DevelopingWorship Forum

I'm not sure which forum to put this in, so I'll try here:

I JUST found out I am to lead the Worship Band portion of a camp NEXT WEEK! It seems like there is very little organization (obviously, since I just found out ), but here's what I know:

- Sessions are from 9-noon, M-F. There will be a lesson/devo time 10:30-11, which will be presented by various college students.
- I will have anywhere from 8-20 campers in either Jr/Sr High all at various skill levels
- I will be provided college students who have indicated experience in this area (guitar, drums,etc.) but will not know who/or skill level until the 1st session on Monday
- The group will lead the worship time for our closing session on Thursday evening.

This is totally against my planner mentality, but I'm gonna try to look at it as a way to "stretch"

Here's my thoughts thus far...spend the 1st half of the sessions each morning in a large group session using the "Worship Band Workshop DVD" from Baloche. I won't use all of this, but certain portions. Use the 2nd half of the sessions for various instruments. I'm not exactly sure how to do this since I won't know the levels of the college students until we start.
I can cover any guitar based stuff, but not sure what to do with any keys, drums or bass players...any suggestions? (besides to run away )

A few important questions first:
1. What ages will likely be attending the camp?
2. Any way to know if they are beginners, intermediate players or beyond? (I suspect not, since you don't know the level of your helpers, but still...)
3. If you have a good many beginners, is there any way to separate them and devote almost all your time teaching them the basics of their specialty? A beginner who doesn't know basic chords is not going to gain anything from telling him how to modulate smoothly or to blend with the rest of the group, etc.
4. Any way to know how many to expect? A group of 4-8 middle or high school age is manageable; a group of 15 or more is far more difficult unless they are at least intermediate players. For beginners, smaller groups are best, by far!
5. Do you have any kind of budget for printed materials? A DVD is good, but the students can't take that home for review. This is one of those times when it's good to be able to put something helpful in their hands to take home.

A hundred more questions come to mind, but that's enough for now. I've taught on a youth music camp faculty every summer for a long time, but how we do things there might not relate to your camp. The more information you can give us, the more help we can be.

cotten

Thanks for the thoughts....

1) it's for Jr. Sr High...so whatever age(s) that is
2) I will not know who they are or their levels till the 1st session.
3) I can separate however I choose
4) No way to know...I was told anywhere between a few and less than 20
5) no budget, but I'll cover any printed materials.

I was thinking using some of the Baloche DVDs too. There is awesome stuff in there.

Start with the basics of the modern ensemble:

1. Submission, not standing out, is what makes the band work.
2. The drummer is the heartbeat and pulse of the ensemble. He must be solid over any other characteristic. EVERYONE submits to him or you sound loose. Period. That means even the P&W leader.
3. The bass LOCKS to the drummer. They form the underpinning of the ensemble.
4. The rhythm guitarist is part of the rhythm section. Play in rhythm.
5. The keyboardist should sit on his/her left hand unless playing solo in order to give space for everyone else.
6. Craft your sounds to blend, rather than to be killer when playing alone.

It's a start.

Bob

Taking from what others have said, and putting an arrangement to it, why not plan the first session without the kids playing. It can be about the heart of musical worship, using the Baloche DVD's as a focus, perhaps including some exercises/games which came help them focus on submitting one to another in a worship band setting. Get your college agers to help you run the groups. During this time you can get information relating to the skill levels and instruments of the campers.

Step two, after session one have a meeting with your college agers and find out their skills/levels/instruments/background. Plan out the rest of the week in this meeting and give assignments/plot your own time.

Step three (really step one) Pray!!!

Robert

Bob you are spot on! If you can set aside time for your Bass player, Drummer and possibly rhythm guitar player to find a consensus on groove, tempo dynamics etc it will be a great learning opportunity for them. It should also make adding in the other pieces later on easier. Good luck and have fun jamming. I went to a christian music camp one year in my youth and open jam sessions as a group were a nice reward after a day of more structured type stuff. It was a week I remember very well even 22 years later. I suspect you will make some great memories for those kids.