Need more musicians?

What REALLY causes the “not enough musicians” syndrome?

Are you trying to figure out how to add more musicians to your teams? “We just don’t have any in our church.” Really? The super-common problem of “We just don’t have enough musicians” seems to have a simple cause, but let’s look deeper. What might be some of the hidden causes of the shortage?

Here are ten causes for a lack of musicians: (I’ll include both singers and instrumentalists when referring to “musicians” here.)

1. A lousy sound mix (when specific musicians aren’t heard in the mix, this causes potential musicians to say, “Why would I want to play or sing if I might not even be heard?”)

2. There is no perceived need for more musicians (does your talented worship leader fill in all the missing gaps so the congregation never feels the pain of the need OR do you ever ask for more musicians – either by announcement, special event, or shoulder-tap? And do I smell burnout?)

3. Insecure musicians (potential musicians don’t feel that they have the necessary talent to play or sing with the band, OR they perceive the bar to be too low and don’t want to join an unartistic scene)

4. There is a hostile or closed band culture (it doesn’t look like the band is enjoying serving together OR the relationships are so tight that they feel exclusive or like a clique)

5. There is no mentoring (there’s no way to ease into playing, no culture of co-leading, no “backup, unamplified second keyboard or guitar,” and there’s no training to get new musicians up to speed)

6. There are no non-rehearsal or non-performance musical gatherings (are the only playing opportunities at rehearsals and services? There are no monthly or quarterly gatherings to play and experiment with different musicians and different combinations of bands without the pressure of preparing for or playing in a service.)

7. Different or new vision (sometimes a worship leader’s vision for style (which dictates band makeup) is different than the senior pastor’s, or perhaps it’s just new to the church, and they don’t know that their accordion, I mean, electric guitar has a place in the band)

8. Minimal performance space (your stage is cramped, or the way you are set up makes it feel like there’s no room for anyone to join)

9. There are too many hoops to join, and there are unclear expectations. (What happens when a potential musician expresses interest in serving? Is your process cumbersome, vague, lengthy, daunting, or nonexistent? People like to be a part of something well-organized. How many embers of hope never became flames of service because of an inefficient process?)

10. Musicians attract musicians (perhaps there’s just no critical mass – it’s not a talent issue, just a sheer lack of numbers)

So, now that you see some of the unexpected reasons that you don’t have enough musicians, here are some solutions for each:

1. Fix a lousy mix by training your tech arts crew to be musical in their mixing. Teach them how songs are built, how and why you arrange songs like you do, and how to create a mix that supports the intended result. Get help at https://www.adlibmusic.com/audio-training.

2. Create the need by letting specific roles go unfilled. And when you do, it would be a great week to intentionally make an announcement that makes the opportunity to serve known (without sounding desperate!) Remember to use all available media – live, printed bulletin, email, website, etc. Also, keep your ears open and invite the people who may be interested. Finally, never underestimate the power of the shoulder-tap!

3. Each church has (whether written or not) an entry-level or standard for an acceptable quality level for weekend worship gatherings. But make sure you communicate that excellence (doing your personal best) is the requirement, not perfection. You might also help less-experienced musicians serve in lower-pressure environments like children’s church, small groups, youth group, or midweek meetings. They can provide an excellent training ground where confidence can grow.

4. When a band is enjoying each other as they play, you can totally feel it! Work hard, be diligent, and flow together, but don’t take yourselves so da’gum seriously! Romans 16:19 reads, “Be excellent at what is good, be innocent of perfection.” (oh snap, he didn’t just paraphrase it that way, did he?!) I know that when you concentrate on what you’re playing, you can have a serious look or scowl on your face, but try to remember what you’re singing about and Who you’re singing to. God canceled His frown toward you when you said yes to Him...reflect His smile! Also, when you have someone new, go the extra mile to be interested, welcoming, genuine, and considerate. Help break down certain apprehensions that a new musician has. And share food, experiences, and honest moments with each other. Be a true community. Also, the Five Faders helps teams with this a ton!

5. Establish a culture of training, of opportunity, and of team. Regularly offer musical training for your musicians. Always look for ways to raise new leaders and musicians. Have your background singers lead songs, have your electric guitar player start a song, and bring a duplicate musician on stage unplugged to build their confidence. Work hard not to be a “one man show” – empower musicians on your team to have essential musical (solo, lead, arrangement, etc.) and non-musical (prayer, scripture reading, administrative, etc.) responsibilities.

6. Call it a Jam Session, a Worship Jam, or Zamar (instrumental worship) Night, you’ve gotta have times when your current and potential new musicians can play and experiment with different musicians and different combinations of bands without the pressure of preparing for or playing in a service. There is a different level of creativity when you take that pressure away. And it’s a great way to get to know new musicians without having to formally audition them (shhhhh...I know!) in a relaxed, “jam” environment.

7. It’s super important for your team to be able to articulate your senior pastor’s vision for the weekend worship gatherings. There are so many decisions that must flow from this vision. If you’re playing modern worship songs, I believe it’s nearly impossible to consistently lead worship encounters with the Lord without energy in the music – especially in the “up” songs. (energy and volume are related but are not the same) Once you decide to do a certain kind of song, there are requirements for it to actually “work” and specific instruments and an appropriate sound mix are needed.

8. It might be a good idea to clear the stage (at least in your mind’s eye) and make sure you’re using your space most effectively. Did you just keep adding instruments without a comprehensive plan? Can everyone see each other? Do you look cramped? Are you using stands with a tripod base in a small area? Ever lead from behind a wooden choir “wall” while the piano soundboard (that also separates you from the congregation) blares into your face? Well, sometimes you have to challenge tradition in order to move forward. I know, I know, you feel the feathers ruffling already, and that’s okay. You’re in a community, so you must take your people along with you, but don’t let their comfort stand in the way of building God’s Kingdom (He doesn’t in your life, does He?) Do what it takes to use the space so your band feels comfortable playing and the congregation doesn’t mistake you for sardines.

9. You must have a straightforward, well-organized process that minimizes wait time (read: keeps the momentum alive) yet allows for accountability, well-defined guidelines, and verbalized expectations. It’s okay to have a 6-month process before a new musician can serve, but it’s not okay for the process to take three months before it begins. Make it easy to serve. Sure you have requirements, but remove any unnecessary roadblocks.

10. Invite musician friends that you have from outside your church to help. Cross-pollinating is excellent for your church and the musicians visiting. It creates more of a felt need once people enjoy the energy of the drums or the fullness of a keyboard. Also, quality attracts quality (you are what you attract – gulp!) so invest in yourself and your team. Get lessons, work hard, be students of your craft, grow! Schedule a Rehearsal Coaching session.

-Dave Helmuth
(purchase my book, "Worship Fertilizer: (the first hundred)" HERE)

Need more musicians? (Nº 9)