How Does the Church Accompany Song in 2011?

We are a diverse church. That's a given. But we are also living in a time where the pace of change and the opportunities technology presents have reached fever pitch.

Like the Industrial Revolution did, this Technological Revolution now affects every aspect of our lives, not least the life of our church.

Or does it?

Is technological diversity revolutionising the way we do music in church? Or are we sticking with the old ways. Is technology enabling your community to enhance it's musical life like it has never done before? How? What are the advantages of such change, and what do we lose by pursuing them? Is the church something of a sanctuary from the clutter of technology, or is it poorer for disregarding it? Perhaps your community is a trail blazer in this sphere.

Many communities use a variety of means to accompany community singing, and that's great. I am interested in exploring the emerging 'norms' or preferences in 2011. To this end, please add your voice to the poll on accompaniment. You'll find it on the left column of this blog.

And please, comment here if you have something to offer on the subject.

You may also be interested in Percussion Perspective.

Soundscape: The Tree of Knowledge

On March 13, the Garden of Eden story (Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7) is listed on the Revised Common Lectionary. To that end I offer this soundscape for possible use in your faith community.

The Tree of Knowledge (soundscape)
Please remember soundscape are aural, not visual, presentations and amplification of each sound effect and speaker is crucial to success. Rehearsal with amplification is also important.
What is a soundscape?

The soundscape is freely available for use in worship and for christian education with due acknowledgement. If you do make use of this soundscape, I'd be interested to hear about your experience. 

More soundscapes

Into the New Year: remembering the past and looking to the future

After the Summer Break
If your faith community is anything like mine, the place goes into semi-hibernation over the summer break. Sure, worship continues, but all other regular connections are put-on-hold. When we return, people's lives have invariably altered. Some have endured personal crisis, others have resolved to change in some way, and many return refreshed to tackle new challenges. Knowing that people are in this renewal mindset, I find it disheatening when the welcome back presumes everything will continue on as before.

Responding to this new-year mood in worship?
In Australia this summer our nation has endured natural disasters on a scale never before experienced in this land. For this reason, and in this context I have laid out here one way these events may be coupled with a new year mind-set.

While this skeleton plan for worship, or for part of a meeting, is not strictly a musical exercise, I hope it may help to spirit your gathering into the new year with courage and hope.

Bare Bones for New Year Worship

• Arrival

• Sing a well known song of welcome together (eg: Come as you are, Gather us In, Come into his presence sing alleluia etc...)

• Welcome

• Pass the Peace

• Explaining the process - worship will involve people in small groups, reflecting on the summer just past and looking to the new year. They will be given one minute to spend in personal reflection for each area, and then each group member will be invited to ofer their reflection. It is important groups are evenly sized so that they all take about the same time. Suggest members of each group limit their contributions to about 30 seconds each as a guide. Remind them that conversations can be taken up over coffee later, and that what they say in their small group is just a taster, a starting point. If it seems appropriate for your community, have someone indicate non verbally when each 30 seconds has elapsed. One non-invasive method is to gently strike a chime bar or a triangle. Don't be too rigid with this - if 30 seconds seems too brief, extened it to 40 seconds. Explain that this is not designed for people to have in depth conversations - its just a snapshot. It is most important to make sure ALL group members have a equal opportunity to share.

• Create the groups - Group people in fours, mixing the ages - and yes children have had valid summer experiences too, and should be included as long as they are comfortable to do so! Remember to separate members of households.                                                                                                                            
• Sing together - something about the diversity of those gathered

• Invite everyone to reflect on their summer - 1 minute silence. Don't offer any specific input, or attempt to guide people's thoughts. Honour their personal experiences simply by offering this space.

• Now invite people to remember a win, celebration, personal acheivement or success - give them 30 seconds to think about this then share 30 seconds each with ther small group.

• Mark the moment as a whole community with bubble blowing, streamer throwing

• Sing a song of celebration and thanks

• Invite people to remember a mistake, a sadness, a personal disaster or disappointment in silence, then share (for 2 minutes) in small groups

• Mark the moment by writing/drawing on a river stone and dropping into a transparent bowl filled with wateras music is played.

• Sing together: a song of healing, and of burdens being lifted.

• Remember and then share in small groups (2 minutes) a kindness done to you, a gift, a social encounter, a warm fuzzy over summer

• Offer a snapshot of the events of summer (floods, bushfire, cyclone), unrest in Cairo, landslides in Brazil and other matters that may be a special concern to your community. This may be done pictorially, verbally, as a guided reflection.

• Remember victims (in small groups) by recalling a moment of empathy, sympathy, a story of service, an image of hope

• Mark the moment by lighting a candle

• Prayer led by worship leader on behalf of the gathering

• Sing something hopeful and uplifting

• Now in small groups share a new opportunity or resolution for the new year.

• Mark the moment by writing a short letter to yourself. You may chose to save these letters for distribution later in the year, or invite people to take them home and put somewhere they will be reminded of their resolution from time to time.

• Sing each other out into the world. 

You may also be interested in 20 (New Year) Resolutions for the Church Musician

20 (New Year) Resolutions for the Church Musician

Most New Years come and go before I've made a decent resolution. This year I am determined to be better prepared. Here is a list of suggestions you might like to run past your faith commmunity, family, actual friends and facebook friends. They are not limited to the institutional church, but extend into everyday.

1. Sing to a child
2. Listen attentively to a child singing
3. Invite everyone you know around for a singalong (just for the fun of it.)
4. Have a fundraising drive to boost the music budget
5. Clean out the music cupboard
6. Buy a new contemporary music source
7. Book a course to extend your skills
8. Recruit a new member to the church band or choir
9. Say "well done you" to another muso
10. Use an instrument you haven't tried before (harmonica, tin whistle, banjo, recorder)
11. Delegate... and trust it will be done.
12. Don't look so busy - leave the packing up until later
13. Sing in places other than the shower, just because.
14. Invite an older person (than you) to play their instrument in worship.

15. Organise an event where instrumentalists of all ages can strut their stuff.

16 Buy a really great drum (toms, djembe, bohran are all great choices)

17. Learn how to drum properly

18. Have a massage, light an aromatherapy candle, breathe deeply. 

19. Learn about and listen to a style of music you don't like

20.Sing an really ancient hymn unaccompanied all the way through.

Got another idea?

What is your musical resolution for 2011?

You may also be interested in Into the New Year: Remembering the Past and Looking to the Future

Advent & Christmas Brainstorm

Perhaps it is the busiest time of year, and yet in Advent and Christmas the most creative ideas come to the fore.

Share what you're planning, or perhaps what you have done in past years, by posting a comment. All ideas are welcome no matter how simple or how grand. you may also wish to scatter thought-seeds around, and invite the embellishment (or otherwise) of others.