excellent.  Keys, you provided a great foundation for us in the slow songs as always :-)  Great closing prayer (benediction?) J.L!

I'm going to add some more comments later, but I wanted to publish this now so you could take a look at some possible new songs.

New Songs for us to try...  I'll post chord charts for the new ones Wednesday evening (I hope)

God's Not Dead (Newsboys)  Chord Chart  Key of E

I am Free   Chord Chart  Key of D

Rooftops    Chord Chart   Key of G

When You Walk into the Room   Chord Chart  Key of A

Set a Fire   Chord Chart   Key of G

Feb. 10th Encounter Song Agenda

Hi everyone,

Welcome to 2nd semester!  We're scheduled to play for next week's Encounter so we have one practice to get everything wrapped up and ready.  (That's this week's practice)

Here's what I'm thinking for a song agenda for that Encounter.... It's not written in stone, but it will give us something to practice towards for next week.  I uploaded a new chord chard for Cornerstone in the key of A

The Happy Song   Chord Chart   Key of D

• Intro - full band
• Verse 1 - all instruments do ONLY shots (including drums).  Everyone sings exuberantly in unison
• Chorus - in unison
• Verse 1 - drums play this like you normally do.  Everyone sing harmonies
• Chorus 2x - harmonies
• Bridge - drums - bass drum and shuffle beat on snare
• Instrumental - singers, feel free to sing your hearts out with whatever here
• Chorus - big band and everyone singing
• Big Ending

Happy Day   Chord Chart  Key of G

• Intro - E.guitar to start  then all other instruments join in.  Keys - organ sound
• Verse 1  O.F solo  E.guitar muted.  Organ whole notes following chords with right hand, joystick with left hand.  A.guitar strum like E.guitar.
• Chorus  Everyone sing, everyone play.  Singers should all have mic stands so they can clap and move and 'be happy'  :-)
• Verse 2  A.J. solo  Instruments same as first verse.  
• Chorus 2 times  Everyone sing, everyone play.  Singers should all have mic stands so they can clap and move and 'be happy'  :-)
• Bridge  Drums you know what to do.  Instruments follow the drums.
• Chorus  Long held notes on G for whole chorus for instruments.  Singers belting it out and clapping.
• Chorus   This is where we get REALLY happy.  Everyone sing, everyone play.  
• Instrumental outro.  Everyone playing E.guitar solos out.

Everlasting God   Chord Chart   Key of  G

• Intro - guitars alone first time through, then full band
• Verse 1 -  C.M solo    E.Guitar chugging following the bass line (like you know how)
• Pre-chorus - 'Our God...'  Everyone sings in unison
• Chorus - Everyone sings in unison
• Verse 1 - Everyone sings harmonies (we really had this sounded good last practice)
• Chorus 2x
• PRE-CHORUS 2x - first time quieter, second time really big
• Chorus - bass drum (on off-beat) and bass only.  Singers belting it out.  Other instruments build back in on '...don't grow weary..'
• Chorus
• End.

Came to My Rescue   Chord Chart  Key of G

• Intro - acoustic guitar and keys - drums on high-hat to help with time
• Verse 1 - T.Z. solo - drums - high-hat and bass drum
• Chorus - Held notes - everyone sings in unison
• Instrumental - once through the chord progression - drums stronger
• Verse 2 - O.F. solo - drums with a beat.  E.Guitar chugging
• Chorus 2x
• Instrumental - Big Band with Bridge chords
• Bridge 3x - quiet first time everyone sings unison.  2nd time building instrumentally and vocal harmonies.  3rd time really big.  Hold the last note on '...high' a long time.
• Chorus - quiet

Cornerstone    Key of A  Chord Chart  J.L leads this song  Remember to do the instrumental every every chorus

• Intro - Keys - nice and slow
• Verse 1 - J.L. solo.  Drums - bass drum and toms.  Keys and acoustic playing.
• Chorus - held notes - everyone sings in unison
• Verse 2 - J.L. solo  Instrument bigger.  Repeat 'my anchor holds' and make it BIG
• Chorus - BIG everyone singing harmonies
• Bridge - 'He is lord...'  BIG
• Chorus - BIG 
• Verse 3 - J.L. solo.  Quiet.
• Instrumental with chorus chords  quiet but building... building.... building
• Chorus
• End

Jan. 6th Chapel Debrief and New Songs

Well done in chapel today, everyone!  You all really rose to the occasion.  Our vocals sounded really strong and instrumentally it sounded quite good as well.  All things considered (like we hadn't practiced in 3 weeks minus a day), we did great!

Those of you who sang solos did great.  Mr. D. said the vocals sounded really good and Mr. S thought the drums sounded fantastic.  You didn't miss a beat (literally and figuratively) from my perspective - Well done!  K.S. nice work on the keyboard - it sounded super and solid.  M.W., like I said after chapel the patch you used sounded great and that guitar in 'I Surrender' and your dynamics were very good as well.

Please come prepared to practice tomorrow with your thoughts on how the set went.  :-)

Here's some songs for us to work on going forward:

Majestic   Key of C   Chord Chart

The Happy Song   Key of D   Chord Chart

Everlasting God   Key of G   Chord Chart

Came to My Rescue   Key of G   Chord Chart

Cornerstone   Key of A   Chord Chart

Jan. 6th Chapel Song Agenda

Hi everyone,

I'm going to cancel the practice at my house tomorrow as only 3 of you can make it (as far as I know).  No worries.  I strongly feel that God is still going to use us in a big way on Wednesday in the Encounter.  The words we sing, our worship, and how we worship will have a positive impact.

Looking at the words of the songs we're doing, I believe God is saying two major things to us and the student body - particularly on this first Encounter of the year:

1. He wants to breathe new life into us.  God doesn't have morning breath.  When He breathes on us, we aren't going to keel over and faint.  :-)  It was God's breath that made Adam come alive.  It was God's breath that turned the field of dry bones into the living, breathing army that Ezekiel saw.  Its the breath of his Holy Spirit that draws us and gives us inspiration, encouragement, and power today.   
2. Surrender.  We all need to 'let go and let God' into our lives.  He's knocking at the door of our hearts.  Going to church doesn't make us Christians any more than going to MacDonald's makes us hamburgers.  Going to a Christian School isn't going to make us true Christians any more than singing in a band is going to turn us into Justin Bieber or Selena Gomez.  We won't get to heaven on our parents connection with God.  We won't get to heaven on our BFF's or our teacher's relationship with God.  He wants a connection, an encounter with YOU an ME directly.   We need to surrender to Him and let him breathe and speak to us.

Here's our song agenda.  Its abbreviated because of our lack of practices and because of what I believe God can do with just these songs.  Please let me know if I forgot something or got something mixed up.  The soloists are as I want them below....

Awake My Soul   Key of Am (C)   Keys - organ patch is probably best.

• Intro - All instruments in and playing big.
• Verse 1 - A.V. please sing this solo.  Everyone else sings, but without a mic.  Guitars, we're all muted chugging the chords.  Keys, single note on the organ patch (c)
• Chorus - All singers in singing in unison (no harmony)  Band is big.  Guitars playing full chords not muted anymore.   Hold the G chord coming out of the chorus.
• Verse 2 - C.M. please sing this solo - don't worry about playing the acoustic when you sing this verse.  Guitars, we're all muted chugging chords again.  Keys, play full organ chords.  Don't forget about the joystick and vibrato.  :-)
• Chorus 2 times - All singers in singing harmonies.  Band is big.  Guitars playing full chords.
• Speaking with chorus chords - I'll do the speaking part.  Band plays chorus chords.  Guitars are muted to begin with, but become less muted and more full towards the end of the monologue.  Everyone stops DEAD when I say 'BREATHE' on this line:  'Come from the four winds, oh breath, and BREATHE!'
• Long Pause..........  longer than 4 beats.  Just let it hang with nothing.
• I'll talk about those two things above I believe God is saying to us (God wanting to breathe new life into us, and surrender)
• A.V. sings verse 1 again at my signal.  Instrumentally we'll build this from almost nothing back into a full chorus.
• Chorus - Everyone singing big - band is full.   End on 'awake my SOUL!'   G...   A

I Surrender   Key of Bm  (D)    Chord chard in D   Keys - piano/pad layered.  I will play keys on this one as well as we did in the last practice (doing that intro guitar part and the big instrumental in the middle)

• Intro - me on keys
• Verse 1 - J.L. sings solo.  Everyone else sings but without a mic.  Drums - cymbal work to keep us in time.  No guitars here.
• Intro instrumental for 4 bars
• Verse 2 - J.L. sings solo.  Everyone else sings but without a mic.  Drums - light tom work (like you did in practice - it sounded great) with bass drum.  
• Chorus - Everyone sings in unison.  Light guitars chugging on chords.
• Instrumental with Bridge chords.  E. Guitar soloing.  
• Bridge 2x.  First time quiet, but building.  J.L. sings first time through with T.Z. doing harmony.  Second time everyone in singing full.  Band is big and getting bigger.
• Instrumental - CONTINUE WITH BRIDGE CHORDS.   I'll let on keys like in practice.  I'll let the last note hang to back down into a....
• Quiet Chorus
• J.L. lead us from there, chorus or bridge - your call.

Great are you Lord  Key of E   Keys - piano/pad layered.

• Intro - keys
• Verse 1 - T.Z. sings first verse solo.  Have only the girls sing with you.  "girls, sing with me"  Keys, bass and drums only.
• Verse 1 - J.L.  sings first verse again, solo.  Have only the guys sing with your "guys, sing with me"   Guitars join playing muted chords
• Chorus - Everyone singing in unison - no harmonies.  Band is all in, but not 'all on full' yet.  
• Verse 1 - everyone sings in unison.  Repeat 'Great are you Lord'  Big build into Chorus
• Chorus 2x - everyone singing, harmonies too.   End on E chord to go into bridge....
• Bridge - many times.  Big build.  Keys - you give us the foundation to start here.  Big long build for the instruments.  Finally go back into the chorus.
• Chorus