Most church teams have a pre-service rehearsal to run through the songs for that service, and it’s always short. We usually have about 45 mins to ensure that the songs and other relevant aspects of the service are known and segueing together smoothly. You may have more time if you have an established church building with much of the set up done.
Again, a lot of preparation is needed to think through how the service flows so that it is a complete and coherent experience. This is often pulled together by the service pastor (or pastoral team), and the worship leader. The responsibility for this will vary from church to church, but often requires a number of inputs. Some churches have a team of people who oversee the service, but at the end of the day, someone has to finalise it.
Preparation, as always is key. We use a tool called Planning Centre that helps us work collaboratively, and gives access to team members to the program and resources needed for the service. From here, charts, videos, MP3’s and more can be accessed, as well as the program itself.
- Service Plan: Have the service plan printed for everyone including musicians, singers, PA and AV people, hosts, speakers and anyone else who needs to be in the loop. Put it in the same place so everyone knows where to pick it up. Ours looks something like this.
- Arrival. People need to arrive early enough to get ready to start at the preplanned time. Drums need to be set up & tuned (yep! tuned), guitars tuned, etc before rehearsal starts. Connection time with each other is also good so that when you get to rehearse, you actually rehearse rather than share extended conversations about your Saturday night social event.
- Sound Check. There is an art to the sound check that will be covered in another blog, but it is necessary to have one before you rehearse. Sound check enables volume levels, voice tones & instrument tones etc to be balanced as well as ensuring that everything works.
- Note: If you are using vocal harmonies, it’s important to sing a song unaccompanied – one that displays the harmonies clearly, and one that is very familiar to you. I know some places use the same song each week, year in and year out!!
- Rehearse. This is not a time to learn new songs. (OK… I’ve broken this rule once or twice!! but more on that in a different post). Here’s how it should go…
- Blow out the cobwebs. Start with an upbeat song that clears out the cobwebs. It probably won’t be pretty, but it’s essential to get people into the mindset. Use one that you are confident with and know really well. If possible, use one that you will do on the day.
- Clarify Introductions. Make sure the song introductions are clear – who is doing what. Eg. Does it begin with drums, lead guitar, whole band… you get the idea. Introductions – indeed consistent introductions – sound a clear message to the congregation as to which song you are doing & keep them engaged. These are far more important than most people give time to. They set the mood, “announce” the song, enhance congregational expectation, and so much more. Most of us have been to a concert where a band strikes up the opening riff – be it a chord riff, guitar solo, drum beat – that is recognisable to the audience and they immediately engage.
- Tighten endings and segues. Make sure everyone is clear on how the song ends or segues to the next song. You will need to be sensitive if someone might pray at the end of a song and know how to play behind that, if at all.
- Note: Don’t rehearse it till it’s just right then leave it. Play it correctly a few times to embed this into the song.
- Allow time to go over any new song more than once. Be aware of this before you rehearse. You may wish to do it early in the rehearsal and again at the end.
- Extra: if you have time, go through the openings and endings or each song – just the intros and first verse, and outros – to makes sure they are together. This should take less than 5 mins.
- Pray. We have sometimes done this at the start, middle and end of a rehearsal. The end helps to refocus the team, ensure unity of purpose, and prepare our own hearts to worship as we play and sing.
- Remain calm even when things are going pear shaped… and they will.
- Avoid giving anyone a “spray” for any reason. It’s never appropriate. Loosing your cool can effect the entire service or part of the service, and distract others from what they are about to do. Wait till you’ve cooled down – well after the service, and preferably at a team meeting where you can calmly speak to issues and adjust any rehearsal procedures.
Remember this is not about “you” but about all of us serving our wonderful God, by serving others.
Share some of your pre-service wins.
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Great thoughts John! Run Sheets I reckon are greatest communication tool ever as they engage every level of leadership in the details of an event such as a service. They give opportunity for leadership to change or approve, production teams to give feedback for those potential “how’s that supposed to work?” oncoming accidents, as well as the preacher their cue to tune in score they preach:)
Elvanto and Service Plan seem to be great software solutions for doing these as a templates procedure at weekly meetings.
Agree – heard great things about elvanto. I use Planningcenter.com – it’s excellent. Thanks for the thoughts