Rehearsals are contracts.
You combine a group of musicians and tech folks with a list of songs, a series of transitions, and various impromptu arrangements and put it all down in concrete for your weekend worship. That’s why rehearsals are so important.
There are many ways to have and lead these time slots, but here are five basic rehearsal ground rules for any worship team:
Be on time.
This common courtesy is essential. When you’re punctual, it helps the rest of the group feel like they are crucial. It also helps rehearsal go smoothly from the start. An added benefit is time to connect before the rehearsal. Visiting and talking with team members before the evening begins is good.
Be prepared.
Practice on your own or rehearse together. Listen to the music, memorize if you need to, and, in general, be prepared. The rehearsal is only a few precious moments in everyone’s schedule, so you want to be ready.
Be helpful.
When the worship team meets for rehearsal, there’s always something to do—moving a keyboard, changing batteries, finding a guitar stand, or whatever. Get your stuff set up, and then try to be helpful. What else is needed? How can I help?
Be edifying.
Anybody can be sarcastic. It takes a pro team to be edifying and uplifting. Encouragement can take a worship band a long way. Celebrate the good things, encourage your team members, and lift up the group. You’ll then earn the right to speak up when something needs to be changed or improved.
Stop playing.
One key rehearsal component is the conversation, instruction, and questions between songs. If someone is still playing their instrument, discussing things is difficult. I know it’s a hard habit to break – I’m a culprit. However, one excellent ground rule is to stop playing when the music stops. On a side note, this also applies to the time frame before a worship service begins. We don’t need noodling, tinkering, or jamming as people arrive.
