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.

Oct. 8 Set List

Good practice this past Thursday everyone!  We covered a lot of bases in the time we had.  Before posting youtube videos of our Oct. 8 set list, I had some thoughts:

- For A.W on keys:  After seeing you start Amazing Love an octave higher twice, I realized that I was probably giving you conflicting messages about 'keyboard playing'.  Sorry about that.  There are some songs where it's better to play your keyboard up higher and keep your left hand either off the keys or on the vibrato stick so that you are clearly heard when you need to be.  These are generally songs that are driven by guitars.  On the other hand, songs that are keyboard driven (like our arrangement of Amazing Love) it sounds better if you play lower in the keyboard and give it a good solid bass with your left hand since guitars are holding back on this song.  Hopefully that makes sense.  I saw a great improvement in your playing this week.

- For the Percussionists:  To reiterate what I said in practice, less is more - particularly in the area of fills on the set.  Listen to how the drummers do their fills in the songs below and in other songs you listen to.  I'd say half of the fills are quite understated given the ability of what the drummer could do.    It's all about what works within the scope of the 'whole' song, musically.  Intentionally 'holding back' on what you can do on the drums can create that 'positive tension' we were talking about a couple of weeks ago and allow you to focus on things like consistent tempo.  :-)  Both of you were fantastically tight with the fast version of You Are Good in practice though.  It sounded great!

- Singers:  You are sounding great!  Like we talked in practice, here are some things to keep in mind:
     1.  Are you in tune?
     2.  Are you following the vocal movements together with the other singers?  
     3.  Are you enunciating your syllables together?
     4.  Also, something we didn't talk about...  Non-verbal communication - facial expressions and posture:  what are you doing?  As worship leaders, I'd suggest that we smile, feel free to clap and move around a bit (I saw some of you doing that in practice - good!).  Generally look like you are engaged in worship - not just singing.

Here's our set for Oct. 8.  Please learn them well and prepare your hearts  ;-)   Also please practice our other songs as well so we're ahead of the game once we finish this encounter.  Thanks!

You Are Good




Everyone Praises




I Found A Love




Amazing Love

Some Math :-)

Here's some math for you - just what you wanted, I know.  :-)  It's some motivation for me and you to come to practice and get set up quickly after school.

Let's assume we have a good day and have 90 minutes to practice - we're set up by 3:30 and we finish at 5:00.  If we allotted 15 minutes of practice together per song, we'll be able to get through 6 songs in that one practice!  There's some food for thought for those of you who would like to do an 'all music' chapel.  Hopefully that some motivation to come prepared (that is - knowing the song inside and out) to Thursday afternoon, rather than using Thursday afternoon as time to learn the song.

I don't mean to sound tough.  I do think we need to use our time together to build 'the team' as well.  And to me that has to involve some visiting, jamming a bit, and trying a 'musical experiment' here and there.

I'm looking forward to seeing you all on Thursday.  Please remember to bring your earphones/headphones as I think we'll be setting up with the big system.

Some Thoughts

Hi Everyone,

Good practice on Thursday last week.  It was great to meet you all and I'm glad everyone was able to show up even though it might have been a bit short notice for some of you.  I'm looking forward to working/playing with you all this year.

Song Choices
Since our practice time together is limited, I'd like to mention a few things here.  Some of you were wondering if students could suggest songs to add to our set lists.  I'm totally open to this, in fact 'I Found a Love' was one of the student suggestions last year.  I need to warn you though, that while song suggestions will be considered, there is no guarantee that we will do them.  There are a variety of reasons why:

• There are 3 other school worship bands.  Some of them may be working on those same songs and we try not to overlap on songs if we can help it - unless it's an intentional decision.  I've already had a suggestion this year for 'Mighty to Save' and I know that Mr. Schneider's band is working on that one.  Again, that doesn't mean we won't do it, we may look at it later in the year.
• Songs that sound good recorded by professionals may not be so easy for us to get ready.  Things to keep in mind when considering a song for our band are:
• What is the vocal range of the song?  Several cool, fast Hillsong songs have a verse that start an octave lower in the first verse and then move an octave higher in the second verse and higher still in the chorus and bridge.  These can be a challenge for people to sing to.
• How technical is the piece for different instruments?  A song with cool drum parts might have guitar parts that are 'out of our league' (too many guitar parts, or too technical), or a bunch of sequenced keyboards (we don't use sequencers with our keyboards).  
• Does the song fit what what is happening in that week's Encounter?  If we know what the theme for an Encounter is in advance, we will try as best we can to line up our song set with that theme.  That may mean leaving our favourite polished song on the table for next time.

I understand the sentiment that students will be more likely motivated to practice and do well on songs they want to play - that's pretty much natural for everyone I think.  With God's help, I try the best I can to balance all the considerations above when deciding on a set list.   I've played for years in bands where I didn't get to make the song choices.  No doubt, it can be frustrating at times, but I came to a point where I realized that I was ultimately on that team to serve.  As my attitude changed, I began to understand that one of the marks of a truly good musician/singer is they can make a song sound good irrespective of whether they would have chosen to play it or not.

Teamwork
Working on a team can be gratifying or frustrating - it all depends on one's attitude.  As a software consultant I've worked on lots of teams outside of the music arena.  Many facets of an effective team are similar across disciplines.  Here's some things I've noticed about good teams:

• Teams are only as strong as their weakest member.  Practice is important.  The more familiar everyone is with the songs and their parts, the more we'll be able to focus on playing together and then moving onto new songs.  
• There is real power in preferring others to yourself and giving them the chance to succeed first.
• Encouragement is a great team builder...   so is food.
• Effective communication is essential.  How we speak to each other, and how we listen (not selectively but for understanding) is foundational.  Don't be afraid to ask questions - they open the door to real learning and understanding.

Welcome to Our Team! First Thoughts and Songs

Hi everyone!

I'm excited about having you all on our team this year - welcome to those of you who are returning and to the new people on the team!  I believe God is going to do great things in and through us this year in our singing, playing, practicing, and worshiping Him.

Much of our core group hasn't changed from last year so I'm thinking we should be ready to do a chapel fairly soon.  Practices will be on Thursdays after school and they'll start Sept 11 (this Thursday).  Please arrive promptly after the bell rings.  I'd like us to all work together to get the sound system set up.  We should be ready to practice (with everything set up) by 3:30.

For you new members on the team this year, have a look through the old blog posts to see how we did things last year.  Generally I post thoughts as well as songs we'll practice on the blog as videos, and after chapels I'll have a debrief post which everyone should read.

Here's a list of songs to get familiar with - it doesn't mean we'll do all of them as the team from last year is well aware  :-) .   I love these fast songs because they have lots of shots, keep a lot of the instrumentalists busy - they are just lots of fun.  Feel free to suggest songs as well...

You Are Good (Bethel) key of G - we did this one last year.

You Are Good (PlanetShakers) Key of D - Great one for Mac!  Get that guitar part down  :-)  Good one for you drummers too.

Lord You Are Good (Israel Houghton) Key of E.  This is a good one for everyone!  A little old, but it will help us learn to play together as a team (and it fits with the theme I've got going).  Drummers watch what this guy does (ignore his crazy outfit).  He puts in lots of good fills and yet keeps a good feel going throughout the song.

Everyone (Desperation Band) Key of E - We did this one last year.  It's a fairly easy one we could put together.

I Found a Love (Bethel) Key of G - We did this one last year.  The old members know it well.

Healing is in Your Hands (Christy Nockels) Key of D - We prepared this one last year, but didn't have a chance to do it.  I love this song.  Lots of potential for God to move in and through us in this one.

You are Good (Kari Jobe ) Key of G - This is a new one, but relatively easy I think.  I'm not entirely sure if the girls can hit all the low notes in the verse when we sing it in G - we'll see   :-)

Looking forward to seeing you on Thursday!