Learn some tips on how to play better as a worship team. Know your responsibilities as a worship musician when standing on the stage.

1. BETTER
MUSIC TEAM TRAINING WORKSHOP 101
JCGHP FULL GOSPEL CHURCH

3. 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

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

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

6. RULE NO. 1:
LESS
is [often]
MORE

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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!

10. 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

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

12. 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.”

13. RULE NO. 2:
WATCH
your
DYNAMICS

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

15. 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.)

16. RULE NO. 2: WATCH YOUR DYNAMICS

17. 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

18. RULE NO. 3:
LET
it
BREATHE

19. 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)

20. 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.”

21. RULE NO. 4:
HONOR
thy
GENRE

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

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