Beginner's band

the best thing you can do is listen to each other, learn the little quirks about your different musicians and vocals and play along with them, you'll develop a really unique sound. also, don't be afraid to admit when you mess up, we all do it and that's what practice is for. and if you can, spend some time with each other away from the instruments and music...just get to really know each other, that will develop a better sense of unity within the band. and most importantly, value each other's opinion, listen to suggestions.

Laia said:

the best thing you can do is listen to each other, learn the little quirks about your different musicians and vocals and play along with them, you'll develop a really unique sound. also, don't be afraid to admit when you mess up, we all do it and that's what practice is for. and if you can, spend some time with each other away from the instruments and music...just get to really know each other, that will develop a better sense of unity within the band. and most importantly, value each other's opinion, listen to suggestions.

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Very well said!! And one other thing...it always helps to HAVE FUN!!! good luck!

Prayer, Prayer, prayer, and more prayer. Let everyone know right upfront that you are building this band for Christ, not personal ego. If anyone feels like they are undiscovered talent or if they have an ego the size of Texas, watch out they could give ya trouble.
The best suggestion I can give is get a list of maybe 5 or so songs that you like. MEMORIZE them. Don't use music stands all the time, it kills the worship mood IMHO. Learn the song as a whole, then run over it again by sections: "Verse" "Chorus" "Bridge" If you plan on doing Worship music running over the sections is very important, especially if Spirit Lead worship is the goal. You might repeat a chorus 3 times rather than only once. Work out hand signals or word signals so you can direct the band. You may feel funny doing that at first, but trust me, it will make the difference between a good worship time and a total trainwreck. For instance when I want the song to get extremely soft and more "Worshipful" I will say: "Lets worship Jesus..." or something to that effect. The band knows that this means break it down. Everyone has their own way though. Get your songs down, and then work up 5 more.
Remember that worship is different from other music, your goal is to encourage OTHERS to sing, not just give them a performance. Always communicate with the people. Congregations don't read minds. If you want the people to clap, say something like "Lets clap our hands..." or "Lets put our hands together..." Its not rocket science, its pretty simple.
But keep praying!

Hope This Helps

Since you are hoping to play in church it would be a good idea to have the band put on the weekly prayer list, becasue, like Godshouse777 says, prayer is essential.

I've been leading worship at church for a few years so I've got some advice that you may find helpful, or not as the case may be.

First, the concept of learning songs off by heart is good for learning how you guys play together, how each of you approaches a song, and so on, but in terms of leading people in worship it has a big flaw... it offers zero flexibility if you discover that your choices are not really appropriate to the mood of the congregation, which will vary from service to service. You need to have a sufficiently open approach to worship that you can adapt according to where the congregation are, and where God is telling you to lead them to.

Don't put each other down in terms of ability, but equally don't tell someone they're doing a really good job if what they're doing isd detracting from the overall feel of the song. You need to make sure that you are open and honest, without being too severe.

It will take time to reach a point where you feel that you can lead worship in a way that will be a pleasing offering to God. Don't rush, and don't feel that you are progressing to slowly. God will work amongst you and will help each of you to reach the point where you are happy to lead worship at church. It's really important to start your practises with a time of prayer, thanking him for the talents he's blessed each of you with, and asking him to help you to use these talents to glorify him.

Once you know what each of your talents are, who is best at leading worship, who is good at choosing the style of song, who is most able to hold the tune, then it's time to start considering leading worship. But as has already been said, make sure that you only enter into it having prayed about it, and having grown together as a music group. Don't forget that when you are leading worship you are helping people to reach a point of intimacy with God. If you focus on that, you'll find it much easier to do the task that God has set before you, using the talents that he has blessed you with.

Awesome advice from Stan the Man.