Friday, August 30, 2013

Note reading in worship will help


If 2 percent of worshippers are able to use notes to read music in worship singing, it will make a huge difference for the worship as a whole.

Sources say that only 2 percent of the human race are note readers. That means that 2 percent of worshippers are note readers. If that 2 percent is allowed to read notes during worship music, it will substantially change the way the congregation sounds. Note readers are sprinkled through our congregations and know how to project their voices. They will add volume and texture to the congregational sound, given the opportunity to see where the melody and the harmonies go. I was in a worship setting recently where the guitarist said the quick word “sing” before every difficult phrase. We were given the words of the song on a digital projector, but I was left to guess where the melody was going. If I had been given the notes, I could have helped a lot from row 40.

I recently discovered an excellent source for words and notes that can be projected digitally. I practiced it in a congregation of 300 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and it works. Here’s the link. http://digitalsongsandhymns.com



I’m operating from the premise that cultivating and enhancing the congregational voice is the best thing that worship leaders and pastors can do for their church music.

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Did the people sing?

I love the congregational voice in worship. Through years of observing, leading and participating in worship, I have found the "congregational voice," the joint people's voice, to be the most thrilling and powerful. It supersedes the accompanist's at the keyboard, the guitarist's, the worship leader's, and the soloist's.


Many worship leaders are coming to this conclusion, to the extent that at a recent workshop for church musicians, I heard Keith Getty (one of the authors and composers of In Christ Alone) state that the primary, if not only, question that the music worship team should consider on Monday morning is, "Did the people sing?"

I have played the piano in church since 1973, and led church singing since 1981. I also directed a high school choir for more than 25 years. I tried never to settle on one style of music, one rhythm, or one era. But I did always follow substantive, Biblical lyrics set to a good melody.

I'll keep a running commentary on improving congregational singing, using links that I find helpful or interesting. Please feel free to comment or send me an email.