Have a Plan A large portion of confidence when leading a rehearsal is knowing what you need to accomplish, and having techniques prepared to help you get there (covered throughout the blog series). Orchestra seating/set-up A vital principle should be utilized in orchestra set-up. Louder/lower instruments should be in back, and softer/higher instruments in front. […]
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Whatever else we do as church musicians, directors must know how to solve musical problems during rehearsals and help get our players ready for service music every 7 days or so. Over a series of several blogs, We will unpack the subject of leading rehearsals and deal with it in detail. Confident and Productive Rehearsals […]
Intonation – How and Why to Tune Your Players If you had 50 pianos (but why would you?) and you tune one, then the next one to the first one and continue that process, you will have many out of tune instruments as the process continues. The solution to the need for instruments to be […]
Looking and Planning Ahead God is merciful in what He does not disclose concerning our future. If the news is good, our imaginations run wild and the event is a letdown. If the news is bad we battle a sense of dread. Though we do not know what awaits in the coming year, we do […]
Costly. Worth it! ”No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” 2 Samuel 24:24 As God leads people into music ministry – leaders and laity alike – we soon learn that skillful music ministry (Psalm 33:3) requires […]
The Key to Successful Music Ministry While ministry is a reality which cannot be seen in and of itself – many evaluate the effectiveness of church music ministry by what can be observed with our senses: What we see – especially the numbers – bigger looks better. What we hear – studio quality sound is […]
Instrumental Groups – Growing Them, Involving Them in Worship Prayer is the key to motivation, attendance, personnel, finance, growth, etc. needs. Eph. 3:20, 21 – “God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine”. Prayer gives us God’s power, presence, provision, and perspective. Psalm 33:3 – Skillful playing is biblical! Called servant or […]
Places to Go, People to See Or How to Get Your People to Come to Rehearsal – MUSICIANS INSTITUTE The case (As if you didn’t already know) Think back over the last week, then the last month. How crowded was your day, your week? How busy were you? The members of our groups – our […]
WARM-UPS FOR YOUR INSTRUMENTAL GROUP – PART 2 – HOW? Jeff Cranfill Using short pieces, exercises or scales is ideal for beginning a rehearsal. Before the demands of many orchestra pieces, these warm ups give the orchestra an opportunity to focus on these aspects of performance. They help set the course for how they will […]
WARM-UPS FOR YOUR INSTRUMENTAL GROUP – PART 1 – WHY? Jeff Cranfill How does your usual day begin – I mean what are the first things you do? Perhaps it goes something like this – you open your eyes, jump to your feet and run 5 miles. As difficult, harmful, and crazy as that seems, […]
