Dave Helmuth 2/25/26 Dave Helmuth 2/25/26

Improving Your Worship Experience

How can you improve your worship experience?

There are at least two perspectives as you read that question. One says, “yes, I’ve been wanting to up our game for the worship experience!” The other says, “I don’t like that you call it a ‘worship experience.’”

Dave Helmuth 2/11/26 Dave Helmuth 2/11/26

The Mirror

Here’s the strange thing. I ask good questions for a living. As I coach worship leaders, I listen to what they say, what they leave out, what they focus on, what their perspective of reality is, and I ask questions from the OUTSIDE. I’m not better than them; I’m not a better leader than they are; I can’t outplay them as a musician. My value is that I’m not them. I’m not on the INSIDE.

Dave Helmuth 2/4/26 Dave Helmuth 2/4/26

Post Conference Blues

Conferences are great! I used to be the guy who would sit in the auditorium in the afterglow. I didn’t want to leave. I had been inspired, encouraged, stretched, and poured into. What I received was not just information, it was impartation. I wanted to take many of the presenters home with me.

Dave Helmuth 1/14/26 Dave Helmuth 1/14/26

The Long Game

Are you aging out of worship leadership? Are you feeling burned out or pushed out? Do you wish you had the same passion for Jesus, worship leading, and people that you once had before all those years in worship ministry? How can you rekindle a youthful, yet mature exuberance for the next season of ministry?

Dave Helmuth 1/7/26 Dave Helmuth 1/7/26

Why Are You A Worship Leader?

My friend Adam once said, “I’m not a psychologist because that’s what I do. I’m a psychologist, so that’s what I do.” In other words, his chosen profession doesn’t make him what his job title says. His calling and bent made him who he is, so he chose that for his profession.

Dave Helmuth 12/31/25 Dave Helmuth 12/31/25

My Favorite Questions

Thanks for reading this year! As we prep for a new year, I want to equip you with tools for reflection. Worship leaders usually aren’t very good at reflecting. Introspection and navel gazing, yes, but real reflection, not so much.

Dave Helmuth 10/8/25 Dave Helmuth 10/8/25

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?

The Five Faders book launches TODAY!

Dave Helmuth 7/16/25 Dave Helmuth 7/16/25

Nick-of-Time Is My Nicotine

This Fertilizer is for my fellow procrastinators, those who have made a habit of getting things done in the nick of time to the point that it’s as addictive as the nicotine in cigarettes.

Dave Helmuth 7/9/25 Dave Helmuth 7/9/25

The Berkey Water Filter and the Scarcity Mindset

“Dad, aren’t you going to use filtered water to soak the oats?” Aspen scolded.

Dave Helmuth 5/21/25 Dave Helmuth 5/21/25

Why You Don’t Know What To SAY When You Lead Worship

Have you ever felt stuck at what to say when you open a worship service or introduce a song?

Dave Helmuth 4/23/25 Dave Helmuth 4/23/25

Light A Fire

Sometimes lighting a fire feels like lighting you’re using soaking-wet wood. It’s impossible despite your best efforts. Other times, the gas-lit fire practically jumps on you.

Dave Helmuth 4/16/25 Dave Helmuth 4/16/25

Wake Up, Neo

I recently mentioned the name “Neo” to a room full of worship leaders, and they knew.

Dave Helmuth 1/29/25 Dave Helmuth 1/29/25

How I Prepare To Lead Worship

Every professional athlete has a pregame ritual.

Here are five unique and famous pregame rituals that athletes are known for:

Dave Helmuth 1/15/25 Dave Helmuth 1/15/25

Is There More?

Three short stories. (they include your goals for 2025)

Dave Helmuth 1/1/25 Dave Helmuth 1/1/25

Hack: Learning New Songs

Do you struggle to learn new songs? Before you say you don’t, let me clarify what I mean.

Dave Helmuth 11/20/24 Dave Helmuth 11/20/24

The Twenty-One Mile Challenge

Seeing where you’re going is more important than you think. Ask any of us who have meandered through a dark house on the way to a bathroom break in the middle of the night only to find out just how flexible our little toe is compared to the coffee table leg. Right?

Dave Helmuth 10/30/24 Dave Helmuth 10/30/24

Are You Being Held In Tension?

“What if where you feel the tension you discover God’s intention for you?”

Dave Helmuth 6/13/24 Dave Helmuth 6/13/24

Rehearsal Notes

Next week, I fly to Columbus, Ohio, to encourage a worship and creative team. I’ll be rehearsing them and leading the Sunday services as part of the training weekend. In preparation, I’m sending them notes on one of the songs we’ll lead.