Worship TEAM ??

I've been struggling with a musical problem for a while now. A song that's being covered ( as in cover band ) requires from zero to all six of our stage musicians depending on which song we're learning/performing/leading. If the song requires one, I usually hear two. If it requires three, you can count on four. If the song requires a simple x_x_x_x_ fill you can count on XxXxXXx_xxXx or something equally confusing. If the instrumental part on the recording is too boring, someone WILL assuredly add a bunch of extraneous notes to it for their own enjoyment. If three notes will do, why not seven or eight? True story. How do you deal with a musician you love as a person but don't want to be on stage with?

Setlist for October 16th 2011

1. C - No Chains On Me
2. A - Your Love Never Fails
3. C - Here For You
4. G - It Is Well With My Soul
5. B - Lord I Need You
6. G - How Marvelous

Not sure 'Lord I Need You' belongs in there, goes up to F# above middle C, but I've said that before. Here's the 1st time we did 'No Chains'



JC

What lies ahead

Our church is getting a new Worship Pastor. He is one of the sweetest and funniest people I have ever known. I was fortunate to be on the search committee that was looking into candidates, and this guy is a winner. During an interview, I felt like I had been to a Sunday school lesson - this guy's faith is serious. He may not be the most current or most leading edge guy I've worked with (his current church has an 'orchestra'), but his heart is in the right place, heck his heart IS the right place! Looking forward to what God has in store.
Jimbo

to B or not to B ( when maybe A or G is fine )

What is the highest note you should ask the congregation to sing? Currently our leader bounces around F# above middle C ( F#4)

In his book " Here I Am To Worship", Tim Hughes specifies Bb2 to D4, just above middle C. How high should we be singing? David Crowder is often quoted as saying to move the songs to a higher key, and people will sing louder. That works as long as you're David Crowder and people are a captive audience paying $20 to sing along with you.

Not sure it works in a congregation

your opinions

JC

He is RISEN!

This is my favorite Easter song! ( Get out the Kleenexes )



He is Risen INDEED!

EASTER!

this is the week when we can 'Fall in love with Christ' all over again. I hope you ( whomever you are ) and your music ministry bless countless others this week, and I hope you'll be blessed yourself along the way




Here's a link to the slides we Used at Journey Fellowship back in 2005 for Easter Sunday


Jimbo

I'd like to hear this song in our Worship

perhaps slower, as a power ballad

Jimbo

I've become an Eric Clapton Fan!

he gets it right, way back in the 1960s



It is an honor to perform your music Mr. Clapton.

Jimbo

Feedback this week

I got a few comments this week about the 80s tune we started with Sunday morning. One adult couldn't believe we started with a song that they hadn't heard, and the teens; well, they were teens, but they were honest and had a right to be. I posted a 'send me songs you really like' status on Facebook, and here's an early list of what was replied.



Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle
No One Like You - David Crowder Band
Remedy - David Crowder Band
Come and Listen - David Crowder Band
Glory of it All - David Crowder Band
"Mighty to Save" by Hillsong United from The I Heart Revolution
"Majesty(Here I am)" by Delirous
"Nothing but the Blood" by Matt Redman
"To the Ends of the Earth" by Hillsong United
"My Hope" by David Crowder Band
"Everything Glorious" by David Crowder Band
"This Is Our God" by Chris Tomlin from Live from Austin Music Hall
"Everyday" by Hillsong United
"King of Majesty" by Hillsong United
"Obsession" by David Crowder Band
How is it between us - Sara Groves
Mountain of God - Third Day
We Fall Down - Chris Tomlin (or most anyone else)
God is With Us - Mercy Me
You Are So Good To Me - Third Day
Ain't No Grave - Selah (Adam Crabb)
Love them Like Jesus - Casting Crowns
I Believe - Third Day
More Than You'll Ever Know - Watermark
NO one like our God.
Lifesong, praise you in this storm.
You are god alone.,
I am a friend of God.
Awesome is the lord most high
I Can Only Imagine,
What If I Stumble,
Your Love Oh Lord,
Trading My Sorrows,
In Christ Alone
"I've Always Loved You" - Third Day
"Thank You" - 33 Miles..
"Lead of Love" - Caedmon's Call
Still" - Hillsong
"Hallelujia What a savior",
"Amazing Grace My Chains are Gone"
Your Love is Extravagant (Casting Crowns),
Peace Be Still (Rush of Fools),
Full Attention (Jeremy Riddle),
I Am Nothing (Jeremy Camp),
Be Still and Know (Steven Curtis Chapman)

I had never heard of Jeremy Riddle, so this was a good exercise for me.

I think we did a good job on the song, and took a LOT of the 1980s out of it, but I'd still like to see us keep it 1995 or newer, unless we're playing an obvious Hymm; could avoid some similar results in the future.

I have a crazy collection I started by accident, of old HYMNALS that I just ended up with; I have about twenty. This is from the forward of the 1941 Methodist Youth Hymnal:

"When selecting songs for this collection, we had to ask ourselves three questions:
1) Is the melody pleasing;
2) Is the theology sound in the lyrics;
3) Is it singable? "

I think this works for worship music, whether it's from Chris Tomlin, or whether it's (probably not- see #3 above) from Third Day. One place I had to watch out in my former 'worship leader' days at Journey Fellowship was the large Third Day fanbase. Mac Powell is one amazing vocalist, and truthfully I cannot sing like him, and can't expect the typical worshiper to either. When something had too much 'style' vocally, we couldn't use it unless it was the weeks special music/offertory/whatever, but typically you and I can't sing like Mac Powell and shouldn't expect others to. At the risk of offending, I feel the same way about half of David Crowder's music. I am wrong, but it's how I feel, not think. The massive amounts of participation I hear in the Youth Worship downstairs tells me to re-evaluate my feelings on DC sometime very soon.

Regardless, remember that we are here for a purpose higher than ours, and we should listen to the Mighty One, and adapt ourselves to His purpose, however that needs to be achieved musically. Praise be to GOD!

Jimbo email

Comparing sounds

what I DON'T want to sound like



What I HOPE to sound like



(Don't expect me to give up my Gibson for an imported Gretsch hung below my waist anytime soon)

can we forget about the 80s for a while??

Jimbo

Just read something stupid

or maybe just ignorant. HERE IT IS

I was discussing with Mike and Tom, two amazing ( Powerpoint and Audio) volunteers last night about how the human element really is important. I can think of a few dozen friends from days gone by that would be dissapointed to come into a church as non-believers and hear a band that stinks. Yes, we do it all for God, and we all love each other, and how God hears us is what matters . . . We've sugarcoated a little too much of what we do. Granted, in a room of 100% believers, aka SAINTS, we could just do liturgical hymns etc, you know, the hard-core Latin stuff, none of this easy going English nonsense, and it would all work to honor our Almighty Creator. But didn't Jesus come for EVERYONE? And while I'm asking rhetorical questions: didn't he meet others where they were??

I'd hate to think we can't have drums/guitars/whatever in church because it's deemed not necessary. Maybe they aren't necessary in how we express ourselves to God, but more of how we express ourselves that others can relate to. Even more importantly, perhaps it's a great way to reach non-believers, by making them comfortable, and meeting them WHERE THEY ARE. If we really want to throw out the human element, let's get rid of the Air Conditioning too. It's not mentioned in the bible, is it??

God ROCKS!

Jimbo

Performing God of this City

When adding 'God of this city' by Chris Tomlin. Note: There are two arrangements, Studio and Live (below), you can find them both on Youtube. They don't use the same chord progressions, so be careful which one you learn, and which one you plan to use. ( true story )



Jimbo

New ad that works

just finished up 'God of this city' last Sunday 1/4/2009 as offertory, this week it will be a 'participation' selection. My little girl walked around the house singing it last week after church, so I know it's catchy . . .

Funny how the simplest of four-chord songs can touch hearts

Yahweh is the God of this city, this town, this state, this Country, world, universe, you get the idea. When he said to Moses :" I am that I am" he stated it in simpler terms, He's Everything

let me know what you think of the new tune, email me

Jimbo

Christmas Song that works!

As far as 'Christmas Arrangements' go, a lot of songs are 'improved' that were better left alone. In the spirit of the season I won't rant on any particular artist that shouldn't have added their 'diva-esque' influence to a holiday tune that didn't need their help.

Here's something positive. I think it's my favorite new to me arrangement of the 2008 Christmas music offering

Peace on Earth

Jimbo

TOO MUCH FUN

The wife and I were shopping in Branson tonite, and dropped by Silver Dollar City for a bit, and I got to visit with my old friends, the Homestead Pickers. We had been inside the log cabin about five minutes before I was asked to sit in and play bass. While there, with no sound system, big lights, or any agenda whatsoever, I played 'One Day At A Time, and 'On My Father's Side' and got to think about how much God has done for me. I had never heard Father's Side before, but was warned that every time it's played, somebody gets blessed. It was true. I found a version of an old timer singing it. I hope you enjoy it. Jim

A new song on the horizon

Our super-soprano Tammy S will be singing a new song for offertory this week

We will be adding it to our worship mix. I like this video: Grab some tissue

Jim

HE REIGNS!

The Sunday night Gospel Event was truly some of the greatest music I've ever been involved in. Will posts excerpts soon!


Jim

An even BETTER Quote:

"What unites us is greater than what divides us"

Dr. Rodney Reeves - Interim Pastor South Haven Baptist Church

One of my favorite quotes

and it applies to this blog.

"I'm an equal opportunity offender" - Mel Brooks

Guitar Lesson: I Am Free

Starring the most horrible pants I own



I'm at home recovering from my anterior cervical disc fusion ( note the white soft collar / neck brace in the video), and with LOTS of time on my hands, I made this video for vanderbilly.com . Clearly the Tony Stewart pants should not be allowed out of the house, even on video; but what's done is done. If you like this song you can use the above video to learn the Ross Parsley version , at least my idea of how to play it. Chances are you play better than me anyway, most folks do, but it's my first video all the same. Enjoy it, and forgive me for the wardrobe selection. Thank you to my friends for the amount of healing that has already happened thru your prayers. A minor thank you to the Gibson Guitar Co., for chambering the Les Paul model, otherwise it would be too heavy for me to lift, even to sit and play while I'm in recovery mode. For those of you headed to church Sunday morning to lift your voices and instruments toward God, count your blessings, and be grateful for what you have. Know that while I'm not on stage, my heart will be shouting the joy of knowing God and experiencing his love for each of us.

Jimbo

The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:
"He is good; his love endures forever" . . II Chronicles 5:13 (NIV)