Tag Archives: praise

The Importance of Teaching

December 09, 2009   Russell Martin   No comments

basic mathWhen 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?

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Creative Artists or Praise and Worship Cover Band?

October 28, 2009   Russell Martin   7 Comments

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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Criticism and Praise

October 26, 2009   Russell Martin   2 Comments

I was reading through the google shared items of Michael Hyatt, and ran across an entry he had shared called False Praise and Distorted Criticism by Pete Wilson. Read the whole post,  but I wanted to share one thing that the Pete said.

Don’t waste your time listening to false praise or distorted criticism. The praise will go straight to your head and the criticism will go directly to your heart. Both will lead you astray and both will damage the work God is doing in you and through you.

Wow, how true that is. I can point to many times in my life when false praise has blown my head up. I also look back at times where I let criticism crush me. At both points I was worrying about, or basking in what others said about me, and took my focus off of Christ and his work through me.

As Christians, we need to remember that our purpose and our worth comes from Christ.

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Instrumental Reflection #9- It Is Well With My Soul

October 07, 2009   Russell Martin   3 Comments
Sometimes these reflections are hard to come up with. Unfortunately this weeks came too easy, but for a difficult reason .
My sister’s best friend was supposed to be married in a few weeks. A few days ago her fiancee went to sleep and never woke up. I cannot even begin to imagine what she and the family are going through. I cannot think of any words to say. When I found out the news this one song rushed into my head and has not gone away.
This reflection is not only for her, but for all who are going through tough times.

Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.

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  1. It is Well With My Soul
    by Horatio G Spafford
  2. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
    When sorrows like sea billows roll;
    Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
    It is well, it is well, with my soul.

    • Refrain:
      It is well, with my soul,
      It is well, it is well, with my soul.
  3. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
    Let this blest assurance control,
    That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
    And hath shed His own blood for my soul.
  4. My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
    My sin, not in part but the whole,
    Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
    Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!
  5. For me, be it Christ, be it Christ hence to live:
    If Jordan above me shall roll,
    No pang shall be mine, for in death as in life
    Thou wilt whisper Thy peace to my soul.
  6. But, Lord, ’tis for Thee, for Thy coming we wait,
    The sky, not the grave, is our goal;
    Oh, trump of the angel! Oh, voice of the Lord!
    Blessed hope, blessed rest of my soul!
  7. And Lord, haste the day when my faith shall be sight,
    The clouds be rolled back as a scroll;
    The trump shall resound, and the Lord shall descend,
    Even so, it is well with my soul.

If you would be interested the family has set up a pay pal account  which will be used to defray funeral expenses and to pay bills, etc. that may need to be covered. Any gift would be appreciated.

Also I will pass on any comments or words of encouragement you leave in the comments.

1.  Go to paypal.com
2. Press Send (to send money)
3. Enter davidrosbrough@gmail.com in the to box and then enter your email address in the from box
4. Enter amount desired.
5. Scroll down and click on “personal” and “gift”
6. Press continue and follow instructions

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Late Night of Praise and Worship

June 02, 2009   Russell Martin   No comments

latenightworship
A week ago I was part of a fun little concert. We decided to host a “Late Night of Praise and Worship” after the evening worship service at Annual Conference. The idea was to provide a venue for some worship leaders who write their own worship songs to share those. We gathered in The Loft at The Woodlands UMC, set up a sound system and then took turns sharing music. The evening started with David Davis who is worship leader at John Wesley UMC. He shared some tracks off his last release, The Light and the Grey, and also introduced us to some new tunes he had been working on. It was great to hear his music. Second Kerri Crocker sang some of her songs from her CD, Reason to Be. After that she also shared a new worship tune that she was working on. I got the crowd up and we sang “Lord Let Your Love” and then the title song from my Unfailing Love CD. I was disappointed at first because we were supposed to also hear from Shelly Wilson. She had been sick and was unable to sing. God had different plans for her, other than singing, because she brought a convicting message for the church. Finally Kerri came back up and we closed with “Breathe”
It was great to get an evening of music and worship shared among old and new friends. Special thanks to the Lonna Nunn, Anna Rhode and the North District of the UMC for sponsoring the event. Hopefully it will be one we can continue to do.

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