"US" Keys to a good vocal blend

It’s an inside joke among worship vocal teams. But it’s one of those jokes that make you grimace more than it makes you laugh.

How many times have you heard this in a soundcheck before the service? One of the vocalists will ask “Excuse me, Mr. Soundman, but could I get more of me in the monitors?” More often than not, this is a telltale sign that the vocal team has handed over, by default, the whole concept of vocal blend to an often-frazzled, overworked soundperson who just feels lucky if the equipment doesn’t blow up that week.

I don’t believe that the vocal blend is primarily the job of the soundperson—he or she already has way too much to worry about. A pleasant vocal blend is primarily the job of the vocalists, and if a good blend is there from the start, the soundperson can add the polish to make it spectacular.

Begin At The Beginning

What should be the role of the worship vocal team? In my experience, the objective of the vocal team, whether they’re a mass choir or a small ensemble, is to add depth, texture and power to the lead worship vocalist.

In other words, the worship leader’s vocal forms the predominant sound, and the worship vocal team supports the lead vocal. But without a clear objective or strategy, vocal teams typically sound like a bunch of people singing more or less together (usually less).

True Blend

A true vocal blend is developed far away from microphones and soundchecks. It starts by establishing a clear objective and then with a mutual commitment from everyone to listen and contribute to a “unified sound.”

How does a team start to develop a “unified sound”? First, sit down together and honestly analyze the unique attributes that each vocalist brings to the mix. Who is the loudest singer? Who is the softest singer? Are there stylistic differences? Do some of your vocalists sing with a broad, classical vibrato? Do some sing with an alternative edge?

There are two things to keep in mind at this point: 1) subtle differences can create a pleasing dynamic to an overall blend; and 2) not-so-subtle differences can be huge obstacles to a good blend, so everyone must be willing to modify their originality for the sake of the unified sound.

Listen For The “Us”

It’s a simple, yet inescapable truth: if you want to blend with each other, you have to listen to each other. More specifically, you have to stop listening only for your individual sound; and start listening for the group’s unified sound. If you like acronyms, it’s a natural…listen for the “Us.”

Here’s how you start. At a vocal rehearsal, step away from the mics, monitors, and stage; and gather around the piano or guitar, or simply huddle in close and sing a capella. Choose a simple, familiar worship song and start to sing. Have everyone close their eyes if it helps the group focus…and really listen. Ask yourself, “Am I singing too loud so I’m sticking out?” Then pull back. Or, “Am I singing too soft?” Then sing louder. Also ask yourself, “How does my vocal style fit with the group as a whole?” If necessary, modify it to fit the group.

If your team is ready to commit to the “Us,” you’ll be amazed how quickly your signature blend will begin to emerge. It’s fun. It’s exhilarating. And that’s just the starting point.

Now Step Up To The Mics

Once your group has developed your blend away from the microphones, getting a good vocal mix through the sound system becomes much easier. Everyone already knows the adjustments they have to make to achieve the “Us,” so the soundman can start with everything level and then tweak as necessary.

There are many other vocal details to cover (ending consonants, timing, dynamics, harmony structure) but knowing how to develop your group’s signature blend is foundational.

It all starts by listening for the “Us.”

--Paul Herman

10 Things Every New Believer Should Know

(via Brian Mavis)

Recently, a twenty-something friend became a Christian, and he asked me, “What are the top ten things for a new Christian to learn within the first year?” (Apparently, he is a David Letterman fan.)

This is a wise question because if you are off by a few degrees at the start and you travel that path for a while, you will be off by miles later. I know that from experience. I have been a Christian for over twenty-five years, and God has had to redirect me on multiple things because of what I mistakenly believed early on about being a Christian. And it is better to learn sooner than later.

So here are the ten things (not necessarily in any particular order) that I thought my new Christian friend should sink down deep into his heart, head, and hands as he travels his first year with Jesus:

1. The one thing that the Bible emphasizes more than us loving God and people is that God loves us. He loves us first and most. God isn’t in heaven plucking a daisy saying, “I love you” when you obey and “I love you not” when you sin. He cannot not love you (Rom. 5:8 and 1 Jn. 4:16).
2. Your motivation for and the purpose of learning, serving, worshipping, giving, reaching, reading, praying, etc. is to grow relationally more in love with God and people (Mt. 22:36-40).
3. You not only are saved by grace, but you grow by it, too. A common trap for new and growing Christians is trying to clean up their lives without God’s help. This is a false equation: The less you sin = the less you need God’s grace. You can’t sin less and love more without the strength of God’s grace.
4. Don’t trample all over the Great Commandment (love God, love people) trying to obey the Great Commission (go and make disciples). New and enthusiastic Christians often do this. Instead, lead people to Jesus by loving people to Jesus (1 Cor. 13:1-3). If they ask you why live the way you do, humbly and simply share with them why you put your hope in Jesus.
5. Love your neighbors—your literal neighbors—the ones you have, not the ones you wish you had.Do this because you are a Christian, not just because you want them to be Christians.
6. Focus on Jesus, His cross, His resurrection, and His kingdom. When you confessed Jesus as the living Lord and Messiah, you never said—and will never say—anything more meaningful. Jesus is God with skin. No other “religious leader” (Moses, Buddha, Muhammad) is His equal. They were mere men; Jesus is God who became a man. He is the center and circumference—the hub and rim of all of life and creation. All of the world’s greatest gifts—love, life, truth, grace, etc.—have a name. Jesus.
7. God cares about your whole life, not just your “spiritual life.” It is a mistake to think that God is only concerned about a section of your life called “your soul” or “your spirit.” God cares about and is to be Lord of all of your life—personal, emotional, social, familial, financial, physical, vocational, sexual, intellectual, and so on.
8. Love other Christians who go to different churches (or no church at all) and who aren’t like you. Unfortunately, many Christians and churches view their “brand” of Christianity as the only true or most true type of Christianity. They may not think they are the only Christians, but they do think they are the best or most right ones. This is a prideful and sinful attitude that grieves Jesus and dismembers His body. Strive for unity in the body of Christ by praying humbly and thankfully for other Christians.
9. Pray with your Bible open. There are many different spiritual exercises (fasting, solitude, serving, etc.), but the two most important ones are communicating and communing with God through prayer and listening to and learning about God through the Scriptures. Prayerfully read about Jesus (in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John). Prayerfully read about the beginning of the church in a book called Acts. Prayerfully read some letters written by Christians for Christians—some good ones to start with are James, Philippians, and Ephesians.
10. Find a Christian mentor. You will need help and encouragement in this journey with Jesus. Ask an older Christian (of the same gender as you) to mentor you. Look for someone who displays the attitudes and actions that were described above. Be a blessing to them in return.

Christianity is not a list, but a life; it’s not a chart, but a charter. But new Christians will learn new things. Some of those things will be true but not important. Some things will be off by degrees that can lead them astray. Other things will be just plain wrong. Help new Christians learn to follow Jesus by being their best at what matters most to Him.

A Major Worship Obstacle

**This was written by a friend of mine, but it's so good, I really wanted to share it with you!!**

One of the biggest obstacles for many people in worship comes when it’s time to sing a song or a line they don’t fully mean or haven’t fully lived up to.

Lines that declare that we’re ready to sacrifice everything, when giving 10% of our income feels like a harder sacrifice to make than martyrdom. Songs about God’s glory being our greatest passion, when it’s usually our greatest afterthought.

Some choose not to sing these lines or songs at all. They wouldn’t dare sing something they don’t mean or live. Others sing them, but feel like they’re being hypocritical.

Both of these groups miss an essential truth of worship:
Worship isn’t an assessment of my performance but a statement of my intention.

If I had to completely mean and live every word every time I sang it, I would never sing. Nobody would. Even the men who wrote the Psalms.

By still singing, we’re not being hypocritical. We’re training our flesh to submit to our spirit. We’re stating our intentions. We’re saying, “Make this true, Lord. I want my life to catch up to the truth I’m singing.”

I want your glory to be my greatest passion.
I want to be willing to sacrifice everything for you.

It’d only be hypocritical if we had no intention of living up to these declarations.

And consider this: even if you had your act completely together, you’d still be just as unworthy to sing a single syllable. But God has commanded you to worship anyway. And that’s because your performance and feelings aren’t the admission price for true worship... Jesus’ blood is.

So continue to sing. Continue to worship. Let the discrepancy between the words you’re singing and the life you’re living be an engine for repentance. Not a cause for shame or silence.

--Corbett's note: if you liked this, check out stevenfurtick.com for more.

Conan's farewell speech: Kinetic Typography

This is amazing cool!!

Conan O'Brien Kinetic Typography from Jacob Gilbreath on Vimeo.

Buy-in Takes Being Heard

When you are part of a team, sometimes you don't get your way. That's reality. Sometimes even when you've made your best case for what you see as the best or only solution, the majority or the team leader will go a different way. It's crucial that when the decision is made, everyone jump on board.

• "So we're taking the conservative approach instead of the higher risk/reward tack that I wanted."
• "So we're going down a road that I've already been down and I'm certain it won't work."
• "So we're going to make that hire instead of this other person that I've got a great gut feeling about."

Regardless of what the decision is, it's imperative that every team member jump on the bandwagon and become the final decision's biggest cheerleaders.

What does it take for that to happen? If the members of your team are leaders or even people with opinions at all, they will need to feel that they've been heard. Assuming that the team is made up of people who are more about the success of the team or organization than they are about just getting their own way (perhaps that's a large assumption)... If people are about team success, they will be able to go along with the decision a lot better if they believe that their ideas were heard and given proper consideration.

Failing in this will often lead to team members undercutting the decision that was agreed on. Divisiveness... lobbying... passive aggressive non-action... These are common when people haven't bought in.

Leaders, if you want your team to buy in to the decision -- even if they disagree -- you must make them feel heard. You may have to let your meeting go beyond the 90 minutes you had planned. You may need to table a decision until everyone is heard. You may have to listen when you're already sure of what to do. But failure to do so guarantees that people walk away feeling unheard, unvalidated and hedging on the decision made.

Give your team a chance to be heard and they will buy in!

Doritos Superbowl Ad

Is this blasphemy?



What do you think and why?