Some practical how to stuff...

How to plan new sets each week, and Working around short rehearsals and hectic schedules.

I want to address a couple questions that have been asked with 2 very simple, practical ways that can help. I am dealing with Song Choice, and Rehearsal times.

A) Planning new sets each week can be a very tedious job. I want to give you one practical way to re-think this task:
1. Think about the theme and the song choice FIRST. Often we try to fit the song into the band. By that I mean - "I have 7 players on this week and 5 singers, I can't do this song because it won't work with the players" Don't be afraid to change up the style's and the number of players each week. I know this sounds basic, BUT - we are often limited by the smallest things. If you are bound by the band, and the singers you might tend to choose songs that you might leave out if you had more freedom. So, plan your songs and the theme a few weeks in advance...THAN pick your band and singers that will fit into your plan...not the other way around!

This will create more interest from the congregation as well. You will find that the change up of "ear candy" will be a welcomed!

B) Rehearsal times and the lack thereof can be very frustrating. Here is a very practical way to reduce stress...Yours and the bands!!
2. SIMPLIFY THE ARRANGEMENT!! Often we try to duplicate the arrangement we have heard on a recording, or we try to duplicate how we saw a band play it live. Both of those, without a lot of practice can end in disaster, leaving us frustrated and wanting to quit. My thought is to take the song, simplify the arrangement, and sometimes even simplify the chord structure. There are a lot of songs that have very complicated chords inserted into a very simple melody. On the recording it sounded cool, but without a ton of rehearsal time, and pro players you are often left frustrated! When you are dealing with crazy schedules, not a lot of rehearsal time, and musicians that have a "real job" (lol) you might need to change some things up. Remember the changes you will need to make, will not effect the audience...They are things musicians will see and know, but the audience you are leading in worship will just know it is WORKING!!

Kevin