The Shepherd's Rap

About this Rap
This participatory rap was written for the children's Advent Workshop program at Ringwood Uniting Church, Australia in 1993. It is still fun. Its participatory nature requires the gathered community to join the refrain. While originally written for children, subsequent use has proved there are many young-at-heart folks in churches.

You will need: 
2 shepherds (dressed appropriately) who can carry off the rap
3 people, each to lead one of the community parts (dressed variously as an angel, baby and sheep)
A drum beat in four, using live musos or drum machine

Notes for presentation

• There are no breaks between the spoken lines. Each line should last the same number of beats (count four for each line) flow effortlessly from one to the next. The spoken rhythm of each line will vary.
• The only space where drumming is exposed for a bar or two is during the introduction and after each verse and refrain to allow breathing space.  
• Be prepared to rehearse. Shepherds, angel, baby and sheep should be under no illusions about the need for preparation. 
• As with all drama, memorising parts always produces a superior result. 
• Divide the community into three groups: angels, babies and sheep. Rehearse the refrain beforehand.Please feel free to omit some stanzas in the interest of brevity.

This rap may be used freely for worship and Christian education purposes, with due acknowledgement.
Please send any filmed renditions for inclusion on this site. Have fun with it!

Print the rap (page 1)
Print the rap (page 2)
What is rap?

You may also be interested in The Rap of the 3 Travellers. There are 3 pages to copy.
page 1, page 2, page 3
More Resources for Advent and Christmas

Poll on practice.

You are invited to add your voice to the new poll about rehearsal habits on the left side of this blog.

10 Key Selection Criteria for Church Musicians

In employment circles these days, applicants for jobs are required to address what is known as Key Selection Criteria (KSC).

Consider the role of church musician. It may not be one that enjoys any financial reward, and yet there are a group of skills that can ensure the musical life in faith communities is neither elitist, exclusive or stagnant.

Here's my KSC for church musicians. What would yours be?

1. Team player with a big picture perspective.
2. Willing to sit out and let others play.
3. Prepared to practice individually.
4.Committed to rehearsing with others.
5. Willing to learn new material.
6. Prepared to attend workshops and share newfound knowledge.
7. Commitmed to developing positive relationships with people other than musicians.
8. Able and willing to accommodate wide variety of music styles.
9. Able to discern musical skills in others which contrast with their own, and encourage them to get involved.
10. Observant, with big ears and thick skin!

What have I forgotten?
Please add your own KSC to this list.

You may also be interested in
How to Teach a Song in 4 Steps.
Why We 'Like' Those Who Share Our Musical Taste
Poll : How does the Church accompany song in 2011?

Visit Spirited and Singing on Facebook

The King of Glory Comes

'Christ The King' Sunday
When planning for 'Christ the King' Sunday, consider using The King of Glory - a great choice for young bands. Its tune originates from a traditional Israeli melody, and has just enough rhythmic invention to make it interesting, and not so much to perplex those singing it. The key of the song is user-friendly. E minor is a simple key, with only an F sharp in the key signature. While a single G sharp appears for the final chord, those playing the bass notes, much of the accompaniment, and the entire melody will be untroubled by troublesome "black notes" (if you'll excuse the pianist's terminology!).

Instrument-Friendly
In the verses recorder players will find the range accessible, as will flautists. The notes to be played are among those first learnt on these instruments.

The Bass
Bass instruments could play a simplified bassline: E-B-E-B in the refrain, and G-D-G-D etc.. in the verses, but that can sound a bit oompah! Instead try sustaining a single bass note (E (for two bars) then C-D-E in the refrain (twice). For the verse, bass players can underpin the accompaniment simply by sustaining a G until the refrain comes around again. Thats a total of 4 different notes. Simple!

Percussive Ostinato
Chose a motif (eg: "na-tion re-joi-ces") and allocate the rhythm to claves, tambourines or hand drum, to play whenever that rhythm occurs in the song. In this case, the identical rhythm comes with "lift up your voices", and both phrases occur during the refrain.

Mixing it Up
As the rhythm is quite repetitive I'd suggest alternative instrumental treatment from refrain to verse. For example you may engage drum, guitars, bass instruments and hand percussion in the refrain, and make a contrast by utilising recorders, keyboard and triangle for the verses. The advantage of this 2-edged approach for a young band is the playing is not so relentless, there is less for each player to learn, and the result is varied for the singers/listeners.

I suspect variety is the intention behind the suggested note that a cantor sing the verses and the gathered people render the refrain. While some songs by Joseph Gelineau, for example, have verses which are rhythmically and melodically varied from one to the next, it is not so here. I see no reason for this instruction, other than the provision of contrast. An alternative suggestion for those without instruments is to alternate the verse singing between left and right side, women and men, or children and adults.

Final Refrain
As the origins of the music are from Israel, it is quite legitimate to repeat the refrain several times over, gradually increasing the speed. What an exhilarating way the prepare for Advent.

Now if you could just get the congregation to dance...WOW!

For more on accompanying hymns creatively with integrity, visit Revisiting Old Treasures

More Resources for Advent and Christmas

Music Games for Church Meetings

The Last Shall Be First
Here's a game to engage the most reluctant of players. Divide the meeting into 2, 3 or 4 teams. Post butchers paper on the wall in front of each team and a texta. The aim of the game is for teams to list as many songs as they can in three minutes. (Optional: Give each team 3 minutes to list as many songs as they can to get them started. They will probably exhaust the list quickly once the game gets underway, at which time spontaneity will come into play).

Each team lines up behind the first competitor, in front of their paper. On your "go" the first competitors from each team write the name of a song. When complete, they dash back to pass the texta on, and then stand at the back of the team. The second player must write the name of a song which begins with the last word of the song before. Team members can help each other out by calling out their ideas.

For example:
1st player - There was an old woman who swallowed a fly
2nd player - Fly me to the moon
3rd player - Moon River
and so on.

Or
Lord of the Dance
Dance with the Spirit
Spirit of the living God
God has chosen me etc...

If players are unable to continue the thread, the team may cross the last song out and replace it with a title that can be built upon.

Have Fun!

You many also be interested in Virtual Music Barriers

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10 Ways to Improve the Church Band by Next Sunday

How's the band sounding? Enliven your musical output by adopting one or more of these ideas.

1. Rehearse before Sunday!
2. At rehearsal get all band members to sing the song before playing - this is a great for getting the right speed.
3. Ask everyone to practise at home before the joint rehearsal.
4. Tune up properly - spend time on this step, until you get it right.
5. Position the band at the back of the worship space, because change is as good as a holiday, and listen to the singing lift.
6. Those who can play while standing, should be standing.
7. Rehearse introductions and endings several times over for each song. Make sure they improve each time you rehearse them.
8. Record the band playing at rehearsal then play it back - ask them how they (personally and corporately) can improve the result. Make sure they act on their own advice.
9. Use stable music stands
10.Don't play the melody - that's the singer's part.

You may also be interested in the short course for song leaders - Songmakers

Visit Spirited and Singing on Facebook

Song for Advent/Holy Week: Shine A Candle

Shine a candle was originally written to accompany the lighting of Advent candles, but may also be of use during Holy Week. It is a song of gentle longing. This song may be sung any number of times, as required. The final refrain may be underlined by singing the line, "till the day when Christ arrives", three times..

How to Play it

The manuscript indicates guitar chords, and also bass notes. The bass brings gravity to the accompaniment, providing equal doses of tension and resolution - such is the suspense of Advent.  Without the bass, the song can be insipid. If you have no bass instrument, the piano can provide this element in octaves.

Tempo

Pace is important. Please note the metronome speed marked.

Shine a Candle is freely offered here for use in worship and for Christian education purposes, with due acknowledgement. Please let me know if you make use of it.

View/Print a copy of the song

More resources for Advent and Christmas 

Song: And it was very good

And it was very good is a retelling of the creation story in Genesis.

It was originally written for a group of primary aged children on a weekend campout at Euroa in 2001, but has wide appeal. It is bright and lively and easy to learn.

The song is freely available for use in worship and for Christian education, with due acknowledgement.
Please let me know if you make use of it.

Print the lyrics
Print the music

Musicians now "Ministers" in Canada

Musicians in the United Church of Canada are rejoicing after being given the opportunity to be recognised as ministers, alongside Congregational Designated Ministers and Lay Ministers. 

In the UCC, musicians have previously had four levels of involvement: volunteer, fee for service, contract, and part time/fulltime employment. Now an further three options have been developed with increasing pastoral, liturgical and educative responsibilities attached.

This reform is as a result of a decade of work by support body Music United, and its predecessor, in the United Church of Canada.

Printed on the brochure outlining the reforms, is this wonderful statement of affirmation: 

The Music of Worship 

Music is not inserted into worship; 

rather worship is inherently musical. 

We are a singing people. 

How we sing together 

and what we sing together 

reflects our faith, 

our church, 

our union with fragile creation, 

our thoughts and our feelings about one another, 

and our attitudes toward all humanity.

Adapted from 'A Theological Statement of Music in the United Church of Canada' (July 2008)

Find out more about the new ministry structure here Making Music Together Brochure

What do you think?
Make your views on our poll, or by adding your comment here.

Make Your Own Instruments

Banish Budget Woes
Music budget a bit tight?
Not to worry.
With a little time and energy, and the ability to follow instructions, your faith community can build up a collection of instruments in no time using easily obtainable materials.

What to Make
A casual visit to your local carpet dealer could see you with the makings of carpet tube bongos. PVC offcuts can be transformed into a nifty xylophone, and pipes. The possibilities are endless, and the costs are low. In northern Victoria some years ago, I know of one man who recovered road kill to make his djembe drums - not everyone's idea of a good time.

Gather a bunch of people together and make a day of it.

Here's a sample of 'make your own instruments' sites available.

Planet Green
Includes rain sticks, balloon drums, pipes and more, with video footage to assist in the crafting.

DSO Kids
Make claypot chimes, maracas and even a xylophone using PVC pipe.

Mudcat
Includes a gourd rattle and carpet tube bongos.

Bushwahzee
For an Aussie bush flavour this site includes instructions for making a lagerphone, washboard and box bass.

How to Tan a Leather Hide
Not for the faint hearted!

6 Sound Innovations for Worship

Music in worship is too often limited to community song. Sound can be utilised in most aspects of the liturgy, although it would be a brave worship leader who detemined to use all of these innovations in a single week! Let's take a look at some common liturgical elements and consider how music might enrich each of them.

Entering - sound effects
Consider how people are greeted as they enter your particular worship space.Are they confronted with the last minute rehearsal of the instrumentalists. If there is music playing, is it merely there for entertainment value, or to fill an uncomfortable silence? Surely not! Sound can help to centre thoughts, and focus our purpose.

Consider how you might help to focus the thoughts of people as they arrive. Instead of music, you may choose to amplify a soundtrack of wind blowing or crackling fire (Pentecost). A journeying theme might be enhanced with the sounds of shoes on gravel, or the sound of crashing waves (calming the storm, crossing the Red Sea), bird calls (celebrating creation), kitchen sounds (Mary and Martha) or crowd noise (Palm Sunday, Christmas Eve, Feeding the 5000). Entering the worship space should be far from ordinary. Engage people with the unnexpected.

Processional
If your community processes bible, water, candle or communion elements, it could be time the shake it up a little. Rather than carrying the elements at waist height, they can be presented more dramatically held above the carriers head. Perhaps a dancer can 'dance' the bible in, or a trumpeter walk the aisle with a solo fanfare. Perhaps the musicians can join the procession with portable instruments, or as a singing ensemle. Each of these possibilities will elicit a different response from the gathered people, and will set the tone of anticipation for worship to follow.

Praying with eyes wide open
Sung prayer responses are very common: following a spoken prayer, the gathered people join in a sung response. Consider too that some songs can stand alone as prayers, and are in fact written in the language of prayer. Perhaps a sung response can be interspersed with images, gestures, dance, or silent reflection rather than spoken words, leaving space for the personal prayers to be offered.

Prayerscape
A prayerscape can be made by providing candles, windchimes, gongs, triangles, large cymbals (with soft mallets) at several points around the worship space. People are invited to make their unspoken prayer by lighting a candle, striking a gong or stroking chimes. Musicians may play some unobtrusive music as people move around the space. Prayerscapes are most effective where varied sound sources are provided at multiple places.

Teach a Song - Proclamation
No I am not about to suggest that the sermon should be sung - never fear ye clergy folk! But have you consider engaging the community in a conversation about song text, its meaning and implications? We can sing songs for years without fully considering what is being espoused. Perhaps we will find, as we converse with others, that the meaning they derive from a song is quite different to ours. These encounters offer opportunity to discuss faith with those we are sitting close to, perhaps being tounched by a line or two we had never considered before. When you've talked about the text, sing the song together.

Create a soundscape
Soundscapes are an effective way of enhancing bible readings. By using sounds to accompany spoken words, they may become more engaging and memorable. More on soundscapes....

You are welcome to share your own innovative ideas with others by reply to this post. Let me know if you use any of these ideas, and what you learnt/gained/experienced by using them.