Comments on: Encouraging Spontaneous Singing on Your Team

By: Ryan

Ryan — Thu, 17 Jan 2008 16:18:58 +0000

Fantastic point about evaluation. One of my weakest areas is just plain having good, open converstaion often with people.

So here’s a question: How do you get singers who have grown up in a fairly “tight” background (Lutheran, in my case to learn to try things like this? I know you can have them listen to recordings, do tons of encouraging, etc..but how do you get people to break out of the fear of something new?

By: Krysten

Krysten — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 05:00:37 +0000

What a great topic. As a vocalist, I find that adlib in songs can really add on to the worship experience to allow freedom. Sometimes; however, I find that when the Spirit leads you into a direction you go with it. There are times when I feel moved to sing something during an instrumental break, whether it be humming the melody or singing a prayer that the lyrics have established in the verses or chorus.

I believe also, that during the time you’re leading you need to be more aware of what is going on and you have to sometimes alter your worship experience for the congregation.

By: Christina Greene

Christina Greene — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:41:03 +0000

Thank you so much for this resource. I have been in worship teams in the past and spontaneous singing (or what I would call, freestyling) can be very effective. Of course, it can also be overdone if it isn’t done right and is used to emphasize the skill of the vocalist. I, in all honesty, love to sing spontaneously (in fact, I do it everywhere including at home) but I haven’t done it recently in church since the worship leader is very against it with her backing vocalists. When I get really into the singing, I tend to do this sometimes so this really prevents me from getting into the worship of the song.

By: Gabriel Gagnon

Gabriel Gagnon — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 05:19:14 +0000

Thank you Bob, and man this is true that it is encouraging for the church, but how do you build this kind of culture if it has never been done before?

By: David S. Spaggiari

David S. Spaggiari — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 20:35:21 +0000

“Their purpose is to increase people’s engagement with the truth…”

Excellent comment Bob! One of the main purposes of corporate worship is for believers as a body to engage together in worshiping the Lord. Any ad libbing by members of the worship team should be to this end; not to (intentionally or unintentionally) draw attention to the individual.

By: Trill

Trill — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 19:18:01 +0000

Thanks Bob. This was helpful. I’ve always had questions about this. Would you say that you “govern” the teams spontaneous singing like a pastor over the prophetic mic? It’s spontaneous but controlled. That’s just how I understood it from what you just wrote. We don’t actively sing out but I am sure this is an area our team leaders would like us to grow in. I think I’ll bring it up in our next meeting.

By: Steve

Steve — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 18:10:39 +0000

Bob,
That’s helpful. I’m seeing that I need to be more active in communicating things and giving guidance like this to the team. We probably don’t spend enough time discussing how to serve effectively together.

Thank you!

By: Jeff Locke

Jeff Locke — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:46:06 +0000

Bob,

Thanks for your thoughtful, wise post. I’m encouraged by it. It is difficult to lead humbly yet firmly enough that the congregation (and the worship team) is sufficiently cared for. You are a gift to Christ’s church.

By: alex mclean

alex mclean — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 17:01:11 +0000

Great resource - thank you!

By: Matthew Westerholm

Matthew Westerholm — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 16:29:57 +0000

Really well thought through and well written.

I think this is a result of a culture that encourages feedback and dialogue. So often, we’re afraid to branch out on this because we’re worried about a person not doing it well. And the difficult conversation that will follow.

Your points about content, timing, and amount give great topics to discuss with our volunteers.

I feel a great way to encourage a culture like this is to make a point to give evaluation even when there is nothing “urgent” to talk about. When I simply make it a regular part of the team, and it very rarely becomes the big deal I fear.