Fork In The Road Music » How To

5 Things We Do Wrong at Camp- #1 SHHHHHHHHH TIME FOR WORSHIP!!!

Russell Martin — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 06:37:36 +0000

Over the past several years I have been leading worship for many camps and retreats. This has given me the opportunity to observe some awesome things happen at camp, and some things that didn’t work so well. Over that time I have been able to come up with this list of my top 5 things not to do at camp. These are not from a particular event, but gleaned from many different events over the years. Here is the first…

1. SHHHHHHHHH- The kids are gathered in the sanctuary for worship, but are talking to each other about lunch, or the cute boy in cabin 2-a, or the life changing bible study they just got out of. The music leader gets up on stage and is about to start when one well meaning adult comes down the aisle yelling, “SHHHHHH, QUIET! IT’S TIME FOR WORSHIP! EVERYONE BE QUIET AND FACE FRONT”

A good worship leader should be able to move the kids from chaos into a time of corporate worship by the songs they choose, and the leadership projected from the stage. The kids are noisy but so are most churches on Sunday morning before the first song, or call to worship, or prelude.

What would happen if at 2 minutes until time for your Sunday Morning service started you were sitting and talking about where you are going to eat lunch after service, or about the visitor that just sat down in your seat, or the awesome Sunday School lesson you just got out of, and all of the sudden an usher walked down the center aisle yelling, “SHHHHHH, QUIET! IT’S TIME FOR WORSHIP! EVERYONE BE QUIET AND FACE FRONT?”

I know that it’s not intentional. Whoever does it just wants to help and I understand. I have done it before myself on many occasions. When I took a step back and looked at what was happening though, I realized that we’re beginning worship by yelling at kids. As a participant, I am coming to worship and being yelled at. When we do that, we are unintentionally trying to force a response, force silence, force reverence. Not a great worship setting.

As I said earlier, the worship leader should be able to move them from this time of talking to friends, into a time where they have the opportunity to respond, to be reverent.This can be done in two opposite but equally effective ways.

First, start with a familiar, loud, participatory, active song like Sing Like the Saved, Every Move I Make or Today is the Day. One where they have a part to sing, and actions to do. They will still be loud, but they will be loud praising God together. Then use other songs to move them more into that corporate worship time.

The other way is to establish a song that is used at the beginning of each worship service that is more quiet and reflective. Songs like Sanctuary, Here I Am to Worship, are good for this. Just get up to the microphone play and sing. The first time through maybe only a few will start singing, but that will grow. Through out the week, it will happen faster.

Besides using songs there are some other things you can do:

Use candles and lighting to help set the mood. Have counselors or leaders come to the front and light a candle when there group is all there. Have a candle lit by the leader when worship begins. Talk about it representing the Holy Spirit among us, and that it signifies the beginning of our worship time.

Change the room for worship Often times we had to use the same room for games, food and assemblies as we did for worship. If this is the case then find ways to change the appearance of the room for that worship time. As mentioned above use creative lighting for starters. Create an altar table decorated with items reflecting the service’s theme, or have a special cross or banner that is used only during corporate worship times.

Pray. Begin with “Let us Pray” or “Would you please bow your heads” and then go. They might talk over you talking, but most of the time they won’t talk over you praying.

Start with a Video. At one camp I went to last summer, each worship service started off with 2-3 different videos. Most were worship songs with words and pictures that played as we entered. It was a great way to set the tone for the nights service.

Set the Example Yourself If you, as a leader, walk in and are talking to your friends about stuff before the service, then you cannot expect the kids to do differently. You are the leader, so you need to set the example.

What are some other things you have done to help set the tone for worship in a camp or retreat setting?

What are number 2-5 on the list? Follow me on Facebook Twitter or Subscribe to this blog by Email or RSS and keep watching to find out.

What do you thing should be number 6?

Youth Worship Teams: Be Creative by Not Leading?

Russell Martin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 05:35:55 +0000

This past year our schedule for youth has changed, and our youth band is not leading worship for the youth as often as we once had. This has given me a great opportunity to try something new. Being Creative!

Since we do not have the schedule of having to work up songs for the next week, we now use our weekly rehearsals to work on a variety of things.

1. Work on Solo Songs- It’s been great to work on some songs that we would not necessarily use to lead worship, but could use in services sometime. These also would be great when our group goes outside of the church to play. Maybe it’s something by Switchfoot, Jars, or Fee the kids have heard and brought in.

2. Try Out New Songs- The youth have had a blast just bringing in music to try. We’ll listen to it and play through it a few times. Sometimes we like it and put it in a folder to work on later. Sometimes we say Nahh!! and move on.

3. Test New Styles of Songs- With this freedom we have also been able to try different styles, instrumentations, arrangements etc… Maybe its a style we don’t normally play, or even switching up instruments to try something different.

What do you do to get the creative juices flowing?

Worship Leading Conversations #1- Working With Youth Worship Teams

Russell Martin — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 05:31:26 +0000

The first of my Worship Leading Conversastions podcast series started this week. I sat down with my friend Jason Huffman, a youth director in Palestine, Texas. As part of his youth director duties, he leads the youth praise band. I asked him to share some of his thoughts about working with youth and how to go about teaching them, and encouraging them to become worship leaders.

Download “Starting a Youth Worship Band From The Ground Up” by Jason Huffman

What You Can Buy For $10

Russell Martin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:18:23 +0000

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

Appreciating Your Worship Team- Ask for Feedback

Russell Martin — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 04:49:24 +0000

Each year I have an end of year evaluation with my pastor and other church leaders. This is a great time to look back on the previous year, talk about goals and identify areas in need of attention.

This year I decided to go a step further. I sent a short survey out to my worship team. After all, these are the guys who are in rehearsals and leading worship with me week in and week out, and I really wanted to know what they were thinking. I will admit I was apprehensive about doing so at first, however now that we have gone through the process it is one that I plan to do every year.

The set up was simple:

1. I used google to create a form

2. I emailed the link out to the team members

3. As they filled in the sheet the answers were collected for me

Here were my questions:

1. Rate the overall musical quality of the worship Team (1-5)

2. How much do rehearsals prepare you for leading worship Sunday morning (1-5)

3. Rate the variety of music presented (1-5)

4. List up to three things you think the band has definately improved on in 2009

5. What are three things you would have liked us to have improved on but we did not?

6. If you were in charge, could do anything you want, what one major change would you make?

7. Give me your idea of something new we should try to do?

8. Can you commit to the worship team for 2010? Why or Why Not?

9. What else would you like to say?

Through providing this opportunity for feedback I was able to hear things that I might not otherwise and address them before problems arise. I am excited too about new suggestions that were given and am looking forward to implementing them in the new year.

I encourage you to find some way where you can receive honest feedback from those you work with on a weekly basis. Not only will it help you to stop possible problems, but it gives your team members ownership.

So.. how do you give opportunities for feedback?

Your comments are appreciated.

Creative Artists or Praise and Worship Cover Band?

Russell Martin — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 18:17:14 +0000

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?

My Dropbox – Something Free for You and Me!

Russell Martin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 15:23:38 +0000

For about a year now I have been using Dropbox as a way to share files between my various computers. It simply works like this. Install dropbox on whatever computers you want and folder called “My Dropbox” is put into My Documents. Whenever you add or take away files from that “My Dropbox” folder, it is syncronized on each computer on which it is installed. I use this often to put files I am working on so I can open them at home and work, such as publications for church, or photos for this blog.

My dropbox is making an offer for more free space. For everyone one of you who sign up for My Dropbox, I get 250 mb of more space, up to 3 gig. But wait there is more. If you sign up you also get not only the 1G of space that comes with the free version, but an additional 250 mb also. So I would like to ask for you to try My Dropbox. Just click “Get My Dropbox” below and it will take you through the short sign up process. I would not ask, or support this if I had not used it myself. I hope you enjoy.

Get My Dropbox

I found “My Dropbox” because someone else suggested it to me. What other cool, useful web tools would you suggest?

The Best Form of Communication

Russell Martin — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 05:23:51 +0000

One of my jobs at the church is dealing with communication. We are constantly trying to find the best way to communicate with our members and the community. We are always looking for new ways to get information out. It seems like each week we ask ourselves, “What’s the best way to communicate?” Well I finally found the answer. Whatever works best.

I know that’s kind of a weird answer but hear me out. When I took golf lessons a long time ago my instructor showed me how I should swing. He went through the stance, grip of the club, ball placement, back swing and follow through. He said this is how you are supposed to do this and showed me, and I practiced it. I did fairly well taking lessons and eventually my time was up so I began just playing on my own. After a while I noticed that as I had practiced and played over time I had made my own little adjustments to my game. Over time my grip, swing, stance, all had changed to varying degrees. I ran into my instructor later and asked if I needed to go back to the right way of swinging my club etc. His response…”Do you hit the ball straight?.. me “Yes”… him..”There is no right way, there is the way that works for you.” Over time I had found a way to play that fit me, and that gave me the results I was wanting.
I think of this a lot when I watch Major League Baseball. I watch each player go up to bat and each have a different way of standing in the box, holding their bat, and swinging. And those methods have developed over time to give them the results they desire.
So what does this have to do with communication? Find what fits you, church, or organization, and what gives you the results that work. Maybe that means going all electronic in your communication using Facebook, Twitter, and a Blog. Maybe that means you mail out a weekly newsletter to each of your members. Maybe that means a combination of everything.
So what do you do? Here are some suggestions.
1. Find out how your congregation communicates- This can be done by a simple survey question that says “How do you want us to communicate with you?” and then list several ways like email, newsletter, twitter etc…
2. Don’t do something just cause everyone else is- If you spend countless hours updating your church facebook page, but no one uses facebook then you are wasting time. Just because the church down the street does it, doesn’t mean it will be effective for you.
3. Do keep your congregation informed of new ways that you can communicate- Just because your church doesn’t use facebook now, doesn’t mean they won’t in the future. Hold workshops, write articles and talk with people about new ways of communication.
4. Don’t use more methods than you can keep up with- You want to use as many communication tools as you can, however it is better to do fewer things well than a lot of things poorly. If you are a social networking person then find someone else who can take care of your print publications.
5. Create once and deliver different ways- There are several ways you can combine your delivery methods that cut down on your work. If you print your announcements and news in the bulletin do it in such a way that the news sheet can be mailed out. Have your blog automatically post to twitter and facebook. Anytime you can do this, you multiply the eyes that see your information.
Those are my five ways.. what do you suggest?

How to Make a Slide Show Without a Computer?

Russell Martin — Wed, 29 Jul 2009 05:07:38 +0000

This past year I was introduced to Animoto, a service that takes your photos and turns them into a slide show. I really hadn’t done more than a few attempts at videos. However earlier Animoto released an app for the iphone. I began wondering if it would be possible use this app to create a slideshow of an event without ever using a computer. This last weekend I led a group of adults and Jr. High youth at a BIG HOUSE camp and I used the opportunity to try it out.
Each day I began by taking about 90-95 photos from morning till night. After that I selected the ones I wanted to use and uploaded them to the animoto app. After choosing my music I set it to render. It took between 5-15 minutes depending on my connection. I never had Wi-Fi but generally had the 3G network. Once the photos were uploaded and it began rendering I could close it out. Animoto sent me an email when my video was ready.

I ended up making one video per day including one the last day of camp. Usually we show our overall camp slide show on Saturday night, and then pack up on Sunday morning. Doing this completely using the iphone I was able to even take photos on Sunday morning, and on the drive home, (my wife was driving) I was able to upload and render the video.

Click here to see Saturday’s video.

One setback. Right now the videos created on the iphone do not show up on the web version. They say they are working on this and will have it fixed soon.