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Protocol for adding new songs to your repertoire
Hi, Worship Leaders. :)
I was recently called to lead worship at my church and face a struggle with the music on the existing repertoire. Each week, I try to coordinate our set with the pastor's message. However, the church only has about 40 songs that they've been doing for the past 5 years, and I can almost never put a set together that has a consistent theme. I've been introducing news songs little by little, but our congregation is clearly bored in what seems to be vain repetition of songs they've been doing over and over... and over. I'd would REALLY like to introduce a new song every week.
I am aware of the potential negative issues with introducing new songs too frequently, but those particular issues don't take priority in the current state of our worship sessions, so I'd like to hear from those who DO incorporate new songs often.
- Do you have a certain protocol for making it acceptable to the congregation? Such as engaging them in some way other than singing? In what ways?
- Does your worship team deal with it well? (ie the amount of private practice)
Any other information you can offer me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Jodi Salisbury
I was recently called to lead worship at my church and face a struggle with the music on the existing repertoire. Each week, I try to coordinate our set with the pastor's message. However, the church only has about 40 songs that they've been doing for the past 5 years, and I can almost never put a set together that has a consistent theme. I've been introducing news songs little by little, but our congregation is clearly bored in what seems to be vain repetition of songs they've been doing over and over... and over. I'd would REALLY like to introduce a new song every week.
I am aware of the potential negative issues with introducing new songs too frequently, but those particular issues don't take priority in the current state of our worship sessions, so I'd like to hear from those who DO incorporate new songs often.
- Do you have a certain protocol for making it acceptable to the congregation? Such as engaging them in some way other than singing? In what ways?
- Does your worship team deal with it well? (ie the amount of private practice)
Any other information you can offer me would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Jodi Salisbury
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Peter Tan on -
Thanks, Jodi. I think that some renewal is always beneficial. As a general rule, I don't introduce more than one new song a week. We spend some time on this at the rehearsal, and sometimes I might bring along a CD or send audio or even youtube links. We've tried a few things at the service itself:
(1) we try to sing it before the service proper, so that those who came early will have some sense of it;
(2) we announce that it is a new song, and have the team sing the first verse (and chorus if any), before beginning again at the first verse;
(3) in the past, we tried singing through line by line (the team sings a line, then the congregation sings the same line).
I tend to favour (2) over (3) because (3) feels a little juvenile. (A former leader who favoured this was a primary school headmaster!)
Peter
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Permalink Reply by Rick Cogbill on -
Hi Jodi, I hear you. The church I'm currently volunteering at has been in the same boat - old songs for too many years. I've been introducing a number of "new" songs, which are mostly favorites that other churches have been singing for years already. Surprisingly, the people are loving it, and the only opposition I've been getting is from other volunteer worship leaders, who don't seem to want to take the time to learn them as well.
In fact, one of them said, "If the band isn't able to learn the song, then I don't think the congregation is ready for it yet..." I had to think about that one for a while...
Here are some ideas to help teach the new songs:
1) Find a way to get the songs to your team ahead of time. You could have them on a website protected by a password, where your team could listen to them; you could put them on a practice cd (although some may have a problem with this, copyright-wise); you could set aside ten minutes in each practice to just listen to one or two new songs and then move on.
In the past I have made a collection of new songs that I wanted the team to learn over the next year, and given them out for listening. Then over the next few months we learn them. However, don't be surprised if only about 40% of the team actually listens to it!
2) For the congregation, have the sound team play the recordings of the songs quietly during the pre-service time a few weeks before you introduce them to the congregation. That way it will be in the people's minds, and will seem familiar when your team does it.
3) When you do introduce a song, try to repeat it about 3 times over the next 5 weeks, then leave it alone for a short while. You want people to learn it, but not learn to hate it!
4) I often try out new songs during the offeratory, where the congregation isn't really expected to sing. They can just sit and listen (although I'll put still the words up, maybe with cool graphics), and the next time you do the song, they'll have an idea where it's going.
Hope this helps!
Rick
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Permalink Reply by Jodi Salisbury on -
Thanks for your suggestions, Rick. :) They're excellent.
Incidentally, what have your feelings been about the comment your team member made? I find it difficult to agree with his/her statement, because the congregation's readiness and the band's ability aren't directly correlated. Granted, if the band isn't ready, then the song shouldn't be introduced yet. But I'd hate to think my team member was using a personal assumption about the congregation's willingness as an excuse to resist the trials of achieving excellence. I hope I'm wording this correctly. I ask the question because I've been praying about a similar, overwhelming issue within my own team.
Thanks again, Rick.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Cogbill on
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The person was a leader of another team (we have 2-3 teams that rotate). No, I didn't agree with his statement at all, and if he'd thought about it for a while, I'm sure he would realize that the band's ability has nothing to do with what the congregation needs. It just means the band needs to put some more effort into learning new things...but that's a pet peeve for another discussion thread...maybe!
Is this what you're dealing with? Don't be surprised if some band members don't feel like putting the same time into practicing/development as you do. It seems to be the nature of the beast for the most part. It's a real skill (and as leaders we need to work on it; at least I do!) to create and encourage a desire in our team members to really take their ministry seriously, and give it the best that they can. May God give you grace and wisdom.
Rick
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Permalink Reply by Jodi Salisbury on
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--> It's a real skill (and as leaders we need to work on it; at least I do!) to create and encourage a desire in our team members to really take their ministry seriously, and give it the best that they can.
Isn't that the truth! I suppose that's why we're the ones called to this ministry... because we have the overwhelming passion for it which sets a certain standard for which the other musicians might not have the same degree of passion. This calls for fervent prayer.
Thanks, Rick.
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Permalink Reply by Coxster on -
All great ideas. We 'kind of' used your idea #2 a while back; the band plays the new song instrumentally a couple of Sundays in a row before we introduce it to them, so the melody has at least been heard. Again, great ideas. Thanks for sharing them
Jim C
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Permalink Reply by Junjie on -
Good structure to follow:
1st week - The new song is the first song
2nd week - the song is elsewhere in the set
3rd week - give that song a break (maybe introduce another new one?)
4th week - bring that song back again
If you can't follow your pastor's sermon themes for now, don't sweat it. You are laying a foundation for the next 2-4 years of your church worship ministry, so be patient with the church (and yourself).
The key thing to watch out for is how the new songs you want to introduce fit in with the rest of the songs the congregation already knows. If you could send me a message with the songs currently on the list and another 10 that you'd like to introduce soon, I might be able to give you more specific suggestions to make your life easier. :)
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Permalink Reply by Jodi Salisbury on
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Hey, Junjie. Thanks for the suggestions and your wisdom. :)
I would definitely like to post a plan, but I just found out we're having a special service this Sunday so it's back to the drawing board. I'll post something when I have it. Thanks for offering to help!
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Permalink Reply by Rick Cogbill on
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Don't you just love those last minute changes? ;(b
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Permalink Reply by Bennie Kendrick on -
That is a good rule of thumb.
One of my goals this year was to introduce one new song a week. The reality turned out to be more like one new song every other week, which was more doable for the musicians.
I typically am not concerned with aligning the songs specifically to the pastor's message. Occasionally he'll request a specific song, but that's about the extent of his involvement. My main goal is to establish a good flow of worship.
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Permalink Reply by L nielsen on -
We try to coordinate, but getting the pasotrs message in time to add new material is almost impossible unless your pastor is different than every one I know of. The truth is parise and worship songs are about Gods glory and grace and that is every pastors message every week I wouldn't worry about tying your songs to the message so tightly. Our pastor now often ties his prayers to our worship message and if we click and hit his theme what a great accident. doing it this way actually adds a nice variety to the service.
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Permalink Reply by Rick Cogbill on
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I rarely try to coordinate my songs to the pastor's message, although I will if he requests it.
But I do send in my song list Monday morning and ask him if he'd like any additions or changes before Thursday night practice. Most times he's fine with it, and it always amazes me how God makes everything fit on Sunday.
I have been known to change the closing song on the run, simply because what I've chosen in advance sometimes just doesn't fit the mood. But that's rare...
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