Do you find yourself feeling the pressure to always be doing the "latest and greatest" new song? Do you feel embarrassed to share your song list (at times) because you think you will be deemed "out of touch?" On today's episode, I have a great panel discussion about songs that are still speaking to our churches, why they're still working, and how to think about our song selection in general.

Note: We specifically excluded hymns from our discussion. We feel hymns are timeless classics and almost always welcome additions to a service!

Contact our panelists on Facebook: Andrea Leaman, Leeann McIntosh, Michelle Cole

Here are most of the titles mentioned from today's episode. (The majority are 10-20 years old, a few 20+ years, and a few "new" songs were mentioned, as well.)

I Will Bless the Lord
I Will Sing
I Feel the Joy 
Lift Up Your Voice Medley
We Praise Your Name
Lord, You are Good
Heaven
Enter the Gates
Trading My Sorrows
Deliverance
Broken
Because of Who You Are
Great I Am
Break Every Chain
How Great is Our God
Blessed Be Your Name
Our God
When I Speak Your Name
Withholding Nothing
Mercy Seat / For Every Mountain
Revelation Song
This is the Day / Presence of the Lord / Jesus Said It
Let it Rain
Heaven on Earth
King of Glory
This is How We Overcome
When I Think About the Lord / Worth
We Exalt Thee / Worthy of it All
Let Me Tell You Who Jesus Is
Every Praise
Can't Stop Medley
Holy Ghost
Set a Fire
House of Prayer
Just the Mention of His Name
In Jesus' Name
Waymaker
Breakthrough 
Stones

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If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

Christmas.... When you're in music ministry, Christmas often involves learning special music, extra practices, and special programs. Today on the Simple Church Music Podcast, my guests, Angie and Elenee share how they've navigated the Christmas season in their smaller churches. 

Hear this: you have permission to do what works for your church in this season! I hope that you receive the message through this episode that "effective music ministry" looks different in different church contexts. Not only is this good, but it is vital! 

This episode is certainly not in any way exhaustive; there are tons of ways to approach doing something (or not doing something!) special for Christmas. We hope to merely provide ideas, a sense of relief, and the freedom to do whatever works for your team and your church. (This might even be using the Christmas season as a season of rest for the team and opportunity to focus on family!) Be encouraged!

Resources Mentioned in This Episode
Angie's Epic Background Track
Go Tell it On the Mountain (Maverick City)
Messiah
Let Us Adore
Elenee's Christmas SET LIST
Pentecostals of Quinte  Christmas Production  from 2022
Christmas Hallelujah 
Love Came Down MEDLEY
Sunday Keys App

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If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

In this episode, Landon brings us all back to square one by helping us to remember our purpose. This is one of the strategic ways that he continuously creates culture within his music team....and it pays off, big time! Landon also shares some really practical, easily actionable tips to help make your music ministry run more smoothly and be more effective.

Resources Mentioned on the Podcast

• Something Has to Break / Believe for It Mash-up
• Anything is Possible
• This Place
• See a Victory
• The Landon Spann Podcast
• Landon Spann YouTube Channel (tutorials and musical helps)

Connect with Landon at [email protected], or on Facebook.

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

Do you often feel like you are working hard in your ministry but still feel ineffective? Do you worry that there is simply not time enough to really have a thriving, effective music ministry? One word: SIMPLIFY!

In this episode, I share a clip from a recent music workshop where I presented.  While so much more could be said on the topic, I made a case for being efficient with time and energy while still having an impactful music ministry in your local church. Be blessed!

Song that was Referenced:
You Keep Hope Alive - Church of the City

Reach Out:
Think of something you would add to the list from today's episode? Have some feedback or suggestions? Email Me Here at my website or message me on Facebook!

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

On this episode of the Simple Church Music Podcast, I talk with Michael about:

• Investing in people
• Seasons of learning
• Leading by example
• Using visualization to help with appropriate song selection
• How failing creates a learning opportunity like nothing else
• How God is able to move in our imperfection and brokenness
• Learning to lean on others - even while they are still growing
• Not being afraid to fail!

Songs Michael mentioned:

• Joy is Coming - Todd Galberth
• Child of God - Draylin Young
• New Name Written Down in Glory - Charity Gayle
• The Blessing - Kari Jobe, Cody Carnes, Elevation
• Give Me Jesus - James Wilson (NAYC Version)

If you'd like to reach out to Michael, you can email him at [email protected].

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

On this episode of the Simple Church Music Podcast, my guest, Andrea, and I talk about:

• learning the different "languages" of different instruments
• methods for training new musicians
• investing in your team
• being intentional in every area of music ministry
• how to select songs to make your team successful
• strategies for planning your sets very far in advance
• the importance of being intentional with creating culture within your music ministry
• how you have to learn to plan and act like the size of church you hope to become
• and much more!

Songs Andrea Recommends:

1. Pour it Out
2. Stones (key of E or G depending on who is leading)
3. Anything Is Possible
4. If I Shout/Testify

Other Resources We Discussed:

• Planning Center Online

For more information from our guest, send a message to Andrea on Facebook.

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If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

In this episode of the Simple Church Music Podcast, I speak with Crystal from North Carolina, and we discuss:

• starting a choir in a small church and its potential impact on your church
• how "sink or swim" is sometimes the motivation to learn
• how to create a more full musical sound using loops and tracks
• choosing songs that move people
• the importance of prayer in the life of a music team member
• not comparing ourselves to other churches or other music departments

Resources Mentioned on the Episode:

• Loops by Cdub

Songs Mentioned on the Episode

• House of Miracles - POA version
• In Jesus Name - Katy Nichole
• Power in the Name - Draylin Young
• Something Happens - James Wilson
• Help is on the Way - Peak Conference Choir Version
• Fear is Not My Future - Todd Galberth / Tasha Cobbs

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

On today's episode of the Simple Church Music podcast, my guest, Theresa, and I discuss:

• some challenges we face with smaller music teams
• the need to constantly reinvent and be flexible
• The Worship Workshop (this is amazing!)
• using respect (and humor!) to embrace generational differences within your team
• giving space for members of your team to grow in their unique gifts
• how guided listening can be an efficient and effective use of rehearsal time
• learning to trust your team
• remembering that God fills in the gaps

Songs Mentioned on this Episode:

1.  When I Speak Your Name - Gateway Worship
2. Something Happens - James Wilson
3. One True God - Steven Curtis Chapman
4. That's What Jesus Does - Shara McKee
5. I Speak Jesus - Charity Gayle
6. Goodness of God - CeCe Winans

Contact Theresa at [email protected].

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

In this episode of the Simple Church Music Podcast, I speak with my guest, Jimbo, about:

• how your team learns to be adaptable and the role humility plays
• the power of authenticity
• learning to trust each other
• how staying prayerful is the cornerstone for building a great team
• how Jimbo selects new music 
• prayer and practice are keys to an effective worship team
• starting out with loops and tracks
• how growing in knowledge creates change and change creates growth

Notable quotes from our discussion:

• "Prayer and a lifestyle that is pleasing to God pave the way for people to enter into worship."
• "Even at my worst, God can turn it to be what He wants it to be."
• "Don't focus on what you don't have. Focus on what you can use."

Resources and songs mentioned on this episode:

• James Wilson music
• Frankie Taylor music
• I Speak Jesus - Charity Gayle
• Worthy of it All - CeCe Winans
• Glorious Day / Living in the Light NAYC 2019
• Loops by Cdub
• Ableton
• Multitracks
• Loop Community

Connect with Jimbo on Facebook.

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.

On this episode with music minister, Elenee, we discuss:

• how her team started from scratch
• building relationships with others who can mentor you
• investing time/money/resources to attend conferences
• the different seasons of a music team
• addressing the challenge of your music team members also being leaders in other ministries within your smaller church
• the importance of your daily walk
• how, at the end of the day, having a spiritual mindset is everything!

Elenee and I also had some discussion about some recent songs that she has done that have been effective in her church. This discussion didn't make it into the episode as I felt to leave it with her speaking to us about having a spiritual mindset, however, I have included the songs she mentioned below:

• Believe for It - Cece Winans
• Gratitude - Brandon Lake
• Names - Elevation Worship
• Fear is Not My Future - Brandon Lake

Connect with Elenee on Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube.

To join in the discussion, follow Simple Church Music on Facebook.
If you'd like to be considered as a guest on the podcast, message us on Facebook.