What's in My App Music Tool Kit?

In my previous post, I shared some of the online resources I frequent as a Worship Director. In this post, I'd like to share to you the top music apps I use. These are the apps I actually have in my tablet or smartphone, and I use them greatly, if not almost every Sunday (or during the week when I prepare). I consider these apps part of my Music Tool Kit Collection. Hahaha!


Here they are in no particular order:
1. Metronome - I use either Clockwork Metronome (iOS) or ProMetronome (Android) to help keep me in time. Both apps allow you to practice in odd time, create a set list and even practice to polyrhythms. I haven't been using Clockwork Metronome since I was forced to switch to Android, but I still have that installed on my iPad and use it a lot when I teach.



2. Audio Units/VSTs - I use  Amplitube on my iPad on the rare occasions that I do play electric guitar since I don't have a pedal board. I basically "build my rig" on Amplitube and connect it to my guitar and the mixing desk via an interface and a DI. If I am playing Keys, I use Garageband on my iPad for really good piano and synth sounds. I haven't come across any similar apps on Android that are stable and actually sound nice.


3. Tuner - On Android, I fancy using PitchLab Pro. It's very accurate and has different modes for you to choose from. It responds very nicely works well with even just the phone's built in mic. As for iOS, I use the built in Tuner that Garageband has.



4. Sheet Music - when it come to reading your charts and sheet music, hands down I recommend OnSong on iOS. It has an intuitive UI, the color palette is soft on the eyes. It can accommodate click tracks. It can even project lyrics! Plus, the team behind this always releases updates and after sales support is really on point. I'm actually looking forward to them releasing an Android version so I can get the rest of my team on this amazing app!


So what's in your "tool kit"? I'd really love to know what you guys use!

Shalom,
-M-


**all images used are owned by their respective owners and have been sourced through google

Top 5 Online Resource Pages for Worship Leaders 2016 | magoodelmundo.com

I remember the days when I used to scour through the church's library to look for appropriate songs for the Sunday service. I'd go to the record bars and listen to as many CDs that I can before finally deciding to buy a new worship album which I saved up money for. 

I looked forward to worship conferences and talks held by other churches so that I could learn new practices and techniques. I also read books on music theory and arranging in the school library so that I could upgrade my musical skill. 

Today, all you need is a data connection and a device you can surf the net on. And that's basically your mobile phone, tablet or computer. But with thousands upon thousands of sites that present itself as a resource, how do you filter? How do you choose? 

Personally, I only frequent a very few websites when I look for new songs or read up on best practices in praise and worship or ethno-doxology. Let me share with you my list of best worship resources online. And here they are in no particular order:

1. Worship Central. Worship Central is a movement that aims to equip worship leaders and teams and empower the local church in the areas of worship. They are based out of London in the UK and is led by Tim Hughes. They have also developed a training course for worship teams, that is available for free at their website.

2. We Are Worship is an international site that is dedicated to uniting the global worshipping community. It has lots of amazing resources as well. Songs, charts, videos and interviews are available. 

3. All About Worship states that they are more than resource site, they are a movement. And much like the first two sites I mentioned, they are also in the ministry of equipping and empowering the local worship ministry. 

4. Ron Man's Worship Notes is a monthly digest of ethno-doxologist Ron Man. I had the privilege of attending one of his lectures here in Manila a few years ago, and it was very interesting showing how worship relates to culture and society. I strongly encourage you to subscribe to this digest. Ron Man tackles issues today that most aren't aware of or won't touch.

5. Worship Links is a wonderful site that posts links to different worship sites. I check here often to explore new pages or read the interesting interviews that Brad posts also. The site also has very interesting articles ranging from the practical components of worship like tech and playing, to issues of the heart and spirit. 

Again, these are my personal top 5 resource pages on the net. You may also notice that some of them mention the others in their own networks of resources. Some of them even share the same worship resources for free. And that is totally cool, because I believe that's one way that shows that we can build each other up despite our different worship traditions and orientations. 

So click away and check out these amazing resources that are there to build up the body of Christ and to equip and empower those in the worship ministry. 

In my next post, I'll be giving my top apps for the music director of a worship team. Thank you for reading the article. Please do share it to people whom you think may benefit from this article. 

Stay blessed. Shalom,

-M-

**none of the images are mine. all are owned by their respective owners

Ministry Insight: Holding Auditions for the Music Team

I get asked this question a lot whenever I give my talks or workshops on Music Ministry Development: How do I hold auditions for my music team?

A standard practice done is to hold open auditions wherein interested individuals come and play or sing one song of their choosing and one audition piece. The individual is then assessed based on their performance and delivery. In the event that the person auditioning (is auditioneer even a word?!) makes the benchmark, they are usually integrated into a team. In some cases (as arbitrarily determined by skill level shown), the new member may be asked to attend a few rehearsals first to "check commitment" and to "observe" how things are done. Some of the bigger churches require you to be a member of a small group or have a church approved mentor before even auditioning. 

And that's great, because it has worked and continues to work. 

However, in my time at the previous church where I worked, I handled the auditions a bit differently. I required all aspiring worship team members to attend a 3 month training course, which was to run every Saturday for those months.  They were only allowed two absences, then they were dropped from the program. Only those who finish the program are eligible for audition.

The training course consisted of 4 components: 

Theology of Worship - where we discussed the Biblical Foundations of Worship and how it is expressed today, and more importantly in that church context. 

Music Theory - where we make sure that they learn how to read sheet music, band charts and have a basic understanding of musical elements and terms. This allows for a more efficient rehearsal time.

Introduction to Music Ministry - where we explain to them how the music ministry operates in that particular church & context, how the ministry's vision aligns with the Church's vision, what commitment would be expected of them and to what extent will the ministry care for them. 

Instrument/Vocal Concentration - where we hold classes for those who want to audition for that particular concentration. We usually don't allow them to have two concentrations at the start. We also noticed that there are those who want to audition but aren't that well developed in their musical skills. This portion aims to help develop them in that area to, hopefully, achieve the standard required to pass the auditions. There would also be instances when they would play as a team with other people attending the course.

Upon finishing the course, they are now eligible to audition, which is composed of two parts:

A music theory exam and performance. The theory exam is written while the performance comprises two parts, a solo performance of your instrument wherein the rudiments of the instrument's discipline are checked and wherein they play an audition piece with the existing worship team members.

Those who pass the audition are then automatically scheduled into teams as well as being presented to the congregation to be recognised as a new batch of ministers. Those who don't pass are encouraged to undergo the next training course cycle. Our goal is to be able to build a the ministry of the church as well as build the person up. So as long as they are willing to improve, we are willing to provide the avenue for them to improve. 

This process is designed to build confidence in the aspiring minister. It also allows them to understand what they are getting into, what is expected of them and also allows them to hone their skill. Those who are iffy in the area of commitment usually never finish the course.

The wonderful thing that I've seen happen with this setup is the sense of brotherhood and fellowship that naturally occurs among those who are in the course and those teaching it. This also allows for your more senior members to get to know the potential members and help in their walk in Christ. Sometimes, one find's it easier to relate to another person when they know they share a common passion.

But of course, what we did may not be the exact fit for your church context or ministry design. If you'd like help in designing the audition process for your ministry, please, do let me know! You can contact me through this link. I hope this little ministry insight has helped you as you lead and take part in your music ministry. 

Shalom,

-M-

When Height is Equal to Depth

The height of our worship is directly proportional to the depth of our intimacy with God.

If you want breakthrough in your worship at church, your music ministry must seek to have a deeper, more intimate relationship with Christ. We RESPOND in worship, that is, to a revelation of the Truth of Christ.

But how much of Christ do we know? How much of God do we know? Do we only worship aspects of God and sing songs on topics that are convenient for our own version of Christianity? Songs that make US feel good about our selves and our "good works" or "biblical knowledge"? Aspects of God that make sense to our understanding of who God is?

Maybe that's why we find ourselves in a rut in our worship services. There is no "x numbers of song formula" that ensures that there will be breakthrough in the worshipscape of your Church. There is no one "golden song" that will call forth the presence of the Holy Spirit each and every time you sing it.

But there is this truth: The height of our worship is directly proportional to the depth of our intimacy with God. 

How high you want your worship to go depends on how deep you seek the Lord.

So how deep are YOU willing to go?

Team Pointers for a Tighter Team

Over the years, I've had some people come up and ask me what my program or method of rehearsal is long before I even became Worship Director at Building Bridges Ministries. I've had the privilege to be part of many worship teams from different Churches, each with its own culture, ministry thrust and world view. I've been with worship teams who provide transportation, food and even love gifts for their music ministers and I've been with worship teams who take everything out of their own pocket. I've played with teams that have a rigorous, structured and methodical rehearsal and I've experienced teams that seem to just jam the songs and leave it to "the Holy Spirit". 

Just as each church has it's own target group to reach out to, there comes the different logistical and administrative challenges. When the majority of ministers come from a specific group, that greatly influences rehearsal time, rehearsal culture and sometimes even the "sound" of the music team.

Going back to the question a lot of people ask me, this is my answer: No, I don't have one program of method of rehearsal. I always adapt it to the team and the church the team is ministering under.

But what I do adhere to are some principles and guidelines that I prayerfully and hopefully get everybody to see the importance of, and also inculcate. These pointers keep me focused on what are the imperatives for the team.

1. A Growing Relationship with Jesus 

Everybody falls short and everybody sins. Nobody is perfect. But we are all works of progress in Christ, and the operative word is "progress". Granted that how fast we mature and grow in our walk isn't all at the same speed and depth, but what's important is that there is a growing relationship with Jesus. 

If you feel that a member in your team is stuck in a rut, maybe that's a tell tale sign for you to start walking closer with that person. Sometimes we need good people around us to help us get through the roughest of patches of our lives. 

2. Humility & Community

This is a crucial aspect that I feel a music minister must have. Submitting to authority, being teachable and also correcting others out of love fall in to these two overlapping aspects. I put these two together on purpose because one can be humble but not have a group of people to walk with, then it is possible that what is taught may fall short of what is truly needed for that particular minister to grow as a person, minister and musician; and one may have a community but not correct or build up one another in humility and love. Being a community also means hanging out together, getting to know each other and being accountable to one another.

A lot of a team's trust is built outside of rehearsals. The factors that affect a team's musicality will almost always be extra-musical in nature.

3. Commitment & Discipline

At the end of the day, the team will need to grow together as a team. And that calls for commitment for all of those who are part of that team. Every member of the team needs to be disciplined. That means rehearsing during rehearsal and practicing during practice time (yes, there is a difference!). 

Rehearsal is when the team comes together to rehearse the songs for the service you will be playing for. That means nailing the arrangements and getting the groove et al. Practicing is something you should do when you're alone. That's when you smooth out some of the rough edges of your playing technique and style. Practice is also crucial to nail the rudimentary skills (think scales, arpeggios & dynamics) of your instrument. You practice alone so that when you come together, rehearsal is a lot faster and efficient.

4. Remember that its Not About Us

We should always remember that as music ministers, we minister alongside the pastoral team and the church leadership. Not just because we are musicians we have all creative and artistic license to choose the songs we want to play, or we determine what the appropriate volume level is. 

We are here to point people towards Jesus Christ. Not towards how high we can hit the note or how complex our sense of time and rhythm is. It isn't about your $$$ tone or how well you can keep the groove down. It is about reminding people about who God is and what He has done for us, in us and through us. 

At the end of the day, it isn't just about our sound or music. Yes, we must play excellently and skillfully unto the Lord because He deserves nothing best. Yes, we should also come out with our own voice as a team, but we also need to make sure that the people who have gathered to worship the Lord are reminded of His goodness, His grace and His love. Sometimes, in order to do that, we have to cut back on what we want.

Of course what I've shared are the things that I use as foundations for the rest of what methodology I build around the team that I lead. The actual details of how the rehearsals go are different per team. I hope that these four things that I've shared can help you also as you establish and develop, or even refine and improve your own team's rehearsal culture. 

Shalom.

-M-

The Legacy of One

There are times when I feel that I need to conquer the Country for the Lord. Be it through music, through training,or through the establishment of movements and what not.

But what if we we are not supposed to impact the whole of society we are in, but make a significant difference in the life of a person? Sometimes we may strive to make an impact in society, trying to look at the "bigger picture", to influence either the influencers or the masses, when we are really called to touch the life of just one person. Perhaps in our life time we may not be able to start movements, make kings or introduce a technology that will change society forever. Maybe we won't be able to leap tall building in a single bound, find the cure to cancer or author a book that will forever influence a generation and beyond.

Maybe our legacy is to show a person that they are valued.

That they are lovable for who they are.

That though they may feel unacceptable, unworthy, unattractive and what not, there is a person or a group of persons who will genuinely accept, embrace and walk with them. 

Because there is someone who cares.

Perhaps the next Martin Luther King Jr. or President of our country is that unwanted person everybody makes fun of or people just really don't like to be around. It could be that annoying guy who tries to cover up his insecurities by being mean to others or that girl who thinks that sleeping around is the only way she will ever be loved. All they need is someone who will care enough to walk with them; someone who will give of themselves.

What if that person is the person staring back at you in the mirror?

So the question now begs: What of that person staring back in the mirror?

Will that person choose to look at the world around him or her through judgmental, self righteous and

unforgiving eyes? Or will we look at people and learn to see what they can be, the goodness that they have and dispense the grace needed to help them become better people. There is no person who isn't injured. We are all broken beings at one point in our lives.

Others are just broken more.

Many of us have friends and family who are there to help us pick ourselves up. There are those among us who dream of having that kind of relationship and support. People end up trying to deal with their pain, their hurt & frustration in ways that they think address it-and end up making the situation worse.

I'd like to challenge you: Ask God to show you a person in your life who is going through a difficult time and needs someone right now and pray for the grace to be the person they need.

I know this year maybe a year of challenges, heartaches, frustrations and disillusionment. I pray that may all of us see the Grace and the Love the Lord shows us through the many people we meet. And may we point others towards the cross of Christ and be His manifestation of love towards a broken world by walking with an injured person.

-M-

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All Photos displayed here aren't mine and are owned by their respective owners

Remembering Haiyan

It's been only a few months since typhoon Haiyan (locally called Yolanda) ripped open the belly of the Philippines. It's been only a few months since the most perfect storm in the last 10 years unleashed it's fury and power on countless Filipinos: ending lives, destroying infrastructure and leaving many homeless and hungry. Yet In the midst of the pain, chaos and death, the Filipino people always find a reason to smile, a reason to laugh. As a nation, we have been tried and tested, and honestly, have been found wanting in many areas. But we have also been proven resilient, persevering, hopeful and caring as a people. The gift that Haiyan has given us is that we have been reminded of our strength and hope as Nation, awakening something that goes even beyond the Bayanihan Spirit of the Filipino; a sense of hope knowing that tomorrow will be better; knowing that our God has not forsaken or abandoned us.

It's only been a few months and the efforts in rebuilding, resettling and restoring the many areas affected by the typhoon have been demoted to passing mentions in TV news coverage and Broadsheets in lieu of seemingly more socially impacting issues of actors getting beaten up, new tele-seryes premiering and whatever will generate ratings. Media can't be blamed.The majority of Journalism practiced in our country seems to have evolved into a hyper-media tableau of tabloid-esque stories and escapist features. Freshness and timeliness are at the core of journalism mantra, and the Haiyan episode is so yesterday. Perhaps to them, it's nothing but history.

They fail to realize that history is being made.

The story of lives being rebuilt, homes being healed and everyday heroes rising up to meet the challenge of another sunrise probably is not ratings-worthy. Beyond the heightened drama, political intrigue and international scandal that came with the devastation of Haiyan there is life anew budding in the Belly of the Philippines. And that is why so many other people are still pouring much effort in to it.

They are witnessing history. And they are a part of it.

I know there are many other efforts continuing unrecognized and unsung by media, and I wish I knew all of them. But allow me to share with you some of the efforts I am aware of that are still running, and intend to run until the many different communities are restored and rehabilitated:

Never Give Up Ph is an online community movement that started as a facebook page sending video messages and pictures of support to the Philippines. Ashley Ingram, who spearheaded this movement, was in the UK visiting his relatives when he saw how Haiyan hit the Philippines. An Englishman, Mr. Ingram moved to Manila two years ago and is now a permanent resident. The first thing he did was call his Ates (Big Sisters) & Kuyas (Big Brothers), a term he fondly calls his house help, back home in Manila to ask how they and they're families were doing. Hearing how their families have been hit hard by the storm, Ashley resolved to try to raise awareness in the UK during a radio interview.

Ashley, who is a British Grammy award winning producer with a slew of hit songs and artists under his belt, wrote, recorded and produced a song called Never Give Up. All the proceeds of that song went and will continue to go to the rehabilitation efforts in the affected areas. Never Give Up features and showcases vocal, choral and musical talent from around the world.

You can show your support to the Filipino people by joining the Facebook Page by clicking here.

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Food is another necessity needed by many areas in the devastated regions. Because of the many roads destroyed, food and other supplies have been having difficulty reaching these towns and places. Local  Christian Magazine, One Voice teamed up with Omnisource International & Panaderia Pantoja to spearhead a movement called Operation Taclobuns where they plan to airdrop bread (yeah, think paratrooper pan de sals) into the areas unreachable by land. Each bread bun not only gives the people much needed nourishment, but also encouragement and hope by placing Bible verses on the packaging of the bread. If you want to help in anyway, you can contact them at 2097470 or 5022905. 


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Pictures taken from PhilRADS website

The Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches (PCEC) are also raising funds to provide food and shelter for the different areas and families affected. Under the leadership of Bishop Ef Tendero, the PCEC and Philippine Relief And Development Services (PhilRADS) have already raised a few thousand shelters but still need to raise a few hundred thousand more of those. If you want to be a part of what they're doing, you can get in touch with PCEC by clicking here or by contacting PhilRADS here.


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On behalf of the Philippine people, I'd like to thank the many countries, organizations, companies and individuals who responded to this calamity; who gave of themselves and their own so that my fellow countrymen would have something to eat, something dry to wear and have at least a semblance of shelter.

I would also like to express my gratitude, utmost respect and humble admiration to the many Filipinos who gave up so much of their time & resources to give aid, not only to their own families hit hard by the typhoon, but the many nameless and faceless families that they have come to adopt as their own. Many people opened their homes and property to people who lost theirs. Many Filipinos gave of their time and talent, using their specialization in giving medical aid, trauma counseling, logistics management and so much more!

There are just too many people to thank, nonetheless please know that the Filipino people are grateful, humbled and blessed because of you. May God bless you and your endeavors! Shalom.

-M-

**None of the pictures included in this post are mine, and are owned by their respective owners, shown on their respective sites.