Worship Music Ministry Training Course: Overview and Ordering

Preface

• About the Author
• Vision

Chapter 1 - The Big Picture

• As Christians we desire to please God.
• Why do we worship God?
• What kind of worshiper does the Father seek?
• How does music relate to being the kind of worshiper that pleases God?
• The effect of worship on people
• Why should we spend time learning and practicing musical things?
• What should we study, and why?

Chapter 2 - Music Theory

• The Basics
  • Piano diagram
  • Why learn music theory?
  • Repeating pattern of notes
  • Half steps & whole steps
  • Scales
  • Intervals
  • Chords
  • Numbers apply to
  • Diatonic chords in a major key
  • Terminology
• Chord Spelling
  • Triads
  • 7th Chords
  • 9th Chords
  • 2 or add9 Chords
  • +5 & -5 Chords
  • 6th Chords
  • 11th Chords
  • 13th Chords
• Figuring out the Scale for a Key
  • How to figure out what the tonic chord is
  • Decide if its a sharp key or a flat key
  • Order of sharps
  • Order of flats
  • Other modes/scales
• Scales
  • Major scale spelling
  • Minor scales
  • Blues scales
• Transposing
• Lifting Songs
• Creating Chord Progressions
• Rhythmic Layers of Music
  • Observations
  • Practical suggestion

Chapter 3 - Keyboard Basics (beginning keyboardists)

• Keyboards in a Worship Team
  • Premise
  • Practical tips
  • Sounds
  • Choosing a keyboard
• Playing by Chord
  • Suggestions for playing by chord
  • Making a rhythmic 'feel'
  • How to vary your right hand
  • Using the pedal
  • Basic steps to follow in learning a song
• Warm-up Patterns
  • General instructions
  • Steps to follow for each scale
  • Scale fingerings
  • Minor scale fingerings
  • Inversions
  • Arpeggios
  • Grand form scales
  • The spider
  • Finger flexer 1
  • Finger flexer 2
  • Scales to practice & their chords
• Added Chord Voicings
  • Most useful voicings
  • Other voicings

Chapter 4 - Guitar Basics (beginning guitarists)

• Concepts
  • Terminology
  • String names and numbers
  • Finger numbers
  • Tuning
  • Where to place fingers
  • Hand position
  • Reading a chord diagram
  • Looking at the fingerboard
  • Amount of string pressure
  • Pick choice
  • Holding the pick
  • Strumming
  • Loose wrist
  • Palm muting
  • Strumming patterns
  • Single note picking
  • Finger picking
  • Bar chords
  • Using a capo
  • Simplifying chords
  • Chords to know
  • Strap placement
  • Changing your strings
  • Gear
  • Practice tips
  • Basic steps to follow in learning a song
• Chords
  • Chord diagrams for all root notes
  • Key of E chords diagrams
• Fingerboard
  • Fingerboard diagram
  • How to learn the fingerboard
  • Observations about the fingerboard
• Scales
  • Approach
  • Needed scales
  • Un-needed scales, but good to know
  • Scale formulas
  • Major scale
  • Minor scale
  • Minor blues scale
  • Major blues scale

Chapter 5 - Assembling a Worship Team

• Adding New Team Members
  • Finding new team members
  • Discerning if a person should be on the worship team
• Organizing Your Team
  • Worship band formats
  • Vocal team formats
• Worship Team Agreement -- Example

Chapter 6 - Preparing a Set

• How to
• Guide lines for introducing new songs

Chapter 7 - Communicating with a Worship Team

• Our ability to communicate clearly, effects every aspect of ministry
• General techniques
• Verbal communication
• Written communication
• Non-verbal body language
• General communication

Chapter 8 - Leading vocal & band rehearsals

• General tips
• Band rehearsals
• Vocal rehearsals
• Bringing a quality offering in worship

Chapter 9 - Navigating the Sound System Minefield (novice sound people)

• Terminology
• Why should a worship leader learn about sound systems?
• Equipment terminology
• Mixer terminology
• Other terminology
• Using a Sound System
• Guide lines while setting-up or cleaning-up a sound system
• Tips for the sound person
• Mixing procedures
• Making a good mix
• Basic hand signals for musicians to communicate with the sound person
• The in-ear or headphone monitor concept

Chapter 10 - Running a Sound Check

• General points
• Using a floor monitor system
• Using an in-ear/headphone monitor system
• Using a blended floor monitor and 'in-ear' monitor system

Chapter 11 - Leading a Set

• Guide lines
• Consider teaching about worship
• Leadership perspectives

Chapter 12 - Fostering the Prophetic

• Spontaneous Song
• Introduction
• What is spontaneous song?
• General points
• Why do it?
• How to get started
• Tips
• Use of tongues
• Song examples

Chapter 13 - Worship Ministry Organization

• Why organize?
• Data management tools
• Organizing your files
• Worship set planning tools
• Other helpful files
• Backing up
• Schedules
• Chord charts
• Projection
• Rehearsal recordings
• Communication methods

Chapter 14 - Hearing Harmonies (vocalists)

• Two approaches to harmony singing
• 'Zone defense' harmony singing
• 'Man to man' harmony singing
• Comparison of the two techniques
• Which approach should you use?
• Section leaders
• Rehearsal recordings

Chapter 15 - Vocals (vocalists)

• Vocal Technique
• Breathing
• Relax
• Sit up/Stand up
• Tone
• Ranges within a voice
• Pitch accuracy
• Phrasing & stylizing
• Warm-ups
• Teaching yourself
• Pick the right key
• Know your weaknesses or limitations
• The changing male voice
• Mic technique
• Stage presence
• Vocal Health
• Foods
• Soothing your throat
• When you are sick
• Talking
• Other tips

Chapter 16 - Team Dynamics

• Working Together (Instrumentalists)
• Its a worship TEAM
• Submitting to leadership
• A team that prays together stays together
• A team that PLAYS together stays together
• Sacrificing your own preferences
• Practical tips
• Key relationships (Drums & bass, Multiple guitars, etc)
• Practical application

Appendix 1 - Stirring up Passion

• Worship 'Nuggets'
• A 'love exchange' with God
• Worship is a worth-while activity
• Greeting Card
• Jesus is Lord
• Wading beyond where you can touch
• Praise during sorrow
• Hearing His voice changes us
• The reason we are alive is to worship
• Expressing love publicly is honoring to the recipient
• Mustard seed worship
• Airplane touch downs
• Tell yourself to praise
• The need to keep drinking
• We can meet w/ God at any time
• Know God well in order to lift Him up
• Why we should feel God's heart beat
• Worship by faith, not willpower
• Is your pump primed?
• We can be around Jesus but not 'touch' him
• Anorexia in our hunger for God
• Bring God the kind of worship He deserves

Appendix 2 - Small Group Worship

• Leading Worship with Pre-recorded Music
• Planning a worship set
• Guide lines for introducing new songs
• Guide lines for worship leading
• Developing the prophetic
• Additional thoughts

Appendix 3 - Taking Worship out of the Church

• The many purposes for worship
• A 'family activity'
• Evangelism
• Influencing culture
• Intercession

Whole Course