Inspiring to hear/see how this worship leader is leading worship with his life. Check out Daniel’s music.

Mark #3 – Does your attitude contribute?

Not only do professional musicians listen, watch, and feel the music, they have good attitudes. They have focused attitudes. Part of being professional is that you want opportunities to play and you know you’ll get them if your attitude contributes, rather than detracts from a band environment. Attitude is everything when you are playing with other musicians.

A bad attitude on stage is like gangrene in the body. It spreads. It does not just affect you but the entire team. I’ve had the privilege of playing with some incredible musicians over the years. Here are some ‘attitude’ items I’ve noticed, while playing in rehearsal settings:

• Take notes on your sheet music! This lets the leader know you care and he won’t have to repeat himself a thousand times. It also aids in not making careless mistakes.
• Don’t practice your scales/rudiments/licks at rehearsals in-between songs. Very frustrating to a leader. Focus your attention on what is trying to be accomplished.
• Don’t cry when your ideas get shot down. Someone probably knows more than you do.
• Laugh. Smile. Joke around. This contributes to a fun atmosphere.
• Don’t ever speak out of frustration. If you are frustrated about something, zip your lips until you can say it with kindness and cool.
• Invest all your passion, energy, and heart into the simplest licks & grooves. Don’t act like you are above simplicity. There’s no faster way out the door.
• Compliment other musicians on stage! Believe it or not, this is hard to do if you are a musician. Why? Because we love ourselves too much. Our identities can be wrapped up in what we do. Break that by encouraging others around you.
• Don’t act bored. Professional, enduring musicians play the same songs in the same way for more years than you’ve been alive. Get over your boredom.

Mark #3 – Do you feel it?

Not only do great musicians learn from listening and observing great music, but they also feel the music they play. There is a night and day difference between playing notes on a page and translating music from deep within who you are. Many people find my body language and facial expression quite humorous when I’m playing music. And rightly so. It is funny. This is not something I think about. It is a natural occurrence for me when I’m feeling the music. I’m not just playing notes. I’m speaking something about what I believe and who I am. I know that sounds incredibly deep.

Allow me to put it like this: when a speaker speaks he/she is trying to communicate a central idea. Breakthrough wisdom right there. When an artist paints he/she is trying to communicate a certain feeling. When a good musician plays, he knows he is communicating something as well.

When I play the piano, for example, I’m trying to communicate my passion for Jesus through what I play. My heart and mind and body are engaged together in worship.

Great musicians know where there music comes from, whether it’s good or bad. Making sound is not enough, my friends. There is plenty of that around. Communicate something. Contemplate a picture and create it with your music. Engage all you are in your music.

No matter how stupid it may look.

Mark #2 – Are you an observer?

Great musicians observe other musicians. As I look back over the years, a lot of my growth as a musician came from watching other people. I remember watching a particular drummer at my church when I was really young. I never took drum lessons but I studied his playing – how he held the sticks, his facial expression, his body language, how he hit the snare, hi-hat patterns, etc. Watching him play and trying it myself made all the difference. I would have never figured that stuff out on my own.

Watching professionals play is like a free lesson. Observe what they do and then try it out yourself. Observing and listening go hand in hand. When you don’t have the opportunity to observe great musicians at a particular venue, you should be listening.

Press in to the difficulty of what you saw and practice it till you get it. It can be done with hard work!

These guys are sick.