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.