Workshops (WTT / Branon Dempsey)

MUSICALLY: ARE YOU COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR TEAM? | WORKSHOP

Improving Your Listening, Playing and Communication Skills

As a band, paying attention to the little details is our job in order to contribute toward making a big difference. We play by what we hear, not to create a big wall of sound, but to become better musicians in Christ. 
 
Music really begins through the act and art of listening. Learning to listen produces patience. Whether we look at a sheet of music or hear the instruments/singers making music, we listen to the song’s message. This gives us direction, shape and tone. It’s one thing to start blaring away, it’s another to listen and enjoy the musical conversation. 
 
In essence, music truly is community. But before we begin, how much time do we spend listening rather than playing? When you look at a symphony or even a small combo jazz band, you experience a musical conversation. Not everyone is talking at once. There are times of huge unisons, but there are more countless times of small textures, nuances, intrigue and suspense. This is what makes music – music.  When we listen, we can hear the emotion, color and expression. This is no different than human conversation. 
 
One person can do all the talking, but it takes two to have a great dialogue. #Prov.18.13 says: ”He who answers before listening – that is his folly and shame.”  
 
Drummers: Don’t just listen to the notes; listen to how they play the notes. Are you complimenting their sound, or taking it away? Listen for each note and help support their role. Contribute to the musical continuity and enjoy the dialogue. If you are a drummer: practice matching each note to equal your volume between the kick, snare and hat. Match your overall volume to the band.  If you are a guitarist: match each string, strum and picked note to be consistent. Listen to the sound of the room and become one with that sound.   
 
Bassists: even-out the low and high registers to create a warm and smooth quality from note to note. Pulse the notes just right to fit what the kick drum is doing.
 
Keyboards and pianists: also play evenly to the band, not with both hands, but just play with one. Wait for the right moment to play between the spaces or chorally back-up the guitarist. Even playing just one note alone can make a difference. What I have found is that it’s always better to listen first. Learn to wait for the right note to play at the right time. Don’t be afraid of the silence. It’s not about the notes you can play, it’s about the notes you don’t play.  
 
Developing great music involves both sound and silence. We practice to ourselves quite a bit, but when you practice, do you have the other band members/singes in mind? It’s like thinking: this is how my bass player may play the chorus of this one song, so in response, I will do this… – or – my drummer usually reverts to a marching snare feel in this passage, here, I’ll listen first before I play a counter rhythm.  
 
Music does not depend on you; it depends on your team. Your ability to make music is always before you. Your creativity to make greater music is found in the band that you have. Besides, it’s learning how to keep simple – simple. Less is more. Personally, instead of playing all I could play, I listen back to what they are playing and get out of the way. Here, texture becomes very important because it has to do with supporting the other instruments. Same is true for singing harmony. You don’t want to dominate the other singers, but rather, compliment the melody.  
 
Be the band that listens and serves the other person in their role of making music. In addition, the more space you put into the song, the more breath you will hear out of the song. At the same time, guess what else you’ll have more time to focus on: the worship of God. 
 
Branon Dempsey / Worship Team Training, Copyright 2020

Branon Dempsey

Branon Dempsey is the founder and CEO of Worship Team Training and Worship Team Training University WTTU.co He has over twenty years of leading worship and teaching worship theology, music and songwriting for churches ranging from 500 to 5,000 members. He has had the opportunity to train and study worship at Maranatha! Music as well as some of the most well-known churches in the country, including Coast Hills Church, and Saddleback Church, where Rick Warren is pastor. Branon Dempsey holds an M.Div in Worship Theology and Worship Arts, along with a Bachelors of Music in Composition and Performance, along with an emphasis in worship leader training by Maranatha and Integrity Music. Branon is a devotional writer for Bible.com Youversion and selling author / teacher with Faithlife (Logos Bibles) for worship teaching and training material. WTTU exists to help individuals understand their personality, their learning style and their spiritual maturity, which, in turn, helps the individuals sharpen their quality development and gain the needed confidence to reach the upward call of God in Christ Jesus Ephesians 2:10 and Philippians 3:14. Follow Branon: @BranonDempsey @worshiptt

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