Rehearse solo first

by John
(B.R. La.)

Before you begin rehearsing with your whole worship team, if possible let them alone and run through the songs yourself while they listen.

This gives them the opportunity to get to know what the song sounds like, the key, tempo, time signature,and also gives them a "feel" for the song and how it should be played.

If you are willing to go through a new song 4 or 5 times so they can "get to know the song" you will see how quickly they will pick it up and get the "feel" for the song.
They will learn their parts more quickly and rehearsals will flow more smoothly as a result.

2.Worship songs:

This pertains more to worship leaders who play guitar for praise and worship, but could also be applied to piano and keyboards as well.

When you get to the worship phase of praise and worship guitarists, drop your tuning one whole step down on your guitar, or have another guitar available with that tuning.

Another words instead of being in "standard" tuning "E", drop your tuning on all strings one whole tone down. What this does is that it causes you to sing in a lower key or tone and "opens" your being and "heart" to the Spirit of the Lord. It causes you to become more sensitive to the song your playing and to the Holy Spirit, then you will see the Lord fill your being and come mighty in your midst.

If you don't think so or believe it, just try it on your guitar when you will be in private worship. It opens your heart and allows the Spirit of the Lord to flow in such a way that higher keyed or pitched songs will never achieve.

Just try it for yourself and you will see.