Practical, hands-on training and support for church bands. 

A group of us from the Lakeshore Area of West Michigan meet once monthly over lunch to trade stories, support each other, and figure out how to do church music better.  If you're interested in joining us, hit the 'Contact Me' button, and I'll get you the details.   

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Entries in ensemble playing (3)

Monday
Sep082008

Drum Shield Rant

DateMonday, September 8, 2008 at 09:20PM

Drum screens are the scourge of ensemble playing, the thing that’s nearly single-handedly responsible for bringing real, organic, combo music to it’s knees in churches all across America.  If I haven’t made myself clear, let me say it another way:  I hate these things. 

 

The only thing I can think of that has ruined church ensemble playing more than drums screens is cassette background tracks, and thank God we’re mostly past that ghastly parade of utterly forgettable pablum. 

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Friday
Sep052008

Finding 'Moments' Onstage, Part 1

DateFriday, September 5, 2008 at 08:29AM

Several weeks ago I did a post about ‘finding moments onstage’, and my friend Evan (who played bass for me many, many times when I was music directing) emailed and suggested I talk more about it.  So here we go:

 

Finding Moments Onstage

 

Think of a basketball team that’s hot on a particular night, everybody in the right place at the right time, thinking and acting as a unit, sometimes almost presciently anticipating each other’s moves, ball going through the net over and over.  Ask them afterward what happened, how it occurred, and the best answer you’ll probably get is that it was a result of all their practice, but beyond that they don’t know.  If they did, they’d do it every night.

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Thursday
Aug072008

Playing Your Part

DateThursday, August 7, 2008 at 03:48PM

Here at The Sunday Musician, I'm hoping to draw you out a little, hear your stories, compare notes, etc.  I can't be the only one who thinks being a church musician is both a privilege and a very, very odd thing.  I'll pass along what I've learned in the trenches, and we'll see where it gets us.

From my salad days as a music director:

I was listening to the pastor pray for the offering and tapping the tempo of the offertory song on my leg when Jim (15 yrs. old, bass player, already taller than me, and I’m 6’) leaned over to me and said, “Watch the podium guys.”

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