Annotated Rehearsal Packet
Compile a detailed synopsis outlining the steps and resources you’ll need to enlist, prepare, and rehearse service musicians for your worship gathering. This packet should include rough drafts of any published materials you anticipate using to assemble your team, as well as a written narrative and rehearsal notes to further explain your process. Plan to include the following components as a minimum:
a. Assembling the Team. How will you recruit and enlist musicians for this worship gathering? How will you publicize your needs?
b. Auditions. How will you assess the musicians’ capabilities? Recall that an audition process need not be a means of exclusion, but a way to appropriately include. What will the audition process look like? How will that be communicated? What resources will you need to prepare to ensure the auditionees’ success?
c. Rehearsal Schedule and Plan. Establish a two-part rehearsal schedule for your worship gathering: an extended mid-week rehearsal, and a shorter day-of rehearsal. After choosing two specific congregational songs for a particular service, create a detailed plan outlining the rehearsal process through which you’ll lead singers and instrumentalists to learn this music, rehearse it together, and prepare to lead the congregation’s singing of it. Assume these two songs comprise new music for your ensemble. The rehearsal plan should be detailed thoroughly. Considerations should include:
i. How will musicians receive their music, and in what form?
ii. How will musicians be welcomed to the rehearsal?
iii. Will singers and instrumentalists always rehearse together?
iv. Will you include warm-ups?
v. How will each song’s road map be communicated?
vi. Will there be time for fellowship and/or devotion?
vii. How will rehearsals be evaluated?
This exercise should guide you to consider the entire process of assembling, preparing, and rehearsing a musical ensemble for worship leadership, from recruiting musicians to rehearsing them just before the worship gathering.
