Instrumental Reflection #21 – On a Hill
Feb 24, 2010 Devotions and Thoughts, Instrumental Reflections
While I sat down to write this I had the words to the hymn “Old Rugged Cross” stuck in my head. The phrase “On a hill, on a hill far away, stood an old rugged cross, an old rugged cross” kept echoing in my head. That rhythm became the recurring theme of this song.
To listen click play!
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Tags: Instrumental, Music, piano, reflections
The Importance of Teaching
Dec 9, 2009 Youth Worship
When working with my youth worship team I often find myself emphasizing rehearsing the songs. After all, we generally have one event or another to prepare for so that means creating a songlist, and working up that music to perform or lead with.
I have realized, however, that there is a huge benefit to teaching, and not just rehearsing. When I first started to teach guitar lessons I told myself that I wanted my students to learn why a chord was what it was, what the names of the notes they were paying etc… Instead of just “play this chord”
I believed by teaching them how to learn to play guitar, then they could continue to learn whether I was teaching them or not.
The same thing should be true for worship teams. We should work with them to teach the basics of chord structures, rhythms, balance, tone, song structure, etc… So that they begin to recognize these things.
What’s cool is that when your group starts to learn these things, they begin to play musically together. You don’t have to explain every part of every song, but they begin to feel it.
For us this has resulted in more productive rehearsals, and more enjoyable ones too.
So what basic lessons would you teach a beginning praise band?
Tags: band, Event, guitar, How To, lessons, Music, praise, rehearsal, sing, song, Songlist, Songs, Team, work, Worship, worship team, worship teams, youth, Youth Worship
Words of Encouragement
Dec 1, 2009 Devotions and Thoughts
When I was in college I was part of a ministry leadership team for a student ministry group. Each week we had a memory verse that we had to memorize and recite at our weekly meeting. These scriptures, ingrained in my head, have been helpful in different situations to offer comfort and encouragement.
Here is one I recited often over the past two weeks through our move to a new house.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”
~ Philippians 4:6-7
Tags: Christmas, College, encouragement, help, house, Music, Nothing But Nets, peace, Prayer, Request, scripture, Team
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
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
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
