Image by bemky via Flickr
No matter how many different visual aids are available on stage, there's nothing better than the worship leader's human memory for song lyrics. As far as possible, I believe in singing from memory and use any visual aid for backup purposes alone in case I forget that occasional line. Depending only on external visual aid somehow makes the worship leader/singer seem a bit ineffective. Because, if the lyrics are memorized, the worship leader/singer is free to close his/her eyes or look confidently at the congregation and better connect with the people (eye-contact helps a LOT!).
So here are 4 tips for memorizing worship song lyrics:
1. Repetition, repetition and repetition - really, there's not much of an alternative. Sing the song again and again and again until they refuse to go away. Longer the song, greater the number of repetitions.
2. Make a play-list of the next upcoming worship session set list and load it into every possible music player you access regularly - CD/USB or PC at home, iPhone or any other mobile device, laptop/netbook, car stereo when on the move etc. Listen to the play-list regularly (as in many times a day) and sing along each time.
3. At every practice session (personal or group), sing the whole song and repeat the verse/chorus that is giving the most trouble.
4. Sing the song silently at any available time. You must actually 'hear' the song in your head while doing this.
Hope these tips help you. What else do you do to memorize worship song lyrics? Let me know in the comments.
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5 comments:
Reading the lyrics slowly (and meaningfully) before I start learning a song helps me else by repetitive singing as you've mentioned above. If I get bored with singing the same tune, I try to change it a bit and see how far I can go...that way the words get kind of imprinted in the brain cos you're only experimenting with the tune while the lyrics remain the same.
Yup, that helps too!
I first try to memorize the way the song is played on the guitar. Often I find that trying to concentrate on hitting the right chords divides my mind into too many parts and I can't focus on the lyrics at all. Once I've become a confident rhythm player in the song, I can focus on being a confident singer of the song.
It's like talking to someone while riding a bike. You don't want to think about riding the bike the whole time.
I first try to memorize the way the song is played on the guitar. Often I find that trying to concentrate on hitting the right chords divides my mind into too many parts and I can't focus on the lyrics at all. Once I've become a confident rhythm player in the song, I can focus on being a confident singer of the song.
It's like talking to someone while riding a bike. You don't want to think about riding the bike the whole time.
Yup, that helps too!
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