YOUTHLEADERSHIP
RAISING UP A YOUTH WORSHIP TEAM: AUDITIONS & TRAINING
In our last article, we discussed the first 4 Garage Band, etc. This audition audio file is an studies. We do not recommend passing them
crucial steps in getting a youth worship team amazing tool for the students to practice to. when they are not musically ready.
up and running in your church or ministry. (Yes, Any of these software programs will allow them it can really happen!) to create loops of a desired section of a song *** MUSIC TIP:
that they may be struggling with. This tool will We do ear training with all of our students, and
Step 1 was all about booking your first worship maximize their study time by being able to loop challenge them to pick out the parts that they
event. We suggested this as your first step, (repeat) those sections over and over without hear on the original recording, not just reading
because once you have a goal to work toward, touching a button. If your student doesn’t have a pop/lyric chord chart. We encourage them to
everything else will follow. Garage Band, Audacity is a free program for hear the notes, hum the notes that they hear,
Step 2 was choosing your 3 song worship set Windows or Mac that will allow them to do this and then find them on their instrument. It could
(we provided some great song ideas), keeping as well. YouTube offers tutorials on how to loop be a simple one note guitar line, string line, etc,
the songs simple. *Remember, you want a an audio file or any desired section of a song in but if played can really add a cool sound to
great first event! Audacity or Garage Band. Audacity Link: www. the mix and will get your team to sound more
Step 3 was auditioning your singers to audacityteam.org produced like the original recording. Also, we
determine who will be leading which songs,
so that you can get the material to the band
members (whether male or female keys).
Very important: Once you have determined
which songs (and keys of songs) for your
first worship event, the next crucial step is
to make an mp3 audition audio file of the 3
songs in order, with the exact arrangements
desired. Digitally pitch (if needed) each song
to the correct performance key, with little to
no space in between each song. This makes
it easier for the band to memorize the order
of the set list, and also trains them how to
come in to the next song with little or no
train their ears to not just listen to parts, but
We do ear training
with all of our students,
and challenge them
to pick out the parts
instrument tones (what type of guitar patch,
what sound on the keyboard, etc). You don’t
want to them to play a synth riff (which could
be a major part of the song) with a piano
sound… ugh!
On your first group rehearsal for your event,
that they hear on the if at all possible, make sure that you do this
original recording, not performing your event in. This way you can
just reading a pop/lyric plot, etc. You do not want to deal with this on
chord chart.
rehearsal in the same room that you will be
make all of your adjustments to sound, stage
the day of the event (especially with a large
worship team).
dead time. Transitions between songs are
very important!
May God bless you as you pour into the next
On the band audition day (1-2 weeks before
*** TECH TIP: your worship event), audition all of your students
Do a mono mixdown of each song, then with this same audio file, because it really lets
pan the audio to the left. Next, add in a click you hear how accurate (or not) they are playing.
track, panning it to the right side. This allows During the audition, you should have a note
the students to turn down the music side of pad, taking notes per song, and scoring each
the audio file so that they hear mostly click song to determine if they will pass the audition
and just a little of the original song, or vice for that month’s worship event. If they don’t
versa. It’s like a glorified metronome with the pass, we recommend giving them the option
arrangements attached to it. (Practicing with a of one extra audition, using the notes that you
metronome is crucial, and creates great groove took from their audition to help them hone in on
and feel in a musician, as well as training them what parts they need to practice to pass their
to play with a click track on any worship team audition. If they still do not pass with the extra
that may require that). You can produce these audition, there is always next month’s worship
audio files, as well as pitching your songs, in event (remember: one event per month). Try to
many digital work stations including Cubase, encourage them to keep pushing ahead in their
52
May Jun 2017
generation of worshipers!
WorshipMusician.com
VANCE & MICHELLE
SHEPHERD
Founders and operators of The
Shepherd School Of Music in
Las Vegas, Nevada, a music
and worship teaching facility
where they work with youth to
raise up the next generation of
worship leaders and musicians.
www.ShepherdStudiosLV.com