Worship Fertilizer from Ad Lib Music

With so many personalities, styles, opinions, backgrounds, tastes, how do I know what true worship looks like? We hold true to the reality that the scriptures must always shape our God-encounters in worship – the way we approach, express, and interact with God in worship. So is my worship filled with Biblical expressions of worship? Do my expressions of worship reflect the God I worship? Would I say that my personal worship is a model for others to follow? Are there fears that keep me from expressing Biblical worship? We’ll learn how to be more generous in worship.

Most of us learned more about worship from being kids in church than what the Bible says. (What!?) We’ll explore integrating Biblical patterns for worship. Did you know that when you see the word “praise” in the Bible, it’s a translation of seven different Hebrew words with different meanings? Experience the freedom of Biblical expressions of worship. Don’t worry, singing the latest Chris Tomlin song or Fanny Crosby’s classic still fits.

What’s the most important musical part of a song? Melody. It’s the DNA, the unique fingerprint. Which brings up the next question…how do I learn melody, especially if I don’t read music or don’t have the musical notation available? With each Fertilizer, you’ll grow in worship, in musicianship, in leadership, in relationship…it’ll be just what you need to grow. Be a part of this podcast by submitting your questions and comments to podcast@adlibmusic.com

On a snowy January morning, Thomas Miller (@thomasgateway) and Walker Beach from Gateway Worship shared a mini-version of the training they teach everyone in their worship ministry. It's clear that they have codified the principles and philosophies of a scripturally based worship ministry in a way that can easily be conveyed and caught by their team members. There are lots of great things to take away from this series! You may also enjoy Adam Ranck’s notes. Learn more about Adam at http://adamranck.com and follow him @aranck.

On a snowy January morning, Thomas Miller (@thomasgateway) and Walker Beach from Gateway Worship shared a mini-version of the training they teach everyone in their worship ministry. It's clear that they have codified the principles and philosophies of a scripturally based worship ministry in a way that can easily be conveyed and caught by their team members. There are lots of great things to take away from this series! You may also enjoy Adam Ranck’s notes. Learn more about Adam at http://adamranck.com and follow him @aranck.

On a snowy January morning, Thomas Miller (@thomasgateway) and Walker Beach from Gateway Worship shared a mini-version of the training they teach everyone in their worship ministry. It's clear that they have codified the principles and philosophies of a scripturally based worship ministry in a way that can easily be conveyed and caught by their team members. There are lots of great things to take away from this series! You may also enjoy Adam Ranck’s notes. Learn more about Adam at http://adamranck.com and follow him @aranck.

On a snowy January morning, Thomas Miller (@thomasgateway) and Walker Beach from Gateway Worship shared a mini-version of the training they teach everyone in their worship ministry. It's clear that they have codified the principles and philosophies of a scripturally based worship ministry in a way that can easily be conveyed and caught by their team members. There are lots of great things to take away from this series! You may also enjoy Adam Ranck’s notes. Learn more about Adam at http://adamranck.com and follow him @aranck.

Why do I need to know how a song is built? Why do I care? Because knowing how songs are built enables me to: ~ Learn it without “playing it on repeat 18 times” ~ Rehearse it as a band without just “playing the whole thing 8 times” ~ Know what I can change in it so it’s still fresh and worshipful after singing it 28 times ~ Encourage the congregation to sing more (without asking for it) ~ Adapt it to my band…(especially if my electric guitar player still thinks solid state is king) ~ Heroically decide not to play it when I realize (before Sunday morning) that my rhythm section (that carries that particular song) just doesn’t have what it takes to pull it off (yet) So first, what are the elements that make up a song? Melody, Text, Form, and Accompaniment (which is harmony, rhythm, tone, tempo, and dynamics). There are things in a song that you can rework and there are things that if changed, make it a completely different song. Text, Form, and Accompaniment can all be modified to different degrees. Melody is the DNA of a song - change that, and it's no longer the same song. We’ll start with what is most flexible, Accompaniment: You may be able to change the chords and still sing the melody as written, but you may need to change what harmony you can sing with it. You can change the rhythmic feel of the song, and it may still work – like laying a rock feel, or a jazz swing, or a pop groove on it. You can play the song with only an acoustic guitar or a full band, but you'll need to play it differently to achieve similar energy, feel, or even style. You might use instruments the original author never dreamed of using. You can play the song slightly faster or slightly slower (about 10 BPM unless you're doing a drastically different groove). You can change the key (thankfully). You can play different voicings on the instruments, use capos, and chord inversions. It may work to add or subtract harmonies. You can play a really quiet version or a REALLY LOUD version (sorry for the shouting). Ask “Would this song make sense if sung a cappella?” or “Would this song work without a drummer or a strong lead guitar player?” Then change at will…the sky is the limit. In fact, next rehearsal, try playing the same song once with only the players on the left of the stage, and then once with the ones on the right (and yes, the drummer has to pick one or the other). How did it work? What didn’t work? What did you learn? Form: A song may be written V1, Ch, V2, Bridge, but you can totally start on the Bridge if you'd like. You don’t need to sing both verses. You can sing just the chorus of a song. I’ll often repeat whichever verse I’m feeling like God wants to highlight in that moment. I recently led Here I Am To Worship and repeated the second verse twice (without going to the chorus) and went right into the bridge because it seemed right to be singing about God coming to earth “Humbly You came to the earth You created, All for love's sake became poor” …and then go right into “I'll never know how much it cost…” So it’s Outback Steakhouse here…no rules, just right. Text: Sometimes, you can slightly alter the text and still keep the song as it is - personalizing a pronoun for instance. You might change a chorus on the third time around from "God is great" to "God You're great" or change “He” to “You.” But if you change it up too much "O praise Him, He is holy" sung as "I praise You, You are holy" doesn't really work. But be careful here, purists may harpoon you after the service (in love, of course). Some of us feel like changing the “sloppy wet kiss” in How He Loves to…any of the dozen substitutes for the original lyric ruins the song. Some of us can’t stand the original. So alter with taste and tact…and good reason. Melody: But melody? Nope. Don't change that. Every note and every rhythm is foundational to that song. It's the only thing that separates it from every other song. Think of it as its DNA or fingerprint. If you don't sing it true to the original, your singers will have a hard time following you and the congregation will certainly have trouble following you and singing along. (this may very likely be on of the main reasons they don't sing if they aren't!) Now I know, I know...you’re artists just expressing yourselves. Good for you. You are, but you’re servants first. Just like you should “Worship first; Play second” you must be a “Servant first; Artist second.” There are lots of ways to be creative and artistic, but altering the melody is not one of them. (unless you’re teaching it as a new song) With each Fertilizer, you’ll grow in worship, in musicianship, in leadership, in relationship…it’ll be just what you need to grow. Be a part of this podcast by submitting your questions and comments to podcast@adlibmusic.com

There is no need whatsoever for making the songs that we do sound just like a recording. However, there are two really important assumptions that statement makes... Worship Fertilizer…the what you need to grow in worship. It’s brought to you by Ad Lib Music who, in simple love and pure devotion to Jesus, is eradicating isolation and burnout so that leaders bear much fruit. Find more at adlibmusic.com. With each Fertilizer, you’ll grow in worship, in musicianship, in leadership, in relationship…it’ll be just what you need to grow. Be a part of this podcast by submitting your questions and comments to podcast@adlibmusic.com

I pulled together musicians from churches where I've been on staff and without a formal rehearsal, we dove in! Everytime I listen to this, I end up singing Anthony's keyboard riff at the end of Your Love Never Fails over and over...love it! It's definitely the standout on this recording: 7:23 to 20:03...almost 13 minutes of glory bilss! Band: Drums: Doug Phillips Bass: Rusty Richards Nord: Anthony Harnish Electric Guitar: Paul Bradley Acoustic Guitar an Lead Vocal: Dave Helmuth Singer: Janet Richards Audio Engineer: Allen Apgar Songs: Our God Your Love Never Fails Your Name Great Is Thy Faithfulness Needing You You can download all the charts by clicking the link below. Thanks so much Allen for capturing this recording!

Learn to sing harmonies, build dynamics, and listen to each other in serving a song [rather than spotlighting my stunning vocal ability] Learn the art of blending - could Sandi Patty and Kari Jobe sing together? What should you do when you're not singing in the mic? What resources are available to help learn harmonies? Ryan Shenk, Worship Pastor at Manheim BIC Church. Ryan rocks.

Learn about the root rhythm pattern of a song. How do small worship teams utilize rhythm instruments? This hands-on workshop will sharpen your Bass Guitar and Drum skills and strengthen your ability to keep rhy-thm and pl-ay to-g-ethe-r. Can a bass guitar be the only rhythm instrument? Is the Djembe all you have and all you need? What if we don't have a rhythm instrument? So what is a drummer’s main role…really? George Yellak has been a professional musician since graduating high school in 1983. He did his bachelor's work at the University of North Texas, majoring in Jazz Studies with a concentration in Percussion. He also studied electric bass in the schoolís Lab Band program. Post college, George toured the Southeast extensively with rhythym&blues performers ranging from Little Joe Blue to Johnny Taylor. He presently performs in the Northeast with a number of jazz, blues, pop, and worship ensembles. George has been teaching privately in Lancaster County for over 18 years and offers lessons on guitar, bass, drums, and piano. In 1996 he opened a teaching studio called the Music Workshop which he continues to own and operate. George has played an integral part in the development of church worship departments and the training of musicians who participate in them. His versatile skill set enables him to communicate the intricacies of music in an easy to understand vocabulary. Contact George at (717) 656-6338

Learn how different songs fit into standard grooves. Its a great idea for medleys, how to play certain songs better, and how to understand what makes the song work (so you can tell your drummer) :) And yes, that's Dave. The drummer.

What defines me? What I wear? Where I’m from? What I know? Who I know? What I do? What I’ve done? No. These things shape me, and more interestingly, They reveal what defines me. I live as a result of what defines me. Follow Dave on a fascinating, compelling, transformative journey toward living a hugely meaningful, effective, and free life! This was recorded on May 18, 2011 at Gateway House of Prayer's Equipping Service and the original can be found at http://www.gatewayprayer.com/media/

Learn about what happens when we get our identity from what we do, from our ministry, or from anything other than who God says that we are. Are you caught in the trap of performing for God to try to please Him? Good news is that you already are in Jesus, but getting caught in that trap is no fun. What happens when you get "thumped." Hear the "stuffed peppers" story and the "To Me Be The Glory" song. Laughter will abound! This is a recording from the 7th Annual Kent Henry Ministries Worship Conference in a general session held Thursday, July 13, 1995! Yes, I transferred it from cassette tape to the computer. It was THAT good!