One of the keys to having a great rehearsal is preparing great worship charts. I have found that worship bands frequently go into rehearsals with haphazard charts. No one has taken the time to really think through all the details of the songs. Next-level leaders are prepared and a big part of that preparation is working on excellent charts.
There are two main forms of charts: a) the fully notated SAT chart and b) the words and chords only. I prefer the full written-out chart because it gives you more details. But whatever charts you use, ask yourself these seven questions to make sure the charts are clear and well-thought through, which will help you have a great rehearsal.
7 Keys to a Great Rehearsal
1. What is the best tempo for this song?
Have you notated it somewhere? Who counts off the song? Are you using a click track or metronome to quickly dial into the correct tempo?
2. What is the best key?
Have you taken the time to make sure that this is the best key for the leader, congregation and band? Does this key flow well with the songs before and after it? Is this key too high or low for the congregation to sing with all their hearts? Have you double-checked all the chords?
3. What do you want the vocals to sing?
When do you want the leader singing alone and when do the other singers sing? When does the song go into two- or three-part harmony? What singers are singing this week? What is the best way to utilize their strengths? Have you sung through all the parts and learnt them so you can help the singers sing their correct harmonies? Are all the words correct?
