Equipping our children for the best generation of worshipers!

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Equipping our children for the best generation of worshipers!
I am often asked, how do you get your kids to excel and grow in music? How young should they be and do I force them to take lessons? I thought I would explain by our personal experience how this has worked in our home. I can only speak by experience of my own personal life and the experience of watching our children do the same.
We never really forced our children to take lessons because we did not want them to feel that they had to pursue music because it was our life. Here are some of the things that my parents did for me growing up and then in turn Carol and I did with our children.

1. Try early on (5 – 6 yrs old) to see if they have any interest. They may want to quit after a few months. Let them. Do not force it. Come back later and try it again or try another instrument. Do not become discouraged if it does not happen right away. My oldest son finally fell in love with his guitar around 13 years of age. The other boys were inspired by their older sibling and fell in love at an earlier age.
2. Every time they start to lose interest I would go out and purchase a new piece of gear. A pedal, a new amp, a new music book, a new guitar/ a new keyboard, a tuner, a training dvd or whatever. Every time Jared would start to plateau we would go out and purchase another guitar or something to go along with his guitar. I cannot begin to tell you how many guitars, amps, drums, pianos, keys, mandolins and other instruments that we have in our home. We could start a music store! As they improved we would reward them with nicer gear and equipment. Yes, this was a sacrifice but one that is well worth it in so many ways. This is much cheaper then a drug rehabilitation center or the many areas that non-productive kids can get into to.
3. Make the middle of your house the stage. I placed our grand piano in the middle of the house because I knew there would be years of waiting on someone to get ready and they would just sit there and dabble on the piano while waiting for the person to finish getting dressed. Eventually it grew on them. There have been hours spent playing on the piano while waiting on someone to finish getting dressed in our house. Often the drums and guitar amps have been set up in the middle of our house. Yes, very loud and annoying but they did it for a reason. They wanted us to “SEE” and “HEAR” them. And we did! HA
4. Always take time to listen and praise. I often ask Chase to play his lesson because I love to hear him play. He loves to impress me! The other boys are the same. I constantly let them know that if they will do their part, God will do His and it is His plan that they accomplish more than I ever did.
5. Endure the hours of repetitive banging! Either leave or take medicine! HA! YOU MAY WANT TO INVEST IN THOSE BOSE “NOISE CANCELING” HEAD PHONES.
6. Find a great proven teacher and coach! IMPORTANT! I cannot over emphasize this. (normal price is $20-$25 per lesson)
7. Give them time to play around on their instrument not just practice. It’s more fun to do what makes them fall in love with their instrument.
8. Find a way to get them up in front of people and their peers for glory moments! This is where they fall in love! Every kid loves to impress someone!
9. REWARD them with nice gear as they climb to new levels.
10. Help them understand that investing is a process not an event. Learning how to play will take daily, weekly, monthly and ultimately yearly deposits.
I hope that this will help you raise up one of the mightiest Worship Leaders to ever walk on this earth!

MC

Worship Leading Tip #18 ~ Am I Good Enough?

Thursday, January 06, 2011

by Mark Condon Music

Do you ever feel overwhelmed or inadequate with the your talent level? I am pretty sure that we have all faced these feelings in our ministries at one point or another. Maybe you face it every week.

I just want you to know that God has always specialized in taking the less than adequate and making it more than enough. You may be thinking that you are not qualified to be leading in worship. Maybe the enemy attempts to program you to think that you can't play good enough, sing good enough, hear good enough, deal with people good enough or anything else good enough.

Today I want you to tell the enemy that the lad with the five loaves and two fish was also working with something that was inadequate. The disciples even said, "What is this among so many?" Have you ever had that thought? However, when he turned it over to the Lord and placed it in His hands, there was more than enough. You are correct. Your talent is probably limited but when you place it in God's hands He can do the amazing!

Work like it's up to you and pray like it's up to God! Know that God is with you and lead to the best of your ability! Go out and lead in the face of the enemy!

Love you and I wish you the best.

Mark Condon

Worship Leading Tip #17 ~ How To Read A Rhythm Chart

Thursday, June 24, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

To play be "ear" is a great thing but to play it right or correct is even better. Just a little discipline can take you and your band miles down the road in your sound. I believe that average musicians can sound rather amazing if they will work together as a team.

Here are some very simple "how to's" on reading a chart that I think will help you and your team take a step forward in the right direction.

It is far more enjoyable to play a song right than to just get by.

Here is a video tutorial from our iClub website that you can share with your team members. I hope this helps. We have more of these on our iClub site.

http://www.markcondoniclub.com/tutorials/rc1/default.aspx

Our desire is to help you.

If this has helped you then please click on SHARE and help us help others.

Worship Leading Tip #16

Wednesday, June 23, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Do you ever wonder what is the reasonable or realistic amount of people that you should have in your choir/worship team? Sometimes I think we put unreasonable expectations on ourselves leading to discouragement. This is just my opinion but I believe a reasonable amount of choir members would be 10% of your church. So if you have 200 people that attend your church then 20 people would be a fair number that should be involved in your choir and worship team.

Just an idea to help you measure by.

Worship Leading Tip #15

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Understand that you do not need to imitate someone else to lead effectively. Be YOURSELF! I personally feel that you become your most effective when you truly operate in your own identity and gifts. In my training sessions I often ask, "How many of you could not talk without using your hands?" Then I say, "If you talk with your hands then you should sing with your hands because that is the real you."

If you are expressive in the church lobby while in a normal conversation then that is the way you should be on the platform. Too often people are something different than themselves on the platform.

It is ok to be mentored but always understand that God has uniquely gifted you to be you! Don't limit God by trying to be someone else.

Worship Leading Tip #14

Monday, June 21, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

When you are leading in worship or ministering a solo, be very careful not to close your eyes all the time. The #1 way to communicate is through our eyes. I often see people get up and close out their congregations for long periods of time. To a new guest that does not know or understand all of our ways and cultures this can become very awkward to stare at someone who has their eyes closed all of the time.

I understand we do this under the auspices of "worshiping God" but we must remember that the best way to engage people is to keep eye contact. I also think we do this sometimes because we are just nervous and the people make us nervous. I am not saying don't ever close your eyes. I am just encouraging you to keep this at a minimum while you are up front leading.

Learn to make eye contact with your people.

Worship Leading Tip #13

Sunday, June 20, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

When the platform is confident the congregation is confident. So, know your material, parts, music and direction. Try to use music that your group can lead with confidence. This does not mean, never learn new material. It means rehearse until you are very confident!

It's better to do easy songs well than difficult songs average.

Worship Leading Tip #12

Sunday, June 20, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

What number are you at?

Don't ask for your situations to become easier or less just pray that you become bigger and better. Become a 10 person! If you are a 10 person, a 7 problem is achievable. If you are a 4 person, a 7 problem will eat your lunch!

Become bigger and more mature then what you are facing!

Worship Leading Tip #11

Saturday, June 19, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Try to make sure your praise singers are out towards the front of the platform and not hiding way in the back of the stage/platform. Don't try to hide behind the "stuff!" You need to be out front where you can minister and communicate effectively. Would your pastor preach from where your praise team stands? Remember, your team is there to lead!!!

I suggest that you have your praise team up across the front of the stage/platform.

Worship Leading Tip #10

Friday, June 18, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Realize that all of our Worship Department's go through plateau seasons and just like a marriage calmly keep doing what is right and you will feel the next wave of momentum began to pick up.

Make sure you have a written plan for your program and Just keep working your plan!

Lack of focus always sabotages any dream, idea or plan.

Tip's for Father's Day

Thursday, June 17, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Here are some last minute ideas for you to pull off a great Father's day. Here are a couple of songs that you may have not thought of.

(1.) "Lead Me" by Sanctus Real ~ You can download an mp3 demo and track (in one-of-three keys) for $1.29 each at www.praisehymn.com.

Or you can just download the song and gather pictures from your church members of kid's with their father's and play this song behind the slide show. You could probably gather many right from facebook.

(2.) I want to be just like you – Phillips, Craig & Dean

(3.) Measure of a man – 4Him

Things you can give away:
(1.) An Apple with a message attached that says, "Thank you for being the core of our family"

(2.) Freshly baked cookies

(3.) Tools

(4.) Pocket Knife

Here is another idea: "Mighty Big Shoes To Fill" written by Dennis and Nan Allen. There is a 2 minute skit that relates to the song but does not have to be used. You can order this from Brentwood 1.800.846.7664 I believe it is called "Legacy of Faith 4" I hear there is also a video that can be displayed with the song.

These are just a few last minute ideas that I have heard of that I thought might help you for this weekend.

Worship Leading Tip #9

Thursday, June 17, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Work harder on changing and improving yourself than you do on the people you serve weekly. I have found if you have issues "Ish YOU!" If WE grow, the people around us grow and then the whole church grows!!!

If you raise your bar, the people around you will raise theirs. Learn to play better, love people better, sing better, write better, be on time more, be healthier, be more positive and most of all hear the voice of God better!

Worship Leading Tip #8

Wednesday, June 16, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Worship must be a culture and a daily lifestyle. Not an "On Stage Thing." As a worship leader we can not take people somewhere where we have not been ourselves! It's not fun to follow someone who is lost or even takes the long way around!

Lead when no one is watching!

Worship Leading Tip #7

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Make sure you minister to all generations in your church. Everyone deserves to be encouraged into the presence of God. Don't forget to reach back for some nostalgic tunes that will bless and bring back incredible memories to the elder generation in our churches.

Worship leading Tip #6

Monday, June 14, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Encourage all of your musicians to mentor at least one young person in your church for FREE! (yes, give lessons) When you sow you reap. You will bring up a crew of talented musicians, you may just change a young person forever and you will equip your church for growth! Several people win. The young person wins but also the person who is sowing!!! Develop the future!

Worship Leading Tip #5

Sunday, June 13, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Try to have time to minister a minimum of 3 songs consecutive where you can create a flow. Do not be so quick to rush from song to song. Allow time for people to enjoy spontaneous worship. Encourage worship going in and out of songs. Preaching between every song and/or announcements between songs can stop the flow!

Somehow, some way, keep announcements to a 1 minute minimum. Get creative but don't destroy a great service by announcements. Many churches lose it right here.

Worship Leader ~ Mark Condon

Worship Leading Tip# 4

Saturday, June 12, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Work like it's up to you and pray like it's up to God. In other words, REHEARSE each week for each week! If we want to have an impact equal to the preaching of the word then we will have to do, study, pray and prepare with the same intensity. I hardly doubt your Pastor studies once a month for all 4 weeks.

The bottom line is you cannot not have a great program with minimum effort!

Worship Leader ~ Mark Condon

Worship leading Tip# 3

Friday, June 11, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Remember to sing worship songs that actually engage the congregation and don't just entertain them. Some songs sound incredible but they do not arrest people into His presence! Hype is not the goal but rather connecting people to their creator is the goal.

Let's not leave our people in the dust of complication!

Worship leader ~ Mark Condon

Worship Leading Tip #2

Thursday, June 10, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

Take personal responsibility as a worship "LEADER" or should I say a Lead worshiper! Do not blame the congregation or condemn them if you do not care for their response. Just help create an atmosphere where they can tap in. You just never know what all God is doing even when it is not apparent. You also may not know what their week has been like.

There can be many reasons why the people seemed to be disengaged in the service.

1. Lack of preparation
2. lack of personal devotion
3. Sound issues

To name just a few.

When the platform is confident the congregation will be confident! LEAD!

Worship Leading Tip #1

Thursday, June 10, 2010

by Mark Condon Music

One of the best things you could ever do for your church and music department is to learn a great NEW song that really connects to your people! This will excite your worship team and inspire your church congregation! I am always amazed at how many churches keep doing the same songs expecting something new and fresh to happen in their services.

Think back on a song that really connected with your church and how it sparked a new level of freshness in your worship service. You know, the song that Pastor keeps asking for all the time. LOL

Fresh music does wonders!

Please take a minute and list one of those songs and where we can find it that sparked a new level of worship in your church!

Guidelines for Songwriting Contest

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

ATTENTION ALL SONG WRITERS!!!

SUBMISSIONS:

We will take song submissions all the way up to June 10th, 2010.
Voting will begin June 15th!
We are convinced that there are some amazingly talented people just waiting for the right opportunity to get their music out. So, we are excited to host this competition where you have a way to distribute your music to over 1300+ and growing churches. This will be an amazing opportunity for you to get your song out.

The Winner:

We will take the winning tune and have it produced by J. Daniel Smith and myself. It will then be distributed to our entire 1300+ member iClub family. That is over 1300 churches that could possibly be singing your song!

If your song is already professionally produced to our specs and you do not need it reproduced then you will win a NEW 16GB iPad!

We ask that you PLEASE help us and do not give your username and password out to family and friends that are not members of your local congregation. The iClub has too much copyrighted material. Please honor this. Their church will need to join in order to vote. Thank you for helping us protect our iClub and writers!

Your song must be original

You must be an active iClub member or an active tithe paying member from a church who has an active iClub membership to submit a song.
Your song must be no more than 6 minutes in length
Your song must be submitted in mp3 format
You will mail it to ~ submit@markcondoniclub.com
Your song must be Praise & Worship or Choir material. It can be all different styles but must be able to be used in a worship service or with a choir.
You can submit no more than two songs per person. Multiple people from your church can submit but the tune must be their original song.
You have never made over $1,000 in royalties on any one song.

* If we discover that someone has voted that is not part of an iClub membership the song will be automatically deleted.

Suggestions

Make the best demo that you can. (people have a hard time seeing past pitchy vocals and bad playing.)
Encourage your choir members and band members to vote for you. (each member can vote once a day. (You cannot give your username and password out to friends and family if they are not from your church. They must also have an active membership. Confirmed e-mails will be expected. The iClub has copyrighted material for only our iClub members and their churches)
Create a writing team in your church. You will be amazed at what you can come up with.
Make sure you write with congregations singing your tune in mind.
Get a great singer or a great player if that is not your strength to help you.

How will your song be scored.

All 1300+ iClub members and their singers, band members etc… will be able to vote once a day.
All voters will be required to vote by a legitimate e-mail that will need to be confirmed.
iClub members will count for 75% of the vote. 5 members from our team will each count for 5% each for the vote, totaling 100% of your score.
Once we see how many songs there are we will determine the process of elimination. Basically, we will eliminate the bottom 5 each week until we get to the top 10 then we will eliminate the bottom song each week.
We will check with your pastor towards the end to make sure you meet all of these qualifications. So, please read all of the rules before any submission.

Top 5 iCLub Downloads for October 2009

Monday, November 09, 2009

1.) I Will Sing
2.) He's The Messiah
3.) A King was Born
4.) His Name Shall be called
5.) Hallelujah To The New Born King

Top 5 iClub Downloads in September 2009

Thursday, October 08, 2009

1.) A King Was Born
2.) His Name Shall Be Called
3.) He`s The Messiah
4.) He Came All This Way
5.) Take This City

Get paid when you refer a friend!

Friday, June 05, 2009

The Mark Condon iClub is proud to announce our member referral program! Here is how it works.
Tell your friends use your email address as a coupon code when they check out.
They will receive $10.00 instant savings. You will get a check for $30 in the mail. A win for everyone!

Only email addresses associated with an active account will trigger the discount. Check your profile to ensure you are giving out the correct address.

New monthly subscriptions will pay the referral bonus after a three month waiting period. Yearly subscriptions will receive their check at the next pay cycle. Checks are mailed once per month. You will receive one check per new member.

The Flow of A Worship Service

Monday, February 02, 2009

Worship Leader ‐ Mark Condon

Preparing for a successful worship experience is much more than just a production or a combination of fast, medium and slow songs. After years of working in churches and conducting choir/worship seminars around the world I have discovered a tremendous need in this area in churches of all sizes. To pull off a successful worship service requires many elements. We will try and discuss some of them. This really is a broad discussion of which I am not sure I can adequately cover in this one article but I hope I can at least give some kind of guidance.
A successful worship experience is paramount for a healthy and growing church. People must be more than “WOWED” by talent, lights and production when they enter into our churches. We must create an atmosphere where there can be a connection from our heart to the heart of our Creator! That special moment of awe where it seems like all of heaven stands still and in return we are overwhelmed by that peace that passes all understanding.
Although I do strongly believe in excellence and have no problem with technology to enhance our services, I do not embrace the belief that talent, sound and technology are the most important ingredients for a successful worship service. I would quickly and with clarity say that relationship is first and foremost. We worship what we really love! Passion and energy are contagious and so is the lack of these elements. If you have someone who is really passionate and believes in a cause there will always be people who will follow. If you are really passionately in love with something you pursue it with such obduracy.
When I am putting together a worship service I want there to be both praise and worship. Just for a quick simple clarification, praise is what we offer because of His goodness and what he does for us. Worship is what we offer because of who He is. He is sovereign and because He is God, exclamation point! It certainly is not based on how our day or week has gone.
Psalm 100:4 says …enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise… With that as a model, I like to open a service with something that is very praise oriented. Generally it will be upbeat and energetic. That first song will be something that speaks of His goodness or a declaration that I am here to sing His praise.
After a few minutes of praise I like to segue from a time of praise into a time of deep worship. Worship to me would be songs that are very vertical. At this point we are more about talking to God than about Him. Many churches really struggle with the transition part in a worship service. Stopping and starting abruptly will almost always hinder a smooth flow. Musically, we can help make the transition but the best transition is to encourage your praise team to worship directly out of the song through the intro of the next song. Do NOT hurry these transitional moments. Some of the most dynamic transitions are made from our reckless abandoned worship moments. When you enter these moments it sets up a time where ministry can happen.
So many churches just go from song to song with only seconds of real response. I ask our worship team to worship in the mics with extreme passion and enthusiasm. The word enthusiasm comes from the Greek word enthous – meaning possessed or inspired by God! Their passion and enthusiasm ignites the people’s passion. If the singers are inspired by God they will lead the way and the church will follow.
Again, this may take time to create this culture. Learn to build on the intensity and energy of a song and the response to a song. When the people respond, do not be afraid to encourage these special moments. Also, be aware that you do not continue to sing and sing until something happens. Repetition usually brings on frustration not to mention monotony. In these moments where it feels very tight I find it more productive to take a few minutes and have the church enter into corporate prayer until you feel something break. Without notice just begin to pray and intercede for your city, people, children, families and leaders until something begins to open up. Out of that prayer begin to go into your worship. Your church will soon catch your spirit and follow.
Your team must understand their role. Their role is more than to just sing on key and help with a great blend of parts. They need to understand that THEY are the leaders. It is very difficult if not impossible to fake a great relationship. So, it is important that everyone on your team is passionately in love with Christ! A church will always struggle to rise above its leaders. In order to lead someone anywhere you need to know how to get there yourself. No person enjoys following someone who is not sure where he/she is going. Confidence always leads to success!
Be cautious as to how many new songs you introduce. My suggestion is to introduce approximately two new songs per month. Too many over a short period of time can be hard on a church. However, I cannot over emphasize the importance of ongoing fresh music! You can often gauge the intensity of your church by the freshness of the songs you are using. Momentum comes from the new not the old. This is not a license to dismiss our classics that are tried and true. (This is another whole subject)
Themes can be a great way to travel through a worship service. It may be about the blood or about victory. I am also a proponent that a true worship experience is not created for the spectator but for personal involvement. I encourage our worshippers to at least start out by standing unless there are health issues. It is just easier to be involved when you are not relaxed in a chair or pew. We also encourage our people to feel free to come up around the front. This is not the time to sit and stare at a screen. Engaging and connecting is what a worship experience is all about! There is no substitute for an awesome worship experience and every church and guest that walks into our services deserves to experience this on a weekly basis. Help us “wrap worship around the world!”