Topic: Your Instrument

Essentials for the Praise and Worship Bassist – Part 1- Maintaining Your Bass

Thumbnail image for Essentials for the Praise and Worship Bassist – Part 1- Maintaining Your Bass by Stan Szymanski August 22, 2011 Bass Guitar

By Stan Szymanski Even in the case of lifeless things that make sounds, such as the flute or harp, how will anyone know what tune is being played unless there is a distinction in the notes? (1 Corinthians 14:7 (NIV)) Almost every morning of the week I, my bass and God go into a Special [...]

Read the full article →

Worship Drumming: “A Little Passion Please”

Thumbnail image for Worship Drumming: “A Little Passion Please” by Travis Gouge August 2, 2011 Percussion

“A Little Passion Please” Greetings Friends, Romans, (eh forget it).. So this isn’t really a drum article, but yes I am a drummer, and yes I have been in Christian music all of my life (38 years so far), and yes I have seen a lot of changes. And no, I am not talking about [...]

Read the full article →

Acoustic Guitar Tips: Muted Tuning, Broken Strings and Quick Changes

Thumbnail image for Acoustic Guitar Tips: Muted Tuning, Broken Strings and Quick Changes by Scott Jasmin July 13, 2011 Guitar

I can vividly remember the Sunday after church that I asked my wife: “How was worship today?” and she replied, “You have got to STOP TUNING when the pastor is praying!”  I guess I had never realized it before, but as it turns out, people could hear me tuning my guitar over the voice of [...]

Read the full article →

Worship Guitar: A Letter to Me (the guitarist)

Thumbnail image for Worship Guitar: A Letter to Me (the guitarist) by Jon Nicol May 26, 2011 Guitar

This is the ‘thirty<<mumble something>>-year-old worship leader’ ME talking to the ‘early 20-something worship guitarist’ ME. Here are ten things that I (and some other worship leaders) would like you to know. 1. Yes, that is impressive that you’ve learned Sweet Child ‘O Mine. Please stop, we need to rehearse. 2. No, we really aren’t [...]

Read the full article →

Worship Drumming: “Evolve” With Age

Thumbnail image for Worship Drumming: “Evolve” With Age by Travis Gouge April 27, 2011 Percussion

Greetings friends! In my last article, I talked about the importance of us drummers “engaging” the congregation. In this article, I want us drummers to shift our focus to the stage. Specifically, I want to focus on the worship team as a whole during a worship set. After almost 35 years of playing this instrument, [...]

Read the full article →

Drummers need to “Engage” in Worship

Thumbnail image for Drummers need to “Engage” in Worship by Travis Gouge April 13, 2011 Percussion

Greetings friends. As a Worship drummer for over 25 years, I have had the opportunity in the past to play in churches when drumming and drums were considered a taboo instrument. Drums were often frowned upon specifically in the early 1980′s and before, and it took quite a while back then for the instrument to [...]

Read the full article →

Piano: Classic to Contemporary – Making the Transition…

Thumbnail image for Piano: Classic to Contemporary – Making the Transition… by Matt Kirkegaard March 11, 2011 Keyboards

Once upon a time, The piano was the featured instrument.  The piano was the instrument all musicians started with, and most desired to pursue.  In recent years, however, the perception of the piano has changed.  Many now perceive the piano to be obsolete.  It may be because people have a hard time finding the relevance [...]

Read the full article →

Worship Guitar: Stage Presence

Thumbnail image for Worship Guitar: Stage Presence by Ryan Martin February 18, 2011 Guitar

Stage Presence  Presence – noun, the state or fact of being present, as with others or in a place.  As guitarists it is easy to go through a set and just worry about our parts, our leads, our solos, our pedals and our guitars.  While these are important, so as not to distract, these are [...]

Read the full article →