There exists a thin line, between playing skillfully while enjoying the music and playing skillfully while enjoying yourself. It may be that only musicians will see the distinction, or rather understand it in a visceral way.
For the Easter Sunday service, our Pastor asked that we play upbeat, exciting, celebratory songs. He asked this because the very reason we celebrate Easter, Christ has risen, He defeated death, so why not play music that expresses that! Thus we played, we had extra songs in the set: countrified traditional hymns, Motown inspired interpretation of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" and some funked out versions of a few favorites.
The result you ask? Lots of clapping (some was even in time!), applause after songs, and much more than that, an electric feeling of excitement that radiated from both the praise team and the congregation. While I can tell you I personally received compliments about the music, I find it far more important to tell you that it was a great joy to feel like we had freedom to play with the excitement, the songs proclaiming the exciting message of salvation.
It is very helpful for me, to be the one typing the slideshow, because it gives me a chance to think about the words, what they mean and how I feel about what they say (in the literal way of, how does the message of the song make me feel). When I step up to play this allow me to express the feelings I have processed, because I always feel like I can rarely describe it in words. So it was quite the day to continue building on the excitement of songs like "Are You Washed in the Blood?" knowing I could say "Yes!" and knowing what that means, playing "Joyful, Joyful" and feeling, joyful joyful, and to rock out on the Newsboys "I Am Free" like a person who is free.
I have said time and time again, and tell my student this, "every song has a mood and tone, they are supposed to make you feel something, and you can't mess with that" So when all the songs were celebrating and declaring salvation and joy, its impossible to not feel that way, and it then shows, or sounds rather, in your playing.
Yet there is always part of you that wants to revel in the moment of a sweet bass groove, soaring solo or huge driving section. The part that wants to hold it up and go "Look what I have created!" Its the temptation of every musician, to be recognized for skill and talents, and its temptation which pops up more and more the better and bigger you can play.
This is the point where musicians need to choose their path, one is easy, take the compliment and the second is harder, take the compliment and point it to God, after all our gifts come from God, and they are to be used for His glory, not ours.
So to those who have been given the gift of musicianship, your responsibility it twofold, 1. hone the gift, and two use it to help people connect with God (emotionally, physically, thoughtfully) and as always
Please Groove Responsibly
For the Easter Sunday service, our Pastor asked that we play upbeat, exciting, celebratory songs. He asked this because the very reason we celebrate Easter, Christ has risen, He defeated death, so why not play music that expresses that! Thus we played, we had extra songs in the set: countrified traditional hymns, Motown inspired interpretation of "Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee" and some funked out versions of a few favorites.
The result you ask? Lots of clapping (some was even in time!), applause after songs, and much more than that, an electric feeling of excitement that radiated from both the praise team and the congregation. While I can tell you I personally received compliments about the music, I find it far more important to tell you that it was a great joy to feel like we had freedom to play with the excitement, the songs proclaiming the exciting message of salvation.
It is very helpful for me, to be the one typing the slideshow, because it gives me a chance to think about the words, what they mean and how I feel about what they say (in the literal way of, how does the message of the song make me feel). When I step up to play this allow me to express the feelings I have processed, because I always feel like I can rarely describe it in words. So it was quite the day to continue building on the excitement of songs like "Are You Washed in the Blood?" knowing I could say "Yes!" and knowing what that means, playing "Joyful, Joyful" and feeling, joyful joyful, and to rock out on the Newsboys "I Am Free" like a person who is free.
I have said time and time again, and tell my student this, "every song has a mood and tone, they are supposed to make you feel something, and you can't mess with that" So when all the songs were celebrating and declaring salvation and joy, its impossible to not feel that way, and it then shows, or sounds rather, in your playing.
Yet there is always part of you that wants to revel in the moment of a sweet bass groove, soaring solo or huge driving section. The part that wants to hold it up and go "Look what I have created!" Its the temptation of every musician, to be recognized for skill and talents, and its temptation which pops up more and more the better and bigger you can play.
This is the point where musicians need to choose their path, one is easy, take the compliment and the second is harder, take the compliment and point it to God, after all our gifts come from God, and they are to be used for His glory, not ours.
So to those who have been given the gift of musicianship, your responsibility it twofold, 1. hone the gift, and two use it to help people connect with God (emotionally, physically, thoughtfully) and as always
Please Groove Responsibly
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