Aaron – Saturday practices and assisting Ivan
Ian – Musician’s discipline and musical instruments
Chun-Xiong – PA system and sermon recordings
Ryan – Training/classes and assisting Chun-Xiong
Niki – Choir and musical related events
Yeoh Li – Musicians and song leader’s roster
YTM Music Ministry - Song Leader’s Guidelines
A. The ROLE of a song leader
- Lead and guide the congregation in singing
- Help the congregation to focus on God, giving thanks and glorifying God
- Encourage one another through singing
B. The PREPARATION
1. Theme
- Choose a theme, ideally based on the passage being studied (to prepare the congregation to listen to God’s Word being preached later) or if there’s no passage, any God-centric theme will do.
2. Content
- Christ-centred. To remind believers of Christ’s sacrificial love for us and the purpose of meeting up regularly is to remember what He has done for us.
3. Song choice
- Content. Crucial for songs to be biblical and related to the theme. Tell of God and what Christ has done. Our response/adoration & praise to God.
- Music. Suitable for congregational singing, tuneful but not too hard to learn. Balance between fast and slow songs depending on theme. New songs are limited to 1 per session or maximum allowed 2 new songs per session (any more than 2 new/unfamiliar songs will greatly disrupt the flow of worship. Remember that the purpose of Praise & Worship is for the congregation to praise and worship God in song). Run through lyrics of new songs with YTM advisers or Music Coordinator to get approval before introducing it to the congregation.
4. Explanations
- Purpose is to link songs together. Not simply just to sing any other songs (anyone can do that).
- Stay clear and simple without causing confusion.
5. On duty
- When the roster is out, check to see if you’re comfortable with the dates assigned. Please alert the Music Committee if you’d like a change. The Music Committee will find a replacement if your turn is not within 7 days, but if it’s within the week (i.e. too last minute) you’d have to find a replacement by yourself and inform the Music Committee of the change (this is to discourage last minute planning).
C. Before Praise & Worship
1. Script
- Prepare your script in advance. It’s good to have a script (even as backup in case you panic and forget what to say). Aim to finish the draft a week before.
- If you’re unsure about anything or need guidance, do get assistance from the YTM advisers or the Music Coordinator. We’re always there to help you
2. Music team
- Contact your musicians a week in advance. Let them know if you will be introducing any new songs. It would be helpful if you could also provide the Youtube link to the new song.
3. New songs
- Provide the Youtube link to your musicians.
- Be there earlier to enter the song into the laptop or ensure someone does it.
D. The PRACTICE session
1. Time
- Practices for Saturday YTM should start at least half an hour before P&W if you would like to run through the songs with your musicians.
- Whereas, practices for Sunday YTM should be scheduled after Saturday YTM (or before if there’s a slot). This practice should aim to get musicians familiarised with the song list and flow. If there are any difficulties, do get assistance from the YTM advisers or the Music Committee.
2. Prayer and focus
- Open in prayer, to focus everyone’s attention on God and commit the session to Him
- Remind musicians that the focus is on God, not themselves. Playing for God is about serving Him, not individual performances.
3. Working as a team
- Encourage and respect one another. Should any of your musicians have any difficulty in grasping the song, seek advise/help from those around. Be patient with them, understand that they’re still growing.
4. Balance and harmony
- Ensure that the volume is balanced, no over-powering of a certain instrument.
- Ask musicians to listen to and listen out for each other.
5. Song flow
- Make sure that the musicians are familiar with the transition so that the Praise & Worship will run smoothly.
E. During Praise & Worship
1. START
- Gather your musicians at least 10 minutes before the start of the session for prayer, committing the session to God in prayer and reminding them to play for God.
- It’s also your responsibility to ensure that the chairs are properly arranged and the new songs are already in the laptop. Remember to delegate the work, you’re not Superman!
- Start PUNCTUALLY. We want to incorporate this into all our sessions. YTM Saturdays should start at 4pm to 4.15pm latest. YTM Sundays should start ON THE DOT at 11.15am (the only exception is if Morning Worship ends late on that particular Sunday). You will be eating into precious bible study time if you start late on Sunday.
2. Introduction
- Welcome everyone, look out for new comers.
- Encourage everyone to come forward and not crowd the back rows.
3. Delivery
- Speak clearly, don’t mumble and maintain eye contact with the congregation while speaking.
- Please sing into the mic because you’re leading the congregation in singing.
4. New song
- Remember to teach the congregation if you’re introducing a new song.
- Go through it once and restart from the top again.
5. Ending
- Do close with a word of prayer and hand the time back to the emcee.
F. After Praise & Worship
1. Feedback
- Discuss with the YTM advisers or the Music Coordinator about areas for improvement. Keep the feedback in good faith for future reference and growth!!
YTM Music Ministry Framework
A. Key responsibilities
1. Come up with and manage the Musicians Roster for Morning Worship (except the aunties)
1.1. “Manage” is defined as:
1.1.1. To contact the people shortlisted. If they agree, put in their name, if not, seek clarification as to why they’re not available. If the reason for their inavailability is due to training, we should offer to train them up.
1.1.2. If there are those that can’t make it, ensure that replacements are arranged.
1.2. “Come up with” is defined as:
1.2.1. To get the people who have agreed to play and slot in their names by date and frequency. Everyone should get an almost equal chance to song lead or play unless they are unavailable or by choice.
1.3. Musicians should be chosen based equally on their musical qualities/talent and their attitude. If someone is talented but doesn’t have the attitude/commitment, then he/she should be coached first before playing for Morning Worship.
2. Come up with and manage the Musicians and Song Leaders Roster for Saturday YTM and Sunday YTM.
2.1. “Manage” is defined as:
2.1.1. To contact the people shortlisted. If they agree, put in their name, if not, seek clarification as to why they’re not available. If the reason for their inavailability is due to training, we should offer to train them up. If for any reason the song leader or musician withdraws on that day, we should find suitable replacements, failing which we would have to do it ourselves or other alternatives.
2.1.2. As a start, to contact the song leaders at least 1 week in advance to remind them that they’ll be song leading and remind them to contact their music team. Eventually the respective song leader should be handling this on his/her own.
2.1.3. If there are those that can’t make it, ensure that replacements are arranged.
2.1.4. Ensure that there is a balance in the music team for the week/event e.g. beginners vs. seasoned.
2.2. “Come up with” is defined as:
2.2.1. To get the people who have agreed to play/song lead and slot in their names by date and frequency. Everyone should get an almost equal chance to song lead or play unless they are unavailable or by choice.
2.3. Saturday and Sunday YTM is more of a training ground for the musicians, attitude is important too nonetheless. If someone is talented but doesn’t have the attitude/commitment, then he/she should be coached first.
3. Manage, provide guidance and support to musicians who play for church and song leaders likewise.
3.1. “Manage” is defined as:
3.1.1. To make sure that musicians and song leaders glorify God while on-stage. If they fail to do so, then any comments or corrections made must be done in a loving, edifying manner to the brother or sister and pleasing to God, failing which the matter should be escalated to the YTM advisers.
3.1.2. Examples of which is: failing to turn up on time without providing a valid reason, playing for his or herself which can be seen by the musician trying to outdo others or trying to stand out from the band or playing something unacceptable and out of the norm, dressing inappropriately, immodestly or differently from what is acceptable in TTDIGC.
3.2. “Provide guidance and support” is defined as:
3.2.1. The music committee and the music coordinator availing themselves to any questions that the musicians or song leaders might have. To have the initiative to teach and guide the less-experienced ones in matters pertaining to song leading and musical instruments. To also provide constructive feedback or encouragement at the end of the session to the song leaders.
4. Identify and train up new/current/potential musicians and song leaders.
4.1. Look out for new musical talents, approach them and ask if they’re interested to play for YTM. Offer to train them if they’re willing.
4.2. To possibly also offer and conduct acoustic, electric, bass guitar, drums and piano lessons where necessary.
4.3. Look into development e.g techniques, new songs etc.
5. Manage the PA System on Sunday, taking over Uncle Richard’s role (volume control, sermon recording and mic setup).
5.1. Person-on-duty to come before Morning Worship starts and ensures that the stage microphone is set up and working. To also control the volume of the microphone during the session and record the sermon into a laptop or a cassette and subsequently upload and publish it online.
5.2. Ensure cables and equipments are neatly arranged.
5.3. Ensure that cables, mics, stands etc, are properly stored and ready for use.
6. Arrange for, help and manage choir practices and any other musical programs adhoc or otherwise (as and when required).
7. Help the teens and young adults to see the role of music ministry.
B. Notes:
1. To also keep an eye on their spiritual situation/growth where possible and encourage as necessary.
2. To consider developing a strategy for spiritual and skill development through training, study sessions and workshops
3. To consider developing programs and repertoires that reflect the various church themes
C. YTM Music Ministry Creed
We, as a ministry team will strive to:-
Seek to grow together in Christ
Lead worship in Spirit and Truth
Work together as a team with a single purpose- to glorify God
Have a lot of fun
Really get to know one another, and become a family within our church family
Minister to each other
Start at 11:15 AM on the dot each Sunday and 4.00 PM each Saturday
Sing through the hymns/worship songs and not just play
Start working on Christmas/Easter music 2 months before the events
