Breaking Out - ch. 2
Tools To Help Change
Where are you coming from:
Hymn only.
Hymns with older choruses blended into the service.
A true blended service.
Where do you want to go?
Traditional/Contemporary Blended 40/60
Pure Contemporary
Most worship leaders that I know want to go totally contemporary. I don't mean that they want to abandon hymns and do only Vineyard music. It's in the instrumentation that they desire the contemporary sound. Let's define contemporary music before we move ahead. It is in the instrumentation that we are speaking. There are some new choruses that are not helpful tools in worship as there are hymns that are not. I grew up listening to bands comprised of guitars, drums, bass, and keyboards. It was rare that I listened to an organ unless it was a B-3. Why would I listen to that type of music throughout the week and then want to worship with a pipe organ? I know I am stepping on toes here but the fact is that churches need to be relevant to their people. It is no wonder that churches don't' grow when nothing has changed in years. I didn't like it then and I don't like it now. Nothings changed. If you agree that the church must make changes in order to reach people then let's move on. What are some helpful suggestions:)
1. When starting the change, use the contemporary instruments and arrangements to sing hymns. The tunes are familiar and it's only the instrumentation that's different. I suggest that you ease in the amount of instruments you wish to use. It's not wise to have a total band set up on the first Sunday. Ease into it by adding a bass guitar or acoustic guitar first. Do it for several months before adding anything else. Set drums up and don't play them for months. Let the people get use to seeing them in the auditorium before you have someone play them. Remember that moving slow is the key! Worship leaders and music ministers shoot themselves in the foot by moving too fast. Change is tough and the key to change is slow moving.
2. Make sure you have the support of your Senior pastor and other staff. There is nothing more frustrating than doing it alone. If you don't have support from the leadership of the church you will go nowhere with it. The leadership extends to those who you work closely within the music ministry as well. A big question to ask yourself is "Is there a need for it here?". Remember that these people have been here longer than you and will be here when you are gone. Get support before you move on.
3. Do you have the committed people to pull off what you are wanting to do? When you finally move into the setting you desire, remember that it takes more than an organist and pianist to effectively reproduce contemporary music. Band experience is necessary and having those experienced in a band setting is essential. The more instruments you add the more difficult it is to play together. How proficient are they and can they play together?
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This is the debut album by EXW friend Paul Langford. Paul is a Chicago based singer, arranger, keyboardist, producer and conductor. Paul has a career that spans 14 years. Paul's work includes arranging for groups like GLAD, Voices of Liberty, VoiceTrek, The Chicago based "Caroling Party" and Day of Discovery Singers. His arranging has appeared on recordings side by side with greats like Gene Puerling and David Maddux, and he has sung with Don Shelton, Bonnie Herman and Bob Bowker, among others.