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Main => Ministry, M.O.M, Praise Teams and Choirs => Topic started by: temejo1 on February 06, 2008, 09:06:49 PM

Title: When you teach a song...
Post by: temejo1 on February 06, 2008, 09:06:49 PM
...do you:

1. teach it exactly like the song on the CD?
2. change the key to fit the choir?
3. deviate from the song or add alternate ending?

Just curious...I'll tell what I do later in the thread.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: dcrosby on February 06, 2008, 09:45:48 PM
Good question. Most of the time I try to stay true to the artist and teach it exactly like it is. If need be I'll make minor adjustments. Sometimes when I'm teaching a song, other things may come to me. Depending on how receptive the choir is, I may teach what I hear.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: Formuzik on February 13, 2008, 10:54:44 AM
Because I am an arranger at heart, I never do a song just like the cd.  I also like to encourage my people to make songs their own.  If I wanted to hear Hezikiah Walker, I'll play the cd.  I want to hear what my choir can do with the song.  Also we don't always like the instrumentation used on a song.  Other times it may be technical.  I have real brass players, while many recordings use keyboards.  Some of what they are playing on keys are impossible to do with real brass because of breathing or the range of the instruments themselves. 

For me, substance should always preceed style.  Many great worship songs are missed because we always hear it and never think what can be done to make that song paletable to our congregation.  If a song is too vanilla, I might spice it up rythmically; at other times, it may be too busy, I then might clean it up some.  The important thing is that I expand my people beyond their own comfort zone.  I may think like this because I work in a church that is purposely pursing a goal of being multicultural.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: betnich on February 13, 2008, 11:10:29 PM
Okay, sometimes I'm guilty of changing the key or arrangement...and I've been known to "gospelize" a mainstream praise chorus from time to time...

 :D
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: T-Block on February 14, 2008, 08:31:02 AM
For the most part, I teach it just like the CD until it is obvious that my choir can't sing it that way.  Then, I get into creative mode and change some stuff to fit them.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: brodonny on February 20, 2008, 05:27:47 AM
CO-SIGN.T-BLOCK
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: LaylaMonroe on February 23, 2008, 01:18:47 PM
For the most part, I teach it just like the CD until it is obvious that my choir can't sing it that way.  Then, I get into creative mode and change some stuff to fit them.

That's my preference.

For the record, I don't direct anymore, but when I did, I always taught exactly how it was on CD unless the choir couldn't do it.

I tend to dislike it when someone changes a song too much, especially if the changes aren't better than the original.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: Big T. on February 25, 2008, 09:16:15 AM
For the most part, I teach it just like the CD until it is obvious that my choir can't sing it that way.  Then, I get into creative mode and change some stuff to fit them.
That's the way a real pro does it.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: blesedone1 on February 26, 2008, 12:50:25 PM
yeah...same as T-block every song you think is easy to learn and pickup never really is.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: kidschoir on February 28, 2008, 09:46:36 AM
Since I teach a youth choir with children ranging from 4 - 14, I normally change the song to fit the ages/voice ranges and (occasional tone deafness) of the choir members.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: momuzik on February 28, 2008, 01:22:24 PM
Most times, we change from the CD. I may invert parts where the sopranos won't necessarily carry the melody. Sometimes I'll even change keys cause their all complaining "it's too high". I'll even change the intros and endings because sometimes on CDs they can get elaborate. We only have a keyboard and a drummer trying to duplicate a big band, so we have to make changes. Sometimes we'll even change some of the words if it'll help the PT flow better.
Believe me, the changes we make help us to sound better than if we tried to stick with the original.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: jgause2 on February 28, 2008, 01:30:48 PM
For the most part, I teach it just like the CD until it is obvious that my choir can't sing it that way.  Then, I get into creative mode and change some stuff to fit them.


I agree.  Occasionally, i will lower a song a half-step or two, for the songs that may be out of reach for our choir/praise team, or I may invert the choir parts.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: slburks on March 05, 2008, 05:10:51 PM
I prefer to teach it verbatim, but my choir only rehearses once a week, and they have to learn an A and B, so music has to be very easy and learnable in one session. That rules out most gospel recordings, unless I simplify them. So I often do.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: phatstrings on March 06, 2008, 08:03:17 AM

I agree.  Occasionally, i will lower a song a half-step or two, for the songs that may be out of reach for our choir/praise team, or I may invert the choir parts.

 Same here. I might also creatively add a Vamp that i know our congregation will love.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: zeph1 on March 10, 2008, 06:52:18 AM
Okay, sometimes I'm guilty of changing the key or arrangement...and I've been known to "gospelize" a mainstream praise chorus from time to time...

 :D

don't feel bad, i do it all the time.
but i do try and find different arrangments of the same song

z ;D
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: HOLLINGS on March 18, 2008, 11:24:18 AM
I usually change the key to the person's voice that will be leading the song.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: Jfan on March 20, 2008, 12:12:03 PM
For me I think it is a good idea to follow the path of the original CD provided you can, but there is no sense it trying to go the same way as the CD when you know the efficiency is not there. You can step it up if you can but dropping it is a bit awkward. But if I may ask, why does our Gospel Artist go so complex most of the time?
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: momuzik on March 20, 2008, 01:37:39 PM
... But if I may ask, why does our Gospel Artist go so complex most of the time?

I would guess because they can - "they got it like that". They have the skills, the expertise, the equipment and the cream-of-the-crop singers and musicians.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: betnich on March 21, 2008, 01:17:29 AM
For me I think it is a good idea to follow the path of the original CD provided you can, but there is no sense it trying to go the same way as the CD when you know the efficiency is not there. You can step it up if you can but dropping it is a bit awkward. But if I may ask, why does our Gospel Artist go so complex most of the time?

Generally (w/some exceptions) the more commercialized, the more complex the arrangement and orchestration...
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: jane68 on April 03, 2008, 06:46:10 PM
WHEN TEACHING A SONG--- I USUALLY START OFF TEACHING LIKE THE ORIGINAL-BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE SONG HAS TO BE SIMPLIFIED. I ALREADY KNOW THE KEY RANGE OF MY CHOIR.-SO I USUALLY CHANGE THE KEY.  I ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE TO CHANGE OR REARRANGE THE BRIDGE. SOME SONGS I REALLY LOVE AND THEN AT THE END- IT TURNS 360 DEGRESS. I ALWAYS TRY TO PLAY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SONG AS RECORDED-SO AT LEAST THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO ATTEMPT!!!!! 
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: Demetrius L. on April 07, 2008, 08:07:43 PM
WHEN TEACHING A SONG--- I USUALLY START OFF TEACHING LIKE THE ORIGINAL-BUT MOST OF THE TIME THE SONG HAS TO BE SIMPLIFIED. I ALREADY KNOW THE KEY RANGE OF MY CHOIR.-SO I USUALLY CHANGE THE KEY.  I ALMOST ALWAYS HAVE TO CHANGE OR REARRANGE THE BRIDGE. SOME SONGS I REALLY LOVE AND THEN AT THE END- IT TURNS 360 DEGRESS. I ALWAYS TRY TO PLAY THE INTRODUCTION OF THE SONG AS RECORDED-SO AT LEAST THE PEOPLE KNOW WHAT WE ARE ABOUT TO ATTEMPT!!!!!   
  
 I do the same exact thing
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: 2blessed on April 09, 2008, 03:51:19 PM
I try to do the artist justice and teach the song as it is written.  However, this does not always work with the talent in our choir.  Therefore, I make necessary adjustments.  I call it LILYINIZE it for the Lily baptist choir.  I go by the motto "what's best for the rest?" not my personal agenda.  This works for me and decreases frustration when the skills are just not there.   
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: gtrdave on April 10, 2008, 01:42:02 PM
...do you:

1. teach it exactly like the song on the CD?
2. change the key to fit the choir?
3. deviate from the song or add alternate ending?

Just curious...I'll tell what I do later in the thread.

1. sometimes but normally we use the original as a rough guide and do it like we do it
2. maybe. Normally no but this weekend I am because one song is just way too high for the tenors, especially after the step-up key change.
3. usually. We'll rarely do a song exactly the same way twice and we try to allow for that "Holy Spirit" room that some songs need.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: Gospelstar21 on April 18, 2008, 09:58:07 PM
This dude sounds like me!!! I totally agree. I preach to my praise team to minister the song in a way that is not like the orginal artist. How does this song minister to you? The way I sing it might be different from how Kirk and nem(I know this is ghetto! lol)sing it. It is especially true when it comes to worship. So many times we get out there with the plan to sing the verse, chorus, bridge, chorus, etc...But what does God want you to focus on? Its been to the point with me that we even totally transformed the song into some totally different because we were lead by the spirit. So in a nut shell, I try to teach it like the c.d., but leave a whole bunch of room for the Holy Spirit!

Because I am an arranger at heart, I never do a song just like the cd.  I also like to encourage my people to make songs their own.  If I wanted to hear Hezikiah Walker, I'll play the cd.  I want to hear what my choir can do with the song.  Also we don't always like the instrumentation used on a song.  Other times it may be technical.  I have real brass players, while many recordings use keyboards.  Some of what they are playing on keys are impossible to do with real brass because of breathing or the range of the instruments themselves. 

For me, substance should always preceed style.  Many great worship songs are missed because we always hear it and never think what can be done to make that song paletable to our congregation.  If a song is too vanilla, I might spice it up rythmically; at other times, it may be too busy, I then might clean it up some.  The important thing is that I expand my people beyond their own comfort zone.  I may think like this because I work in a church that is purposely pursing a goal of being multicultural.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: vocalist182002 on May 03, 2008, 10:04:40 AM
I teach a according to the ability of the group.  I wouldn't pick a song that I'd have to modify so they can perform it!  When picking songs to teach make sure that the group you're teaching can handle it.  Don't forget that the congregation listens to music also and by modifying songs you can loose their interest.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: goodnmemphis on May 10, 2008, 12:17:19 PM
...do you:

1. teach it exactly like the song on the CD?
2. change the key to fit the choir?
3. deviate from the song or add alternate ending?

Just curious...I'll tell what I do later in the thread.

I am notorious for teaching songs that I hear elsewhere (like satellite radio) that most locals are not familiar with.  Why?

1.  To learn a song that EVERYBODY is singing and to teach it EXACTLY as it is on the CD.....?  To me, we might as well play the CD during service.  I have heard leaders try to reproduce the song exactly how it's on CD....every note, every word.  You go to another church to sing and the choir before you sings the song.  So, to alleviate that, IF I do a song from a CD, we're doing it differently.  Also, I get bored with the song myself to hear it on the radio every time I get in the car, listen to it long enough to learn the words and music and then teach it......so, I'm the brotha that will buy a CD and skip the song 'everybody' is singing and listen to the other 10 tracks to find (often) BEAUTIFUL songs that nobody is singing at churches locally.

2.  I often have to change the key to accommodate the leader. In some cases, this has diminished the dynamics of the song.  One song in particular (There's Power In This Name) was awesome in F.  But the leader got married and we had a new leader who was a good singer, but I had to lower the song to Eb.  The song lost some of it's "umph"!

3.  See #1. LOL.
Title: Re: When you teach a song...
Post by: Revp98 on May 29, 2008, 02:58:11 PM
Largely depends on the song. Some recordings have a bit too much of one thing or another for a congregation. You can teach the words to the song kust like the cd, but sometimes you have to omit or change things. Depending on the talent your choir has, music could be too jazzy or R&B, etc. You might even think some of it is a bit much. Always focus on what the message is. Be blessed. :)