Beyond Sunday Worship

Worship Podcast & Blog

How To Dramatically Improve Your Rhythm Section Today

[This post is part of a series on Tips For Taking Your Worship Team To The Next Level. Check out the rest here.]

There is a constant friction within worship teams between the spiritual and the musical. There are some who place no value on musical improvement and focus solely on the “heart of worship”. There are others who are so heavily focused on musical precision and innovation that the heart is buried. What shall we do?

I think we should just be awesome like these guys 🙂

I’m of the opinion that we need both/and not either/or. It’s possible to be so musically excellent that the Person of Christ is no longer in focus. It’s also possible to be so musically awful that the entire worship service is a complete distraction. We need an excellence that draws attention to Christ and invites people to join in.

One of the most important dynamics of an effective worship team is a tight rhythm section. I’ve found that the more a rhythm section works together, the less distracting the music is. It’s then easier to worship without wondering if the drummer will miss his fill or the bass player actually play the bass line. When working with worship teams, rhythm section is the first dynamic I focus on.

So what can you do to improve?

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CD Giveaway: Harbour Live

Today is the beginning of an ongoing series here on the blog. My goal is to give some visibility to incredible worship artists that you may or may not have heard of. One of them is Harbour Live in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

From their website:

Harbour Live is the family of worship leaders and musicians at the The Harbour Church. Hungry for real encounters with the living God, our music is just a shadow of the lives we live with Jesus. We’re committed to writing songs that exalt God and His Kingdom in the earth, and we’re passionate about resourcing the Body of Christ with music that is grounded in the Word and Spirit of God.

Allow me to say that I was BLOWN AWAY by this album. First of all, I had never heard of them and I consider myself a worship music nerd. And second, because the worship songs are incredibly well done and fresh. I was also surprised to see Jeremy Edwardson in the producer’s chair. Many of you know of his work as lead singer of The Myriad, as well as producer of all Bethel Church and Jesus Culture albums. He is, in my opinion, the best producer in Christian music today. And it shines on this album.

This is already becoming one of my favorite worship albums of the year. Great voices, massive music, and a contagious longing for the Presence of God.

Justin Jarvis, worship leader at The Harbour, has graciously agreed to give me 5 copies of the album to give away here at davidsantistevan.com.

This contest is now closed.

Here are the 5 winners:

  1. Jenilee Goodwin
  2. Keri Welch
  3. Elizabeth Rhyno
  4. Jon Manna
  5. Chris Luzier

If you did not win, I strongly suggest you buy this album and support this fantastic church. You won’t be disappointed!

10 Essential Instrumental Albums For Creative Inspiration

Some of my favorite music in the world is instrumental. I think it’s because I love music and atmosphere and deep feeling and prayer and communing with God. Music with lyrics leads you in a certain direction. It tells you what it’s about.

Instrumental music allows you to have your own experience with it. It helps me break a creative slump, relax, pray, work, and stay focused.

These are some of my favorites. Enjoy.

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What are some of your favorite instrumental albums?

Do You Have What it Takes To Tour Full Time? [Video]

Brad & Rebekah are full-time traveling worship leaders. They write their own music, do their own booking, social media, graphics, & a host of other things. What I appreciate about these guys is that they work extremely hard at what they do. While their core value is to trust God and rely on Him to open doors for new opportunities, they are not passive about it. They go for it.

I wanted to record this interview for a couple reasons. First, I want you to get to know Brad & Rebekah. Buy their music. Lead their songs. Consider inviting them to lead worship at your church. You won’t regret it.

Also, maybe you would like to tour someday. Hopefully you can glean some insight into what it takes.

Here are the three poins Brad outlines to be a successful touring artist:

  1. REASON – the “why” behind the “what”
  2. WILLINGNESS – to serve wherever, no matter how small. Excellence in the little things.
  3. HARD WORK – develop an ‘up-to-date’ social media platform, contact hundreds of churches, write songs, network.

Question: If you tour, what are the key things that make you successful? If not, do you have any desire to tour someday?