Comments on: Common Song Leader Mistakes

By: Jimmy Bagwell

Jimmy Bagwell — Tue, 25 Jan 2011 14:17:07 +0000

I call it the “Wounded Bird Syndrome”. I’m a firm believer in beating time, it not only helps me as a song leader but also when I’m out there with the rest of the congregation. I have noticed several song leaders flap their arm sporadically with no rhythm at all: just flapping up and down. It’s distracting if the hand movements are out of sinc.

By: Tom

Tom — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 19:27:07 +0000

right on Keith!

By: Diane

Diane — Thu, 06 Jan 2011 15:50:25 +0000

As a “not a song leader” I really wanted to vote for all the song leader don’ts – each one can be a downer for a congregation, but …there is always one “but” – we as a congregation can help the song leader by being an encouragement to him. Tell him the songs he chose for that service meant something to you, made you think of someone, or gave more meaning to the communion or lesson. We are blessed at the Church of Christ in Laurel to have many men with songs in their hearts now and over the years – a few times yep, we have stumbled through a few songs that probably didn’t smell to sweet, but hopefully God has forgiven us and let us try again – better the next time! Accapella -Gospel songs have always been an important part of my life – from childhood (a long time ago!)- I have been blessed with leaders in the church that taught us how to sing from our hearts! God bless each and everyone that leads song services! Thanks!

By: Paul

Paul — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:28:22 +0000

I’m seeking some counsel in regards to a somewhat sensitive situation. I’m one of 3 worship leaders (we alternate each Sunday AM) at our congregation. One leader also conducts a class for our young people who want to learn song leading & he’s been letting one of the “learners” take a turn on Sunday AM. My concern is this young man does a good job going thru the proper motions, but unfortunately, he can’t carry a tune. So some of the stronger voices in the congregation have to take over a couple of bars along to get the song pitched correctly. I believe our best worship leaders should be up front for our Sunday AM worship, but I also don’t want to discourage giving these young men & women an opportunity to grow. Should I keep my mouth shut? Should I say something? Have any of you had to deal with this? We don’t have a Sunday PM worship so we can’t use that as a place to learn. Thanks

By: Keith

Keith — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 01:35:26 +0000

Good question. It’s my opinion that pretty much every generation enjoys styles of their own “contemporary music;” music they cherish and relate to. It is not uncommon for this music to be quite different from their grandparents’ favorite music. How does this relate to the church? It relates in the fact that your church sings songs; and those songs represent “some” era during which they were written (and were contemporary at the time they were written.) Which generation or era does your congregation’s songs represent? (1700′s, 1800′s, 1950′s, etc.?) Just as Elizabethan English does not communicate clearly with this generation, there are countless songs that are composed by music (written by man) that turns people off.

Personally, I prefer “blended” song selections – - mixing timeless and treasured hymns (not all hymns would fit the category of “timeless”) with Biblically-based contemporary songs. I know many young people who prefer the “older” songs, while there are many mature adults who love contemporary spiritual songs. (Meaning, there is no formula that works for every situation, congregation or culture.)

By: Austin

Austin — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 15:06:30 +0000

How do new songs lessen the risk of “losing” young people? Shouldn’t the Word do that? How are we irrelevant to “seekers” if we do not have new songs? Is the Word relevant enough?

By: Richard Bryant

Richard Bryant — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 17:20:44 +0000

I have attended some churches while traveling and have seen this more than once. A song leader will announce his song before facing the congregation. I think the song leader should be facing the audience before announcing his number or starting the song with the exception of the invitation song and I think that should be started as soon as the preacher is thru extending the invitation.

By: Brian Casey

Brian Casey — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 11:29:59 +0000

Stumbled onto your site, Keith. We have various things in common, and I especially appreciate your more recent emphasis on things congregational.

No way I could vote for just one of the “common songleader mistakes.” They’re all too common! I wrote similarly on my blog a few months ago–http://blcasey.wordpress.com/2010/07/02/tempo-key-and-style-variation/ and http://blcasey.wordpress.com/2010/07/01/comatose-music/ and http://blcasey.wordpress.com/2010/06/29/hand-and-arm-gestures/, to point out a few. If you have time, I’d appreciate your looking in there & giving feedback.

By: Geraldine

Geraldine — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 08:43:14 +0000

You couldn’t be more right Derek.Being a worship leader entails taking/leading people into the presence of God.How do you intend leading people to a place you have no idea where it’s at?We need to take time and prepare because,like my Physics teacher used to say,unpreparedness is preparing to fail.We need to give God our very best,especially where His people are concerned.

By: Doug

Doug — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 03:25:03 +0000

With regard to pitching a song to match the vocal ability of the congregation, I don’t have perfect pitch but can come reasonably close. It really bothers me when I know that we are singing off pitch from the sheet music. This is fairly typical with worship leaders that don’t use something to help them find their inital pitch and I have tried to sing in places where we were 3 or 4 notes too low. This takes most of the basses out of their part (unless they happen to be Russian). Sometimes I have actually had to sing the alto part just to find a harmony part that worked for me. Please sing the music in the key for which it was written.