Worship Team Audition Process
Expectations of Worship Team members
Not everyone can do all the things listed below, but we are looking for teachability, the willingness to improve in areas of weakness and the possession of at least half of these skills that we feel are critical to being a part of a contemporary ensemble.
We would love to hear you play and see how you may be used to serve in the worship ministry! The audition process varies depending upon which instrument you play. Generally, we would like to audition you with at least one other musician. This will give you and us a chance to hear how you interact musically with other players which is a vital part of playing in a band.
Below is a list of skill sets we are looking for in our players. No need to possess all of these before auditioning! We're all working to better ourselves musically in these ways. You should know, however, that these are the kinds of things we'll be listening for as you come to play.
Drummers/Percussionists:
We see the audition process as less about "making" the group and more about inventorying the ministry's resources. We would like to see how well you learn a song/part on your own by giving you material to prepare by yourself. We would like to see how you learn in a rehearsal setting with only a couple of minutes to learn a new song and find your voice/instrumentation among the blend of the others with you. We would like to hear how you handle and adjust to suggestions/instruction/coaching, and finally, we would like to hear your ability to blend musically and stylistically with others.
How to Prepare
You may download the music and the mp3s directly from this information page (links below)[to save the files below, right click or control click on the links and select "save target as..." or "save link as..." This will only work for "sheet music" The iTunes link will direct you to the iTunes store where you can legally purchase your own copy of the song for 99 cents.]
Here are the songs you'll need to learn:
Ladies, be prepared to sing the opening verse solo on "Mighty to Save." Everyone be prepared to sing parts in the choruses and bridge.
Tenors, sing the opening verse on "Jesus Messiah." Everyone be prepared to sing parts on the rest of the song.(Ladies be familiar with both Soprano and Alto parts)
Everyone please prepare your parts as best you can on "Blessed Be Your Name." We will spend most of the time in the chorus.
Rhythm players: learn your part on the above songs and pay attention to what your particular instrument does in the song/how it is marked in the music. Another instrumentalist will be provided for you to play along with.
In addition to preparing these songs, you will need to bring and be prepared with the following:
- Be on a spiritual growth trajectory, evidencing the fruit of the spirit in your life and seeking to walk a walk consistent with biblical truth.
- Ability and willingness to hear and accept critique graciously and consistently strive for improvement.
- Embrace the team! No lone rangers with personal agendas! We are a family.
- Arrive promptly for rehearsals on Wednesday nights and at call time on Sunday morning.
- Be reasonably prepared for rehearsals, using the resources provided, such as the Planning Center Online website where items such as service orders, song charts and recordings are made available for this purpose.
- Be thoroughly prepared for Sundays (have the ability to prepare on your own time when necessary).
- Be available for all morning services on the weeks you are scheduled to lead on mic and/or from the choir.
- Be a regular Internet user. This may seem like an unlikely expectation, but so much of our communication takes place through the Internet. Members can see schedule information, weekly service information, download and print their music, and even download and hear mp3s of the songs we are preparing.
Not everyone can do all the things listed below, but we are looking for teachability, the willingness to improve in areas of weakness and the possession of at least half of these skills that we feel are critical to being a part of a contemporary ensemble.
- Ability to blend in a contemporary ensemble setting
- Ability to sing and feel various styles required by service content
- At least a rudimentary ability to read notes and rhythms (or the ability to ear your way through a part)
- Altos/Sopranos, ability to cover each other's parts when needed
- Tenors, comfortable living in the D-F# above middle C range
- Ability to harmonize in a duet or a trio setting
- Ability to harmonize pop parts on hymns
- Willingness and ability to sing a short solo (i.e., song segment) often on fairly short notice
We would love to hear you play and see how you may be used to serve in the worship ministry! The audition process varies depending upon which instrument you play. Generally, we would like to audition you with at least one other musician. This will give you and us a chance to hear how you interact musically with other players which is a vital part of playing in a band.
Below is a list of skill sets we are looking for in our players. No need to possess all of these before auditioning! We're all working to better ourselves musically in these ways. You should know, however, that these are the kinds of things we'll be listening for as you come to play.
Drummers/Percussionists:
- Solid time keeper
- Ability to play with click/loop
- Basic ability to read charts. This includes rhythm charts as well as orchestral percussion
- Stylistic flexibility
- Musical interaction with the bass player, particularly with the kick
- Command of the rhythm section: the ability to set up and lead the rhythm section musically and dynamically
- Ability to play in time
- Ability to read rhythm (chord) charts
- Comfortable in many keys and comfortable with capo transpositions
- The ability to imitate a style or lick from a recording
- Ability to play in time
- Ability to read bass clef as well as rhythm (chord) charts
- Ability to match drummer's kick feel
- Ability to play in time
- Ability to read music (notes) and rhythm (chord) charts
- Teachability
- Flexibility
- Punctuality
We see the audition process as less about "making" the group and more about inventorying the ministry's resources. We would like to see how well you learn a song/part on your own by giving you material to prepare by yourself. We would like to see how you learn in a rehearsal setting with only a couple of minutes to learn a new song and find your voice/instrumentation among the blend of the others with you. We would like to hear how you handle and adjust to suggestions/instruction/coaching, and finally, we would like to hear your ability to blend musically and stylistically with others.
How to Prepare
You may download the music and the mp3s directly from this information page (links below)[to save the files below, right click or control click on the links and select "save target as..." or "save link as..." This will only work for "sheet music" The iTunes link will direct you to the iTunes store where you can legally purchase your own copy of the song for 99 cents.]
Here are the songs you'll need to learn:
- Mighty to Save (Lead Sheet) (Sheet Music) (song on iTunes)
- Jesus Messiah (Lead Sheet) (Sheet Music) (song on iTunes)
- Blessed Be Your Name (Ashmont Hill arr.) (Lead Sheet) (song on iTunes)
Ladies, be prepared to sing the opening verse solo on "Mighty to Save." Everyone be prepared to sing parts in the choruses and bridge.
Tenors, sing the opening verse on "Jesus Messiah." Everyone be prepared to sing parts on the rest of the song.(Ladies be familiar with both Soprano and Alto parts)
Everyone please prepare your parts as best you can on "Blessed Be Your Name." We will spend most of the time in the chorus.
Rhythm players: learn your part on the above songs and pay attention to what your particular instrument does in the song/how it is marked in the music. Another instrumentalist will be provided for you to play along with.
In addition to preparing these songs, you will need to bring and be prepared with the following:
- Completed online Audition form filled out (you do not need to bring a copy with you. We will already have one)
- A portion of a song you can sing for us (vocalists), unaccompanied (Nothing fancy--a hymn will do)
- We will give you new music and ask you to sing or play your part (another vocalist/instrumentalist will sing the melody with you)