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10 Practical Tips On Worship Leading
10 Practical Tips On Worship Leading
Fundamentally, your offering of praise & worship to God must be given your best
efforts at all times. Offering the best starts from your focus and your preparation.
God is your focus, not man. Let God be the focus of your desire for giving your best,
not impressing people.
After praying, start building your song list by singing them out and writing down the
list of songs that come to your mind. Don’t just rush through listing the songs.
Sing each song as it comes and reflect on the lyrics and flow of each song, and let
the flow of that song connect with next. This can happen easily if you allow each
song minister to you as you sing it. Somehow, by the help of the Holy Spirit, you’ll be
able to connect the flow of the songs, from one to another.
If you’re looking to lead praise worship for about 30 mins using contemporary songs,
you will likely have a list of 5-10 songs, and If it’s using traditional songs or a blend of
contemporary and traditional songs you will likely have 15-25 songs, because
traditional songs are more of short choruses with or without verses, and the different
traditional songs usually flow smoothly from one to another.
First, you need to rehearse with your keyboardist/pianist alone. Work with him to put
a few things in order where needed, like keys, songs transitions, arrangement,
etc.
Second, create a time to rehearse with other back-up singers, the keyboardist,
drummer, bassist, etc. This way you can get the best key(s) for you and the back-up
singers, for each song. This a regular for a functioning worship team.
For a very young worship leader who’s inexperienced, you can try asking for the
inputs of a ‘more experienced, humble and anointed worship leader’. His/her
advice might help reaffirm something the Holy Spirit has laid on your heart or help
open your eyes to more ways you can what you are struggling with.
4. Bible Reference:
Find scriptures which will strengthen your spirit and help achieve the focus of the
worship session you’re preparing to lead. They help you gain more insight into
what you’re preparing to do. You will gain new revelation if you take time to meditate
on them.
Try to find scriptures that relate to every song you have listed, if you can. When
leading the praise and worship session, the Holy Spirit can remind you of the
inspirations you have received from these scriptures and you can use them to
exhort, inspire and guide the congregation into a more focus worship experience.
6. Meditation Time:
At this time, you’re done with your rehearsals and probably a day to your ministration
or hours to it. Just sing and meditate on your songs and the scriptures you have. Let
them minister to you over and again. Let your spirit be united with everything.
One of the things I do most times if I have the tracks on my laptop, I play them
through time and again all through the night and in the morning before leaving home
for the church service.
One of the things I also do especially for Sunday morning services, when it’s about
an hour to the time, I avoid all distractions, chit-chat, random discussions, etc. Find a
solemn place, pray in tongues while reading through the scriptures I have prepared
with. I want to be fully focused till I step on the altar to lead. I believe this will work for
you also if you give it a go.
Band Dynamics
1. Practice your music
Know your parts inside and out before group rehearsals. That way the band can actually focus on the
finer details or the big picture together and have more fun in the process. If you don’t understand a
section of a song, talk about it and make sure to smooth out the kinks sooner rather than later. You
don’t want those doubts to linger until it’s too late to ask or you get on stage and the nerves kick in.
3. Help out
Whether it’s carrying equipment or promoting the band, always help when it’s needed. Depending
on your forte and interests outside of music, find a way to contribute to the management of the
band. Maybe you’re a good driver and can get the band to gigs, or you love to design and can make
the T-shirts and posters. Maybe you have a big social network, and naturally will be the promoter. Or
maybe you host the rehearsals. What ever your part is, make sure you share the legwork, because
it’s way too much for one person.
5. Be on time
The band members depend on each other to make “it” happen, so be respectful of each other’s
time. Don’t be the one to hold everyone up when people are already making sacrifices to make time
for the band between their jobs, families and possibly other musical projects. if you’re too flaky, you
might just lose your seat in the group.
6. Practice in advance
Schedule rehearsals and gigs in advance. If a show is booked and you’ve committed to it, don’t miss
it unless it’s a true emergency. It reflects badly on the whole band if they have to cancel or cannot
produce what’s expected. Also, give a heads up if you’re going out of town so that your bandmates
know when to book practices and shows, or have ample time to get a sub for you if needed.
8. Discuss style
Details make a band unique and stand out. This includes fashion! It’s embarrassing to witness a band
where everyone is dressed up except for that one person who rolled out of bed and looks downright
slovenly. If you’re going for the “I don’t care” or “grungy” look, that’s fine – just be on the same page
as everyone else. Prepare and discuss it in advance – maybe you want matching outfits, or you just
want to be casual, or maybe dressy. These details matter. Your shows are a presentation of your art,
sound and appearance all together. Paying attention to all of these aspects shows that you care
about your presentation and your audience.
10. Be transparent
I’m talking about money. If you’re performing together as a band, there is money involved. The
group as a whole should be open about it. Ideally, the group should decide together what to do with
the funds. It could be small enough that you all go out for dinner together, or you pay a member
back for the time they bought gas. If it’s large you can divide it up, or put into a band fund, or
towards your next album, etc. Also, unless someone has signed up to be a sponsor for the band,
always pay them back if they fronted the group.
11. Speak up
When things that matter are bothering you, it’s important to voice your concerns as soon as
possible. Certain things will blow over, but if you have any nagging thoughts that continue to bring
you down, that means it’s time to talk about it – no matter how small of an issue it seems. Nothing is
too small to talk about if it feels important to you. For big issues, like who owns royalties, and what
to do if a member quits, it’s a good idea to create a band agreement to straighten out any kinks that
might need clarification early on. Don’t be afraid to be the one to suggest that these conversations
be had.
12. Reflect
Be willing to learn from mistakes. After a rehearsal or performance, talk about what worked and
what didn’t. Be open to feedback and chime in with your thoughts. Music (and life for that matter) is
an endless learning process.