How Do You “Strum” On The Piano
Most weekdays at 4 PMish, I give one of my kids a music lesson.
As you may imagine, they are not typical lessons. I either start playing an instrument to spark their curiosity, or I ask what song they are working on or what skill they’d like to strengthen.
Support Musicians
I was in a Guitar Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, with my musician pastor. Yes, we played several of the most expensive guitars. No, we didn’t play any of the forbidden riffs on the electric guitars.
Recover
A worship leader once wrote this after leaving his church staff position:
“I need a little bit of space to recover from the battlefield before I go to the next war…”
Recipes
Many mornings, I’m on breakfast duty. One of my favorite kitchen tools is our griddle. It’s big. 720 square inches of cooking area. That’s about the same as ten 12-inch sauté pans. When you’re cooking for a family of nine, that comes in real handy.
Why?
An amazing, Jesus-loving drummer approaches you after church on Sunday and asks about joining the team. He’s available, hungry to serve, and you’re really drawn to him.
Make More Excellent Music
We want to make excellent music. And by “excellent,” I mean the best we can do with what we have. It’s a continuously moving target. It’s personal - you don’t become excellent by comparing yourself to others but by comparing yourself today to yourself yesterday. Movement matters.
What’s Your Secret?
You want to be a good steward of the leadership opportunity God has given you, right? You want to help your team be more confident and comfortable as they serve. You want more capable, Godly people on your team. You want to experience joy as you pour out each week. You want to complete your calling to the very end. You want to experience fullness.
Punt
On a long enough timeline, we all need to punt. What does that mean?
Why Songwriting?
I sat in the senior pastor’s office as we hammered out the details of the 12-month coaching program we were beginning with their leaders. Something he said, so flippantly, still haunts me after ten years.
Confidence
The note ringing out from the bass in my hands was jarring and dissonant. I quickly stopped it and frantically tried to find out which key we were playing in. If you had been in my head a few moments before, it might have sounded something like this...
Singing With A Click?
“Should the singers have click in their ears?” many a worship leader has asked.
I can almost feel the visceral reactions as you read that.
Chord Nuances
Slash chords, color chords, inversions, and magic chords shape musical expression. I'll illustrate their unique roles with piano examples, but all melodic instruments can benefit from understanding these nuances.
The Five Faders Book is HERE!
Have you appreciated receiving the Worship Fertilizer or any of the many resources from Ad Lib Music?
Can I ask you a big favor?
What You Do Matters
It’s easy to lose sight of it, but “What You Do Matters.”
Stop Turning Away Middle School Band Students
I’ve never known what to do with orchestral band instrumentalists who want to join the worship team. It feels like they come from a different world. But there’s hope for us!
Hospitality Can Transform Your Team
If You Can Be Anything, Be Kind
I am not often envious of my daughter’s wardrobe, but she has one shirt that I covet. On the front, it says “be kind,” and on the back, it says “everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” It’s a simple concept that has become my personal mantra as a worship leader and church planter.
Steady Beats Cool
I love that my kids are multi-instrumentalists. Most mornings, we have family worship from 7:30 to 8:00. We take turns choosing the songs and rotate on the instruments from piano, bass, drums, acoustic or electric guitar, violin, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, percussion, and of course, voice.
Life As A Volunteer
I’ve railed against referring to them as volunteers for years because “volunteer” seems like the lowest possible standard you could set for your team.
The Berkey Water Filter and the Scarcity Mindset
“Dad, aren’t you going to use filtered water to soak the oats?” Aspen scolded.
Functional To Flourishing
I was talking with an audio coach in rural Illinois and we were reflecting on the realities that many churches don’t realize how far from their potential they have settled for, how they’ve grown accustomed to simply functioning on the lowest possible rung.