Church Observations

For our applied music theory class we've been assigned several local churches to observe their worship team practice.  Quite valuable after our directing a band class and leading through our practicums.

The most interesting practice we sat in on was for Woodmen Valley Chapel, a multi-campus church that live streams the service, using as the tech director described to us, "a much more expensive and higher quality skype."  Each campus has their own band and leader, but everyone plays to a universal click channel.  Andy was the leader at the Rockrimmon Campus where we were, and the band played all the music live, but at times, a leader from another campus led the song via the screen.  A fascinating concept developed as the church decided to move to multi-campuses, but wanted to retain the feel of "one church" body. Logistically I would never sign on for a set up like this, everything is timed down to the half minute and mess ups would be quite noticeable! Not to mention the intricate attention to details and because it is so timed, there is not an opportunity for freedom of the spirit in repeating a chorus or bridge.