Policy and procedures for Praise and Worship Team

Selection of Team Members

We get quite a few requests to join the praise team. The praise team leaders will be responsible for the selection of new members. Some characteristics we look for:

All members – must have a demonstrated servant attitude and be a loving and faithful follower of Christ

Background Vocalists (BGVs)  - pitch, tone, diction and stage presence - this is very important – the congregation get a great deal of encouragement from the example set by the BGVs. Most important is the ability to blend with the other vocals. This has to be assessed at an audition session – see Patrick or Marilyn to see what’s involved and whether you might be a good fit for the team. It’s also a great advantage if you can sight read your part from music

Pianists / Keyboard  - Sight reading, playing from chord charts, adapting to different musical styles, ability to do simple improvisation over standard chord progressions, ability to play to click tracks or stems

Guitarists  - good sense of rhythm, knowledge of barre and open chords, power chords basic harmony, ability to improvise basic solos, ability to play to click tracks or stems

Bassists – ability to play a rock-steady bass line from lead sheets and chord symbols – tight lock-in with drummer and/or click/stems

Drummers – rock solid tempo – absolute lock in with click/stems- crisp and timely fills, particularly where requested by the praise team leaders – ability to play hand percussion a bonus. We have electronic drums so the usual “must be able to play sensitively (not too LOUD)” does not apply!

Sound/light/media techs- familiarity with medium-format aux bus mixers (in particular the Mackie Onyx 2408) - ability to mix FOH as required by the praise team leaders – ability to respond to monitor change requests - basic computer skills – knowledge of Easy Worship an advantage

Commitment:

Practice will be held on Mon.6:00 Pm – 8pm and Wed. 5:45pm – 6:45pm. A short “run-through” of the current set will be held at 9:00am on Sunday mornings. Attendance is required to be a member of the praise teams. We will contact you if practice is cancelled.

There are times when members will need to miss practices and services – please make a note on the attendance board as soon as you know. Call in asap if you have to be missing due to unplanned reasons.

Song selection:

Input from members is encouraged; song selection will be at the discretion of the leader. The “to do” list in priority order is maintained on the music ministry web pages at http://soulsharbourchurchofgod.com/contempband.aspx

Preparation:

You are responsible for maintaining your books of lead sheets and music. Try to have your “books in order” in advance of both services and practices. Have a pencil with you when we practice so that you can make notes on your lead sheets as to cues, loudness, timing etc., We shouldn’t be wasting valuable group time while papers are shuffled on having to stop a song to go over something that we have addressed before. Upcoming setlists are at http://soulsharbourchurchofgod.com/Setlists.aspx

The drummer in addition should determine which songs are on stems, which need a metronome driven click and which are freeform. He/she should load up the metronome memory in advance of practice.

Leadership / Stage Presence:

BGVs should smile J and clap your hands on the praise songs. We want to be lively in our praise. Lift your hands and have a spirit of worship. Be aware that your mission is to lead others into the Holy of Holies.

You should participate in the Altar Call music.

General

Members need to learn the song arrangements as much as possible. You are encouraged to listen to these songs in your devotional times. This will help us to sing with our spirit during the service. New songs will usually be distributed on CDs or MP3 well in advance of the first time we attempt them. See Patrick if you need copies of the arrangements

It’s important to blend as a group. Read your lead sheets and notes to see who is leading a song and watch that leader as the song reaches transition points in order to know how to minister as one.

The minister of music will be in charge of maintaining a rotation for specials singers. This will be maintained on the church website. If you are scheduled to sing and can’t make it, please let Marilyn know so we can make new arrangements in good time.

Pray for this area of ministry as it is vital to the mission of our church.

Thank You,

Patrick and Marilyn