Easy Basic Steps on How to Be a Good Worship Leader Step 9: Selecting Music

Prayer is the number one key on how to be a Good Worship Leader. Our second step was Evaluation of music and the congregation. The third step was Selecting a Team the fourth step was about making Good Transitions. The fifth step shares How to Introduce New Music, the 6th step is Learning from our Mistakes, the 7th step is suggestions for the Order of Worship, the 8th step is about Working With Difficult People, and this 9th step provides suggestions for Selecting Music. 1. Purchase a couple large file cabinets for storing your music. 2. Create large file folders for each church season of the year that includes: Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Patriotic, Memorial Day, Baby Sunday, Communion and any other holiday that you might possible celebrate. 3. Every time you come across a song that you like place this music in the appropriate file to be used at a later date. Collect these for you never know when you may use them. 4. As you listen to songs on the radio, CCLI, make note of the ones you like. Write these down and place in the appropriate file. 5. Make a file for songs that are good as prayer songs in alphabetically order. 6. Create a notebook (black) for each choir member, instrument player, worship leader, and praise team members. Keep updated each Sunday and

have these prepared a week in advance. Take out old music and only keep what will be used for each Sunday in this notebook. 7. Talk with your pastor and attempt to get a list of sermons in advance on topics that he will be preaching. Consider these topics in selecting your music. 8. Include the old hymns, some contemporary music, choruses, prayer songs and some good opening songs to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit into the service. Be careful to select keys and tempos that transition well together. It would be wise to go over these before your team practices for the worship service. That way you will know how the transition go from one song to another well and can take out what does not seem to flow well to save time in practice. 9. Provide your music well in advance for all your musicians especially if you are using a new song. 10. Dont be afraid to select new songs, just be careful not to introduce too many at the same time. You may consider selecting one new monthly song to begin with, and see how that is accepted. Especially with an older congregation - something to consider. 11. Select songs that may not be your favorite pieces. Remember, your congregation has taste or needs that you may not necessarily. You may not be used to singing What a Friend We Have in Jesus; however, they may love it. Consider that when you are selecting. Use these hymns from the old hymn books. They have some good doctrine and meaning in them and some are really better than some of the new music out there. In addition, note some of the doctrine in the hymns which may not be actually in agreement with what the church believes. Consider changing some of the old wording to update for todays language. 12. Suggestion: Consider using the hymnal for your weekday service (Wednesday), in preference to the older generation. This way, you are giving them opportunity to sing more of their familiar songs. 13. Try the Internet to find music from someone who is willing to sell it at a discount. Word Publishing may have a site that people resell items. You may also try contacting some of the larger churches who may have some

music they are not using and would be willing to sell or donate. Use EBay, and Amazon. A couple times, I purchased music DVDs for our childrens ministry from a church in another state that I found online. 14. Give your vocal singers (soloist) music that pertains to the sermon topic. You will need to consider voice range in providing music weeks in advance for preparation. Some will do well on their own - maybe only giving them the topic for the service. The more your music all leads to the sermon, the better people may respond in the whole worship. 15. Select upbeat songs to open worship. It is ok to use a good praise song to bring them into worship. It will depend on the dynamics of the congregation and what is happening that will have an influence on what music you select for the worship. 16. Build your theme as you put together sets of music. Such as, repentance comes before salvation; praise comes before faith, love and the cross. 17. Select appropriate music for prayer time trusting God, surrendering, need of His grace, help, and strength. 18. Use songs of commitment, praise, or invitations as closing songs. Rev. Jeanne McIntosh May 3, 2011.