Re: [Worship] Getting Comfortable

["Nina Wichman" <ninawichman@qwest.net>]

on 5/03/03 10:26 AM, Joy at joy_in_the_soi@yahoo.com wrote:

> How much time do you give to 'break in' new songs and get them comfortable?
Typically I will do a new song 3 weeks in a row, skip a week, and then bring
it back for one or two weeks. That gives me a pretty idea about how the song
is working with our people. After that, I let it rest for a few weeks, and
then bring it back again.

Another thing I do during the first 3 weeks of the new song is repeat things
more. So if a song has 2 verses and a chorus, I'll do the first verse twice,
the chorus once or twice, then the 2nd verse twice, and the chorus twice,
instead of going straight through it. I've found it helps the people catch
the melody better to sing the verses a couple of times before going to the
chorus. Some songs are easier to catch, but there will always be folks who
have a hard time catching ANY song the first few weeks it's done. So I try
to be very intentional in this.

Another thing, if the song I'm introducing is complicated (3 verses and a
bridge...all over the map musically -- I try to avoid these, actually, but
some are too wonderful to pass up, like Delirious's "Message of the Cross"),
I try to make the rest of my set more simple. The bottom line is to not
overwhelm the congregation.

I NEVER introduce more than 1 song on a Sunday. And as far as how many new
songs are "allowed" per month -- the pastor trusts me with all of this, so
I'm the one that makes those decisions. I typically will not introduce more
than 2 a month. Brian Doerksen recently said that a congregation can't
absorb more than 15 new songs a year. I'm not sure I agree with that, but
each congregation is different.  Anyway...we'll do a new song 3 weeks in a
row, then the next week when we are skipping that song, I'll introduce
another one...maybe. Sometimes I'll introduce a new one on the 3rd week of
the 1st song...it depends on what the songs are like, how complex, what the
Lord is speaking about the set, etc. It's not totally a formula or a
science. :)

> Also, do you have any set methods to introducing a new song? (Assuming that
> songs need to be approved by the pastor for theology, etc.)

Actually, my pastor is not involved in song selection...he sees that as part
of my job as worship pastor. He might suggest a song if he hears one he
especially likes and wants me to do. But usually choosing songs falls on my
shoulders. If I should come across something questionable, I would of course
run it by him.  When I decide to introduce a new song, a lot of times I'll
play it for the team a week or two beforehand just to get their take on it.
So far, no one has hated or disagreed with any of the choices, so I thank
God for that! Often the Lord has spoken to me about the song and why He
wants me to do it, so it's fun to share that with the team...the songs
become more meaningful to the team that way and they see more of the "method
to my madness."  :)


>  Do you
> start the service with "Hey church, I've got a new song to teach you!" or do
> you just plunge straight into it and hope they'll get the hang of the new
> song when you get to it?

I never have the first song of the set be the new song. People are still
filtering in at the start of the service, so I always do something upbeat
and familiar. If the new song is upbeat, I will usually do it as the 2nd
(sometimes the 3rd) song. If it's a slow and intimate one, I'll have it be
the 1st slow and intimate one we do. It's been my experience that nothing
kills worship like interrupting intimacy with a new song...unless it's
*really* simple. OR, what I've sometimes done (at the Lord's prompting) is
introduce a song by singing it over the congregation...I encourage them to
rest in His presence and allow the song to wash over them as the band plays
and sings...then they can join in at their leisure, if they want to. That
has worked really well and God has used those times to speak gently to His
people and minister some good stuff. Then when we do the song the following
week as part of the set, the Lord has already connected people with that
song, even if they haven't sung it themselves yet! I hope this is making
sense.

I know there are lots of different methods. But that's how we do things
right now. Different methods work for different congregations...you just
need to find out what works for you! Talk with your pastor and get his take
on it. That helped me a lot.

Bless you!
Nina


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