Instrumental Reflections #10- Bridal Entrance and Podcast Test
Oct 28, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections, podcast
This past weekend I had the privilege of providing music for the wedding of one of my former youth. The really cool part is that I was given the challenge of providing original music for the ceremony. This is the original recording of what was chosen for the Bride’s Entrance.
Also, I am using this post to test out the podcasting of Instrumental Reflections. The podcast will include not only these instrumental reflections but also other items, thoughts, videos, interviews etc that I can capture and put up here. What do you think?
Oh.. and I haven’t forgotten about the Christmas Instrumental Reflections.. I promise they are coming soon.
To listen click play!
Click here for the feed for the podcast or here to subscribe in itunes
Tags: bride, capture, Christmas, Click, Instrumental, mp3, Music, piano, podcast, Recording, reflections, sing, song, Songs, subscribe, Thoughts, video, wedding entrance, youth
Creative Artists or Praise and Worship Cover Band?
Oct 28, 2009 How To, Worship Planning
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?
Tags: band, CD, charts, chord chart, Church, facebook, Free, late, listen, Music, praise, praise and worship, Reading, Recording, Resource, resources, sing, song, Thoughts, Worship
Help Me Choose Christmas Instrumental Reflection
Oct 15, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections
I have very much enjoyed composing and posting the first 9 instrumental reflections I have shared with you. If you have been listening you know that some of the songs are original compositions, and some are original takes on old hymns. Most were chosen because they are my favorites, or say something to me, as I hope they have to you.
I thought it might be a good change though, to give you a chance to choose the instrumental reflections for Christmas. Over the next 6 weeks I plan to record 8-10 Christmas Hymn variations. I plan on writing them on Friday, so each week, from Monday-Thursday I’ll be taking suggestions. I will write a post on Monday asking for your ideas. Leave a comment on that post as to which hymn you think should be that weeks reflection and why. On Friday I’ll choose two and record them. If your’s is not chosen the first week be sure and suggest it the second week and so forth.
Each week I will also draw one name at random from those who entered. At the end of the recordings I will make a CD with the recordings and send them out to those winners.
Rule: Only one suggestion per person, per week. That way one person doesn’t just list all the Christmas songs ever written.
Ok.. sound good?
Tags: asking, Carols, CD, choose, Christmas, Free CD, help, Hymn, Instrumental, listen, Recording, reflections, Share, sing, song, Songs, Win
Instrumental Reflection #7
Sep 19, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections
I have to admit it has been much harder than I originally thought to produce one of these reflections per week. I won’t get caught up but will try to be more reliable in the future.
This week I sat down in my office and flipped through the hymnal. I came across one of my favorite hymns “My Jesus I Love Thee.” I love leading contemporary worship but definitely miss some of the hymns I grew up singing week after week. I decided to just sit down and play what came to mind. This recording is pretty close to my original thoughts. Enjoy.
Click to listen. Right click and choose “Save as” or “save target as” to save to your computer.
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Did you enjoy this Instrumental Reflection? Check out the other instrumental reflections in the suggested sites below. To get them delivered to your inbox Subscribe to forkintheroad by Email
To listen click play!
Tags: choose, computer, contemporary worship, email, favorite hymns, hymnal, Instrumental, mp3, Music, Recording, reflections, sing, song, Songs, subscribe, Thoughts, Worship
Recording Equipment: What Do You Suggest?
Mar 9, 2009 Uncategorized
I have been thinking lately that I would like to set up a small studio at the church. I am not looking for something too complicated but would like to be able to record our instruments into separate channels on Sunday mornings so they could be mixed to create a balanced recording.
I know there are many of you out there with alot of experience in this area so I would love for you to answer some of these questions. I am sure others reading would benefit from your years of experience too.
So here are your questions.
If you were going to set up a small studio how would you do it?
What equipment would you include? Computer software?
Interfaces?
What are some things to watch out for?
Finally what other questions would you ask?
Leave your answers in the comments, or if it is easier write your own blog post and leave the link in the comments.
Why We Don’t Rehearse Every Week
Feb 21, 2009 Uncategorized
How It Was
We used to reserve every Wednesday night for an hour and a half rehearsal. We showed up at 6:30 and rehearsed until 8:00. Then we would show up again at 8:30 a.m. on Sunday mornings for an hour to rehearse and soundcheck before Sunday School and our service at 10:30 am. That all changed last summer.
When it Changed
Last summer I had a few weeks where I was leading worship for some church camps and I was going to be out two weeks in a row on our regular Wednesday rehearsal. So I decided that for one month we would take a break from our Wednesday rehearsals and just show up a little early on Sunday morning. We made sure that our songlists did not include any new music, just songs that we needed to review. The band loved it. We have decided to continue the process.
How it Works Now
We meet on one Wednesday per month to work on new music that is coming up. That means I have to be prepared atleast 4 weeks ahead of time with the probable songlists. We use that rehearsal to go over new music. We listen to the songs, double check the songsheet and then try to run it atleast once through so we understand it. I also record these rehearsals and email them the recording we made, or make it available on planning center.
Then Sunday mornings we meet from 8:00 till 9:30 to rehearse for that Sunday morning. We go over each song atleast twice, and then take the rest of the time to work on the new song for the next week, just to refresh. Then we are ready to go for Sunday morning services.
The Challenges
Doing our rehearsals and lists this way has had its own set of challenges. The first would be that I have to have our songlists done in advance. (How we do that). The second challenge is having enough time to go over songs. This has meant we have had to be more disciplined with our time and not waste time during rehearsals.
The Benefits
The first benefit I have noticed is that we have been forced to limit our amount of new songs. This means we have, as a band, learned the ones we use better. It has also meant our congregation has had time to learn the songs. It seemed like before we would learn a song, use it, and then not use it again for a while.
Secondly I have noticed we are not going over things twice. It seemed like no matter what we worked on for Wednesday we were repeating it on Sunday morning anyway.
Thirdly I work with volunteers who have families. We all do. I think it has been great to give my already busy dedicated volunteers an extra night most weeks that they can spend at home.
The fourth reason was more of a factor this summer when gas prices were topping $3.50. The less times that we were driving back and forth to tthe church, the less gas was spent.
Our band has agreed to keep Wednesdays free and I agreed to give one weeks notice of an extra rehearsal. We did this as we prepared for Christmas and probably will for Easter.
What is your rehearsal schedule?
Tags: band, busy, camp, Christmas, Church, Free, Recording, rehearsal, songlists, Songs, summer, Sunday, Team, work, Worship
Iphone Apps for Musicians- Part 3
Jan 3, 2009 Media and Technology
This post is third in a series where I have highlighed some of the most useful apps for the iphone and ipod touch that I have found for my ministry leading worship. Here are the final 4.
Evernote-Their website says “Evernote allows you to easily capture information in any environment using whatever device or platform you find most convenient, and makes this information accessible and searchable at any time, from anywhere.” I have just begun using this software and haven’t started using it to it’s full potential but it looks promising. The ability to sync online and iphone is good. I could definately see it useful when purchasing equipment and making comparisons.
Twittelator- If you are a twitter user this is a great app to have. It is my primary form of interacting on twitter. I can send photos, direct messages, and replies. It also supports the location feature so everyone can know exactly where you are. It does from time to time get overwhelmed if you are following a large number of people who update very often but all in all it does well. There is a free version and then Twittelator Pro which costs a few dollars.
Pandora- I wrote about this a few months ago for the desktop version. The Pandora program for the iphone works just the same. Enter a song or artist and it will create a station based around the sound characteristics of that artist or song. The result is a play list that is similar in style that you can listen to all day long. I have used this both on the edge and 3G networks as well as Wifi. As long as you have a signal you can listen. The downside is you cannot listen to it and do anything else on your phone. Until apple lets us run two programs simultaneously.
BONUS APPLICATION FOR MUSICIANS
Gigbaby- A four track recorder with drum machine and metronome? Yeah and all for under a buck. I wouldn’t produce any records with it but great for recording song ideas. This was not in my original list but I ran across it the other day and have loved it since.
Tags: application, apps, Free, iphone, Recording, twitter, work, Worship
How Do You Record a Worship CD?
Dec 11, 2008 How To
Ever since I have been at our church we have had the idea to record a worship CD. We are wanting to do something as a praise team using both original and already recorded worship songs that our congregation has grown to love. So what advice, tips or tricks do you have to share with us? Here are a few of my questions.
1. How do you get the permission to use someone elses songs? What was the process
2. How did you record? Live or Studio? Did you go somewhere or do it at your church?
3. How did you balance recording a CD and your normal responsibilities leading worship at your church?
I know there are many talented worship leaders out there who have gone through this and who can share there insights. Hopefully your comments will not only answer some of our questions but will be helpful for others who are looking into this process too. Thanks in advance.
Tags: CD, Church, Recording, Songs, Team, Worship, Worship Leader
Free Song: Awaken Our Hearts
Sep 27, 2008 Free Stuff
This summer I was sitting down and I was thinking, “If I were going to write a prayer for the church of today to pray to God, what would we say. I was thinking it should be a song of revival but yet a song of confession. The words to this song just flowed out. It was probably the first time a song has come so quickly and completely.
So I wanted to share this song with you. Maybe you can use it in your worship services. Maybe you can use it in your own personal time. All I ask is two things. 1. Don’t record, take credit for it and keep all the money.. and 2. Let me know how it works in your service. If you are interested in the Chord Sheet contact me and I will send it to you.
This was recorded at our church a few weeks ago. It’s by no means a professional recording but you can hear the words and music clearly. Please enjoy!
If you liked this then check out these other freebies from me. You can also download Unfailing Love now on itunes.
Tags: Church, Free, Free Song, freebie, Prayer, Recording, summer, work, Worship
Free Song: Angelise
Aug 23, 2008 Free Stuff
I think that God speaks to us in many different and unique ways. I think also that we can speak to him in different ways. Some of us prefer to express our thoughts in poetry, some by serving and building things, some on our knees in prayer. I have always felt connected most when music is involved. Music is the way I express myself, my thoughts, my emotions. My mom said I used to come home after school, go to the back room where the piano was and play. If I had experienced a particularly rough day, my song would start out fast, furious and angry , but as I played would mellow out, become more lyrical and peaceful.
I still continue to play. I mean I write and lead music on the piano as part of worship, but sometimes I really like to go in and sit down and just play whatever comes to mind. I am amazed how much i can work things out, how long I can spend thinking about God, talking to God and expressing through the keys.
Angelise was written in one such session while I was on a mission trip in Mexico. I found a few minutes after a long day of work, sat down at a slightly out of tune piano and began playing this simple melody. The name of the song comes from a french baby name meaning angelic.
I put it up here for you to listen to. I have not yet written out the music or know if anyone would be interested in it. For now though just listen, and enjoy.
Right click on ANGELISE and save as to save to your computer. The recording comes from my CD “From Me To You” which is available on my Indie Heaven Website.
Please reply and let me know what you think.
To listen click play!
Tags: angel, CD, Free, Free Song, Prayer, Recording, Thoughts, work, Worship
