YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
FIRST IMPRESSIONS | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Have you ever heard the saying “You don’t get
a second chance to make a first impression?”
In the church, the first thing people usually see
and hear is the worship band. Many church-
goers that we have talked to will pick their future
church based on how good the worship is. It
might also be someone’s first time in church.
Consider that we as regular church-goers have
a lot more grace for a worship band that is not
up to the standard of secular bands but those
that are new to church have much different
musical standards. The church should strive to
have its worship be authentic, heart-led, and as
skilled as possible. (Psalm 33:3, 1 Sam 16:16)
One of our new students told me that the youth suggestions for your audition process, you can have auditioned in the last few years. He’s not
pastor at their church found out she was taking revisit our November 2018 article). able to execute the simplest musical phrases
that are on the recordings, and if they were
music lessons. Without even knowing what
her skill level was he said to her, "How about We feel that the audition process is extremely to re-audition this particular musician now, he
playing on the worship team next week?” I necessary and beneficial in the student’s musical probably would not pass. This musician doesn't
knew that she wasn't even close to being ready success. If they don’t pass, encourage them to strive to take music lessons or get better in his
and I told her that it would be like throwing her keep working! Let them know you’re in their skill set, simply because he is already on the
in the ring with a professional boxer when she corner and cheering them on. Possibly reach team. The audition process at this church is
could barely spar. After talking with both the out to some other accomplished musicians in now quite different. When someone expresses
parent and the student about it, they agreed. your church and see if they would like to work interest in trying out for the worship team, a
They let the pastor know that she would like with your youth ministry. When our students video of them singing or playing is required
to continue to up her skill level before joining audition we take notes and score them per even before they get to the live audition. Now
the team. song, and point out parts they will need to have imagine if this musician I mentioned earlier had
down for the second audition. This way we’re to audition like this 18 years ago, failed the
We have seen this all too often: youth pastors setting a skill level standard for them to work audition, and realized he needed to get lessons
and leaders find out that a student plays an toward. If we put them on stage before they’re and more practice. It would more than likely be
instrument or sings, and they’re too quick to ready, we feel that we could be setting them up a totally different story and he might even be
put them on stage, even going so far as turning for failure, not encouraging them to become as an amazing musician today! You could play a
their instrument off in the PA, and running a skilled a musician or vocalist as they could be huge part in encouraging your youth to not just
track instead. Could we possibly be doing the some day. maintain their current skill level but to take extra
lessons and push themselves to become a real
student and the church more harm than good
in the long run by rushing them before they’re
Here’s a perfect example of this:
asset to your team.
ready? We suggest always having a formal
audition to find out what their current skill One of the churches that we serve in was birthed May you be blessed as you pour into the next
level is, and then give them practical goals to eighteen years ago with just a few hundred generation of worship leaders!
work toward. Also, mentoring them in a small people. They needed any musician they could group that’s geared toward worship would get. But now it's grown to over five thousand, be extremely helpful in keeping them focused and there’s a musician on the team that has on why we worship, and how to honor God been there from the beginning, but he is isn’t in the use of our talents and skills. (For more near the skill level of all the new musicians that 76 August 2019
Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Founders of The Shepherd School of Music in Las
Vegas, NV, where they work with youth to raise up the
next generation of worship leaders and musicians.
facebook.com/shepherdschoolofmusiclasvegas
www.ShepherdStudiosLV.com
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