WORSHIP LEADERS
FIVE TIPS FOR MAXIMIZING REHEARSALS, PART 2 | Brian Michael Fuller
Most worship leaders I know, at any level, 2. COMMUNICATE CONSTANTLY 5. CAPTURE IT
desire for their teams to grow both spiritually There is no such thing as overcommunicating. It’s awesome to throw a camera in the back of
and musically. One of our best and most People are busy with life. Most of your your room and video your run through. Then
effective tools for encouraging this is our weekly volunteers are probably juggling job tasks, you can simply upload it to a private YouTube
rehearsals! I nearly go into shock when I think kid stuff, schooling and various other things. link and send your team the link to watch. This
about how many worship ministries don’t have Their schedules can get crazy and sometimes allows people to reference new arrangements,
them. they even forget what day it is. Make sure that transitions and more while they are putting
each week you are creating ‘touch points’ for the finishing touches on their music between
In our last article, we talked about the power you team. I usually send out an email Monday rehearsal and Sunday. It doesn’t have to be
of rehearsals and why we should have them. thanking them for serving and maybe including fancy, just make sure the sound is flattering.
Today, I would like to share with you some a scripture. Before rehearsals on Wednesdays practical ways to maximize your rehearsals and they will get an early morning reminder of the If you are currently doing none of these, your
ensure that your team is moving in a direction songs and me saying, “See you tonight at next step is easy. Pick one now and commit
towards growth and sharpening! rehearsal!” The final piece is a Saturday night to implementing it, not by talking about it, but
email saying, “I can’t wait to worship with you by doing it! Change doesn’t happen overnight
These tips are tried and true and are not solely tomorrow! Thanks for being on our team”. This so buckle in and watch the journey unfold. In
my ideas. They have been carefully curated keeps everyone on the same page and it lets six months, you will be kicking yourself for not
from mentors, friends, peers and fellow worship people know that I’m thinking of them. starting earlier!
trustworthy over decades of diverse and unique 3. DON’T WASTE PEOPLE’S TIME If you are doing a few of these, nice work! Now
experiences. I hope that you can glean some Don’t be afraid to plan out every minute of your you can tweak your system to install more of
inspiration from these ideas and that it will bless night. People appreciate direction and clarity these things as soon as possible. Cast vision
your culture of ministry in God honoring ways and there is not much worse than a completely for your team and let them know you are upping
moving forward. disorganized rehearsal that seems chaotic. the ante. They will thank you for it.
pastors and have been tested and proven
Showing people what to expect shows them
If you are just beginning to implement weekly
respect and helps them feel valued.
rehearsals, these tips will help you get off on the
right foot. I spent way too many years, early on,
If you are doing all of these, congratulations!
You are the sensei that the world has
EXAMPLE LAYOUT:
been waiting for as you can testify to the
winging it and I wish I someone would have told • 6:00 pm Band & Vocal Soundcheck effectiveness of these things! Although, don’t
me these things when I started leading worship • 6:30 pm Run Songs get too comfortable, because now it may be
teams. Take these tips and run with them and • 7:00 pm Devotional with entire team time for you to dream about what the next level
save yourself lots of trouble! • 7:30 pm Full Run-Through for your team is. Your challenge is to create
• 8:30 pm Q & A new excitement, a fresh energy and something
• 9:00 pm Finished innovative so that your amazing team doesn’t
1. HAVE A CLEAR VISION AND PURPOSE
Don’t wing it. Make sure that every single time
grow bored, complacent or stagnant. It is no
you rehearse, that you have thought about what 4. LEAVE ROOM FOR COMMUNITY easy task, but one that I’m sure you are ready
your team needs to accomplish. One week it Make sure your time isn’t just spent running for. Happy rehearsing!
may be a special feature, one week it may be songs and tweaking tech. Devote a portion of a new song or perhaps you just need to drill your rehearsal to real Bible study, prayer and down on transitions and moments. Whatever getting to know each other. Don’t be afraid to it is, don’t just show up and go through the let the people on your team lead this portion as motions. Having a great end result in mind is well. You would be surprised by the gifts that critical to accomplishing great things and not some of your team may have leading people. growing stagnant. This is a great way to discover those.
48
December 2019
Brian Michael Fuller
Brian is a composer, multi-instrumentalist and
worship musician who currently serves as the
worship arts pastor at Newhope Church in Durham,
North Carolina. You can hear some of his original
production music at www.fullertime.com. The pad
sets that he has designed are exclusively available
at www.worshiptutorials.com and have sold over
50,000 copies.
www.FullerTime.com
Subscribe for Free...