My church has asked me to form a praise band. We've all agreed that having a "band" is a pretty good start (LOL) but what kind of issues have you experienced in starting such an endeavor. Where did you find your music etc. I'd appreciate any input. I told my pastor that a lot of TB bassists are praise players as well as following other pursuits.
Thanks

there's a thread about this topic in the miscellaneous section ck it out.......


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359838

First off, hats off to you for hearing God's calling for you at this time. The first step is always obeying His voice when you hear it.

I'll only give bullet points for now in the hopes that others will flesh them out as the thread builds. So here are a few suggestions:

• make prayer the priority before and after every rehearsal as a team
• study the bible to determine what authentic worship means and as a team determine what that means in your church.
•*build teamwork, develop leaders
• Build a team of worshipers not musicians
• Find or develop good sound techs
• Work with pastors and staff to understand where the teaching is going
• Don't be afraid to let get take over and destroy your plans
• Smile! Enjoy worshipping the God who loves you and whom you love
• Live out your worship during the week so that Sunday is authentic not some put on show
• Have music and lead sheets prepared before rehearsals - sending out PDF's before hand is good or keep them along with mp3's available on your church web page.
• Love you teammates, Love your church, love the person at the busstop who you've never met before
• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.

I think the rest of TBers praise bassist's can add to and illuminate these thoughts.

God Bless!

The most important thing you can and should do is is continue to develop your relationship with Christ - through personal prayer, the bible and through personal worship. If everyone on your team isn't doing this you and they shouldn't be on the team.

Also, have leadership mentors in place for the team and ministry accountability.

First off, hats off to you for hearing God's calling for you at this time. The first step is always obeying His voice when you hear it.

I'll only give bullet points for now in the hopes that others will flesh them out as the thread builds. So here are a few suggestions:

• make prayer the priority before and after every rehearsal as a team
• study the bible to determine what authentic worship means and as a team determine what that means in your church.
•*build teamwork, develop leaders
• Build a team of worshipers not musicians
• Find or develop good sound techs
• Work with pastors and staff to understand where the teaching is going
• Don't be afraid to let get take over and destroy your plans
• Smile! Enjoy worshipping the God who loves you and whom you love
• Live out your worship during the week so that Sunday is authentic not some put on show
• Have music and lead sheets prepared before rehearsals - sending out PDF's before hand is good or keep them along with mp3's available on your church web page.
• Love you teammates, Love your church, love the person at the busstop who you've never met before
• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.

I think the rest of TBers praise bassist's can add to and illuminate these thoughts.

God Bless!

+1
There's a million worship/praise/gospel song sites out there if you do some searches on Google. I'll let Embellisher tell you more about WorshipBass. (or you can search him out on here, or just google it and find out! I'd post a link for you but I am browsing on my Wii since my computer died) :D

Personally, all of the music that is picked out at my church is done by my praise leader. From time to time I do help with the selection process though. We try to match praise with the pastor's message for that Sunday. (He emails the outline to my praise leder and the two ladies who do the bulletin) But you should also be aware of the spiritual atmosphere. It's usually a good idea to set up a practice schedule beforehand - so that you can all learn how to really mesh with each other. Such as being prepared for the parts of the song that the praise leader likes to repeat from, how the tempo will speed up or slow down at certain parts, or what to do for a bridge or transition to the next song. That being said' it's all well and good to play songs that everyone knows, or play well. But don't get so caught up in the technical work that you lose focus of the real purpose - worshiping God through music. This is what seperates praise bands from secular bands. Some believers do not like to talk about it, but one of the places that satan will constantly attack is the praise team. Take a look at which songs you are picking out. Are your songs all horizontal in direction? (directed out to the congregation - "lets all come to worship" "lets all believe in God" "do you remember when you first believed?") Don't get me wrong, these songs are also nice and used sparingly they make a nice addition to your set, but they shouldn't make up the bulk of it. That should be reserved for songs that are directed vertically - straight to God as a congregation. ("you are mighty to save" "praise your holy name" "your love is all that I need" "give thanks to the Lord") Granted there are some songs that do fit both of these descriptions, you will find it easier to really come to a place of true worship when you are playing more purely vertical songs.

One major thing to think about is asking everyone to leave all forms of relationships and conflicts at the door. I have seen way too many fights break out both in praise and secular bands because of this. Instead of creating factions within the team, reinforce a deeper bond with each other that transcends human relationships and instead comes from the filling of the Holy Spirit and God's calling you to this position as a team united.

In the end though, it all still comes back to personal worship. It doesn't matter if you messed up on a note, if you are out of sync with the drums, if there is someone in the congregation who is frowning at you, or even if nobody else is even there when you all start playing. If that is all it takes to mess you up completely and lose hold of your personal worship, then satan's work is done. Being on the praise team doesn't just mean that you get to be up front and play music. God has called you to the front lines to really set that atmosphere for worship in whatever it is that you do. My praise leader puts it this way: praise God with all your heart and soul, even by just playing bass. (I will admit that there are many songs where it is too hard to play and sing) But even the guy that we have who presses the button to change the slides for the lyrics is really praising God. (so much so that he sometimes gets so worked up that he misses changing a slide from time to time)

"Okay, so that's all well and good that I have personal worship during praise, but how do I do that?" I would say that the first step would be to really taste how God works in the field. (the area outside your church, at school, work, even in a checkout line at the grocery store.) As a praise team we try to go out and evangelize around our church at least once a week. Even if we don't get to talk to anyone or there is nobody new that comes that next week, it is still a testament of God's works.

Other than that, I want to congratulate you and welcome you to the awesome world of praise! :D

Lincoln and TheMutt, +1000!!! I would add that it's not about you-it's about HIM!!! Allowing God to use you as His instrument will allow you to give Him excellent praise through your instrument!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:

Don't be afraid to let God turn your service or plans upside down. Sometimes God's spirit just pours itself and can't be contained. Don't be afraid to keep worshipping when that happens.

Remember that God doesn't operate on a schedule and no earthly box we try to put Him in will contain Him.

As a worship leader and team, your spiritual radar will have to be on and ready to go where ever God wants to take you.

there's a thread about this topic in the miscellaneous section ck it out.......


http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=359838
I'm looking at the site.....what a blessing this is....and you guys as well............

Great points...I don't know if I could think of anything to add! Remember, be flexible and follow the leading of the spirit!

+1 for keeping your head and remembering that you are a servant. It's far too easy, once people start laying on the praises about how much they were blessed by what you did for one's ego to start taking over. Maintain the heart of a servant, flexible, sensitive to the moment, striving to give the very best of the gift you have been given back in honor to God, and He will open doors for your ministry.

As for music, I have been playing for 30+ years, so the music I have drawn from is fairly extensive and, while I have my "favorite artists" I have never intentionally confined my experience to one or two styles. Check out some of the music by Tommy Walker, Ron Kenoly, etc. You'll find some exciting bass guitar there!

Be a blessing, be blessed!

Read the book unquenchable worshiper by Chris Tomlin (I think). Great book

I'm looking at the site.....what a blessing this is....and you guys as well............
there's a lot to learn here about worship and there's a lot of worship bassist here that are willing to help you out.
i learned a thing or 2 here and i keep coming back to that thread just to stay tuned.
Like others said is not about you or the band is about HIM.

• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.


I understand your point, but I disagree. It is a privilege that God would ever call us to be in ministry, but since God knew us before we were formed in our mothers womb, and ordained (called) us to function in ministry, it becomes our right as His children. Since we will be held accountable by God for what we do with the calling He has placed upon our lives, it not only is a right, but a responsibility to minister as He has called us to.

In the book of Acts, Stephen is a perfect example of this. While the church called him a deacon and asked him to wait tables (Acts 6:1-7), God had gifted him as an evangelist (Acts 6:8-7:60). He continued to fulfill the assignment given to him by the church, but far exceeded their expectations because of the calling in his life.

Sorry for preaching, but the whole thread is about ministry, and I wanted to express a different view that hopefully may cause you to contemplate a little more deeply on the subject.

Respectfully,
Mark

A little clarity -

I believe it is our response to God and our obedience to the great commission to minister to the church and evangelize the lost. As heirs to the kingdom it is our joyful obligation ( much different than a right) to serve that kingdom.

But as we see in the old and new testaments not everyone was called specifically to the ministry or the music ministry in particular. It is, indeed, a privilege to serve in the ministry.

More to the point. Many conflicts in music ministry occur when people think it is their "right" to play a certain way, sing the songs they want to sing, run things on their perogative. Rights on the human level implies "I" first -- church and God second.

This is what I mean by privilege versus right in ministry

Hope that explains my thoughts a little better.

I see you point about rights often being interpreted as I instead of God, but also believe that privilege is often associated with man's control instead of God's. Thanks for clarifying your thoughts though.

I think ultimately, we agree that anytime we get too possessive of God's gifts to us, bad things happen and they it goes downhill quick.

+1

Read the book unquenchable worshiper by Chris Tomlin (I think). Great book

It is written by Matt Redman. The website www.pwarchive.com has every worship song that I have ever wanted to find on it. No lead sheets, but words with chords and you can change the key to whatever you want right on the site so no figuring it out on your own. There are a bunch of songs that don't have words for the chords, but there is a way to get the words, not sure if it is legal, so PM if you are interested in finding out how.

lowsound

thanks for the link. We've scheduled a "jam" for anyone interested in playing. I'm lining up some tunes that we might try just to feel the water. Do any of you have drum pads in the band?

Drum pads, no. But we have a djembe player (as well as a regular drummer). She's also eyeballing some other cool percussionist equipment in the near future. Fun times! :D

I haven't taken the opportunity to be a praise band bassist yet, because I don't believe I've studied the good book enough really understand how I can use my abilities for worship.

However, I might just give it a try, and a genuine effort, as I'm very dissatisfied with the current bass line-up at church: I'm hearing slides, and way too many notes, and that really irks me.

Pray that God directs you to get the best people for the job.

What a big job you have in front of you. You will be in my prayers:)

Good luck

Just to add my 2 cents, don't let money get in the way, a lot of Churches pay their musicians, and I've personally seen some musician's attitude of praise changed when the money didn't come in on time, or not at all for whatever reason. Remember to seek ye first the kingdom of heaven, and everything else will just fall in place

First off, hats off to you for hearing God's calling for you at this time. The first step is always obeying His voice when you hear it.

I'll only give bullet points for now in the hopes that others will flesh them out as the thread builds. So here are a few suggestions:

• make prayer the priority before and after every rehearsal as a team
• study the bible to determine what authentic worship means and as a team determine what that means in your church.
•*build teamwork, develop leaders
• Build a team of worshipers not musicians
• Find or develop good sound techs
• Work with pastors and staff to understand where the teaching is going
• Don't be afraid to let get take over and destroy your plans
• Smile! Enjoy worshipping the God who loves you and whom you love
• Live out your worship during the week so that Sunday is authentic not some put on show
• Have music and lead sheets prepared before rehearsals - sending out PDF's before hand is good or keep them along with mp3's available on your church web page.
• Love you teammates, Love your church, love the person at the busstop who you've never met before
• Always remember you are a servant of God and your church and that being in ministry is a privilege not a right.

I think the rest of TBers praise bassist's can add to and illuminate these thoughts.

God Bless!

+1000 here!!

The most important thing you can and should do is is continue to develop your relationship with Christ - through personal prayer, the bible and through personal worship. If everyone on your team isn't doing this you and they shouldn't be on the team..
Eee......I gave you +1000 on you other post, but I strongly disagree here.

If this was the attitude, I wouldn't be in a position (or maybe I would be, only He knows) to have come to know Christ within the last year.

I was given the chance to play at my church, and at the time I really didn't give Christianity much, if any weight in my life.
But I was give the opportunity to be welcomed into an environment which created moments for me to engage with my spritual beliefs. And find Him and progress to my walk with Christ.

If someone on your team isn't at the same place as you, or isn't even on a path with Christ, to seperate yourself from them is IMO, the opposite of a core value of what we believe.

We have a few "non-belivers" on our team. And that's perfectly fine come experience our community.
Now, our mid-week services are really more for believers and less for seekers.
Subsequently, the praise team (band) is compiled of belivers of Christ.

But sometimes, when we feel God is really moving in someone, we'll invite them to play in the mid-week service if needed.

To be honest, we don't care where you're at because, heck, if you're there, you're there for a reason (weather you know it or not!!;))


Also, have leadership mentors in place for the team and ministry accountability.

Yes!!!!


BTW- www.worshipmusicians.com
check it out

Eee......I gave you +1000 on you other post, but I strongly disagree here.

If this was the attitude, I wouldn't be in a position (or maybe I would be, only He knows) to have come to know Christ within the last year.

I was given the chance to play at my church, and at the time I really didn't give Christianity much, if any weight in my life.
But I was give the opportunity to be welcomed into an environment which created moments for me to engage with my spritual beliefs. And find Him and progress to my walk with Christ.

If someone on your team isn't at the same place as you, or isn't even on a path with Christ, to seperate yourself from them is IMO, the opposite of a core value of what we believe.

We have a few "non-belivers" on our team. And that's perfectly fine come experience our community.
Now, our mid-week services are really more for believers and less for seekers.
Subsequently, the praise team (band) is compiled of belivers of Christ.

But sometimes, when we feel God is really moving in someone, we'll invite them to play in the mid-week service if needed.

To be honest, we don't care where you're at because, heck, if you're there, you're there for a reason (weather you know it or not!!;))




Yes!!!!


BTW- www.worshipmusicians.com
check it out


I CONCURR!!! Our Pastor stated in one of his recent sermons that it is not up to us to judge the level of someone else' spiritual state-that is between them and God. As part of the Music Ministry, we must realize that we are music ministers. You never know that the person/people that you are ministering to could be standing right next to you on stage!


A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste! :cool:

Eee......I gave you +1000 on you other post, but I strongly disagree here.

If this was the attitude, I wouldn't be in a position (or maybe I would be, only He knows) to have come to know Christ within the last year.

I was given the chance to play at my church, and at the time I really didn't give Christianity much, if any weight in my life.
But I was give the opportunity to be welcomed into an environment which created moments for me to engage with my spritual beliefs. And find Him and progress to my walk with Christ.

If someone on your team isn't at the same place as you, or isn't even on a path with Christ, to seperate yourself from them is IMO, the opposite of a core value of what we believe.

We have a few "non-belivers" on our team. And that's perfectly fine come experience our community.
Now, our mid-week services are really more for believers and less for seekers.
Subsequently, the praise team (band) is compiled of belivers of Christ.

But sometimes, when we feel God is really moving in someone, we'll invite them to play in the mid-week service if needed.

To be honest, we don't care where you're at because, heck, if you're there, you're there for a reason (weather you know it or not!!;))




Yes!!!!


BTW- www.worshipmusicians.com
check it out

While I do somewhat agree with you, but when I am leading a worship team, the people on the team are going to people that are very strong in their faith. The people on the worship team are there to lead the people in worship, if you are not a Christian, how can you be equipped to do this properly? I have removed myself from worship teams in the past because of where I was in my walk with God. While it can be a good way to witness (as in your case), I believe that it is a compromise and compromising is the biggest downfall of the western church. The people that are a visible part of the service should be setting the highest example. Would you want your pastor to be an agnostic? I think not. Then why would you have an unbeliever on your worship team?

lowsound

This is all really refresing to hear. I didnt think there were many Christians (scratch that... Believers) on talkbass. +1

Well, I don't know if my post is going to be well recieved.

I play professionally for a large church with a large music staff and audiovisual team w/ tv cameras, big screens etc.. The music varies anywhere from country to head banger contemporary christian. Every week, we play mostly brand new music and are expected to play exactly the part as recorded by the artist on the CD. 5 songs, one two hour rehearsal and then we are live in front of the TV cameras.

On the professional side, it is the best gig I have ever played. Totally professional session musician requirements, minimum hassle. It has force-grown me as a pro musician. Anywhere from 7 to 25 musicians on stage. Every week is totally different. Bring your instrument (no amp), plug into the Axiom, put on your headphones and play your best. The pay is excellent and I work with some of the best musicians in town, plus on any given week there may be a string section or horn section or guest singer.

On the spiritual side, its not my church and it really isn't in line with my beliefs.I respect the people that go there but it is not me. I usually don't even sit around for the pastor's sermon. So I am missing out on my own personal church time. I remind myself that I am still in the service of the Lord and try to be reverent and do my best, but I don't kid myself, this is a job rather than a calling. I like the staff but I am a spiritual outsider. I also play in the orchestra occassionally for a another large church which is more in line with my beliefs, but I am just a bit player. Their praise band is members only.

My own church doesnt really have a music program. Absolutely no one gets paid. We sing hymns to a rickety piano. I hope one day maybe I can perhaps bring a small string quartet to the church and play something from Bach's religious works. That is my speed. I am booked for several months at the other church so I don't know when I will get back.

My wish list is to play gospel bass in an old fashioned rollicking missionary baptist church with the piano, congregation and large choir. I don't know if I would be well recieved because I am white, but I love that music and would love to serve there.

I apologize in advance if my views offend anybody.

My wish list is to play gospel bass in an old fashioned rollicking missionary baptist church with the piano, congregation and large choir. I don't know if I would be well recieved because I am white, but I love that music and would love to serve there.

I apologize in advance if my views offend anybody.
I am an African-American who plays in church.

If I were to be dictated by my flesh side, I would suggest that any church that doesn't receive you because you are of a different race.....FLEE!!!!!!!

However, we are not to be ruled by the flesh but to be led by God. It is possible that God may lead you to that place of worship as a way of changing the hearts, perceptions and receptions of the people in it! I believe that Galations 3:28 says that 'ye are all one in Christ'!

This is a great thread!
+1 to Lincoln, ZonGuy, and Scatman about your posts. Couldn't have said it any better myself.

I get pretty heated at times when discussing church (the building and organization) because I've played bass in some form of Xn environment for the last 10 years (played bass for mega churches, itty bitty churchs, traveled as a rock worship bassist, wrote Xn worship music...etc) and I also have a degree in Religion with a concentration in Congregational Studies. I basically have studied congregations. There are a million + different styles and ways of "doing church" and they are all good and all bad (because we are human and they are run by human beings). Lincoln said in his first post what you as a worship team should focus on. Spot on! Focus on those things and of course primarily God and your focus will be in the right place and God will be glorified.

Best of Blessings!

I would recommend the book Heart of the Artist by Rory Noland. Excellent book and like a manual.

Along with what has been said already I would like to encourage you to remember that worship is a response to God's glory, mercy, and grace and that the ultimate form of worship is a transformed life overflowing into acts of worship like singing. Focus on the worship, then the music. Also, make sure your worship is grounded in the truth and spirit...John 4:23...it is easy to get carried away with emotions in songs. Ground those feelings in truth.

Here is a favorite quote of mine about worship:
"Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. And all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable."

Archbishop William Temple

I would recommend the book Heart of the Artist by Rory Noland. Excellent book and like a manual.

Along with what has been said already I would like to encourage you to remember that worship is a response to God's glory, mercy, and grace and that the ultimate form of worship is a transformed life overflowing into acts of worship like singing. Focus on the worship, then the music. Also, make sure your worship is grounded in the truth and spirit...John 4:23...it is easy to get carried away with emotions in songs. Ground those feelings in truth.

Here is a favorite quote of mine about worship:
"Worship is the submission of all of our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness, nourishment of mind by His truth, purifying of imagination by His beauty, opening of the heart to His love, and submission of will to His purpose. And all this gathered up in adoration is the greatest of human expressions of which we are capable."

Archbishop William Temple

Wholeheartedly Agree...

Worship so much more than just the musical part of the service.

Practices are going well. We have worked up about 5 tunes now that sound okay. Practice practice practice. I found myself singing during, "Now is the Time To worship" and before my eyes we had a wonderful 4 part harmony going. And afterwards we looked at each other in astonishment and said........"WOW! do you believe that?!!" Pretty cool. I'll keep you guys informed as we progress. Thanks for everyone's input so far.