TIP 3 – LET THE DRUMMER COUNT
Though you don’t always have to let the drummer count in, its a good ideas so that they can concentrate on keeping the tempo they have begun.
They “own” it. Some churches use technology that allows the drummer to have a click track in their ear.
As the worship leader you are focused on many different things, and therefore it is easy for you to fluctuate in your sense of the tempo of the song.
Many worship leaders like when the drummer takes charge musically; you can say “Count us in” and keep your mind on other elements of the song as they are continually keeping the tempo you’ve all been rehearsing in their head. Every drummer should also, at the very least, have a tap tempo metronome app from which they derive and remember tempos.
TIP 4 – LOOP IT ’TIL IT’S SOLID
If you know you’re going to have a four bar intro, meaning four measures, have the drummer count in and then continue to loop those four bars – over and over.
Continue to do this until you think all the band members are secure in what their instruments should be doing – in how they are playing together, creating space for one another, etc.
In rehearsal, consider turning your mic and monitor to face the band so they can see your eyes and gestures. This way you can watch everyone, and communicate verbally and non-verbally if you want a little less of this, or a little more of that, as you continue to loop the section.
ACTION STEPS
- Try at least one idea for the next time you meet.
- When you’re rehearsing worship song intros, listen to an mp3, and establish your version of it, articulating what you want.
- Talk about your worship song intros together until you feel like the band understands what you are after.
- Let the drummer count the band in on a regular basis, if you can.
- Keep looping that song intro until it’s solid!
This article on worship song intros originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
