YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM
JUST ONE SONG , PLEASE ! | Vance & Michelle Shepherd
Coming off the touring circuit from a full time professional secular music career , my wife and I found ourselves attending a church where we met a very talented worship leader . He had the gift of encouragement , and would always lift up and encourage any musician that he came across , including us . He had such a joyful spirit emanating from the platform that we had to approach him after church one night and offer our services to him as musicians and singers . And our long friendship began and still exists to this day . How can you as a leader encourage others to join your youth worship team and be inspired ?
Well , if you ’ re frustrated as a youth worship leader due to lack of musicians ( which most youth worship leaders are !), keep in mind that there is no shortage of interest from students wanting to be on the worship team . You just need to tap into their desire to be in the band and make a way for them to play on your youth worship team , even if it ’ s for just one song in the worship set . If you ’ re able to plan out your worship sets three or four weeks ahead ( which we should really all be doing ), it gives you plenty of time to take two or three students under your wing and either give them a little musical coaching . Or encourage them to take a couple of music lessons with a teacher , with the goal of them auditioning to play live in an up and coming worship service . The excitement and buzz it creates for the rest of the students in your ministry to see someone new on the platform leading worship with the band creates even more interest , and soon you ’ ll have a bunch of new recruits to your worship team !
We have had numerous instances where a student comes to us that has had prior music lessons , but they wanted to change music teachers because they felt stifled with their current lesson strategy . We ’ ve had countless parents tell us that their kids had been taking music lessons for one or two years , but they couldn ’ t even play a song yet . They felt bogged down with all the technicalities , scales and music theory , when all they wanted to do was just be in a live band and play actual songs ! Now we all know that music theory and technique play an essential part in a student ’ s musical training , to help them become wellrounded great musicians . But we ’ ve found that in order to inspire them , to ignite their passion for music , we need to set reasonable goals for them , getting them to learn just one song as quickly as possible , while also providing outlets to play music in a live situation with other students .
You as a leader can play a huge role in your church ’ s growth and in your youth worship services . I ' d like to recommend thinking outside of the box the next few Sundays .
Maybe you currently have a handful of students that serve in your youth ministry with you . They might be faithful greeters , production assistants , team leaders . Try approaching them and ask if they want to play on the worship team next month . Yes , they might look at you like you ’ re crazy and say , " What are you talking about ”? But find out if music inspires them , if they ’ ve ever wanted to be a part of the band . Let them know you would like to come alongside them and assign them a simple musical part they could play , even if it ' s just on the choruses of one song .
Some examples of easy parts you could give them would be : whole note piano chords on just the choruses of one song . You could have someone play 8th or 16th notes on an egg shaker or tambourine , or use a synth keyboard with a tambourine or shaker percussion sound . It will add so much to your front of house mix !
We ’ ve seen firsthand that once these students get into a live worship situation with you , even if it ’ s just for one song , or just a bridge or chorus of one song , it will definitely light a fire in them . They ’ re going to want to do it again next month and play even more parts . Their parents are going to be so excited that they ’ re passionate about it , and will probably even spring for music lessons on-going . Also , you more than likely will have a packed house with their family and friends wanting to see them play live . This brings the potential of new people coming to your service .
We saw this literally play out first hand this past Sunday : we had a new music student that ’ s only been with us for a few short weeks be able to join our established youth worship team and play keyboard on all four songs - he was so excited ! He practiced like crazy because he had a goal and a date to play on the worship team , and he can ’ t wait for his next opportunity ! By keeping it achievable for them , you as a mentor and leader can start to build your own youth worship army in your church right now !
May you be blessed as you pour into or become the next generation of worship leaders !
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