I was reading through various friends facebook updates when this one by Chuck Harris caught my attention:
“The church does not prize originality, but rather cloning, it does not prize freedom, but control.” Leonard Sweet.
It got me to thinking about how we approach worship music in the church. Do we foster an atmosphere of creativity and unleash our members to use their talent in unique and creative ways, or do we throttle creativity by insisting on playing a piece just as it was recorded by the latest worship band? I admit it is much easier to do the second. I also think that we are encouraged to do so by artists and publishing companies because they make it so easy. You can find now an extensive library of resources where the worship tunes have been charted out to mimic their recording. It is easier to learn the music when CD’s can be listened to and are available for easy reference. I wonder though if it has not just made us a praise and worship cover band. Although it is easier, is it best?
I had been thinking on this topic even before I read the quote above. One of our band members, who had been thinking along the same lines, asked if we could try an experiment. He said that we should pass out a chord chart to a song, and let us come up with the arrangement before listening to it on the CD.
I really want to get your thoughts.
What are the benefits of using CDs and pre-written charts?
What are the benefits of doing your own thing?
Which do you use more often? Why?
What are other ways you can foster creativity with your band?
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When I first started playing worship music in a band, I was playing drums for a band that played in a college Bible study on campus. Of all the new songs we did, I had probably heard 50% ahead of time. But the majority of those I had never heard in a recording…I just knew the songs because I had been singing them in youth group or other worship times I’d been to. That being said, I had a lot of freedom to create my own parts and add to the flow and texture of the song with the drum part I basically created. And since I was the only one in the band who had a background in drums, no one told me to do anything different. Almost all of the recorded Christian music at that time (mid-late 90s) was Contemporary Christian music that emphasized various aspects of the Christian life, but worship music wasn’t the mainstream music in Christian radio like it is now.
You can’t keep your band from listening to the radio, but I think if you have a chance to do a song differently or in your own way, it will be better for the band and the congregation. The congregation won’t constantly be comparing you to Chris Tomlin or whoever.
Since I mostly work with youth bands, though, I’ve found it easier for them to learn a song if they hear a recording. At least this makes the melody lines work. Our guitar player doesn’t play any leads, so we basically simplify the core of the song and learn it that way. If the drummer can play the part like the CD, great, but usually we go with a basic beat that is simple, yet fitting for the song.
Of the songs I’ve played over the years, though, my favorites are the ones that I got to put my own spin on and not try to mimic a recording.
I agree on the youth bands… and there are so many resources out there for them to use. Thanks for replying
wow, we play covers! i mean not down to the guitar solos exactly, but pretty close. we try to emulate the artists recordings. yes it’s easier with a volunteer band, and possible with the kind of players we have. of the times i have been “original” it’s because we didn’t have the players to cover the parts or we were trying something different, i.e. acoustic set. this makes me really think, am i creative? do i allow my people to be creative? part of my reasoning behind the cover aspect is i want our people to connect when they hear the song elsewhere, but i don’t know if they have the music in their hands or not. thanks man. that gives me something more to chew on. glad my quote could foster some discussion!!
glad to give you something to chew on. we play covers too but this has really been hanging around in my brain for a while.. thanks for responding.
I came upon this site/blog after googling, “I want to do something different with worship music”. Before getting saved I had played in bands both original and cover. The first time I saw a worship band rocking out in church I was hooked. I have become very frustrated with playing”worship by the numbers” so to speak. Alot of this has to do with my church and worship pastors view on worship which is play it like they hear it on the radio, even to the point of same keys as recorded music which is more often than not to high for the average congregation member. To me this performance not worship.
What I want to be a part of is music that takes people out of themselves, invites them in to be a part of. I feel that there is so much potential for Spirit filled moments by allowing for the freedom to be led by the song and not the chart. Listen to Charlie Halls “Sweep Me Away”. Its almost like a jam session, very simple but so moving.