There are not many things that are more frustrating than taking time out of a busy schedule to practice with a worship team, only to spend the next few hours socializing, shuffling papers, and doing very little in the way of music. This is an aggravation not only to the leader, but to the team members as well. This is a problem that if not taken care of can kill the morale of the team and threaten unity. With these kinds of problems bubbling under the surface, true worship will become very difficult to achieve. Of course, no one attempts to have unproductive rehearsals, they just happen. Here are some practical tips to keep your rehearsal time productive:
- Have a plan. – While this seems like common sense, too many worship leaders show up to practice with no idea what they are going to do. Have an agenda. Write it down. Stick to it. While your lead guitarist may get a little irritated when you stop his noodling between songs, the entire team will be very appreciative after they complete a productive practice.
- Don’t use rehearsal time to learn songs. – Give your musicians copies of the music with enough time to learn their parts before ever bringing a song to rehearsal. This will require some planning ahead on your part, but will pay off greatly with the time a frustration saved in the end. There will still be some fumbling around with any new song, especially something a little more complicated, but this can be greatly reduced by simply providing the music a week or two early.
- Clearly communicate your expectations. – Your team will live out the role that they perceive from your attitude. In other words, if you treat them like their job is unimportant, no big deal, or unappreciated, they will perform the job as if it is unimportant. Let your musicians know exactly what is expected from them and they will take their role, and rehearsal time, much more seriously.
- Over prepare. – While we hope and expect that each member will show up ready to do his part, prepare as if no one will be ready. Learn each part. Know exactly when the guitars come in, exactly when the singers break into harmony, and every note the sopranos will sing during the second chorus. This way, you will know when someone is doing something right or wrong, and be able to correct it if need be. It will also give you the flexibility to teach a new member if there is an absence from your regular group.
Your time is important, and so is the time of each member of your worship team. Let’s dedicate ourselves to being better stewards of the rehearsal time God has allowed us. Hopefully, these few suggestions can help you avoid potential problems.
