Reading the Psalms through a Christ-Centered Lens
It can be tempting to think of the Psalms merely as a place to go for words of comfort in a trying season, words of praise in a fruitful season, or words of lament in a time of grief. But the psalms point in diverse ways to the divine and human King who would pray […]
20 Ways to Improve Your Congregational Singing
Matt Merker’s passion for churches singing with faith and understanding led him to write the excellent book, Corporate Worship: How the Church Gathers as God’s People. In this breakout, he’ll share twenty ways to stregnthen the singing of your church, including some you probably haven’t thought of!
Playing Big Songs with a Small Band
How often have you set out to teach a song to your church, only to realize that the recording used a full band and you only have a guitar or a piano? In this practical breakout, you’ll learn principles for making the most of your instrumentation and how to adapt any song for your musicians.
Minding the Gaps: Making the Most of Transitions
Too often our Sunday gatherings feel like a playlist on shuffle. Elements are unconnected, changes are abrupt, and people are left confused. To address the situation, we often resort to a “musical glue” that makes things feel more connected but does little to help people understand any kind of progression. In this practical breakout, Bob […]
Against the Flow: Nurturing the Inner Life in a Fast Paced World
God has made His Word available to us, but we’re responsible to create opportunities to benefit from its nourishing effect. This goes against the grain of our culture, which is constantly bombarding us with distractions, urgent notifications, and busy-ness. How do we learn to unplug and enjoy extended time with the Lord? In this breakout, […]
Marriage and Ministry: What Really Matters
How do you sustain a vibrant, Christ-honoring relationship with your spouse through all the challenges, commitments, disappointments, and sacrifices of ministry? Whether you’re newlyweds or have been married for decades, this transparent conversation between a couple married and in ministry for 45 years will help you focus on the things that matter most. As Bob […]
Acoustic Guitar 1: Essentials
In this seminar, we’ll look at your role as an acoustic player serving the church, and offer strategies and tools for how to develop your playing in that context i.e. thinking in parts, developing strumming, fingerpicking and capo tricks.
Arranging Songs for Bass & Drums (Part 2)
The foundation of your band is the rhythm section, composed of the drummer and bassist. Musical chemistry between these members is worth attention and development. In this seminar, you’ll learn how to apply practical tools for each instrument and explore how they can serve the song by filling in spaces and working with the rest […]
Arranging Songs for Bass & Drums (Part 1)
The foundation of your band is the rhythm section, composed of the drummer and bassist. Musical chemistry between these members is worth attention and development. In this seminar, you’ll learn how to apply practical tools for each instrument and explore how they can serve the song by filling in spaces and working with the rest […]
Electric Bass: Respond & Enhance
In this seminar, Ryan will demonstrate the capability of the bass including melodic fills, chords, and various articulations. You’ll learn how to listen and respond to other instruments and enhance the tone and message of the song. This breakout will serve both novice and advanced players alike as Ryan teaches how to lock in with […]
The Undistracted Drummer
In this seminar, you will learn technique and proficiency on the drum kit and auxiliary percussion to serve your local context more effectively. Through the study of rudiments, independent exercises, and reading/writing music, you’ll learn how to lead a band, use dynamics, and build habits to strengthen your talents and team.
Worshiping a Big God in a Small Church
It can be discouraging to come to a conference where everyone seems to assume your church has a large staff, several music teams, and an unlimited budget. For most of us, that situation is far from reality. In this seminar, you’ll learn how to make the most of limited resources, how to maintain a strong […]
Understanding Plug-Ins
Digital soundboards come in many different shapes and sizes but nearly everyone has a selection of plugins designed to enhance and manipulate the audio passing through your soundboard. Never before have churches had this kind of access to processing because it previously required a lot of expensive outboard equipment. Did your electric guitarist forget his […]
The Gospel for Real Life
Too often Christians mistakenly think that once we have believed the gospel, we can put the gospel on the shelf and move on to other things. Nothing could be further from the truth. But even for those who want to live “gospel-centered” lives, there is often a disconnect between the good news they sing about […]
Pursuing Spiritual Gifts to Exalt Christ
It’s clear from Paul’s letter to the Corinthian church that exercising gifts of the Spirit can lead to self-promotion, division, and disorder. In this faith-building seminar, you’ll be equipped to pursue and use spiritual gifts in a way that not only builds up those around you, but points people to the glory of Christ.
Meeting with Christ in Scripture
One reason God gave us the Bible is so that we might know him better. That’s why it’s a tragedy when Christians read, study, and memorize their Bibles but don’t grow in their relationship with and love for Christ. In this seminar, you’ll gain motivation, perspectives, and tools that will help you encounter the Savior […]
Loops, Clicks, Keys, and Tricks
When is a piano more than a piano? When it’s powered by a laptop. More than ever, keyboardists are using sounds generated by software programs. What are the benefits and drawbacks? What programs are available and what do they do? What do I need to consider before adding a computer to my setup? These questions […]
Electric Guitar 2: Woodshedding and Creating
Building on the first session, we’ll talk about how to develop your skills as a guitarist. Learn tools for really understanding the guitar neck, how to practice effectively and deeply, and how to apply it all to thinking about and creating parts.
Electric Guitar 1: Gear, Sounds, and Conquering a Fear of Heights
Be a part of a discussion digging into the gear and sounds used for serving the church in congregational worship. Pick up some practical tools for doing so, and learn how to move around the neck of the guitar more confidently.
Christ and the Enemies Within: Dealing with Pride, Discouragement, Depression, and Lust
Leaders and musicians can struggle with a disconnect between the content of the songs they sing and the inward battles they fight, and often lose, every day. In this transparent and hope-filled seminar, you’ll be helped to see how Jesus really is the Savior he promised he would be.
Acoustic Guitar 2: Going Deeper
If you find yourself frustrated as an acoustic guitarist, come for a discussion around how get some serious tools for creativity. Learn the CAGED system and how to apply that to using a capo without shame. Come away with a refreshing approach to chords and practicing, and gain a new set of tools to use […]
