Another chapter begins. It is exciting indeed. we will be starting to arrange, make demo's and record the songs as early as next week. This project will be a toned down rendition of worship songs. Watch out for this new album!
Friday, February 4, 2011
The Recording Starts
We already have finished the structure for the studio. Finishing touches will follow. God is good because even with the limited finances He is still faithful in giving us the wisdom to budget accordingly. Not only we have enough money to make the studio, we also have enough to launch a new project that will be available on the 2nd week of April 2011. We will also be pushing onward with the replication and marketing of previously completed project entitled "Dios sa Gugma".
Another chapter begins. It is exciting indeed. we will be starting to arrange, make demo's and record the songs as early as next week. This project will be a toned down rendition of worship songs. Watch out for this new album!
Another chapter begins. It is exciting indeed. we will be starting to arrange, make demo's and record the songs as early as next week. This project will be a toned down rendition of worship songs. Watch out for this new album!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Music Matters
If you will ask me if music really matters a lot at church my answer will always be YES. As sure as people have a song for beautiful memories and for sad days too, they also have music to come to their God and worship Him in spirit and in truth. Here are some very basic considerations when talking about music at church.
Music should be kept current
This is rather a very controversial point. As a musician I see a dire need to change music over time in the context of how it is made and delivered. There will always be a season for everything and as sure as the move of God changes, music does too. The bottom line will always be the direction of the church and where God is leading it. When the great commission was handed down, the need to attract people became very crucial. And this is not conforming in any way. This is a pursuit that seeks the very opposite of that popular belief. You can be very current but at the same time very different. The bands Vertical Horizon, Creed, Casting Crowns, DC Talk and even Hillsong United were all successful in this. What better way to attract people to the church than to make music that appeals to what they are actually listening to - NOW. When to stop? When teams are in tuned to the Author of ALL music, instructions are not hard to come by. Never.
Music should be towards perfection
This is rather a process, a guiding principle for every church band. We cannot start at great things, but we can start with what we have. But then the burden to be better must be there. Playing skillfully is not just about the "God-given talent". It is also about good stewardship. If you think you have it there is no other direction but to be good at what you do - all for His agenda. Fortunately today this point is realized by the American music industry with great artists following down the path of "gospel chops" - a music discipline that appreciates the way how music is done at the church. It elevated church music and puts it in the map. Suddenly gospel songs are cool. It all began with musicians who wanted to be better and strive to be the best. With great skills God's glory can be revealed.
Music should be a balancing act
Churches are naturally multi-generational. The congregation consists of people in different ages. The band must take this into consideration. It is fun to jump around and lead people to worship in high intensity but this can only be pursued when you have a 100% youth congregation. There must be something for everybody. Volume must be regulated at times, line-ups reconsidered to make sure that people get what they are comfortable with. Church music is not a "shape up or ship out" thing. The music team has greater responsibilities than just have everybody dancing. Balance it out. Too much of something is not good at all.
Music should be kept current
This is rather a very controversial point. As a musician I see a dire need to change music over time in the context of how it is made and delivered. There will always be a season for everything and as sure as the move of God changes, music does too. The bottom line will always be the direction of the church and where God is leading it. When the great commission was handed down, the need to attract people became very crucial. And this is not conforming in any way. This is a pursuit that seeks the very opposite of that popular belief. You can be very current but at the same time very different. The bands Vertical Horizon, Creed, Casting Crowns, DC Talk and even Hillsong United were all successful in this. What better way to attract people to the church than to make music that appeals to what they are actually listening to - NOW. When to stop? When teams are in tuned to the Author of ALL music, instructions are not hard to come by. Never.
This is rather a process, a guiding principle for every church band. We cannot start at great things, but we can start with what we have. But then the burden to be better must be there. Playing skillfully is not just about the "God-given talent". It is also about good stewardship. If you think you have it there is no other direction but to be good at what you do - all for His agenda. Fortunately today this point is realized by the American music industry with great artists following down the path of "gospel chops" - a music discipline that appreciates the way how music is done at the church. It elevated church music and puts it in the map. Suddenly gospel songs are cool. It all began with musicians who wanted to be better and strive to be the best. With great skills God's glory can be revealed.
Music should be a balancing act
Churches are naturally multi-generational. The congregation consists of people in different ages. The band must take this into consideration. It is fun to jump around and lead people to worship in high intensity but this can only be pursued when you have a 100% youth congregation. There must be something for everybody. Volume must be regulated at times, line-ups reconsidered to make sure that people get what they are comfortable with. Church music is not a "shape up or ship out" thing. The music team has greater responsibilities than just have everybody dancing. Balance it out. Too much of something is not good at all.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Looking For The Right Musician: Drummer
I started playing the drums at church at a very young age and through that long and hard journey I have developed some criteria that church music teams can use to identify their drummer of choice. Getting the best drummer for the team can level up its musicality. A common observation is this: when the drummer sounds good, the band will sound great.
Okay, here we go. Spiritual maturity. Really! We have heard of this for so long it has become a cliche rather than the hard truth. The drummer is technically the cornerstone of the band. And this truth holds true in the spiritual level. Get this right first - always! This can sometimes be a process especially if you are just starting out as a church but you need to have the committment to make sure that by the time the church is growing musicians are ready to take on the spiritual burden of leading worship and not just make music.
Technically the drummer is the band's time keeper. The least kind of drummer that you want or need for that matter are those that goes around keeping time. The drummer must have a solid grasp of the song's tempo and keep at it from the very first note to the last. Having a drummer that cannot keep simple time can mess up a song and in a bigger picture, ruin the flow of worship.
Musical maturity also comes to play. The drummer must be a well rounded musician, meaning he must have the right degree of appreciation of all genres and have the skills to execute them when needed. Sure, jazz is great, but there are many great songs out there that are done with a rock or pop flavor. That must be delivered with justice too.
Another sign of musical maturity is knowing when to play out and when to provide a post for the music to just flow. Many drummers tend to overplay and this can be forgiven - up to a certain level. Putting in amazing fills and impressive chops can be great in moderation. But when this is done with every other bar then the element of musicality fades away.
Okay, here we go. Spiritual maturity. Really! We have heard of this for so long it has become a cliche rather than the hard truth. The drummer is technically the cornerstone of the band. And this truth holds true in the spiritual level. Get this right first - always! This can sometimes be a process especially if you are just starting out as a church but you need to have the committment to make sure that by the time the church is growing musicians are ready to take on the spiritual burden of leading worship and not just make music.
Technically the drummer is the band's time keeper. The least kind of drummer that you want or need for that matter are those that goes around keeping time. The drummer must have a solid grasp of the song's tempo and keep at it from the very first note to the last. Having a drummer that cannot keep simple time can mess up a song and in a bigger picture, ruin the flow of worship.
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Musical maturity also comes to play. The drummer must be a well rounded musician, meaning he must have the right degree of appreciation of all genres and have the skills to execute them when needed. Sure, jazz is great, but there are many great songs out there that are done with a rock or pop flavor. That must be delivered with justice too.
Another sign of musical maturity is knowing when to play out and when to provide a post for the music to just flow. Many drummers tend to overplay and this can be forgiven - up to a certain level. Putting in amazing fills and impressive chops can be great in moderation. But when this is done with every other bar then the element of musicality fades away.
Last but not the least, the drummer must be hungry to learn more and be better all the time. This is the secret for the skills to appreciate consistently. Practice should not be just a saturday routine when and only when the team rehearse for Sunday's worship.
These criteria can go through a process. And when talking about a process, certain "weaknesses" that are discussed above must be a passing problem, just a phase of growing up as a musician. This should not be a persistent and chronic problem that the team has to contend with forever.
Thursday, January 13, 2011
The Good News!
We will be starting the set up of the recording studio this Saturday, January 15, 2011. This is another step towards Latter Greater's purpose and vision. Thank you everybody for the prayers and the support. God is good!
There are a number of projects that are lined up. The first one is the toned down, simplified (maybe acoustic) album that lists the songs of Jun Dabalos. This CD will be a great companion for your devotional, while driving, while walking or jogging in the early hours of the day. This can even be a great resource for leading worship during Sundays at church.
Other projects will include a tribute album for Jun Dabalos. We will be inviting church bands to interpret the songs for us. This will be a collaborative work by the body of Christ. A big and exciting project for all of us.
We would love to hear from you so please feel free droppping your comments and suggestions. God bless!
Latter Greater Music
There are a number of projects that are lined up. The first one is the toned down, simplified (maybe acoustic) album that lists the songs of Jun Dabalos. This CD will be a great companion for your devotional, while driving, while walking or jogging in the early hours of the day. This can even be a great resource for leading worship during Sundays at church.
Other projects will include a tribute album for Jun Dabalos. We will be inviting church bands to interpret the songs for us. This will be a collaborative work by the body of Christ. A big and exciting project for all of us.
We would love to hear from you so please feel free droppping your comments and suggestions. God bless!
Latter Greater Music
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Remembering Jun Dabalos
It has been almost 3 months since Jun Dabalos passed away. But God's promises to this man still holds true to this very day. I remember him excitedly talking about multitudes of people worshipping God, with him leading on stage. He sings his own songs, he said, referring to his vision. It was a passing conversation but will forever stay in my heart.
When he was laid to rest there were people from all over who came and testified of the man that he was. And today when I look at his songs on youtube interpreted by strangers, I can actually see the multitudes he is leading nearer to God. In a way the songs he wrote like "Dungog ug Himaya" resounds from hundreds of places of worship all over the nation every Sunday. Little did he know that is the case. Even his wife way back then did not even knew he married the man who wrote the well known song.
Looking back I can see him as a man of humility. He had a hard life but he never failed to come to his secret place with God - thus he writes songs that are truly one of a kind and yes - worshipful.
Latter Greater Music has more of his songs. And we are committed to let the Philippines and the world hear them. Soon!
Looking back I can see him as a man of humility. He had a hard life but he never failed to come to his secret place with God - thus he writes songs that are truly one of a kind and yes - worshipful.
Latter Greater Music has more of his songs. And we are committed to let the Philippines and the world hear them. Soon!
Why We Worship
Jer. 32:38(NLT)
...I will give them one heart & one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good & for the good of all their descendants...
We are practically wired to worship God. Once we have appropriated His grace in our lives the urge to worship is already there. Unless you really choose not to, there is little you can do to silence your inner man.
The next time you have the urge to worship Him in its many form (praying, singing and etc.) just let it go!
God gave you that longing in your heart. And you know what's cool? It is actually good for you!
...I will give them one heart & one purpose: to worship me forever, for their own good & for the good of all their descendants...
We are practically wired to worship God. Once we have appropriated His grace in our lives the urge to worship is already there. Unless you really choose not to, there is little you can do to silence your inner man.
The next time you have the urge to worship Him in its many form (praying, singing and etc.) just let it go!
God gave you that longing in your heart. And you know what's cool? It is actually good for you!
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Journey Begins
This is the second chapter of our journey. After we have mourned for the loss of a brother who in a way started it all, we have come to terms with reality. In a more accurate statement, we have learned to move on and hold on to God's promise. "Your latter will be greater!".
Today we are faithfully waiting for the resources to start up a recording studio.
The planning has ended.
But the believing and the praying continues.
Today we are faithfully waiting for the resources to start up a recording studio.
The planning has ended.
But the believing and the praying continues.
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