Over the past 40 years of more, I have lost count of the number of worship & band rehearsals that I have run… and I’ve had more than my fair share of disasters. Not every rehearsal will run as smoothly as we would like, but there are some things that greatly facilitate and enhance the possibility of having a successful rehearsal. And when I’m talking rehearsal, I mean the extended type where songs are learnt together and vision & purpose is revisited. (The pre service rehearsal will be another posting.)
All successful rehearsals begin early with preparation weeks in advance. The music director and/or worship leader is responsible for preparation and needs to put aside considerable time to plan.
Here’s some ways forward that will help set you up for a great rehearsal.
- Plan well ahead.
- Use YouTube clips for musicians and singers to get an idea of the song, or MP3’s where available.
- Have charts ready and accessible online in pdf format. Charts should include…
- The correct “singable” key (very often different to the recorded key)
- A BPM (beats per minute) value. This determines the tempo or speed of a song.
- A clearly defined structure (verse, chorus, bridge etc). Yes! You can be flexible when worshipping, but it needs to be defined.
- Chords are to be written above the syllable of the word, not the general vicinity. Many musicians are not familiar with reading the traditional chord charts, and song words with chords clearly written above them is essential.
- Any other directions that may be important.
- Contact well ahead (with continual reminders). Make sure people not only have the material, but the set times of rehearsal, the place, and what you want to achieve. Be sure to use a variety of communication formats (email, Facebook, texts, carrier pigeon) but a face to face invite is indispensable.
- Specify distinct roles well ahead. For example, who has lead in the song (keys, lead guitar). What is the correct groove of the song and who carries it. This will mean that the instrumentalists in particular need to learn the solo parts.
- Clarify your specific purpose well ahead. Everyone should know why they are there, and what you want to achieve. (eg. learn 3 songs; rehears difficult section, work on vocal/mike techniques etc)
- Prepare words for screen. Ensure the new song is in a format where words can easily be extrapolated for projection. A Word document (or similar) with no chord symbols will make it easy to put onto a program for use. Make sure they are correct – yes – even the spelling (have another person check it as well), and that the line breaks help the people to phrase the song – especially when they are learning it.
Planning like this doesn’t guarantee a great rehearsal, but not planning will guarantee a rehearsal that no one wants to be at, and one that has the potential to detract from the culture of your team. I know this from experience. Despite the countless rehearsals I’ve run, the endless chord charts I’ve written, the huge variety of ability that one has to span, I still have to plan well ahead if rehearsals are going to be worth having.
You may have some other things to add. Let me know and we can share the love !!
In Part 2 I will discuss the hidden but essential part of great rehearsals
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