BETTER MUSIC TEAM TRAINING WORKSHOP 101

BETTER PLAYING: FOUR RULES

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS

RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE

RULE NO. 4: HONOR THY GENRE

RULE NO. 1:LESS

is [often]

MORE

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(IT’S NOT ABOUT US)

As worship team leaders, our main goal is

to ENGAGE EVERYONE in

WORSHIP, not to showcase

our talents or even our music

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(IT’S NOT ABOUT US)

As musicians, our secondary goal is to

SUPPORT the WORSHIP LEADER, not to overpower or

overshadow his/her voice

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(INSTRUMENTATION MATTERS)

ALL instruments playing ALL throughout the song is NOT a very good idea

RULE OF THREE

CLASHING TIMBRES

LISTENING FATIGUE

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(INSTRUMENTATION, TEXTURE, AND DYNAMICS)

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(INSTRUMENTATION TIPS – DURING REHEARSALS)

TIP 1: SECTION arrangements

TIP 2: MOST IMPORTANT SECTION first

TIP 3: RULE OF THREE

TIP 4: LAYERING technique

TIP 5: HOOKS

TIP 5: Apply TIPS 2-4 to the next important section (and so on…)

TIP 6: “SUPER-INSTRUMENT” technique

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(IMPROVISATION TIPS – DURING SERVICE)

TIP 1: “PLAY IN THE POCKET”

TIP 2: Use distinct instrumental color/timbre

TIP 3: Occasionally use a DROP CHORUS at the end of a song (needs signaling and planning)

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE(BUT NOT ALWAYS)

“IF ‘LESS IS MORE’ [might]

result in a DRY and DULL sound,

REINTRODUCE your instrument

in the music.”

RULE NO. 2:WATCH

your

DYNAMICS

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS(BECAUSE DYNAMICS IS EVERYTHING)

Articulations (staccato, accents, arco, etc.)

Tempo changes (accelerando, ritardando)

Reinterpretations (rubato style, legato style, etc.)

Volume/loudness changes (crescendo, decrescendo)

Texture changes (mono -> homo -> poly)

Song breaks

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS

TIP 1: Analyze the song lyrics, looking for emotional highs and lows

TIP 2: Listen to other musicians

TIP 3: Listen carefully to WHAT the worship leader is doing or saying

TIP 4 (important): Stay alert on the leading of the Holy Spirit

RULE NO. 3:LET

it

BREATHE

RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE(I CAN’T HOLD BACK ANYMORE)

BEST EXAMPLE: Orchestral arrangements

WORST EXAMPLE: Excessive jazz comping (at least, in a worship setting)

RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE(I CAN’T HOLD BACK ANYMORE)

“Playing in the pocket” should not be used all the time

Time to pray? Time to stop.

RULE NO. 4:HONOR

thy

GENRE

RULE NO. 4: HONOR THY GENRE

Different genres have different

STYLES, IDIOMS, and TRADITIONSregarding

RHYTHMICAL PATTERNS and

INSTRUMENTATION

WRAP-UP: FOUR RULES

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS

RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE

RULE NO. 4: HONOR THY GENRE