Brenton Brown - Band Dynamics
In rehearsal situations…
Be punctual. It’s important. It’s an indicator of how much we respect the other members of the band – both arriving on time, and ending on time.
Be receptive. The older we get, the more experienced we get the harder it is to receive input. Don’t lose the joy of discovery. There are other ways of doing what you’re doing. We’re all on a journey. This is worth noting if you’re a band member or a leader.
Keep it simple...
Often the individual members of the band are responsible for doing most of the arranging of their particular part. A tendency when it’s not working is to think that it needs something and so 'I'd better add something.' But typically it’s not what’s not being played that’s the problem - it’s what IS being played that is the problem.
It’s not necessarily the notes you play – we don’t need to play all the way through the song, or all the way through the set! Making space is just as important if not more important than filling space. When was the last time you sat out of a song?
The goal is ‘one’...
The band makes up a whole and each member of the band is a fraction of this whole. To make this work we each need to play only a fraction of what’s being played. Ultimately, the band is simply there to serve the congregation. If the band is not needed, it need not play.
The most fundamental instrument in our worship is the voice, and as such the instruments are there to serve the voice.
General tips…
Be a team – encourage one another. Very often what is happening relationally in the group is reflected in the spiritual atmosphere of the worship. Be followers of the leader.
Be a communicator - assume nothing administratively or musically. Ifyou’re not sure what someone means when they nod their head at the end
of a verse ask them! Listen to each other musically.
Be a follower - keep your eye on the leader. Be willing to demonstrate worship, but make sure you’re alert, especially during the changes in the song - endings, intro’s, moments where it could go either way. Also, bewilling to communicate ideas during the creative process, but remember ultimately the final decision rests with the leader. Whatever your opinion is musically, back them up the best way you can.
Be a worshipper – look out for the ‘just four more songs to go’ mentality. Also look out for the ‘that’s not what we did in practice’ mentality. Sort that out later - concentrate on worshipping.
Be a servant...
Is what I’m doing helping other people worship this morning, or this evening?
Be physically prepared...
Lots of voices go through out heads on Sunday mornings: ‘the sound in my monitor is terrible, I love you my child, gosh Dave’s got a funny jumper on this morning, hey didn’t we go straight to the second verse in the practise?… God do you think we should cut this next
song?... Wow! I can’t believe how people are worshipping… this is amazing!!....?' FOCUS!
To help with this try to get a good night’s rest and a good meal before you play. There are enough voices to think about without having to answer our bodies demands for food and sleep as well.
Have fun...
Let the saints be joyful in glory! Look out for taking yourself too seriously. Remember the burden is light and the yoke is easy.