[pooleman0]

Hello to all,

I have been leading worship at my church for about three years now. I love The Lord and love worshiping Him and leading others into His presence. When I took the reigns of the ministry in 2006 we had a very small ministry. Just a drummer, a bass player, and myself on guitar. Since then we have taken into the ministry another guitar player, three vocalists, and on occasion a keyboardist. We all have a heart for The Lord and though we are not anywhere near a professional level the Lord has blessed our ministry and honored our commitment to that ministry. The people appear to be blessed by our music and The Spirit moves during our worship time.

So what's the problem you ask. Even though we are blessing the people we are somewhat sloppy. Everyone plays way too much, way too loud and way to hard. There is not much finesse. My bassist and myself desire to give the Lord our very best. We desire to be a better worship team. We are capable of giving The Lord so much more, a better sacrifice. But our attempts for kindly correct or constructively criticize the other members has not been received well. Some feelings have been hurt and some feathers have been ruffled. One example is the other guitar player. He just plays way too much. He strums in primarily a 16th note pattern. There are no rests or spaces, just constant loud strumming. Now when you are leading worship by yourself that is sometimes OK because you have to be the rhythm, the bass, everything. But when you are playing in a band each person needs to play less. Otherwise everything gets muddy and muffled and blended together. I have tried to demonstrate the proper way but it does not seem to get through. Our drummer used to suffer from this but has recently understood the need to play less and meet the needs of the song. Praise God. When I have tried to instruct and refine our music I have been accused of being "not in the Spirit" and being "Performance based". I do not think that is the case. I just want to give God an unblemished sacrifice, our VERY BEST. Is that wrong? Am I missing the big picture?

So I need some advice. I am a bit of a people pleaser and do not want to rock the boat and create strife. I don't want to become one of those "performance based" worship teams, I want to be led and driven by The Spirit. But I want to sound good too. Any input, advice, and even "dope slaps" would be greatly appreciated. And I apologize if this post is long and rambling. Thanks for your time and God Bless.

David

P.S.

I just want to say that I love every member of my worship team. I have never brought someone into the ministry based on talent (although some ability is needed of course). I always based it on the condition of their heart and walk and desire to sever the Lord. I have no desire to chase anyone out of the ministry in order to bring in someone better or to just get rid of someone.

[Jfool]

When you chart a song, hand out the charts, and teach it, do you include specific directions on who plays on what sections? Anything from full volume to all instruments silent... it all plays into the proper worship experience. As the worship leader, it is your job, and nobody should complain at the way you arrange a song. The congregation needs dynamics in order to worship, so the worship team is responsible for providing it. Anyone who doesn't understand that should take a break from the team.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by Jfool

When you chart a song, hand out the charts, and teach it, do you include specific directions on who plays on what sections? Anything from full volume to all instruments silent... it all plays into the proper worship experience. As the worship leader, it is your job, and nobody should complain at the way you arrange a song. The congregation needs dynamics in order to worship, so the worship team is responsible for providing it. Anyone who doesn't understand that should take a break from the team.

+1 to most of this...while I don't necessarily agree that the band shouldn't be involved in the arrangement process (maybe I misunderstood what you were saying), playing 100% on every song isn't "in the Spirit", it's just plain bad musicianship.

Just to give everyone here a glimpse of the bigger picture, how many people are on your worship team and what are their roles?

[pooleman0]

I have given specifics on who should play what. The problem is that 'some' of the members seem to have a difficult time remembering their parts and directions. I have 'suggested' that notes be taken so everyone isn't "re-learning" a song every time we play the song. I have brought CD's and had everyone listen, pointing out each part and how it is being played. But after a short while several people end up reverting to the "status quo" of full on all the time. Pulling back on the reigns seems to be really hard for some. And when I bring up this fact people give me the eye roll or the "here comes the hard a** again". Or one individual in particular seems to get his feelings hurt or feel attacked despite the gentle nature of my approach. My bass player says I should just say it, and not worry about how it is received. He says I have been to cautious for to long.

How would you phrase your "take a break from the team" statement?

[pooleman0]

To The Steve,

Here is the member list in order of their arrival on the team:

Myself: Acoustic Rhythm/vocals
Bassist: Bass/vocals
Drummer: Drummer
Guitarist: Another Rhythm/vocals
Vocalist
Vocalist
Vocalist

When the second guitarist came I spent about a year trying to teach him all the songs and how we play them. Then I brought my electric and began doing some lead/fill stuff. The second guitarist is very good at the old country thing and has a hard time moving from that style. He has a problem adapting to my requests and recognizing the needs of the band. He has no concept of when too much is too much. When the vocalists came I took a back seat vocally, as did my bassist, I am still leading, but letting the vocalists do what they do best. I don't have the greatest sounding voice, even though I can stay on key. But the other guitarist almost seems to resent taking a back seat vocally. The new vocalists sing some of the songs he used to sing, but they do it so much better. I love him but just can't seem to find the words to reach him.

[Jfool]

Originally Posted by thesteve

+1 to most of this...while I don't necessarily agree that the band shouldn't be involved in the arrangement process (maybe I misunderstood what you were saying), playing 100% on every song isn't "in the Spirit", it's just plain bad musicianship.

Just to give everyone here a glimpse of the bigger picture, how many people are on your worship team and what are their roles?

Thanks... definitely the band should contribute to the arrangement. As long as they understand that it means they will not play some sections or play softer when it is appropriate.

There are few things more powerful than adding instruments after the song begins, or dropping out most/all of the instruments in the middle or end of a song.

The guy who plays the constant 16th note rhythm may just be more comfortable doing that... can you play on this "weakness"? Maybe his role can be focused on providing rhythm while you give a once-per-measure strum or some other type of fill. Then he is either playing the rhythm or not playing at all.

It may be tough to have him "take a break" from the team, but if you make it clear that the worship is to be done by a standard, and that is what the team needs to provide, then the standard of worship is the ruler, and not you personally. You may even use the phrase "anyone who wants to be a part of this ministry must..."

And talk to the pastor to make sure they will back you up.

*edit* Are you using hardcopy charts? They can have notes indicating which parts play on which verses/choruses.

[darfaz]

Could you record the music? The reason I ask is because members in your group who are playing poorly may not even realize what it sounds like. Maybe if you had them listen and constructively critiqued their own playing it may be effective.

[OiBoyz]

Some teaching on what worship is and is not may be in order. Also what "being in the Spirit." is. As well as servanthood.

Worship is coming before the Creator. You give Him your best, not just what you feel like. Practice time, playing your part to the best of your ability, and stretching that ability are all acts of worship. Doing your own thing, being too prideful to take direction are not.

We take too lightly our privilege to have access to the throne room. We need to come humbly and with our very best. Your best may be better than my best, but it's not a contest. It's about where our heart is.

It sounds like you know all of that, but you need to communicate it (lovingly) to your team. Or perhaps the Pastor should teach these concepts to the whole congregation.

[pooleman0]

OiBoyz,

I hear what you are saying and agree with you. I feel like my attempts to lovingly communicate these truths have fallen on deaf ears. I know everyone is in the right place spiritually but it feels like some of the members are perfectly happy not growing as musicians and staying right where they are on the plateau.

[burningtr33]

Hmmmm interesting dilemma but as banal as it may sound you arent the only one who experienced this. I've been leading worship ever since i was in 8th grade and its been quite a while since i started and i have both led worship solo to a full blown hillsongs wannabe worship band. DISCLAIMER: These are mere suggestions and what i would do coming from my experience so if there is something you disagree with simply ignore it. Take this with a grain of salt

First off as you are aware by now the more people in your band the harder it is to manage. You have 3 additional vocalist and personally i think that is a bit excessive. Perhaps downsizing will help with working with the other parts of the band individually in order to help each and one of them remember their parts better.

Secondly, i admire and respect and support the decision that you chose their spiritual maturity over their talents. HOWEVER with that being said, you are leading the congregation to worship. You are providing them an opportunity to worship and the leaders must have the skills necessary to lead it with you. And another thing, band chemistry is pretty important as well. I've been in many bands and it is annoying when there is a noticeable discrepancy in skill level amongst the players. If you guys cannot play with each other than that will be a problem.

Lastly, they maybe spiritually ready, but where are their hearts and minds really dwelling on? Is it to come together and lead worship with you or is it to simply just play an instrument with mediocrity? This is important. They maybe spiritually ready but if their hearts and mind are not into worship you will run into problems. You must find musically passionate lovers of God to improve. Play with people that want to constantly expand their musical horizons

Most importantly, KISS (keep it simple stupid). Sorry im not calling you stupid i just stole that from The Office on Thursday nights on NBC (shameless plug ) Anyway keep it simple. Yes you should offer your best and yes give it your all at the same time don't bite off more than you can chew. From your post (i am wildly speculating) you guys seem as if you guys were a ragtag crew just put together. (sorry for the blunt speculation) If you guys are trying to do things that are past your skill level and not everyone cannot keep up you will only end up being frustrated. Does that mean just do simple songs? By heavens NO, but when leading worship you must remind yourself you are not only leading yourself and the band into worship but the whole congregation as well.

The main point i want to make out of all this is just be mindful of all the factors and be gentle but yet firm. You cannot be a people pleaser. You will offend some people, but thats life. Worship is about getting God's people constantly reminded of the gospel and praising God for who he is and what he has done.

[AlphaSigma]

Whenever you're in a position of correction, it will always be somewhat awkward, or uncomfortable. But that's okay. Like burningtr33 said, gentle but firm and if you are always encouraging, your team will understand the reasoning behind the correction.

Keep playing for our Lord.

[1/2-Fast Player]

Reminds me of the old joke: Q - How do you quiet the guitar player? A - Put a score in front of him.

You might try asking him to do something that's challenging for him but still gets you the sound you want. For example, ask him for a chord voicing in a higher register, or for a particular inversion, and ask him to arpegiate the chord or provide a finger-picked rif. That might get him out of strum mode and make him think and listen a bit more.

For those times when you want him to drop out altogether, it could be that he feels awkward standing on stage and doing nothing. So give him something else to do. Hand him a rhythm toy like a shaker or a cabasa. Ask him to get the audience to clap along. Something.

[Skeeter]

I'm reminded of when I first started playing guitar: I always used the same strumming pattern at the same volume for every song. I needed to be told to stop doing that and as I improved on guitar, I became a lot more versatile. It may be that he just isn't very confident in his guitar playing so plays the one thing he knows he can do. Helping him improve and gain confidence in other areas of guitar playing may give him what he needs to break that pattern.

[pooleman0]

Skeeter,

I think you nailed it. Since I initiated this tread I have tried to take a different approach than I am used to. I no longer care about how the other members feel. Now that sounds horrible but let me explain. I have always been concerned with how people feel and I have always been worried about hurting others feelings if I have to correct or criticize. My wife finally got tired of hearing my moaning and told me to just tell them what they are doing wrong. She said to be fair, be firm, be clear, and most importantly be like Christ. Christ never sugar-coated anything. He was direct and to the point. My wife basically told me to "Cowboy Up" (I hate using that phrase but it applies here). So two Sundays ago I got everyone together. We prayed, I told them that I loved them, and then I just laid it out. I spoke my mind and voiced my concerns. Then I told them I loved them again. It was great. No one got offended, no one left with hurt feelings. Every worship service and practice since then has been perfect. So I give God the glory for this and thank Him. Prasie God.

And I say Thank You to all you guys who offered your two cents and prayers.

[Skeeter]

Awesome. Glad to hear it turned out well.