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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | A quick poll...
Who is either a Worship Leader or part of a Praise band?
If this is you, what do you play, what intstruments do you have in your band, and what style of service, Contemporary or Blended? What resourses do you need, or wish you had, that would make it more fun or easier? Maybe we can all put our heads together and help each other out!
As for me...I am a Worship Leader, play a 1777LX and an 1866, both in Black of course...and an Ibanez AS-73 in Red, just to give the older crowd something to point at :cool: (I don't wear socks, either, but that's another issue...) We have a blended service, with Praise and Worship songs and choruses as well as new arrangements of old hymns...with some Gaither and Southern Gospel thrown in just to keep the harmonica player happy :) I've invested a lot of my own money into songbooks on CD that give me lead sheets and piano, then write my own parts for the trumpet, horn and flute. Also have a cool subscription to G3 Worship that gives you a great deal on ALL the music on PDF as well as demo's of each song and trax just incase... They will even re-write all the music into a different key if you need it.
Blessings to all...this should be interesting :) |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | Now playing in the Cafe at Adventure of Faith. Have been able to try several flavors of guitar but mostly support the rythym on 12 string.
That, and it is my job to show Andrew (edensharvest) as many different Ovations as possible until he thinks he needs one more!
In our corner we have the Christian Musician's Summit annual event! I'd reccomend it to all! |
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Joined:
July 2004
Posts: 812
Location: Hicksville, NY | Thanks for the G3 link Greg. That'll definitely be helpful for me, since I really need more exposure and familiarity with praise music.
I am with the praise team in my church, but mostly as a backup. Kinda' like a bench player in a basketball team. When the praise leader is unavailable for any reason, I'm the one that they tap. Sometimes in the very last minute that I feel so pressured to learn them songs in such a very short time ... that often results to me cutting corners, especially with chords that I'm not familiar with.
I've shown interest with the praise team for a very long time, but it's something I never had the chance to commit to on a full-time basis. Instead I was appointed another responsibility in church where I'm needed most -- that is ushering, leading the church goers to their seats, handing out the church bulletins, taking attendance, inform any announcements, collect the offering, operate the lights in the church, etc. I even managed to serve as a deacon for one year, but stepped down afterwards...
So for now, I can only watch my fellow brothers and sisters make music from a distance. When the opportunity arises to join them, I use my one and only Ovation and nothing else. I just plug her in whatever amp is available there, and pray to the Lord to let His music ring (using me as His instrument). |
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Joined:
June 2002
Posts: 863
Location: Central Florida | I head up our Praise Band on lead/rhythm guitar. We also incorporate piano, bass, drums, percussion, and sometimes the music minister joins in on electric keyboards. Ours is a blended service of modern praise & worship songs/choruses and traditional hymns. I've used several different Ovations with the band, most notably a deep bowl Elite (which I sold in a moment of stupidity), a super-shallow bowl Elite (which is also now history) and my 1619 Custom Legend. Occasionally, I'll bring out the 1618 GC 12-string, just to do something different. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | I oversee the worship band at our small church, with 2 ladies who share some of the leading. One plays keys and sings, one just sings, but we communicate well on music. Right now we just have keyboard, me on guitar (usually the Adamas (or on bass once in a while)), one other guy on guitar who is still finding his 'place' in the band, and a couple other singers including my daughter and wife on occasion. We're waiting for a drummer and full-time bassist. Having three people who can lead gives us 3 different approaches to worship, which is really fun for us as well as the congregation. We mix it up with everything from Matt Redman/Chris Tomlin type stuff to traditional hymns to prophetic/spontaneous singing/music. |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I lead a contemporary/modern style worship service (as Woody mentioned), and alternate playing between my 1778T and my 1881 Adamas. We currently have four guitars (on a rotation of 3 on, 1 off), bass, drums, and two extra vocalists. The only thing I'd really like to have is a good keyboard player and maybe a violin.
We do mostly newer (since the mid-90's) music, and I've found a lot of it through resources like worshiptogether.com, iwillworship.com, thejesusunderground.com, etc. There are tons of worship resource sites out there now. One that definitely bears checking out is www.experientialworship.com . It's got some cool worship ideas and resources. |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 3410
Location: GA USA | I sing in the Praise Team at our church, and occasionally play guitar. When we put a group together, it's piano, drums, bass and guitar, and I generally play the Deacon. When it's just me on guitar and the group singing, it's the S771. Why do I choose those? They's all I gots! Next on my list will be a Viper elec, then hopefully a Tornado or Hurricane.
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | We currently have two services, an early traditional and an 11:00 contemporary service. (This is about to change to 1 blended service - and we're already hearing some backlash about it befor it even happens) I have been leading with rhythm guitar (Adamas Primarily, 12-string Deepbowl Custom Legend when most other instrumentalists have to be gone, and the deep bowl classical for special music - either solo fingerstyle or accompanying a vocalist) In the Contemporary service I actually mix the set with a variety of songs from current songs (Paul Baloche, Tomlin, etc.) to some older maranatha/integrity stuff, and some upgraded hymns (utilizing lots of 7th chords) We have a drummer on an electric set, Two bassists available playing my instruments, 4 guitarists avalable with varying levels of experience, 2 keyboardists, 3 male vocalists available in addition to me, 4 female vocalists available (2 of those are previusly mentioned instrumentalists) The current size of the contemporary congregation is about 160 people. Here's where it all gets messy: The church has seen about 4 temporary pastors in the past 7 years, with the current senior pastor (permanent?) being here for the last two years. The previous worship leader was also the youth pastor (53 Yrs old), and was asked to leave. That added to an exodus of upset/dissatisfied people. I was the only one left that was capable and willing to resume leading worship, so the leadership asked me to do it. We're still dealing with some of those issues and people who have been working behind the scenes, some to move it to full contemporary and some back to more traditional. After MUCH prayer and discussion between the wife and I, we decided to ride out the storm and not abandon ship like so many others. So here we are, waiting to see what direction this all goes. I'd like to say I am optimistic for the church, but to be honest, I have no idea what is going to happen. So we pray and hold on to the rail. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | No worship band as a matter of course, but I've been contracted out on numerous times over the past 30 years to accompany a 120-person choir using a 1651 Legend Limited in a 2,600 capacity sanctuary, with and without the 4-story pipe organ. Amplification is essential, most recently with an Acoustasonic Jr, but also with a Deluxe Reverb, Twin Reverb and an M-80 Chorus over the years. We've also done a rock cantata with drums, and numerous duets with violins, flutes and several times with an oboe. I also backed up a harp once. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Originally posted by ProfessorBB:
I also backed up a harp once. Ok, well, I've done that. Put a scratch in my Honda doing it, too. |
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Joined:
March 2005
Posts: 12759
Location: Boise, Idaho | Ovation is well represented in our church, but not by me. At 11 we have one guy with a Tangent and another with what may be a Celebrity. I've never seen it up close and it's a big church. There are a couple other guitars with brand Xs. The guy with the Tangent is a professional musician whose had lots of Os over the years.
Sunday evening we have a young guy with an Ovation of some sort.
Since there is no desperate need and I'm not a regular, I have refrained from volunteering, although I have thought of it as an excuse to buy more Ovations. I know that's probably sinful. |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | Mark, It's only sinful NOT to buy Ovations....after all, friends don't let freinds play Takamine...
ProfBB...there is a question that comes to mind over the whole backing up a harp with a flute and oboe, but I'm not sure rather I want to know the answer...
John, your wife is going to kill you for having the honda IN the house... |
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Joined:
December 2003
Posts: 13996
Location: Upper Left USA | 12 string and Hammer Dulcimer work out real nice. |
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Joined:
February 2005
Posts: 11840
Location: closely held secret | Michael, I love hammer dulcimer! If I pick my 12 string real fast I can almost approach that sound. Great for Rich Mullens songs. |
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Joined:
January 2006
Posts: 5881
Location: Colorado Rocky Mountains | GregoryS: Regarding backing up a harp versus a flute versus an oboe: these were each performed as separate duets, not as a group. |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 4832
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia | Originally posted by bvince:
We currently have two services, an early traditional and an 11:00 contemporary service. (This is about to change to 1 blended service - and we're already hearing some backlash about it befor it even happens) Well duh!
Where else can you practise your latin? |
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Joined:
April 2005
Posts: 331
Location: San Angelo, Texas | ProfBB...thanks for clarifing...after JP's post, I had visions of you backed up to a harp...but another 6 weeks of therapy should fix it.... |
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Joined:
June 2004
Posts: 580
Location: NW NJ | Originally posted by bvince:
We currently have two services, an early traditional and an 11:00 contemporary service. (This is about to change to 1 blended service - and we're already hearing some backlash about it befor it even happens). We went the painful blended route for a few years. I'd say that probably 75% of the whole congregation was fine with it, but then there was the other 25%. The most critical ones were the really traditional people who have no use at all for contemporary style worship - they were vocal, about 70% of the unsatisfied group, and tended to be older, long time members. The elders of the church finally decided to go with one fairly traditional service at 8:15 (a few chourses, but only the "reverent" ones ;) ) and two contemporary ones at 9:45 and 11:15. I couldn't believe it. Everyone gets more-or-less what they like and most everybody's happy. Trying to lead worship with a congregation that was always complaining about something having to do with the service was demoralizing at best. MUCH better now! |
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Joined:
July 2005
Posts: 83
Location: Norman, OK | Robbie,
We have the same problem since we went to a "blended service", and we're pretty tame for a praise band...We have 2 electric acoustics (my Ovation 1868 being one, and the other a Taylor 810) and a mandolin or viola along with a percussionist (congas and djimbe), keyboards and three vocalists..Nothing hard core... But the older crowd merely tolerates us I think. I'm hoping we go back to a full time contemporary service this fall, but making everyone happy with the times is the real problem...Seems like everyone wants to have their service at 10:30.
Cheers,
Mike O |
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Joined:
November 2005
Posts: 1126
Location: Omaha, NE | Our group consists of myself (playing either my Adamas or my Taylor, depending) another guitarist (Martin 12 string), keyboard, my wife on flute, and four or five vocalists.
It is a tough gig at times. There are wildly different levels of artistry in the group, and sometimes things can get a little hard.
Jeff |
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Joined:
March 2006
Posts: 1634
Location: Chehalis, Washington | I'm very glad for the service arrangement we currently have. Our main services are at 8:30 and 10:30, and are "blended" service types, mostly contemporary (if contemporary means 1970 to 1990), with some more traditional hymns and a penchant for gospely-type swing choruses. :eek: We do have some older folks in the church that are not completely pleased with the arrangement, but overall the church is probably 95% on board, with no major amount of dissention. Our congregation is somewhere between 600 and 700 now and growing consistently.
Our service is not really blended at all - we stay pretty much consistently with the newest and more upbeat songs. We worship simultaneously to the 10:30 service, at the other end of the church. I hate to use this word, but I try to use a more "intimate" worship set, focusing on songs that are very plain, open, sincere, heartfelt, and express very real human emotions and experiences in relation to God's glory and grace. I'm a firm believer in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in worship times, and try to create an environment where people can have a personal, intimate connection with our Creator.
Some of our songs do have more edge or "bite" to them, and we utilize electric guitars quite a bit. Woody has a couple different models he plays, and we have another guitarist (who prefers the '70s but goes with the flow) who plays an Ibanez SG-style, and we sometimes borrow a guitarist from the youth band who plays either a Celebrity 6-string or an Epiphone semi-hollow. We use him when we want to scare the white hairs. :D
I've really come to appreciate the merit of having multiple "venues" to accomodate many types of worshipers. In our church the results seem to be very favorable, and God is indeed blessing our congregation. |
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Joined:
September 2005
Posts: 3619
Location: GATLINBURG TENNESSEE :) | A few years ago the congregation overwhelmingly voted to go to two "different" services, (after a whole lot of infighting over music styles) so most people could have the worship experience that brought them closer to God. But that wasn't even good enough for some, and the whiners have apparently broken down the leadership into going back. With all these wrong additudes and a focus on "Me" and not God, I see this really going down hill ... fast. I have suggested we have one unified "worship" service with the more "intimate" songs, preceded by a Praise prelude, preceeding the main service, in which we do a half hour of full-blown, no-holds-barred contemporary songs. It actually would be two services without them realizing it. Those that want it notched up could be satisfied, and those that want it mellow can have it that way also. I guess we'll just have to see. I have a meeting with the deacons scheduled for Monday night to discuss our direction. |
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Joined:
February 2002
Posts: 1817
Location: Minden, Nebraska | Interesting discussion, and the topic of 'contemporary vs. traditional' is nearly always discussed when worship leaders from different churches get together.
FWIW, I have been involved in leading P&W since the late seventies, and also have an extensive academic background in church history.
The irony of this discussion, which isn't likely to be news here, is that what many American Christians consider to be 'traditional' was contemporary not that long ago by chronological standards. If we define traditional by what was used by the most people for the longest time, chanting in Latin is the norm. The debates were intense when the pipe organ began to be introduced into churches, as there were many who preferred the traditional to this newfangled introduction of 'worldly' instrumentation and style into worship.
It's all culturally conditioned and hopefully Spirit influenced, and therefore changes over time and varies geographically. In the book of Revelation, it says that the vast throng sang a NEW song, so perhaps it continues to evolve (dare I say that about heaven, lol? If not, substitute change for evolve). Worship leaders hopefully help people connect with God, rather than hinder the process. Sometimes we end up doing the same thing at the same time because people get stuck on whether they like the music, or not.
BTW, I lead a worship band using a Custom Legend #1869 run through the effect chain described in a different thread. We play almost exclusively songs from the 90's on, the occasional hymn being an exception as is music for Christmas and Easter. My acoustic lead player, classically trained, plays a Taylor. My electric lead player swaps the Strat for a Larrivee for acoustic, and the 12-string player has an Alvarez. We also have keys and bass, and several of us sing in addition to one lead vox.
Anyone wanna loan us a drummer? My good friend Leftovertion leads a church a few miles a way in Omaha. He has two drummers, but won't share. :( |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 183
Location: Denver, PA USA | I am the Worship leader/music director at my church. www.gfchurch.net I use either my Elite 5778-4ES or my Martin D-18V. I play my Elite more. We do a blended service, but our set is mostly modern. They open and close with a hymn. I use Songbase software and like it n\most of the time. http://www.songbase.com/index.html I also have a subscription to SongDiscovery and Worship Leader Magazine. http://www.songdiscovery.com/
Like them as well. Very helpful.Our band consist of me doing rythum, another guy on lead guitar with a les paul and another one doing rythum guitar, he used a Takamine, but I just sold him my Legend and he uses that now. Also a keyboardist. And 6 singers. No drummer yet. We use the drum maching on the keyboard most of the time. That is about it.
Bill |
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Joined:
April 2003
Posts: 183
Location: Denver, PA USA | Originally posted by edensharvest:
I'm very glad for the service arrangement we currently have. Our main services are at 8:30 and 10:30, and are "blended" service types, mostly contemporary (if contemporary means 1970 to 1990), with some more traditional hymns and a penchant for gospely-type swing choruses. :eek: We do have some older folks in the church that are not completely pleased with the arrangement, but overall the church is probably 95% on board, with no major amount of dissention. Our congregation is somewhere between 600 and 700 now and growing consistently.
Our service is not really blended at all - we stay pretty much consistently with the newest and more upbeat songs. We worship simultaneously to the 10:30 service, at the other end of the church. I hate to use this word, but I try to use a more "intimate" worship set, focusing on songs that are very plain, open, sincere, heartfelt, and express very real human emotions and experiences in relation to God's glory and grace. I'm a firm believer in the power and presence of the Holy Spirit in worship times, and try to create an environment where people can have a personal, intimate connection with our Creator.
Some of our songs do have more edge or "bite" to them, and we utilize electric guitars quite a bit. Woody has a couple different models he plays, and we have another guitarist (who prefers the '70s but goes with the flow) who plays an Ibanez SG-style, and we sometimes borrow a guitarist from the youth band who plays either a Celebrity 6-string or an Epiphone semi-hollow. We use him when we want to scare the white hairs. :D Sounds like I wrote this. But you did a better job than I would have. |
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Leading Worship with Ovations...
