Last night we had our weekly worship team rehearsal. Everything seemed normal except for a new soprano and a new acoustic guitar player. I’ll have new team members occasionally, but almost never two new members at the same time. The new singer I had heard sing several times in different settings, and each time I was impressed with her abilities as well as her heart for worship. The acoustic guy I had heard play classical guitar at a wedding and was aware of his involvement in one of our satellite campuses, although on electric guitar. That particular campus’ worship leader was confidant he could pull it off, and since I had heard his classical chops and that he was easily holding his own on electric guitar for over a year now, I was comfortable in bringing him on for rehearsal and the subsequent weekend services.
As the rehearsal got underway, two things quickly became apparent: the singer was holding her own and seemed very comfortable, while on the other hand the acoustic guitarist was struggling and clearly not comfortable. The struggles were to the degree that his involvement in the worship for the upcoming weekend needed to be re-evaluated.
As the rehearsal went on, I had a different reaction in my heart to the situation than one might expect. Before I explain, let me share a brief background: I like rehearsals to be productive, fun, and short – one hour. Musicians that are unprepared make rehearsals a waste of time, annoying, and longer. My teams are always given the opportunity to be prepared – charts, CD’s, and song order at least a week in advance, often two to three weeks (I prepare songlists a month at a time). If they forget to pick up a packet, they can download charts and MP3’s on line. When someone isn’t prepared, they clearly haven’t taken the time to listen to the CD, preview the charts and practice. Everyone on the team will tell you that nothing gets under my skin quite like that. In rehearsal their lack of preparation is obvious to everyone, and I’ll call them out in a manner that is corrective, challenging and calm, yet not humiliating. At least that’s what I’m hoping to accomplish. Being unprepared is simply unacceptable to me, and everyone knows it. That’s why it usually only happens with someone that is new or fairly new.
Back to rehearsal – so when the acoustic guitarist isn’t cutting it, you can see the group looking at me to see if there was going to be a “correction” if you will. You could see a little confusion on their faces as they saw the contentment on mine. It was an apparent contradiction, but to me it was worlds apart.
Here’s the difference – the acoustic player was prepared, but he was in over his head by no fault of his own. This was not a case of laziness – not even close. I could tell that he had worked hard to get to where he knew he needed to be, but he simply wasn’t able to. When someone is very capable, yet performs below their abilities and expectations, shame on them. When someone is not as capable, and performs at their abilities – although below expectations, shame on me. I was not disappointed in the acoustic guitarist’s performance. Rather, I was disappointed in me – that I had not properly assessed his abilities thus putting him in a position to fail.
After rehearsal I pulled him aside, and went into a private location. I shared with him that he wasn’t ready for the weekend, and then I apologized for putting him in that position prematurely. His response was one of relief! He was relieved that I wasn’t upset or disappointed with him and that the pressure was off to try and accomplish something that he simply wasn’t currently capable of. It quickly became clear that the electric, not acoustic guitar was his passion. He also had battled with whether or not to share with me his struggles on acoustic and the desire to back out, yet not wanting to let me down or to be a “quitter”. I can totally understand and respect his battle.
I was able to share this with the team during the weekend, and they were very appreciative of the explanation. It boils down to “whom much is given, much is required.” I can only require out of someone what they are capable of giving or doing.
Several years I had two services back to back and a different bass player for each service. We were playing a rather difficult song that particular weekend, and the bass player at the early service was a good bass player, but the bass player at the second service was clearly more gifted and accomplished. The first service went well, and the bass player worked long and hard and did a very solid job on the tough song. I gushed all over him. The second service also went well, but the bass player at that service, although he actually played it better than the other bass player, did a sub-par performance in contrast to what he was capable of. I chewed him up. He protested that he had played it better than the other player, and I became even more disappointed. This is the beauty and fairness of God’s economy: the first bass player was rewarded for his faithfulness and investment. The second bass player, although he had played it better, was chastised for his laziness because he was given much, yet made no investment and therefore received no return or reward for his effort.
My job is always to foster excellence by and through investment. Excellence will always be relative to the level of talent, so that no one should boast in comparison to others, but rather, “each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.” (Gal 6:4) As I challenge others, I must also challenge myself. Am I prepared, have I practiced, have I invested in my gift in order to realize a return?
Tags: Clay, correct, discipleship, lead, leadership, minister, music, praise, training, vision, worship
Every experience is a good one with you. I appreciate the level of excellence that you hold the team to. I know that God will reward you for leading such a talented group of Levites. I am proud to be called one your own. Love to you and all the team. I miss you guys always. I also thank God for the internet!!!!
Great lesson!!! Thanks for being so transparent…Knowing the sheep who are under your care benefit and flourish when challenged with that kind of discernment and balance…I recently had an experience with a leader that was a real “nice guy” but it was obvious by the orchestra’s performance that there needed to be a fanning of the flame…This isn’t an easy task by any means; however very necessary in order to “Make His Praise Glorious”
Thanks for what you do!!!
Keep up the good work!
There is nothing more frustrating in the Business World than someone with talent who underperforms. Nothing…………. It is especially frustrating when they justify their underperformance as being “fair”, because they are doing more work than the others on the team so they should be allowed to dumb it down. I’ll take a hard worker with passion over a genius with a bad attitude any day. The hard worker has a substantially higher chance of success over the long run.
The challenge that I see in your story (and one that I run into in business) is getting the person to be open enough to communicate their concerns about not being able to do the job. We promote people because we believe that they can do something well and can accomplish the next level of task. From that perspective, I wholeheartedly agree that we, as leaders, participate in the error. I am challenged though when someone will not step forward and say that they just aren’t ready yet. Do you have any solutions for making certain that the culture of the team/group/organization will allow for someone to make such a declaration before it is too late?
Anyway……….thanks for the article and the forum to ask the question.
I appreciate your music, work, and leadership!
Peace,
David
I signed on to get more info on tonight’s New Year’s Eve event and stumbled across this post. Thank you! I read it to my children who are very academically inclined and often wind up playing the part of the second bass player.They wonder why i am not happy with their accomplishments and i often hear “So what if i don’t study mom, why does it matter if i bring home A’s and B’s?” This really illustrated the point and helped set our goals for the new year.
First, I want to thank you for being such a great director of music and say that all of Calvary is blessed to have probably the best Worship Team anywhere on the plant.
With that being said, I know that in order to do so puts a lot of pressure on directors and performers to do their best. In the 90′s, music got so techinical with such performers as Steve Morse, Vinnie Moore, Joe Satriani and others that it appeared to reach a peak in terms of what could be achieved technically and music reverted back to the 60′s with the introduction of “Alternive Music” which seemed a lot easier to pull off and was appreciated at that time for its simplicity. A few errors in production were even permitted and a new vocal style which seemed “off” or “outside the box” eventually became the new standard and is even evident in Christian music today.
My feeling is that the audience can be very forgiving of errors and at times even appreciate a mistake or two if tastefully done. The fact that you were able to evaluate the situation says a lot about your maturity as a director and deserves a lot of credit. Was a simpler assignment given to the guitar player? Its great when a person can get up on the horse again after falling off.
As I think about how much I love the ministry, this was great reading, because it shows the excellence that you have for your craft as well as the passion and effort necessary to reach the excellence that God requires from us no matter what we attempt, be it music, education, being good parents or a good servant. Thank you for always keeping us to the standard that allows us to grow in our lives and be challenged to always be better than when we started.
Thank you for always holding us to excellence, the same that you hold yourself to. It is a blessing to have someone who strives for God’s best, in himself and others, and as 2010 is underway, I continually ask for His blessings on those of us who He has given much and expects much of.
Play skillfully, and grow in grace and power. Thank you for all that you do!
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As a Music Educator my job is to always foster excellence by and through investment. Excellence will always be relative to the level of talent, so that no one should boast in comparison to others, but rather, “each one should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself, without comparing himself to somebody else, for each one should carry his own load.”
I use these same teaching daily in class the better musician should never be lazy when playing their instrument. I always tell them they never know who’s listening and to make every rehearsal like a performance. This work well in the middle school and I carry it with me when I play as well n matter how much the gig is paying they should get the same level of performance out of you.
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Hi, Clay-
as an old choir member at Calvary I can truly appreciate what you wrote about the difference in the two bass players. As an example of leaders looking for passion as well as talent: one of my girlfriends in high school’s father was our high school basketball coach. He always managed to have a strong winning team. One time we were just all talking together about college entrance and so on, and Fran, the daughter of the coach, told us what her dad taught her about really wanting to do something and how it makes you a better “whatever” because of it. He used to go around to all the neighborhood basketball courts and watch younger kids play at night (in summer) and on Sat./Sun. Then, when and if any of those kids showed up to try out for the high school team, they didn’t know it, but they already had the coach’s vote to be on the team. He wanted the kids that would play no matter what was going on. Those were the kids he knew he could rely upon to do well for the team and themselves. Coach Chiocco was a really good coach, and evidently, a really good father, too.
Well, just wanted to share a story that I’ve used and shared along the way in my life.
God Bless you and the ministry.
I miss all the practicing, but still sing in my home.
Hi there,
the way your email came there was no name. I’d love to know who you are!
Clay
being a worship leader or performing a solo or whatever is NOT aabout who is the better musician or who has the greater talent. we should not be concerned with looking at the others and comparing ourselves with them. there will ALWAYS be someone who has more knowledge or talent etc than ourselvfes. alweays. and there always will be those who have less than ourselvefdss. in the human and fleshly realm that is how the world makes ts chocies. but God chooses based on different standards. He chooses whom He will and places their anointing on that person. as a member of a worship team we should not be vying for that position, nor questioning why they were chosen. God makes that calling and His gifts and calling are without repentance. members of praise and worship teams (or ANY ministry within the body for that matter) should simply keep their eyes on Jesus and servfe as unto Him. souls are in the balance and our service will help reach them for Christ. and who knows.. if we are faithful in these few small things, perhaps He may say “you ahve been faithful in these small things…you will be faithful in greater things…”
Are you kidding? Of course “who is the better musician or who has the greater talent” has a significant role in who is a worship leader and who is performing a solo. Psalm 33:3 admonishes us to play skillfully. We’re supposed to be good and getting better. Check out Matthew 25. Now it is certainly not the sole criteria, but without a tangible skill level, you’re not on my worship team. Sorry. On the other hand, if you’re an amazing musician, but you don’t have a relationship with Jesus, you’re once again not on my worship team. To be on my worship team you must have a relationship with Jesus that is lived out for all to see, and you must be gifted and skilled at your particular instrument or voice. Scripture is filled with examples of this.
People who aren’t good enough to make their worship team are often the ones who write letters like this. If this describes you, then stop complaining and start practicing!
Clay
Nice blog you have… looking forward to read your next post
Hey there! I have to say I really enjoy Your blog, it makes for an awesome Read! I hope to see more stories from you soon! Thanks!
Great info.I like all your posts. It’s good to see you speak from the heart..
You can definitely see your enthusiasm in the work you write. The world hopes for more passionate writers like you who aren¡¯t afraid to say how they believe. Always go after your heart.
Nice post. I like your blog.
thanks..i m surely gonna use these methods..hope they work for me.
well done.
Wow Clay, awesome. I am encouraged to do better in my own life and convicted that I don’t always aspire to be “excellent” in all God has given me.
Keep up the God work!