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.  

New Songs!

Great practice today everyone!  I was impressed with how fast these songs are coming together.

God is Able - Key of E

This is Amazing Grace - Key of D

Forever Reign - Key of A

Dec. 3rd Chapel Debrief

Well done today, everyone!  Thanks to everyone for the help setting up and Mr. D for the extra vocal practices.  For those of you who lead songs - great work!  We actually followed you and this really encourage me.  We will certainly work on doing more of that.

It felt to me like we had a good flow today - like we were organized and everyone knew what song was coming up next and what part they were doing in it.  That was a good feeling, believe me.  I think a couple of you probably realized (a bit late) that you should have practiced a bit more...  You know who you are  :-)

Drums, you guys did well.  I try and do you a favour next time and we'll decided a little more in advance who is doing what song.  I thought you did great, though.

Keys - its sounds so great when you play pads in the slow songs.  We need to get you more comfortable doing that in between the songs so I don't have to try and do it on the E Guitar so much.

Singers - the feedback that I got was that we truly had a great vocal blend.  We'll keep working on that going forward, and we'll also work on getting you more relaxed, moving, and enjoying yourselves.

Bass - great work!  I have no complaints - you provided a great foundation for us and it sounded good.

Some of you were asking for the notes from Mr. D's vocal practices.  Here they are:

1.  Learning to sound like a united team - All working together instead of a bunch of amazing singers all singing sort of independent of each other.  Learning to blend - listening for harmonies - phrasing, etc.  Which highlighted the importance of the vocal time together.  

2.  Leader on stage?  We addressed the need for someone to always be leading.  Someone who calls the order and other details like a capella, repeat a chorus/verse, etc...   

3.  Singing technique:  Using their voice to enhance the mood/atmosphere....can lift up the feeling of worship.  Letting go of inhibitions,  singing from diaphragm,   

4.  Presence on stage - being convinced of what they are singing, looking at each other often, smiling, moving.  Grouping singers together who have the same parts ( altos, tenors, melodies, harmonies, etc...)

5. Memorize the words!

NEW SONG!!  Key of E

Last Minute Reminders for Dec. 5 Chapel

Hi Everyone,
Just some last minute reminders for the chapel coming up this week.

Vocalists - in the fast songs, smile and clap on your arm (or your leg, or something) with your spare hand.  Also, please remember to set up in a curve (like Mr. D's team does) so we can all see each other.

Can E.S. and M.W. please be team leads for set up again?  Thanks guys.

Your Grace is Enough
Electric Guitar intro.
Keys, do shots with the rest of the instruments in the verses.
Drums - remember to watch the bass guitar for beat on this one - particularly in the verses - match the bass drum to the beat the bass guitar is doing.
Singers, remember the different chorus words towards the end.

Joy, Unspeakable Joy
Drums - straight rock beat (bass, snare, bass, bass, snare) all the way to the 3rd verse.  Do fills only at transition points.
Instruments - remember we're pulling back and doing a big build with a key change to A at the 3rd verse.  Also, we replay the introduction of the song at the end (with the electric guitar solo).

Angels We Have Heard on High
Since this one key changes into E, we'll do it here as it will make for an easy transition into Here I am to Worship which is also in E.
- F and K are doing a duet in the first verse.  (remember this doesn't mean other vocalists don't sing!  they just don't hold up their mics to their mouths)
- Instruments only first chorus
- Everyone singing second verse
- H and G are singing the third verse ('Come to Bethlehem and see...')

Here I am To Worship
G sings the first verse.  Unison first chorus.
Remember big build after second verse into chorus.
Quiet start to bridge, build up to the big drum roll  :-)

Dec 5 Chapel

Good practice last week everyone.
Here's our tentative set list for our chapel on Dec. 5:

Your Grace is Enough - Matt Maher.  Key of E   I needed a simple, fast song that you all know.  I wanted us to try a new one.

Joy to the World (Unspeakable Joy)  Chris Tomlin  Key of G + A

Angels We Have Heard on High  Key of D   I have a good idea of how I want this song arranged now.  We'll work on it this week.  It will be much slower that we practiced it last week.

No video

Here I am to Worship   Key of E

Nov. 5th Chapel Debrief

I don't know about you, but I thought that chapel went rather well.  There were hiccups here and there (including one big one by me), but I felt we endeavoured to be sensitive, we had a good idea of what we were doing and who was doing what, and we knew our songs well.

I have to preface everything I say in these 'debrief' blog posts with this disclaimer - what I say here are impressions that I get after considering how things went.  Since I'm playing and singing with you all, I'm only listening with half an ear.  Having said that, here's what I heard (and thought)....

Thanks to everyone for knowing your stuff and helping with the set up.  WAY better than last time.  Special thanks to E.S. and M.W. for coordinating the two set up teams.

Biggest pleasant surprise?  A.W. on the keyboards.  Great work!  The keys sounded strong and confident in both slow songs (which is where we really needed to hear you) and you came up with your own lick for 'How Great is Our God' that sounded really good.

Second biggest pleasant surprise?  O.F. singing the 'Name above all names' bridge.  Very nicely done!  Timing, tone, and confidence were all there.  You couldn't have done it better it we had practiced it from the beginning of the year.

I thought everyone did a great job of the singing parts that they had.  I'm not sure the mix was always there, but for the most part you all knew when and what you were singing.  I thought 'How Great is Our God' came together nicely vocally (with the exception of my early entry into one of the a cappella parts - I apologize for that).

The drums and bass gave us a great foundation in the slow songs.  They felt good, solid.  I thought Israel Houghton's 'You Are Good' went quite well.  M.W.'s guitar solo in Planetshakers 'You Are Good' sounded good too.

Things we can change and improve for the future:
- We could be more relaxed.  I know this is tough and a learning process.  I'm sorry if I came across as 'intense' in the practice before chapel.  Make no mistake,  I was very focussed.  I could probably do it better if I smiled more, though.  :-)
- Singers should stand in a curve instead of a straight line so it's easier for us to make eye contact with each other.
- We could get more comfortable with 'free worship'.

Food for thought:
- Is there a difference between 'cool' worship and 'true' worship?
- What are you focussed on when you are worshipping up front?
- What distracts you?
- What is the fruit in you after you've participated in leading a worship set?  How do you feel?  Exhausted, frustrated, exhilarated, light heart, heavy heart...?
- Worship is warfare.  See II Chron. 20:1-30