Next Chapel May 6

Hi Everyone,
Good practice on Thursday.  I thought we worked through those songs pretty well.  We have 3 practices left before our next chapel date.  I think we're in pretty good shape.  Based on our practice last week, and an 'executive decision' on one more slow song, here's what our set list is going to look like:
- You Are Good
- Forever (with key change)
- Beautiful
- Here I am to Worship

I'll post the videos for these songs below.  I'll put my comments for them up here.

You Are Good - Key of G, as we practiced it.  Electric Guitar, please nail the solo part using different strings, not sliding through a bunch of frets on one string.   Keys - we'll probably use an organ and a piano sound (A. on organ, D. on piano)  For the piano, listen in particular to what they do in the bridge - it's very simple, but effective.  Singers, these fast songs are going to be about you smiling and clapping and being totally into it.  No excuses for not clapping and smiling anymore!  Instrumentalists - remember first verse just bass and drums.  Second verse we do the 2 chord shots with the drums (bass drum).

Forever - Start in the key of D.  Key change into E after the bridge.  Remember the stops coming out of the verses into the chorus.  Key's - we'll use a piano and either strings or a nice keyboard sound for this one.  Again with the verses, its mostly bass and drums with some keys.  Intro and choruses we're full on playing our parts.  In the bridge its bass drums and keys for 4 'you love endures forever's, than a snare drum snap, and only bass drum until the key change.

Beautiful - Key of A.  Just drums, a little bass, and acoustic guitar to start this song.  The more we can pull back on our instruments and only play what really fits, the better.  Singers, please learn the words and practice parts.  Drums, listen to the song a lot to hear how the drums change and build through each verse and chorus.  They really control the dynamic of this song, so it's important to know how all the different beats change.

Here I am to Worship - Key of E.  We needed another slow song.  I wanted one everyone knew and that was relatively simple to play.  In the verse it's mostly acoustic, bass, and drums, with a little keys.

Musically, one of the main themes for this set is pull back if you can.  It will be better to play less than play more, particularly in the slow songs.  Vocally, I really want to see you smiling, you clapping, you lifting your hands and your hearts, totally engaged in praise and worship.  Remember, we're leading worship in chapel :-)

Here's the videos:

You Are Good

Forever

Beautiful

Here I Am to Worship

New Songs for Spring

Welcome back!  Hope you all are having a good spring break.  I trust the Grade 11's had a great trip!  While you were gone the rest of us went over several new songs - just feeling them out.  I'll post them here along with another idea or two.  We can decide what to do for our next chapel in our first practice after spring break is over.

Also remember, I want to try and step back from being the 'obvious leader' during chapels.  It would be best if I wasn't up at the front at all.  I want to facilitate you all moving into leading the worship, so prayerfully keep that in mind and take ownership.  Each of you, come 'to the front' and take your stand - lead with your suggestions, your stories and devotions, your prayers and scriptures, and your songs, your playing and singing.  :-)

Here are the songs (still open to other suggestions as well):

You Are Good

We did this one in practice before spring break and it came together pretty well.  Its fast and its fun and it has great words.  Please get familiar with it and learn your parts cold  :-)

I Will Go

T. suggested this one.  Apparently it is often done after spring break when the Grade 11's get back.  We had fun playing this one in practice before spring break.  It seemed to come together fairly quickly.


You Are Everything (Matthew West)

If we can get into the feel of this song - not just the musical feel, but also the emotion and 'live and breathe' the words, this could be a very effective worship song.  Obviously is a bit different for drums (6/8 time) and the piano part is right out front.  Listen to it, think and pray about it and let me know what you think

You Are Beautiful

Drums - once this one gets going, it would be good if you could hit the snare through the chorus as he does - so if you count through the chorus in sets of 8, he hits the snare on beats 4 and 7 (and sometimes 1)  The bass drum is a steady beat landing on 1,3,5, and 7.