The Right Key is One Key to Stong Vocals
Nov 30, 2009 Worship Planning, Youth Worship
There are many ways you can help your worship team vocalists sing strong with confidence. One thing I discovered this past year is that the right key is the key!
Last year I would introduce a song usually by listening to the cd then having the band try it and vocals sing. Many times they would like the song, however the vocalist would be struggling trying to sing out of their range, or flipping octaves between verse and chorus. Since the music was printed and we had already worked on learning in the original key, it was hard to change keys and we usually just struggled through.
This year we tried something different. This year every new song we introduced to the vocals first. After they learned the basic tune we found the key that best suited their voices. I made a note of the key and then during the next week would print music accordingly.
I have really noticed a difference in a few key areas:
1. They enjoy it more- When they are comfortable with the key they don’t have to worry about how they will hit the notes, and less worry means more fun.
2. They are stronger- Since we chose a key that fits their range they are more confident and sing out.
3. They get more done- Since we no longer take time out in rehearsal searching for keys with the whole band, and transposing music 2-3 times we get more done, learn more music and get better as a band.
What tips do you have for developing vocalists?
Tags: band, CD, Difference, help, listen, Music, New Song, rehearsal, sing, song, Team, tips, vocals, voices, work, Worship, worship team, youth, Youth Worship
What I Am Reading-Freebies, Printing Press and Questions
Nov 26, 2009 Communication, Devotions and Thoughts, Media and Technology, What I'm Reading
Thought I would let you in on a few different blogs and articles I have been reading lately-
1. The Internet is Not Your Delivery Boy- From Church Marketing Sucks I learned that the internet is not just the 20th century printing press, but should be so much more. It’s not about informing but connecting…
2. Freebie Friday- Tim Schmoyer from Life In Student Ministry shares different freebies each week. Last weeks was #152: Dallas Theological Seminary Courses on Itunes-
3. Finally David Risley in a guest post from ProBlogger asks the question, “Are You Talking At or To Your Readers” in a recent post. I wonder how many of the questions, and lessons learned, in this post could be applied to churches too?
Tags: blogs, Church, Itunes, Ministry, ProBlogger, Tim Schmoyer
Caption Please
Nov 20, 2009 Uncategorized
Kind of afraid to ask but… Do you have a caption for this photo?
Sent from my iPhoneSearching
Nov 20, 2009 Just for Fun, Me, Uncategorized
In one of the boxes pictured… There is coffee.
Sent from my iPhone
Winterfield Concert
Thanks so much to the congregation at Winterfield UMC in Longview for having me out. We ate Thanksgiving dinner and I shared some music.
The Setlist.. pretty much stuck to it
The set up… this has become pretty standard.. Bose sound system makes it so easy.
Guitar looks kind of lonely back there.
When is the last time they fed you a complete Thanksgiving dinner before you sang?
I invited the kids up to sing “Hey I Love Jesus” although this kind of looks like a version of “Baby Shark”
We got the “Oh how He set me free!” part together though! Thanks guys!
Sent from my iPhone
Posted via email from Russell’s Mobile Blog
Tags: blog, concert, email, iphone, Music, Share, shared, UMC
What You Can Buy For $10
Nov 18, 2009 Devotions and Thoughts, How To, Me
Movie ticket and drink
10 Dollar menu items
2 Packs of ornaments at walmart
Starbucks Venti Egnog Latte or two
2 $5 Footlongs from Subway
Mosquito Net that saves the life of a child in Africa
Tags: Methodist, Net Raiser Team, Nothing But Nets
Help Me Save a Life
Nov 15, 2009 Communication, Devotions and Thoughts, Me
For the past two years I have been supporting the “Nothing But Nets” campaign. The campaign raises money to provide mosquito nets that protect from Malaria with the goal of wiping out the disease on the continent of Africa.
Between now and Christmas I want to raise enough money to buy 1000 nets. At $10 each that makes a total of $10,000
Wow, you might say that’s a lot of money but think of it this way.
Between now and Christmas is around 45 days. That means if you saved 22 cents per day between now and then you would have $10 for a net.
I figure that I have about 2000 people I am connected to between facebook personal page, fan page and twitter. If only half participated we would reach the goal.
How you can help:
1. Donate: I have created a netraiser team called Fork In the Road. You can help support me by making a secure online donation. Click here to donate.
2. Forward, Retweet, Repost: Send this on to your friends in your social networks. Get them to help.. who knows we could pass 1000 nets easily.
3. Start Your Own Team: Why not start your own effort with your church, youth group, or among your social media friends. It doesn’t matter who raises the money, just that they get raised.
For more information on how YOU can participate in Nothing But Nets, please visit www.NothingButNets.net
Thanks for your support!
Tags: application, camp, CD, Christmas, Church, Click, facebook, fork In the Road, help, Malaria, Methodist Church, Mosquitos, Music, Net Raiser Team, Nothing But Nets, people, Team, twitter, Wave, work, youth
Instrumental Reflection #12- O Come O Come Emmanuel
Nov 13, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections, podcast
This week I am starting with the first of my Christmas instrumental reflections. My original plan was to have 8-10 of these done by Thanksgiving. With moving and other things, that has been pushed back a little bit. I do plan to get them out as soon as possible though, so keep listening. If you have a suggestion for a Christmas instrumental reflection send it in to me. I will choose one name, from those who leave suggestions, to send a CD with all the holiday instrumental reflections to when I am done.
To listen click play!
Click here for the feed for the podcast or here to subscribe in itunes
Tags: Christmas, Instrumental, Music, piano, reflection
What I’m Reading-Revolution, Connection and Forgiveness.
Nov 13, 2009 Communication, Devotions and Thoughts, Media and Technology, What I'm Reading
Revolution, Connection and Forgiveness. This is what I learned from reading blogs over the past few days.
First Kem Meyer posted a video called Social Media Revolution. If you thought social media was a here today, gone tomorrow venture then think again. I have seen this video before but it is definately worth reviewing.
Second, you can tell from my change in layout that I hit a wall with my blog and needed a change. Darren Rowse talks about the Getting Over the 6th Month Blogger Itch. Its a bit of encouragement for those of you needing a little push to keep going.
Finally, a new blog I have begun reading recently is Withoutwax.tv by Pete Wilson. In this one he talks about being Fast to Forgive. When we hold on to grudges and hurts usually we are only hurting ourselves. This is a great reminder to just let go and forgive.
Tags: blogs, google reader, important, shared
Why the New Blog Layout
Nov 12, 2009 Communication, Me
If you visit forkintheroadmusic.org you will notice that the page template has changed. For a while I had used the arras theme, which I really liked as far as asthetics, however it did not work best for my site. This is for a few different reasons I think
First of all I think my idea behind my blogging has changed. When I started I wanted to be a resource center for worship leaders. I wanted to write articles about leading worship, provide backgrounds etc. It was all business though, no personal. Over the past few years I have sensed the power in being personal. I still want to provide resources, instrumental reflections, and gather thoughts from worship leaders, but that is only one part of who I am. I also love talking about family, communications, my pets, church, and my favorite chili recipe.
Second I want to become more mobile. I have found that when I have to wait until the end of the day to write a post, I generally run out of time or forget about it. However if when an idea strikes I can write it, and post it then that’s better. I can now take photos and upload thoughts directly from my phone using either the wordpress app or posterous. The new layout allows for this easier by not requiring the thumbnail images each time, and looking uniform when updated from posterous.
So what do you think? I’d love your feedback!
Tags: blog, fork In the Road, Layout
