A couple of years ago, I met Kevin David and Tim Yates of Valley Church, West Des Moines, Iowa. They came to one of our Nashville Expressive Worship Workshops.
They really took to heart what we talked about that weekend, and Kevin has been studying my Live Music Method ever since!
So recently, when he tagged me on Facebook [Read more...]
Worship leaders around the world regularly visit websites that have downloadable praise and worship song charts to use for their praise team. It’s nice to be able to find lyrics, chord charts, or lead sheets for your favorite music, because it can make preparation and rehearsal times much more productive.
But when my team and I start rearranging worship songs to create a “worship moment” for your congregation, it can be difficult (if not impossible!) to follow that original chart during a rehearsal. [Read more...]
During the Christmas season, I think a lot about my relationships with family, friends, and neighbors. I’m reminded that, whether I am speaking at a worship conference, working with an artist, or out shopping somewhere, I need to keep this proverb in mind:
“A good name is more to be desired than riches.” (Proverbs 22:1)
When I interact with people I want them to be honest with me, respect me, and even show a little kindness on top of that. So I need to follow the same standard with them!
That kind of relationship building with others can [Read more...]
This week we celebrate Thanksgiving in the United States, and I have a lot of things to be thankful for! Here’s a short list:
1. I have a great wife who puts up with all my idiosyncrasies, not to mention my busy schedule and all the traveling I have to do.
2. I have [Read more...]
The great 20th century French painter, Henri Matisse, is quoted as saying, “It has bothered me all my life that I do not paint like everybody else.” Thank God he didn’t. His use of color was so unique that it ended up making him stand out from the rest.
Being a singer/songwriter, I’ve met so many singers/recording artists over the years who have wished desperately [Read more...]
It isn’t easy to work with just one song. Whether it’s a solo in church, a special event appearance, or even an audition – the pressure is on! You have to be ready to “bring it” right away.
After years and years of judging contests and observing the 1-song showcase or audition, the cold, hard truth is that I can [Read more...]
Communication is 15% content (the words you sing). In every part of the music industry people have the idea that the words are everything; but it just isn’t true!
30% is the tone or emotion you bring it with. How many times have you heard a singer that really brings it emotionally, and you can’t even hear the words. But you’re captured by it – you’re saying “yeah, I dig that!…what are they saying?” You’re caught in their emotion because they’re passionate. And, hopefully, as a praise team member [Read more...]
My team and I regularly work with worship teams, training them to emotionally connect with their congregation, lead worship that has both form and Spirit leading, and to create memorable worship moments. I recently did some team training at Gateway Church in Dallas.
We also speak at worship conferences. In fact, next week I’ll be in Seattle to teach at the Christian Musician Summit.
One of the classes we teach at these conferences is a “hands-on” demonstration that lasts about an hour or so. And honestly, I can only get through about one-third of a song in that amount of time! [Read more...]
We’ve probably all had people in our lives telling us to ‘own up’ to something or other. Or to ‘own’ something – meaning, ‘make it yours!’ Grab on to it and TAKE it!
I’m often telling artists while rehearsing that they need to own it. After we make changes and map out a song arrangement and walk through what the song should look like, they then need to really make it theirs and perform the song with confidence. This basically comes with more rehearsal and getting totally comfortable with what they are doing.
I love this [Read more...]
As a Live Music Producer, I work with artists and bands on their live shows, helping them to capture and engage their audiences and create special moments for the people who come to see them.
But when I’m working with Christian/Gospel artists, or even with worship teams, I have to deal with the stigma of it being wrong to “entertain.”
Creating a moment sounds a lot like “entertaining.” Is that wrong? [Read more...]
“We don’t entertain, we worship.” That’s the main resistance we get from worship artists and … [Read More...]
I was ready for two days of work with a band in Baltimore. I wondered how it would go, because … [Read More...]
The time has come for Nashville and Christian music to have a school that will give in-depth … [Read More...]
I’ve had a beef the last several years with an issue that seems to be getting worse: "over … [Read More...]
