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Author Topic: Need Advice on Church Situation  (Read 1182 times)

Offline Corndogg

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Need Advice on Church Situation
« on: August 03, 2007, 04:46:03 AM »
I've been at one church for a while now, and I've been playing there ever since I started playing bass. However, I just don't feel like I'm becoming a better bass player, and opportunities to play at other churches are being presented to me. I grew up in the church that I currently attend, but I have to play behind other bass players and I don't feel comfortable playing because I'm always moving in and out on one song. I play for one song of the church service and then I sit during the rest of the service. I know you are not suppose to come to church just to play, but everytime I go out and do gospel sessions and I hear the tone and sound from my fellow bass players, I wonder if it has to do with my independence as a bass player? My home church has three services 8am 11am 7 45pm on sunday. Most of the offers that I get to play at other churhces are around 11am. Should I leave or should I attend all the services at my home church. I just don't feel like the music I play at my home church is helping me become a better bass player. Very traditional but hardly any contempoary. I hope this makes sense to any bass players out there. One more thing, the church I play for belongs to my uncle. So I feel a family obligation as well.

P.S. If it doesn't make sense, please forgive. I'm writing this message at 4 :44 AM in the morning
(I think I get it now)I must become a better Christain,before I can become a better musician.

Offline browntree

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #1 on: August 03, 2007, 07:07:02 AM »
It sounds to me like you know what you should do.  From what you've explained, there is no room for growth at your church.  You don't really get to play!  If you are receiving other offers, then maybe this is a good time to branch out.  Don't worry about your uncle...sounds to me like he'll be just fine. 
There's no reason you can't play a few Sundays (or more) at other churches.  With the 3 services your home church offers, you can make a service at your church and then go play somewhere else. 


Browntree

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy.  I Chronicles 15:16

Offline Musicman_00

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #2 on: August 03, 2007, 07:59:40 AM »
Bro I dealt with that same issue about 2 years ago. It never hurts to play at other churches. Myself I started playing styles that I don't listen to. It sounds crazy but if you think about it with an open mind you learn most from the styles you don't listen so there is always something new to learn. Think of your playing as a language. The broader your vocabulary, the better you can express yourself. Victor Wooten told me that once and I never forgot it! Your gift will make room for you either at your current home church or somewhere else. You gotta seek God on that one bro.
"Music is a language. The bigger your vocabulary, the more options you have to choose from."

Offline bassthumpa

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #3 on: August 03, 2007, 08:21:44 AM »
Are you talking about leaving your church completely?  Or just going to other churches on off days/times when your church doesn't have services?

If you're talking about leaving for the sake of getting more playing time... remember that your spiritual growth is more important than your musical growth.  I know I wouldn't leave my church based on the time I get to play my instrument.  Until you get more opportunities there, you have to keep a "whatever my hands find to do" mentality.

Just my $0.02.

Offline RedsFan75

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #4 on: August 03, 2007, 09:23:16 AM »
It's true that spiritual growth is more important, but if you begin to foster any animosity or feel like you are being repressed and held back, it can lead to bitterness and hamper your growth both spiritually and musically.

Offline bassthumpa

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #5 on: August 03, 2007, 09:43:21 AM »
It's true that spiritual growth is more important, but if you begin to foster any animosity or feel like you are being repressed and held back, it can lead to bitterness and hamper your growth both spiritually and musically.


True... that should be resolved by working out your issues within yourself rather than just up and changing churches, IMO.

Offline Quebass86

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #6 on: August 03, 2007, 09:54:18 AM »
Pray and trust GOD to lead you to the right decision. At one time we had two services until we built a new one that could hold eveyone. Sometimes I did both services, sometimes I did one and the other bass player did one and that was because sometimes two different choirs would sing....sometimes it was do Praise and Worship and someone else played for the choir and so on......At first for me it didn't bother me because I was just starting out and I would be up until 1-2am the night before church still trying to get the songs we had just learned on thursday night. But as my confidence grew and my ability, the learning curve decreased and I no longer had to write down the notes on paper and I could do Praise & Worship and the service songs. I made a commitment to GOD that I wanted to play for HIM and that I was serious about improving on my abilities to play the bass. I didn't play anywhere else so that was the only inspiration at the time to practice. I started to play at other places on my off sundays and churches that I knew the MOM's....I began to realize that I was learning and growing by playing with other musicians and under other MOM's. I then began to play with other gospel groups and one in particular that the group leader writes most of the music so that gave me the chanc to grow as far as composing the basslines for the songs.....now that was an experience at the beginning but now I love it!

I guess the bottom line is, allow yourself to grow, if you are doing it for the love of the music and giving your best to GOD then HE will Bless you whether you stay or branch out. Always remember Home though....talk with the musicians, pastor, etc. Explain your feelings and desires. One of the things that got me more time was that I would learn the songs anyway even if I wasn't scheduled to play, and all it takes is one or two times for other other players not knowing the music or not being there and you have it locked down, booyah!!! There it is........
May God's Grace & Mercy smile upon you!

Offline floaded27

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2007, 09:54:36 AM »
i understand you totally. sometimes where you want to play or obligated to play isnt the best opportunity to grow. its like a paradox. if you could just bring the house down with the one song u play, u'll definitely get to do more, but if ur just playing only one song, u'll never get good enough to do that.

what often happens is that we see what blocks us and it gets so much of our attention because we want it to change, that we often overlook the things around us that we can use to our advantage. You say you're playing behind other bass players. Are they better than u? If so, whats keeping you from looking to them for help in improving your playing. At my church I'm the only bass player and yeah I play the whole service, but as a beginner (2years on bass, but only 3 months actually playing) there are times when I just dont know what to do/play. If i had someone to look to/listen to and ask for help, I would be growing at a faster rate. Take advantage of that.

Sometimes you have to seek outside of your church to grow. But that doesnt always mean playing at another church. I have a long time friend, a professional musician who started teaching me the bass, who asked me to be a part of a concert he's having. i have to learn songs and practice, but i get to expand what i know and grow, and i dont have to leave my church to go to his church to play. Also Im auditioning for a gospel group as a backup bass player. now i might never actually get to play with them, but, touching on what i said earlier, their current bass player is a beast and i know i can learn so much just by being around him.

hope that helps u some in your situation
For my God... let "Golden Axe" prevail.

Offline bassthumpa

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2007, 09:59:56 AM »
I guess the bottom line is, allow yourself to grow, if you are doing it for the love of the music and giving your best to GOD then HE will Bless you whether you stay or branch out. Always remember Home though....talk with the musicians, pastor, etc. Explain your feelings and desires. One of the things that got me more time was that I would learn the songs anyway even if I wasn't scheduled to play, and all it takes is one or two times for other other players not knowing the music or not being there and you have it locked down, booyah!!! There it is........

COSIGN!

i understand you totally. sometimes where you want to play or obligated to play isnt the best opportunity to grow. its like a paradox. if you could just bring the house down with the one song u play, u'll definitely get to do more, but if ur just playing only one song, u'll never get good enough to do that.

what often happens is that we see what blocks us and it gets so much of our attention because we want it to change, that we often overlook the things around us that we can use to our advantage. You say you're playing behind other bass players. Are they better than u? If so, whats keeping you from looking to them for help in improving your playing. At my church I'm the only bass player and yeah I play the whole service, but as a beginner (2years on bass, but only 3 months actually playing) there are times when I just dont know what to do/play. If i had someone to look to/listen to and ask for help, I would be growing at a faster rate. Take advantage of that.

Sometimes you have to seek outside of your church to grow. But that doesnt always mean playing at another church. I have a long time friend, a professional musician who started teaching me the bass, who asked me to be a part of a concert he's having. i have to learn songs and practice, but i get to expand what i know and grow, and i dont have to leave my church to go to his church to play. Also Im auditioning for a gospel group as a backup bass player. now i might never actually get to play with them, but, touching on what i said earlier, their current bass player is a beast and i know i can learn so much just by being around him.

hope that helps u some in your situation

Again, COSIGN!

Offline Torch7

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #9 on: August 03, 2007, 10:57:07 AM »
You've received some good advice.  It seems like if the situation is pressing on you, its designed to build your character.  I heard a quote that kind of sticks with me, "God is more concerned with your Character than you Comfort."  Like mentioned above, Can you play with all you have in the few opportunities you receive?  God, will increase, as we learn to be faithful over the small things we have been entrusted with.

I totally agree with bassthumpa... Your spiritual growth is so much more important than the musical, but once you apprehend what God has for you in the spiritual aspects of life, your playing will follow, you must trust in that.  If your church is feeding you spiritually, then the answer is simple, stay where God has you.

Stay encouraged, embrace this season your in, stay faithful to God, and wait for him to move on your behalf.



Offline Corndogg

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Advice on Church: Part II
« Reply #10 on: August 03, 2007, 08:58:20 PM »
Thanks to everyone who responded to my post. And to answer the question if I want to leave my church completely? No. However, I just feel like the more and more I don't try anything new or different I'll continue to be stagnant and always question how good can I get. Another bit of information I forgot to include is the fact that, we are on the brink of entering into a new church building, so our church status will become unofficially a mega-church. But I don't think that's going to change the frequency that I play. Fellow LGM users I would love for more feedback on this issue.
(I think I get it now)I must become a better Christain,before I can become a better musician.

Offline bassthumpa

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #11 on: August 03, 2007, 10:44:08 PM »
Look at it this way... there are ministers/preachers out there that get frustrated because they feel that they don't get enough opportunities to preach before the congregation in their home church.  A wise minister, however, won't just run off to another church to get more PT (or even to do outside engagements unless their pastor gives permission).  Instead, they'll continue to do the other parts of their ministry (because being a "minister" doesn't necessarily mean preaching all the time).  They'll continue to study, witness, help others, etc.

Your playing is a ministry also... so just the same as a preacher, you must continue to study and work at it and be faithful to your ministry at your home church, even if you're not getting much playing time.  If you get a side gig, make sure to repect and honor your pastor and get his/her approval.  Meanwhile, make the most of the time you get at home, continue to learn from the other players and help, be ready at all times, and stay faithful.  God will definitely reward your faithfulness.

Offline dhagler

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Re: Need Advice on Church Situation
« Reply #12 on: August 03, 2007, 11:01:14 PM »
I was faced with a similar situation, except that I was given an opportunity to play at another church before my home church took the formal steps to bring me in as a compensated musician.  I was only playing at the other church on the second Sunday of each month, but when the offer was extended by my church I told them that I played for the other church and that I wanted to continue doing so.  I don't guess they had a problem with it because I am still doing exactly that.

Should you decide to play at another church, let your minister of music know.
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