Leaders, Ministry Leadership, Worship Leading, Worship Planning
Five Reasons Why Your New Songs Don’t Work (Show #33)
#LetThePeopleSing (Video Below) As a worship leader and team, introducing songs can both be a pain and a pleasure. You hear a new song, want to introduce it to your team and church, but inevitably, the song falls flat. What do you do?
Here are a five things I’ve learned in why your new songs don’t work, but how you can now make them better and keep people singing. Psalm 149.1 says: “Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of his faithful people.”
The Bible makes this a command: sing to the Lord a new song. As we learn new songs as leaders, we also are to help the church learn them as well.
1 You Don’t Keep It Simple:
The difficulty is that most congregations don’t get it the first time. It may take a few rounds + a little patience on your part. In the end, your church will be singing full as long as you make it simple.
When we praise together, we make worship easy for everyone. Psalm 98.1 reminds us: “O sing to the LORD a new song. for he has done marvelous things.” When we find new songs that the church can sing, it opens up new inspirations of praise. New songs have a way of speaking into the soul. They become a delightful expression that multiplies praise. Don’t force the song, let the Holy Spirit lead.
2 Failing to Rehearse Well:
One thing I need to mention is creating a “Rehearsal Plan.” Now, if you’re not a planner, it can be as simple as using your Planning Center Online and make your own annotations or notes within the program.
If you don’t use this or another software program, a pencil and paper will do. After writing out the regular service songs to cover (toughest to easiest), I list the new songs at the bottom. Still keep time per song to stay on schedule. Hopefully, everyone heard the mp3 you sent a week ago. Ok, 5 minutes ago.
Use the mp3 as a guide – not as the rule, unless that’s who you are. Get the basic riff of the song and go for it. With certain musicians, they may not want to hear the mp3, but make-it-up as they go. I love this idea! Many times, I’ll introduce the new song with only 1 instrument and voice.
At this point, you’re giving your band a blank canvas by saying: “Here’s your space to color, watch out for your neighbor and paint inside the picture frame!” Generally, I’ll have an idea in mind for the band/singers, and will provide a basic guide on the groove, arrangement and dynamic.
Importantly, I like all the details to be filled by the band’s ability to put their touch on the music – giving it skin to the bone. “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the LORD and put their trust in him.” – Psalm 40.3
3. Over-Working the Song: There is a 5-minute per song approach, because I know we’re going to rehearse it again next week. It will also stick in their minds better. Normally, we will rehearse the song 4-5 weeks out before unveiling it on a Sunday – never the week of. We will spend a bit more time on the song, as we get close to ensure that all is good.
Then, we move to the next tune and keep the momentum going. Remember, people learn better in short stints, at the same time, they should be practicing the song at home to help save time on rehearsal. “Sing the praises of the LORD, you his faithful people; praise his holy name.” Psalm 30.4
4 Not Connecting The Dots: When introducing the song, we need to be careful in how we lead it. A not-so-good thing to do is jump right into the song without any context. I have found that people are creatures of habit. They like to take their time, they like familiarity and they love connecting the dots. Usually, I will set up the song with a brief prayer or Scripture that is in line with the lyrics. Keep it short and sweet.
Next, I provide a little guidance to the church. I’ll start with the Chorus first to sing as an example – just by myself on guitar/piano and voice. Why? Most churches sing on the chorus sections anyway. “Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy.” Psalm 33.3 On Verse 1, I’ll add the band, but keep it low so the church can hear the lyrics. By the time we hit the Chorus again, everyone’s already heard the tune and they begin to sing. “I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.” – Psalm 35.18
5. The People Aren’t Engaged: It’s not rocket science, it’s just keeping up with your people. The more friendly we can make the music, the better engaged of new songs they will be. No, we don’t give them a private music lesson on what the song is doing. We just start the song simple and let it grow.
Also, we lean on repeating the chorus a bit more to help stay in their heads. Remember this, as you may already know, the church loves to sing new songs, but it’s a process not a microwave oven. Your team and church has a longer curve to learn than you.
You most likely (and your band) look at music everyday, if not, play it, breathe it and swim it – your people do not. Besides, they’re not musicians and singers, they are just common Joes. We have to meet them where they are. Teach your new songs by meeting your church where they’re at. Allow the Lord to move and speak naturally as he uses you. Sing together as you make your joy in the Lord.
@BranonDempsey @worshiptt 
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2 Comments
Jeff Gurnett
Great article. Another useful tool I’ve used is to post a YouTube link on the church’s Facebook page. Getting enough people to listen to the song in advance cuts the learning curve down sharply.
branondempsey (Author)
Thank you Jeff! Spot on, cut-down the curve!