percentage they need to contribute at any given moment , even if that number is at times 0 %.
Oftentimes that breakdown may look like 30 % vocals , 25 % keys , 15 % electric guitar , 15 % drums , 10 % bass , and 5 % acoustic guitar . Sometimes it could be 25 % drums , 25 % electric guitar , and the rest of the band falls in line to compliment a driving and energetic beat . Every section of every song will fluctuate in their needed percentage .
When we are unified on why we are doing what we ’ re doing in leading worship , then our goal will always be the end result of the full band ’ s sound . And furthermore , when a team really grasps this concept , it opens more freedom and flexibility as musicians are able to read each other and the room in the moment , knowing where they fit in to the sonic landscape at any given time .
MultiTracks . com where before you even step on stage , you can listen to the exact part you ’ ll need to play . The note for note part from the original recording . Nothing more , nothing less . Not only is this helpful for the actual setlist you ’ re preparing for , but it ’ s also an amazing resource to learn the role different instruments play in different genres , songs , and situations .
Another simple way to express this is the idea that while no direction or guidelines can sound appealing , it can often lead to missing the mark or simply overdoing it . In the classic “ where should we go eat ?” dilemma , when the question is open ended , it ’ s that much harder to decide . There are just too many options and analysis paralysis creeps in . However , when the question is “ would you like to go Place A or Place B ?” the decision becomes more manageable ( and typically you ’ d already be sitting down eating in the time you ’ d ’ have taken to decide on the open-ended question ).
All of this is to simply say that when you know your role and what is expected of you , you are more likely to get it right . Contrary to popular belief , structure provides us freedom to explore within pre-agreed upon boundaries and most often leads us to a better result , faster .
By the way , Miles Davis also said , “ I can tell whether a person can play just by the way he stands .” Similarly , Canadian communication theorist Marshall McLuhan proposed that “ the medium is the message .” While I don ’ t think worship leading was what either person had in mind with their quotations , I believe that when the entire team is on the same page in regard to how we ’ re presenting the message we ’ re trying to present , there is a focus and confidence that adds to the validity of our message . If we are distracted , it ’ s likely that our congregation is too . If we are free to focus on the heart of what we ’ re presenting , it ’ s likely that our congregation is too .
Jesse Schaefer Product Marketing Manager at MultiTracks . com , where he is passionate about connecting worship leaders with recourses that improve their services and give them time back to focus on what matters .