are passionate about cultivating the unique voice God has given them. What are some of the things you’ ve done to develop your sound as worship leaders on a practical level in terms of technique, as well as finding your own unique approach?
The Band and excellence.
[ WM ] Steffany, in a video Amanda posted on her Instagram feed you’ re doing a vocal warmup singing major triads, ascending in increments of half-steps. How extensive is your knowledge of theory, and how deep does your musicianship go?
[ Steffany ] I know that those are major triads, and they are half-steps, but I don’ t ever use the language. I grew up in a musical household, but my knowledge and my ability to teach it are two very different things. It’ s not the thing that I have studied so that I can stand in front of you and teach music theory. But my ears do hear the changes, like when people are singing harmonies using notes that don’ t belong in the chord – it makes me banana-cakes! I have good internal rhythm, and I always have a click in my ears. I feel and hear the music very clearly, and if you’ re talking to me about music theory, most of the time I will know what you’ re talking about. There are a few things that are above my pay grade! But I’ ve actually been going back and learning more than I did when I was younger. My mom was an incredible musician, but I became a little lazy. Vocally, I learned a lot over the years. Voice was my main instrument. So, my music theory isn’ t as strong as I would like it to be, but I am still growing in my learning so that I can speak the language better.
[ WM ] Style! Many, if not most, worship leaders
[ Steffany ] In a beautiful way, we’ re always going to reflect the people who have changed our lives. As far as music goes, my influences are from mainstream as well as the church. If I were to list off all of the people that have affected me and influence my sound, it would make sense to you, you would be able to hear that bit of a sound in my voice. It’ s like a baby who learns by mimicking sounds and repeating what they hear until they can speak for themselves. Then, they grow up and find their own voice, make their own sounds, and try out their own language. It’ s been like that for me in worship. When I got to the place where I didn’ t actually need to sound like someone else to feel safe or confident, then I started expanding and growing. There’ s something beautiful about the sound of all of us singing with one voice, and no one needing to take the lead. That’ s my dream, as a worship leader, that I could lead the people to a place where I completely disappear, and with one voice they just take over, find their own song, and lead themselves in worship. That’ s my‘ heaven’ as a worship leader. I hope I’ m out of a job soon – that’ s my hope!
[ Kalley ] Bethel Music has provided vocal lessons for us, which is just amazing! We’ re talking about upkeep on an instrument, and we want to steward that really well and bring the
24 June 2018 WorshipMusician. com