Don't Be Boring: Musical Development Pt. 1

Last week I posted some advice for worship leaders on how to have an efficient and productive band rehearsal.  This week, I'd like to continue the discussion of musical preparation by talking about musical development.

Musical development pertains to how we play a song - seeking to go beyond just executing the right notes and rhythms.   It encompasses all aspects of music and it is the means in which we cultivate interest and emote responsiveness from those listening.  Through musical development, the main ideas of a song are communicated, transformed and repeated.  

Below, I have listed several of the "tools" we use to create a sense of growth or development. Many of these may be very intuitive to you or your team and hopefully you already utilize them.  However, it's your job as bandleader to make sure that each of them are being used appropriately and if necessary, to give specific instruction.  

1. Dynamics

Photo Credit: Flickr Khalil_Gamela

Dynamics is simply how loud or soft each instrument plays.  For praise and worship music that would fall into the pop/rock genres, dynamics is one of the most essential elements for development.    

Dynamics can pertain to both individual players and the band as a whole.  As a group, it's important to stay together dynamically - to build and soften at the same time.  It can be helpful to be very specific about where you want a dynamic change to begin and end.  
Individually, each player must know what the appropriate dynamic level is for their part.  If someone is playing a lead or "signature" part from the song, make sure they play out. If someone is in a supporting role, make sure they don't overstep the vocalist or lead part.  (Obviously the sound engineer can control this as well, but it leaves less room for error and is more fluid when musicians temper their own dynamic)  

Before you rehearse, think about what the dynamic goal of each song is.  Where do you want the highest and lowest point to be?  When should there be subtle or obvious dynamic changes?  Don't be afraid to give specific instructions during a song and to outline the overall dynamic roadmap beforehand.  In traditional music terminology, Italian terms are used such as: Piano (soft), Mezzo Piano (medium soft), Mezzo Forte (medium loud), Forte (loud), and Fortissimo (very loud) to give specific dynamic instructions. These terms may sound weird to use in a band setting, but the more specific you can be the better. 

I've found that it's easy to get excited and reach maximum volume quickly, so I often have to hold back or tell my team to "save" some volume for later in the song so we have room to build.  

Additionally, you should plan dynamic development over the course of an entire set and this should also be approached in a way that creates growth and keeps interest.  

2. Texture

Photo Credit: Flickr bwise

Texture is the combination of instruments playing at any given point in a song. Textural change occurs by adding or taking away instruments and it's undoubtedly the easiest and most powerful way to create musical development.  

As you prepare for rehearsal, think through significant textural changes in each song .  The most obvious and powerful change will be adding or taking away drums and bass.  If you're leading with an instrument, look for appropriate times not to play.  Even if you're just singing, don't feel like you have to sing or say something throughout an entire song.  

One of the most common pitfalls for a band is lack of textural diversity.  The reason being is that immature musicians believe it's necessary to play throughout an entire song.  It's easy to feel like you always need to contribute and find something to add.  However, by never resting you are allowing the listener to take what you are playing for granted.  If you never rest YOU are inhibiting textural change.  

Ask yourself questions beforehand - Where should the "thickest" and "thinnest" textures be?  When should there be subtle or obvious textural changes? How true do I want to stay to the original recording from a textural standpoint?   

Don't be afraid to give specific instructions before you rehearse a song and to outline the overall textural roadmap beforehand. 

3. Timbre

Photo Credit: Wikipedia

Helping your instrumentalists find the appropriate timbre (pronounced "tam-ber"), or sound for a song is also part of the musical texture.  Timbre is what helps establish the style and overall feel.  Timbral changes are created by switching instruments, sounds, or effects and this can be helpful in musical development.  For some church musicians, finding and using the right tones comes very naturally.  However, for those who haven't previously been involved with church music or aren't as familiar with the types of music you play, this could be more of a challenge.  

Use timbres that support the vocals
Obviously you don't want instruments to distract from the words that are being sung.  When in doubt, it's better to remain subtle and/or out of the way (this is somewhat dependent on if you're playing a lead line or just a backing part).  

Use timbres that complement others
This is important especially if you have a large ensemble.  When selecting the right tone, it's important to listen and be mindful of who you are playing with.  For example, if I'm playing electric and the other guitarist is pretty reverb/delay heavy, I'm definitely going to keep my tone pretty dry.  Or, if I'm playing acoustic and the other musician is capo'd up high, I'll probably stick to first position chords.  

Use timbres from the original recording
The best place to start when selecting a patch, effect, or tone is the recording you're basing your performance on.  This will save you a lot of time and work trying to figure out what will fit best.  

If I'm planning on doing something different than the recording, I may give specific instructions to players as to what sounds to use.  For example, if I'm playing a more acoustic, stripped down version of a song, I might write something like, "Acoustic guitar and pad only".  
  
Some of these things I have listed may seem trivial and others very obvious.  However, it's important to be familiar with the textural and timbral aspects of each song as they create subtle changes that have significant impact on the mood and style.  

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In this post I didn't even touch on musical development in harmony, rhythm, and melody (the essential elements of all music).  However, the things I have discussed today are undoubtedly the most important aspects for you to focus on with your team beyond actually playing the right notes and rhythms.  

Remember, you don't need to micromanage your team, but you do need to be able to provide leadership when necessary.  Lastly, listen to the songs you've selected this week with a critical ear and prepare yourself and your team for rehearsal.  

Once again, I hope this stuff is helpful to you all.  
Feel free to provide feedback and share your experiences.