BETTER MUSIC TEAM TRAINING WORKSHOP 101 JCGHP FULL GOSPEL CHURCH 

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IT’S NOT ABOUT US! As worship team leaders, our main goal is to ENGAGE EVERYONE in WORSHIP, not to showcase our talents or even our “cool” music 

IT’S NOT ABOUT US! As musicians, our secondary goal is to SUPPORT the WORSHIP LEADER, not to overpower or overshadow his/her voice 

BETTER PLAYING: FOUR RULES RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE RULE NO. 4: HONOR THY GENRE 

RULE NO. 1: LESS is [often] MORE 

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE (INSTRUMENTATION MATTERS)  ALL instruments playing ALL throughout the song is NOT a very good idea 1. RULE OF THREE 2. CLASHING TIMBRES 3. LISTENING FATIGUE 

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE (INSTRUMENTATION TIPS: SPREAD OUT!)  TIP 1: DRUMS + BASS – Core foundation / rhythmical backbone  TIP 2: DRUMS – Play the SUBDIVISIONS  TIP 3: BASS – Play in SYNC with the KICK drum 60-90% of the time  TIP 4: BASS – Don’t need to play anything complex 

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE (INSTRUMENTATION TIPS: SPREAD OUT!)  TIP 4: KEYS – LESS playing on the LEFT hand  TIP 5: KEYS/GTRS – Play on different OCTAVE RANGES  TIP 6: GTRS: DON’T play much BASS; adjust EQ  TIP 7: Use DISTINCT instrumental color/timbre  TIP 8: PLAN THE SECTIONS! 

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE (PLAYING TIPS: GIVE AND TAKE!)  TIP 1: Know WHAT drives the music/section  TIP 2: “PLAY IN THE POCKET”  TIP 3: RULE OF THREE  TIP 4: HOOKS, RIFFS, and VAMPS 

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE (INSTRUMENTATION, TEXTURE, AND DYNAMICS) 

RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE (BUT NOT ALWAYS) “IF ‘LESS IS MORE’ [might] result in a DRY and DULL sound, REINTRODUCE your instrument in the music.” 

RULE NO. 2: WATCH your DYNAMICS 

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS (BECAUSE DYNAMICS IS EVERYTHING) Musical dynamics refers to: 1. Volume/loudness changes 2. Texture changes 

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS (DYNAMICS VS. EXPRESSION) AND NOT to:  Articulations (staccato, accents, arco, etc.)  Tempo changes (accelerando, ritardando)  Reinterpretations (rubato style, legato style, etc.) 

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS 

RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS  TIP 1:TEMPO CONSISTENCY over EXCITEMENT  TIP 2: ANALYZE the song, looking for EMOTIONAL highs and lows  TIP 3: LISTEN!  TIP 4 (important): Watch out for SELAHS 

RULE NO. 3: LET it BREATHE 

RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE (CAN’T HOLD IT BACK ANYMORE)  BEST EXAMPLE: Orchestral arrangements  WORST EXAMPLE: Excessive jazz comping (at least, in a worship setting) 

RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE (CAN’T HOLD IT BACK ANYMORE) “IF it’s time for PRAYER, STOP.” “DON’T ‘play in the pocket’ all the time.” 

RULE NO. 4: HONOR thy GENRE 

RULE NO. 4: HONOR THY GENRE Different genres have different STYLES, IDIOMS, and TRADITIONS regarding RHYTHMICAL PATTERNS and INSTRUMENTATION 

WRAP-UP: FOUR RULES RULE NO. 1: LESS IS MORE RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS RULE NO. 3: LET IT BREATHE RULE NO. 4: HONOR THY GENRE