Worship Musician February 2018 | Page 50

you to turn down, don’t fight it. Do figure out a creative way to get your sound as good as possible. Try getting a separate cab off stage, and turn your amp away from the singers and FOH. Also possibly cut back a bit on delays & reverb. It may sound amazing by itself but might be too washy out front. Lastly check to see if your crunch tone is too bright out front. If the top end sticks out too much it will be tiny in the mix. When your friends tell you they can’t hear you, choose your battles. Jesus still heard you just fine! Try to focus on entering into worship even more, and yet not play the martyr or victim. [WM] In reading through the notes you sent me from the workshops you did in Korea, I was taken by the fact that pretty much every session started with you’re saying that you can’t take the congregation someplace you haven’t been. What advice do you have for how grow your spiritual chops as much as your musical ones? [Michael] The challenge we have as church musicians, is to keep the main thing the main thing. We can depend too much on the worship leaders to do the heavy lifting in leading the congregation and following the Holy Spirit. I’m talking to myself since I often have to repent for being so easily distracted. When we enter into worship as a team 100%, there will be a real change in the atmosphere. In Isaiah 6:3-4 It says: And one called out to another, saying, “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole earth is filled with His glory.”4  And the with killer sounds. I’m an EDM fan so it’s a no play. We fight that all the time. We do have fun brainer. You can also lead on acoustic and just sneaking in little funny riffs between the players. set it up to play a nice pad underneath. It actually keeps us paying attention & listening to each other. Kind of like a musical subliminal [WM] Given how massive Lakewood is venue High-Five between us. your playing and gear to make sure it translates [WM] Regardless of the size of church, to the front of house? what tone tips do you have for players who want to make sure their guitar parts are heard front of house? singers, stems, choir and musicians. We try to [Michael] First respect and love the FOH keep it musical. It takes discipline to not over guys. They are your friend. When they ask February 2018 was filling with smoke. So as the angels call out while looking at each other and in total agreement in their beliefs and descriptions of for that kind of manifestation. Yet it’s also an individual thing. I’ve seen one person totally undone by the Holy Spirit, and then someone next to them just taking it all in. Memo to self: I want to be undone. cabinets under the stage. There are tons of 50 voice of him who called out, and the temple God… the place goes crazy. I think we all long wise, did you have to change anything about [Michael] We’re on in-ears and have the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the [WM] What are some of the specific ways having a degree in music has benefitted you as WorshipMusician.com