jesus paid it all instructional video

well well well…here we are, the last post i can bring you before thanksgiving. for you see tomorrow i will be traversing with maggie (my fiance) and her brother (soon to be my brother) collin down to south texas for thanksgiving fiesta, texmex style. should be fun.

so this post is an instructional video for learning the hymn “jesus paid it all.” in the video i teach the version that kristian stanfill does (as written by alex nifong). the neat thing is that i actually have had the privilege to sit down with alex and talk to him about the song and how he wrote it.

so here is the video, i hope you enjoy it and it helps you. feel free to get in touch with me if you have any questions or comments or if you would like a chord sheet (isaacschade@gmail.com).

thanks for checking in!

until next time, be sure do so some stomach stretches before you eat on thursday. your body will love you for it.

are we creating separate congregations?

there is quite a phenomenon among churches today of having separate “contemporary,” “traditional,” and “blended” services.  first of all i’m not really sure what any of that means (the whole matter of making it all about the music is for another day), but i’m pretty sure it’s not a healthy dividing line for our congregations.

let me first say that just about every church i have worshiped in participates in doing this, so i’m looking squarely at myself in the mirror as i write this post. 

here’s the break up:

1. the traditional service
     the trend as we all know is for the older folks of the congregation to migrate towards the “traditional” service, which is code for “we play hymns using a piano and/or organ at this service.” this is usually the early service because the younger people don’t want to be up yet.  usually the worship minister or senior minister will make a comment in the contemporary service about them being more awake or more lively. 

2. the contemporary service
     the younger crowd and hip 30,40, and 50-year-olds meander on in to the “contemporary” service, usually with starbucks in tow.  this service is code for “we play more up to date songs usually written by chris tomlin, david crowder, charlie hall, hillsong, or the best song of any number of artists you could find on air one radio.  sometimes we’ll mix in a hymn, but it will have an extra chorus that someone has written and include some sort of cool guitar riff.” 

3. the blended service
     this is a church’s futile attempt to combine the first two services.  it usually includes sterile praise songs from the 80’s that can merely be tolerated by both groups.  sometimes there will be some hymns. sometimes there will be up to date songs.  usually awkward because you have an organ playing ”here is our king” or a band trying to rock out on “as the deer.”

my question is this: with all these efforts to separate the services according to musical preference, are we creating separate congregations within our church bodies? 

i often find that i don’t know people from the other service that i am not attending.  or perhaps i’ll be talking about someone from another service and the person i’m talking to will say, “oh i don’t know that person, they go to the other service.”  is this okay? isn’t church about community and being known?  it seems to me like we have several churches within one building. 

i must say i’m simply not comfortable with this.  clearly i’m not doing anything to stop it.  i don’t even know what the answer is.  i don’t know if anything needs to be done.  i just know that it doesn’t feel to me like what christ meant the church to be.

what are your thoughts?  how does your church handle this?  i’d love to know what you think!

thanks for checking in!

until next time, go find a fun thanksgiving recipe to make for your friends and family.

god of this city instructional video

howdy party people. today i bring to you a nifty little instructional video for chris tomlin’s version of “god of this city.” this song was actually written by a band called bluetree.

as i say in the video, this is a song that is probably best used only in very specific settings. you probably would want to save it for a time when you are thinking about what is happening in your city or area of the world. i wouldn’t use it ever just for a random sunday morning service. that said, this is a great song, and if the opportunity comes up to use it, i strongly reccomend doing so.

tomlin’s version from his album “hello love” is recorded in “D” and has more of a minor key feel to it (so actually i guess it’s technically in “B minor”). the version from passion’s “god of this city” album is recorded in “C sharp”. on the video i stay to the “hello love” version so that you can play along with it. but i also teach the “god of this city” differences.

i hope you enjoy!

thanks for checking in!

until next time, take yourself a nice sunday afternoon nap today.

what happened to the voices?

my mom has a beautiful alto voice. one of my favorite memories from growing up is standing next to her at church and realizing that a nice harmony sung along with a melody is one of the most pleasing things my ears can ever hear. to this day i still try to listen to her to learn a neat harmony part i can sing. maybe that’s why i like my fiance maggie so much, who sometimes says that she can’t even remember the melody of a song because she hears the harmony so clearly.

this is going to sound like a somewhat strange blog coming from a young whippersnapper like myself. i love loud music. i love pumping bass. i love a crazy cool beat. i love a sweet little guitar riff. i love running around and being crazy and leaving a concert with my ears ringing. i love, when i’m leading worship, to play crazy fun songs that we can rock out and have a blast with.

that said, my favorite moments in a worship service are hearing the voices of the church. these days you really only have those moments at the end of the song when someone decides it would be a nice moment to quiet the instruments and have an a capella chorus or a chorus with just an acoustic guitar or piano.

do we have to have “rock and roll worship” every time we gather? where are the moments to scale it back and simply have a piano or guitar or, heaven forbid, only our voices for an entire gathering? there are very beatiful moments that are being missed because we always have everything cranked to 11 (thank you spinal tap), effectively drowning out the melodies and harmonies being sung by the instrument we all possess: our voices.

at this point let me make two counterpoints to myself:

1. there are some people who enjoy being drowned out because they don’t think they are good singers. i have often found that these people will only sing if they think they are not being heard. these people often feel more comfortable singing out when the music is loud.

2. please understand that i’m not advocating that we completely change to all “acoustic style” services. i’m also not advocating completely abandoning “full band” worship services. i’m simply saying that mixing things up is a good thing that keeps people interested and wondering what will happen next. this leads us to another important point:

do not switch it up just to switch it up. intentionality and purpose are two of the most important things i have found as a worship leader. if you are going to have an acoustic morning, don’t do it just because you think you should. have a reason for it.

i guess maybe i just miss being a little boy growing up in church and hearing 4 part harmony to some of my favorite hymns. i just want to say that our voices are one of the most beautiful things God has blessed us with. it is the instrument that every last one of us can play. let’s not waste our gift by always drowning it out. let me hear those voices!

thanks for checking in.

until next time, take some time and play with a little friend, it will brighten your day!

your grace is enough instructional video

howdy cowboys (i am in texas so it sounded like an appropriate opening!!).  and oddly enough it’s a cold texas day today.  that’s just backwards.  anyway, today i’m bringing you a song from a texan (although it was written by matt maher).  this is “your grace is enough” as recorded by chris tomlin.  it’s a song with a great message of the grace we experience in and through christ.

so without much further ado, here ya go:

hope that video was helpful! as always please let me know any comments or suggestions you might have.  if there are any songs you would like me teach feel free to let me know!!

thanks for checkin in!

until next time, wear a fun scarf today, you will feel really super stylish

guitar solos in worship

in this day and age of music being at the forefront of worship (especially the rock and/or roll variety), the question of guitar solos inevitably comes up.  some people think that the guitar solo has absolutely no place in a worship setting, while others would absolutely love to hear it.  while i’m not sure i have any definitive answers i do have several points i think you should consider when thinking through this question.  i recently had a discussion with my friend travis about this very topic, and here are some of the things we discussed (not in particular order of importance, just in the order that we thought through things…in fact i think some of the more revolutionary thoughts are farther down the list):

1. setting.  
        where is the worship service/music taking place? is this a big conference or convention where music is the main focuse of what is happening?  is this a sunday morning service (where time schedules need to be more closely followed)? 

2. expectations of the audience.
     is your audience used to guitar solos?  if they are what is their reaction to them?  would your audience tune out the music portion of the worship because of this? is the audience following you “into the moment” to where the solo/instrumental wouldn’t be the focus but an extended time of worship and reflection upon the words they have just sung?

3. art forms and giftedness.
     i think this is my personal favorite consideration.  travis actually brought this point up so thanks to him for that.  as christians, one of our most important things in life is to appreciate and make use of the gifts and talents that God has given us.  often in worship services we celebrate the beauty of dance, painting, a beautiful vocal solo, etc.  i know that for myself i have never stopped to consider guitar solos to be in the same vain.  why do i not consider a guitar solo in a worship setting as a person using his or her giftedness as an act of worship.  during a dance, i have never stopped to think, why are we focusing on this instead of God?  it’s because i’m focused on the gift that God has blessed that person with.  
     i also find it interesting that we will often have instrumentals played by an orchestra or bell choir or other ensemble and this never receives the same negative response as does a solo?  why is this any different?
     if worship is indeed not solely just a music service like we say it is.  if worship is in fact the whole service and our whole lives.  then i would contend that a guitar solo is no different than a skit or a painting or a solo sung.

4. purpose.
    on the other side of the coin, we should consider the purpose of the solo.  the purpose should never be to look at the guitar player and be envious or to glorify that person and their skills.  the purpose (if solos are used) as i see it should be one of a few things.  either we can glorify God for the ability he has placed within that person.  secondly, if the instrumental section is used as an extension of worship for people to sing the words on their heart, or to reflect on the words they have just sung; then this i think is a perfectly acceptable purpose for using a solo.  another purpose (and i’m sure there are more) could be for a time of dancing, jumping, and celebrating.  for example, i’m currently working for a ministry called ”christ in youth” where i help lead worship for middle schoolers.  during the song “break free” there is a section where we have a musical breakdown for everyone to dance around and have fun and celebrate their freedom in christ. 

5. heart.
    what is the heart with which the solo is done?  how does the worship leader set up the moment?  does the musician walk up to the front of the stage so everyone can see him or her? or does that person worship in that moment?  this all comes back to the idea that everyone on stage should be worshiping as they play rather than merely “performing.”

well thanks for reading through this.  it certainly can be a very delicate matter in any church, convention, retreat, etc.  these are just the thoughts that travis and i came up with.  i’m sure you have many more.  i would love to hear them.  i would love to continue having this conversation and thinking through the possibilities. 

again, i do not think this is a black or white.  i think the question could have different answers in different settings.  it’s up to you as a worship leader, or planner, or whatever role you have to consider these points and more.

thanks for checking in! 

until next time, go for a nice run. maybe you’ll have some profound thoughts.

you never let go instructional video

howdy every peoples….it’s that time again for another installment of a worship song instructional video.  today’s guilty party is matt redman’s “you never let go.”  your ministry and your congregation will be greatly blessed by this song (that is if you aren’t using it already).  enjoy!

until next time, go outside! it’s a beautiful day.

potluck worship songs

howdy friends, it’s time to write the first “song writing” blog. this is one that has been stirring around in my head for sometime. it stems from conversations i have had several times with my best friend brad. the foundation for these ideas are all straight from his head (so if you don’t agree with me yell at him…but if you love it then i’ll take all the praise and pass it on to him…haha). really all i have done is to put a name on the idea.

the thought is that it often feels as though many worship songs are written by someone putting a bunch of christian words into a hat and whatever words are pulled out are the lyrics to the song (which would stink if you pull out “grave” and not “save” or “grace” but not “place” or “praise”). and come on i had to use potluck cause that was one of the best parts of my childhood growing up in chrurch was the sunday lunch potluck. you just never knew what everyone was gonna bring for the sunday luncheon. it was always random, but always mostly the same types of things.

that’s how many worship songs feel. they use very generic language. it’s almost as though the thought is that as long as a song is sprinkled with a few christian words it is a solid corporate worship song. i feel like i’m often singing the same song just with a different name and by a different author.

i would like to challenge all you song writers out there: BE CREATIVE!!! one of the biggest problems with the church today is a lack of beautiful artistry and creativity. as a worship leader or song writer, you owe it to the creator of all things to bring your most original and interesting efforts. please do not settle with the status quo of what worship songs are. we, as the body of christ, need you to step up! get outside of the current “worship song mold” and use all the talent you have been gifted.

let me be sure i also say that there is a lot of great music out there. there are many many songs that are very biblically based, with interesting melodies, and creative chords and artistry, that are very singable congregationally.

thanks to every one of you who is producing music for the church to latch on to. we need your unending dedication to bringing the entire world into the bride of christ. thanks for all you do! keep it up!

until next time, this whole potluck thing has made me hungry. why don’t you plan a potluck meal with some good friends?

sing sing sing instructional video

all right friends and comrades….it’s that time again! a super fun new video!

this is a video of chris tomlin’s “sing sing sing.”  it is on passion’s “god of this city” album as well as tomlin’s own “hello love” album.  i personally like the live version much better.  the melody is more consistent and congregation friendly.  the guitar parts are more memorable (and fun for guitar players!).  nothing against chris (as though he would be reading this), but i think he nailed it with the live version and then tried to reinvent the wheel a little bit in the studio. 

so anyway, here is my take on the song.  it is great and has worked very well for me in live worship settings.

hope this has worked for you!  as always, let me know any comments you might have or if there are any songs you would like me to teach for you.  my email is: isaacschade@gmail.com

until next time, go tarheels!

atmosphere creating music

as much focus as worship music gets, one aspect of music you don’t hear too much about is background music.  background music and atmosphere creating music can be rather integral parts of creating the mood and setting you desire for a particular worship service or part of a worship service.

take movies for example.  ironically enough, background music silently makes most movies into what they are.  any good horror movie is built upon the suspenseful music that can create a moment.  i took a class in college called world music and the instructor showed us a clip of the famous shower scene from alfred hitchcock’s “psycho” first with music and then without music.  the effect was simply not the same.  you can find the two versions of the clip on you tube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81qweiWqyTU).  there is no nudity but i still thought it best to provide the url rather than embedding the video just to be safe.  whether you watch the clip or not, just know that the appropriate music can make or break a moment.

so now that i’ve convinced you of the importance of atmosphere creating music, i had best provide you with some good music to play!  i would imagine many of you have heard of and probably used “sigur ros” for some of these moments.  i have recently been introduced to two more bands who i would strongly endorse.  both of which, much like sigur ros, are nearly all instrumental.  occasionaly there will be lyrics, but hardly ever. the first band is “explosions in the sky.”  explosions is more guitar driven music.  my favorite track of theirs is “first breath after coma” off of their 2003 album called “the earth is not a cold dead place.”  this song is perfect for buidling anticipation of big things to come.

the second band is “the album leaf.”  they are a more piano driven band.  i would love for you to check out their music or any others.

the key to finding the right feel is experimentation.  when you are running dress rehearsals or tech run throughs allow the music to go and see how it fits with what you are trying to accomplish.

now that i have touted a musical bedrock, i must also admit to you something else.  after having used a lot of background music for several weeks, a time of no music can provide a very strong dissonance to the normal flow.  in today’s society, lack of stimuli can cause discomfort which might sometimes be the desired effect.  2007’s “no country for old men” (which won several academy awards including best picture) actually had no music which is one of the eerily distinguishing features of the movie.  the lack of music allowed the film to stand out and have very striking moments.

until next time, give “explosions in the sky” and “the album leaf” a listen.  see how you can incorporate them into your worship setting.