Working With Youth Bands- Same Chords
Apr 29, 2008 How To, Youth Worship
An easy way to learn several songs with your praise team is to use songs that use the same chords and chord structure. Teach your team a basic chord pattern like G C D C. Once they can play that consistently and in time then reveal the songs that go along with that. For instance those chords can be used for Trading My Sorrows, Every Move I Make or Lord I Lift Your Name on High. As they progress you can add in the other chords that make it sound even better but this way you can get started quickly.
Tags: band, Chords, Songs, Team, Theoretically Speaking, Theory, work, Worship, youth, Youth Band
Free Song #2- Hey I Love Jesus
Apr 17, 2008 Free Stuff, Youth Worship
This is the second in the Free Song Series. Links at the bottom will take you a free mp3 file of the song to listen to, and a free PDF file of the chords to print and use.
Hey I Love Jesus is otherwise known as the vowel song because each line of the chorus starts with the sound of a different vowel.
A-Hey I Love Jesus
E-He Loves Me
I-I got to tell you
O-Oh how he set me free
U-You may be wondering
Y-Why I feel this way
At camps and concerts I generally have the youth spell out the letters with their arms and legs, kinda like the motions to YMCA. This makes for a great active icebreaker or a way to get them moving after sitting for a while.
You are free to use this song in worship or youth group. It would be great if you could let me know how it is being used and what response you had. Just respond to this blog or go follow the link at the bottom to my indie heaven page. Thanks so much.
Hey I Love Jesus Mp3
Hey I Love Jesus PDF
Tags: camp, Chords, Free, Free Song, Russell Martin, Worship, youth
Margin
Apr 16, 2008 Uncategorized
Last night was our first Church League Men’s Softball game. I was pitching for our team. Now I think they let me pitch because first of all I can get the ball over the plate 70% of the time and two because I don’t have an arm to play outfield or the quickness to play infield. I think it’s where I can do the least harm. Anyway the game started off and after the first 2 innings the score was close, like 5-3. During that time I was trying so hard to make a strike, to not walk anyone, well I was trying too hard. I ended up walking two batters.. in church slow pitch softball.
Fortunately we got out of the inning and our team came on and had a big rally and put up about 10 runs on the board. You know what happened next time I pitched? I threw 5 pitches the whole inning. I did not walk anyone, and I threw pitches right over the plate.
So what was the difference? The margin for error I had. With only one run difference.. I was trying to be so perfect I was making mistakes. With a 10 run lead I relaxed, didn’t worry so much and just played the game. It was because I allowed myself room to make mistakes that I actually did better. I did not worry about someone getting on base because I knew I had some room to work with.
How often when I am in ministry do I not allow myself room to work? When I wait until the last minute to put together a song list or to create lead sheets, then I make mistakes. When I do not communicate with people before a service, and therefore do not know who will be there, I try to make it up and be perfect and I do not worship, I worry.
What I am learning is to create margin for error, margin for interruption, space for things to happen. If I work on songlists a few weeks out then I have room to change a song when it feels right. When I create lead sheets early, I can play through them and make sure everything is fine before rehearsal. When I communicate and organize and know what is going on in a worship service, even the elements I am not directly in charge of, things flow smoother, I do not worry and I am more open to God moving into the lives of those who are gathered together.
So my question is how can we create margin?
1. Prayer- Someone wise once said, “I have so much to do today I need to spend another hour on my knees in prayer.” It is amazing what happens to your time when you pray. I find I get more done, and that distractions seem to disappear.
2. Prioritize- “Seek first the Kingdom of God” When you put God first He will help you to see what those important things are to do each day.
3. Make a list- Use a post it note, your pda, or a piece of paper and write down what you need to do for the day or even the week. I get a sense of accomplishment as I cross off things, and I can see what I have done, and what I have left to do.
4. Use your time wisely- Don’t just refrain from doing things that waste time, for example playing scrabulous or checking your facebook, (personal examples) but when you have 10 minutes here or 5 minutes there find something on your list for later in the day or week and go ahead and do it.
5. Take your time off- If you are in full time, or even part time ministry you need a day off. Just a hint… Sunday is not a day off. Find a day in the week that you can stay away from church and church conversations, emails, etc. Don’t just sit at home though, find something to do that rejuvenates you. Spend time with a friend, read a book, work on a non ministry related project or perhaps take a nap.
Tags: busy, Church, facebook, How To, organize, Prayer, rehearsal, songlists, Sunday, Team, wasted, work, Worship, youth
Free Photos
Apr 14, 2008 Uncategorized
I was reading browsing through one of my favorite sites called plugrug.com and came across a like to a website for free graphics called creativemyk. The cool thing about the site is that it does not only include photos but also adobe files, templates etc for you to download and use. I created my own profile and have been uploading photos. Please use them, download them and let me know what you think of them. Also if you have a place you have uploaded created graphics for use in worship services please let me know and I can post them up here.
Tags: Free, Media Shout, Photoshop, Powerpoint, Worship
How To- Using Google Spreadsheet to Organize Song Lists
Apr 10, 2008 How To
We were looking for an easy, FREE, way to compile our worship library, keep track of how many times and when we used songs. We also wanted to keep information about each song like theme, key, tempo and what songs have just chords, or full arrangements etc. Finally we were looking for a way to do this so that different people could collaborate to keep the file updated. Our solution was a google documents spreadsheet.
In our sheet we list the songs that we use down the left hand side. The first section of column headers contain information like tempo, Cd, Track#, Key, Style etc. The second set of column headers contain the Sunday worship dates. When we add new songs we put as much information in as possible in the first set of columns. On a Sunday after we use a particular song we put a 1 by it in that Sunday’s date column.
This helps me in choosing songs because I can see how frequently we have used a song, and search for a song by specific criteria. We also added a column with some formulas that calculate how often a song has been done in the past year.
The beauty of using a Google spreadsheet is:
1. I do not have to do all of this myself. We have a few people who can access from home and help to update the sheet. They log on, make the changes, save and then we are good to go. I can see who made the changes and when they were made, and I am sent an email when this occurs.
2. We do not have a million copies of a spreadsheet floating around. Before we were using just an excel spreadsheet and emailing it back and forth. You can imagine how many variations were created over just a few months of this. Using the Google spreadsheet means it is all on one sheet. We can print off or download when needed but all the changes are made on the master document.
3. I can access our song lists wherever I am. If I am in a meeting with my iphone, or if I am out of town on a friends computer I can view, edit and save the list.
To create and edit Google docs you need to sign up for a free Google account.
You can share it so anyone can see it or invite only certain people to view.
Tags: CD, Chords, Free, How To, iphone, organize, Songs, Sunday, Uncategorized, Worship
How To – Youth Worship in a Small Church
Apr 8, 2008 Uncategorized
Wanting to start a contemporary worship service for youth in a small church with little resources? This was just the situation a friend of mine asked me about this weekend.
Here are some suggestions:
1. Use the talents that are in your church- Find out the youth who play guitar, or piano. Even those that think they can’t play well. It’s amazing what happens with a little encouragement. Also don’t just think of youth… do you have adults who could help out. They may be looking for a way to use their gifts with guitar, or drums that may not always find its way into the more traditional services.
2. Start Small- You don’t need drums, 2 electric guitars, a bass, keyboard and 4 vocalist to have a worship service. Small and simple is a great way to start. A guitar or keyboard is a good beginning, then slowly add things like hand drums, bass etc.
3. Start Simple- The latest worship band CD is great but your group probably will not have the instruments, or ability to play some of the songs that way. Choose simple arrangements of music. Preferably songs that use repeating chord patterns for the chorus and verse. Teach these patterns to the group and as they keep playing you will see that they reoccur in variations in many other songs. An example of a simple song can be found in my Free Song#1 Lord Let your Love.
4. Be Sensitive- If you are starting a service that you are inviting your whole church to be sure that you choose music that they may be familiar with. There are many hymns that work well in a contemporary setting. If you are going to do more recent songs then make sure that you provide words either by printing them out or by putting them up on a projector or overhead transparency.
5. Be Consistent- It takes time. It takes time to find musicians. It takes time to learn music. It takes time to build a service. Just be faithful to what God has called you to do. Encourage your participants and encourage your congregation. Be consistent in all you do.
I hope this atleast gives you a place to start
Tags: band, blogs, CD, Church, drums, Free, Free Song, guitar, How To, Resource, resources, Songs, work, Worship, youth, Youth Worship
The TO-DO list!!!!!
Apr 5, 2008 Uncategorized
Hours race by like minutes and at the close of the day, I wonder “just where did the time go”?
Things that were on my to-do list from yesterday are still left uncrossed and my plate begins to grow to an overwhelming 5 course dinner!!!
WOW…. how did I end up like this?
I’m reminded of a scripture you all probably know: seek ye first the Kingdom of God. Do we really seek Him first everyday? Is He more important to us than the tasks at hand?
I’ve been really convicted of this lately because I feel my wheels are just spinning and I’m getting no where Why I failing so miserably is because I’m not seeking my Savior first and then tending to my to-do’s. Note the order. Him first, tasks later.
This problem isn’t anything new, so don’t feel bad if you are in the same boat with me. 
In the Old Testament God became very angry that His people were more worried about their own homes while His temple lay in ruins. (Haggai 1:9) How can we walk the path God has for us if we don’t talk to Him first everyday? If we don’t pray and read His Word? Make THOSE THINGS our #1 priority?? After all, we are the temple! Christ dwells in us. Well, the good news is this… the Lord can help us get our priorities straight. Just ask Him for help and He’ll show you what needs to be done.
Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness. And all these things shall be added unto you… Praise God!!
Tags: busy, Kerri Crocker, Prayer, preparing
Free Song#1- Lord Let Your Love
Apr 3, 2008 Youth Worship
“Lord Let Your Love” was written one summer while I was leading worship at Lakeview Methodist Church Camp. Many of the groups I was with would head down to the lake for a morning devotional or would be in a place that didn’t have a way to get words up on a screen or even printed out. I was looking for some songs that were repetitive and easy to learn. I also wanted kind of an opening fast song that was fun to sing. This is where “Lord Let Your Love” came out of.View this Post
Lord Let Your Love MP3 (To download- right click and choose “save link as”)
Lord Let Your Love Chord Sheet.pdf
Hopefully this will be the first of a series of free worship songs for you to use. Each time I will include a link to the original mp3 as well as a PDF chord sheet. I am starting off with some of my songs because that is what is available but I would love for you to share your music. If you have a song you would like to share please send the link to the song along with a chord sheet to rgmmusic@gmail.com. If I post your song I will give you credit and a link to your website. By sending the link you are allowing other worship leaders to use but not sell your music. For more information check out the creative commons license website.
To listen click play!
Tags: camp, Chords, Church, Devotional, Free, Free Song, Songs, summer, Worship, Worship Leader
What about the Worship?
Apr 2, 2008 Uncategorized
See if you’ve ever been in this “hot spot”.
Its 15 minutes before church and the lead vocalist hasn’t shown up, the video isn’t working right and a sound check at this point, is never going to happen. How on earth will this service ever flow and people enter in and praise? Well, after the grueling 15 minutes of worry, worship starts and ends. People come up after the service and say they felt the presence of the Lord so strongly…. they have never worshiped so freely before. Wow… everything went great! What was I so worried about?
The question that we should be prepared is understood, but my thought for you today is this:
Do you think that your skill or the band, the video or the atmosphere is going to move people into that place of worshiping the King? In all humility, we say no, but by our actions, we often contradict that idea when things aren’t going just the way we planned. I challenge you, that if you are ever in a situation of “less than perfect circumstances” that you’ll take a step back and pray to the one who is the Author of praise. We can only plant the seeds, but it is the Lord who will bring forth the fruit Psalm 103:2 says it perfectly, “praise the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not His benefits” the key word in that verse is HIS…. not OUR…. HIS benefits go far beyond what our mind can conceive. Even in a worship service that we feel is doomed.
Many blessings and much favor to you!!
Tags: band, Church, Free, Kerri Crocker, Media Shout, Powerpoint, Prayer, preparing, video, work, Worship
Kerri Crocker
Apr 2, 2008 Uncategorized
Over the past several months I have been blessed to be able to work with my new friend Kerri Crocker. Kerri came on this year as a worship leader for our contemporary worship service at Williams. She lives with her husband and family in East Texas but she leads worship and shares her music all over. She has just released her second CD entitled “Reason to Be” which was produced by Kyle Lee and recorded at Clean Productions. Kerri is passionate about a new foundation she has started called pray for a cure for cancer.
Kerri is joining me at Fork In the Road Music and will be writing some devotionals and some thoughts on leading worship, leading worship without a band and more on her efforts with Prayforacureforcancer.
I encourage you to check out her music and her ministry.
Tags: band, CD, Church, Devotional, fork In the Road, Kerri Crocker, Recording, Songs, Songwriting, Thoughts, work, Worship, Worship Leader
