Mo’ Money, Mo’ Problems (also, mo’ chicken)

Posted on February 7, 2011 by @3Hill

Here is something that I know people have a sharply divided opinion on:

I don’t pay musicians to play on Sunday mornings

I’m not necessarily opposed, I just don’t. For the church that I currently lead music at on Sunday mornings, I really don’t have a budget to do so. Even if I wanted to, I don’t have the means.

But from a larger perspective, I like the fact that the musicians there all consider it part of their service. It is their faith community and they get to serve both God and others with their talents without being reimbursed in a monetary way.  It’s kind of freeing, in a way.

But that also brings up the question of why I don’t serve without getting paid.

I could. I could, like Paul, be bi-vocational. Or I could, like Paul told others in 1 Timothy and 1 Corinthians, earn my living from the work of ministering the gospel. I think both are valid. And I don’t think it’s a sin to make a living from using your God-given gifts. And like Lecrae said “the money is God’s, hope you steward it right.”

I know some have a strong opinions about paying their volunteers. I know others have even stronger opinions on NOT paying their volunteers. I know people have opinions on whether or not to hire the best musicians in town vs. growing the not-so-best musicians from within the church body.

Which do you do? and more importantly, why?

Share
Posted in Church, Culture, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | 3 Comments

And the Song Remains the Same…

Posted on January 25, 2011 by @3Hill

One thing that I have really tried to craft as a church musician is consistency and flow in a worship set. And just so this blog is not one big cry-fest of things that always go wrong, I would like to confess something that works:

I choose a set list based off content and key signatures.

It would be awesome if, while leading, I could sing whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted, regardless of key, tempo, and content.  And there have been times when I’ve done that. But for the most part, on a regular church service basis, that’s not the case.  Since I am leading others, ultimately I have to be mindful of the congregation and the atmosphere of worship. With being a leader, my job is to feel the movement of the Spirit and not stifle it. And one of the quickest ways to derail that is a sudden stop to change capos or switch keys from B to Eb.

I know it might seem simple or super obvious, but choosing two songs back to back in the same key or a relative key can go a long way to creating a worshipful attitude and not completely halting a set.

Of course, there is always the tendency to do too many songs in the same key. A set can quickly become monotonous if you sing in the same register for 20 minutes. I think there’s a delicate balance between tedium and change.

Of course, this also opens up the discussion of learning how to effectively do key changes, with learning some theory, common chords between scales, and other tricks to actually go between B and Eb and not make it horrible.

But that’s for another day.

So, how do you pick a set list?

Share
Posted in Music, Set Lists, Worship | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

It’s like Jazz…Or Painting…Or…Samba?

Posted on January 17, 2011 by @3Hill

So, on a more light-hearted note, I have done this. I want to know how many other people do this, too.

Sometimes I will pray in order to give myself a minute to tune.

YOU know the feeling. That B is slightly flat. That capo messed up the intonation on the guitar. That D string got bent a liiiiittle too hard on the last song. Whatever. Now it’s just you and the Holy Spirit and the congregation. and you’re faced with a dilemma. An enigma, if you will.

Do you pause for a minute, tune, and move on?
Or do you pray and tune while you’re praying?

I believe, in all honesty, those represent two diametrically opposed viewpoints of what it is we do on a sunday morning/night.

On one hand, we want it to be seamless. If we stop and people feel awkward, well then you can kiss the Holy Spirit good-bye. But not in a real way. Cause, you know….Spirit.
But still, everything feels wrong after that.

On the other hand, however, if worship is something we do with our lives and not just the songs we sing, is it really that big of a deal to just stop and tune and let people sit? Really? Isn’t the bigger tragedy to say a prayer we don’t mean just so we’ll be all set with A-440?

I’ve done both. And, I confess, both have worked for certain situations. I’ve found that it’s a very improvised art. There’s a rhythm and a feel to it that you just gotta flow with. And as a side note, my band and I have recently started to incorporate structured and strategic silent times into our worship sets. It’s important to be quiet before the Lord and wait and not speak.  And I feel like we would be remiss if we didn’t lead people in that way as well.  It’s uncomfortable and slightly awkward just standing there in silence, but just from a dynamic standpoint, it’s incredible to have a lot people listening before the Lord for an extended amount of time.

So what is your go to? how do you handle this situation? thoughts on making it better?

Share
Posted in Guitar, Worship | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

U2 vs. The Son of God

Posted on January 13, 2011 by @3Hill

This is something that I’ve struggled with for a while, and I feel like it’s getting better, but I still believe it needs to be discussed:

Sometimes I wonder who has had more influence
on modern worship music:
Jesus or The Edge

let me just get this out of the way: I like U2. I don’t love them, but I respect what they’ve done and thoroughly enjoy some of their songs. I own Joshua Tree and Achtung Baby. If a U2 song is on the radio, I wouldn’t turn it. If U2 was being played in a friend’s car, I wouldn’t jump out in order to prevent myself from hearing it.  With that being said, I’m about to make a statement that will be very controversial and turn a lot of people off.

I don’t like the Edge that much.

Now, now. Before you get all hissy. I realize he was super influential in the area of effects and guitar sounds, and is still kind of a pioneer in that. That I respect. And I realize that he’s a good player. I would never blatantly say he was terrible because he isn’t. But, given the option, I would rather listen to Stanley Jordan or George Benson or Clapton or Hendrix or, really, a lot of other guitarists.  I just don’t prefer him.

But his influence has crept into almost all worship music in the past decade. Anytime I hear a dotted eighth delay, I see a guy in a skull cap.

I am free, by Desperation Band, IS Where the Streets Have No Name.

Blessed be Your Name, by Matt Redman, IS With or Without You.

40, by U2, has been used by more praise bands trying to be relevant than anyone would care to remember.

This can easily be taken as an anti-U2 rant. But it’s not. That’s not my point. My point is rather larger than that. And it’s not something new either. You’ve heard it before, but it still bears repeating:

Why is it ok to blatantly copy what they’re doing? and more importantly, what is the next step to get past that?

Rather than just bemoaning the fact that we copy culture or should be creative with our music, let’s give a solution.

Share
Posted in Culture, Guitar, Worship | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

God Save the Queen

Posted on January 11, 2011 by @3Hill

I confess this to you, anonymous reader:

Sometimes I confuse spirituality with a british accent

Maybe it’s just me. But there’s something about hearing a British or an Australian accent in worship that makes it seem more…what’s the word…

I’m gonna go with Jesus-soaked.

And just as a confession to you, there have been a few times, while leading, and when the Spirit is moving, that a little hint of an accent has been known to spring up. I blame it on the fact that, whenever practicing, I try out my best Joel Houston impersonation. During spots when I know I’ll be praying during an actual set, I will use bits and pieces of prayers off Hillsong cds as placeholders.

Which just goes to show you, repetition leads to habit. There’s another lesson in there somewhere.

So, has this ever happened to you?

Share
Posted in Worship | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Post 2: Electric Boogaloo

Posted on December 23, 2010 by @3Hill

Nothing to do with this post. Just....look at this.

Here’s a confession:

I hate leading worship from acoustic. I feel like it’s a cop out.

For me, at least.

I think that, more so than anything, I’ve just grown tired of that sound in worship music. Leading from electric allows me the freedom to control the sound, create an atmosphere, and not just be relegated to rhythm.  It also challenges me to get better and learn new chords, harmonies, and inversions, not just playing the same four G-form chords over and over.

More than anything, I like the fact that I have to think as a leader and as a player. I feel like it’s such a trite argument to make that all modern worship is sounding the same.  Everyone already knows that. I think the better solution would be to lay down the acoustic for a while, and try some new creative things with effects. Stretch yourself a bit. Totes worth it.

So…why do you/don’t you lead from acoustic?

Share
Posted in Guitar, Music, Worship | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Christmastiiiiiiime….

Posted on December 22, 2010 by @3Hill

As the first ever post for this site, I would like to share something I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. As the advent season is now upon us, I feel like I should let you know:

I’m really not a big fan of Christmas music.

There, I said it. I feel better now.  Now before you call me a heretic and make all those claims of me taking Christ out of Christmas (which I could write another whole blog on), let me explain.

Let’s set aside whatever the stock Lite FM station near you is playing and focus on just worship music. I range anywhere from ambivalent to nostalgic for the bulk majority of what’s played on the radio (with the two huge notable exceptions of Christmas Shoes and Little Drummer Boy, both of which I loathe). Vince Guaraldi Trio’s A Charlie Brown Christmas is my second favorite cd of all time, tucked in nicely behind Prince’s Purple Rain, of course.

No, my problem with Christmas music is the stuff we choose to sing on Sunday mornings. Oh, sure, before we get to the Christmas season I always THINK I like Christmas music, but then it comes time to actually pick a set and I get stuck.

MY problem with Christmas music is that we sing the same things every year and there is a very limited set list of true Christmas worship songs. You know, songs where we sing praise to God as opposed to songs about God.  Not that there is anything wrong with the latter, but it seems as if there are way more songs telling about the night He was born as opposed to bringing adoration to the King who was born ultimately to die and reconcile mankind to the Father. Also, many of the ones that do speak on that, such as O Come, O Come Emmanuel and What Child is This, are pseudo-depressing. All minor-y and whatnot.

Which begs the question: why? why don’t we demand more out of it and write new stuff? Or stop singing songs that have nothing to do with praise during our time of corporate worship?

Thoughts?

Share
Posted in Christmas, Music, Worship | Tagged , , | 1 Comment