2010. It’s a new decade and another chance to start again. Consider what you accomplished in 2009. Did you sing as many places as you had hoped? Did you find new songs to add to your repertoire?
As you think back over the past year, consider making some goals for what you want to accomplish musically in 2010. We are here to help you! read more…
Have you ever caught yourself staring at your closet trying to figure out what to wear for a concert, church service, or other event? This can be a very important decision and not always an easy one.
Here are some basic rules of thumb: read more…
One of the more important categories to make sure you have included in your list of musical offerings is funeral music. Deaths are sometimes very sudden & you may often be called upon to sing for a funeral just 24-48 hours prior to the event. For the sake of the family as well as your own, it is extremely beneficial to have several solid “stand-by” selections ready to go. You can also have a more extensive list should the family prefer something more specific. Here are some suggestions you might consider adding to your collection of funeral soundtracks. read more…
As singers, we are often asked to share significant moments in the lives of others. Whether weddings, funerals or other events, we will no doubt participate in many various events and ceremonies during our music ministries. Building an extensive repertoire of soundtracks from which we can choose appropriate songs can be very beneficial. It is helpful to have multiple selections available and can also be a good idea to vary the styles offered. This way you will be able to better cater to the musical preferences of the group for which you are singing.
Upcoming is a series of articles that address many of the various celebrations, occasions and ceremonies you will likely encounter throughout your career. Listen through samples of the various songs recommended for each event and see if you can find some to add to your personal repertoire.
I hope this series helps you expand your musical offerings and equip you to better serve the Body of Christ through your musical gifts.
Establishing a Musical Repertoire
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 1, Funerals
Words can not really express the depth of gratitude we feel for what the King has allowed us to accomplish in 2009. You, our customers, now number just shy of 30,000 – and if every one of you just touched 34 souls with your music this past year, that would number those affected by great Christian music at over a million lives. Moreover, if 1, or 5, or 10 or 20 lost souls were pointed to Jesus Christ through songs you sang, and subsequently came into a personal relationship with Him, the year can certainly be counted as a complete success.
As stewards for the King, we count it a necessity to continue hunting, searching, signing, contracting, displaying and purveying products from the present and the past that uniquely convey the Gospel message to the lost, and encourage the hearts of believers everywhere. Our service has met with both tremendous acceptance among the body of Christ, and (not surprisingly) enormous resistance from secular bodies. We contend that the music is the Lord’s, and He will have His way, ultimately. (Well, you just have to open your Bible to know that!)
As we stand at this moment, we have the rights to sell 21,369 Christian music products. We also know that over 4,000 albums and 1,400 accompaniment tracks still exist with labels that are in the process of considering proposals from us to again make these available to you. And there are probably just as many that we have yet to unearth or contact. Would you please speak this prayer to our Father, who is always listening, on behalf of the entire Christwill operation and customers everywhere?
Father, for the good of the Body that remains in these last days, would you loose the minds and hearts of those who stand in the way in Nashville and beyond, and demolish Satanic strongholds worldwide that have undue control of these products that are yours, and make a way for this music to again reach the hearts of this world? In the name of Jesus, our Creator and King, Amen!
Thank you for your patronage in 2009 and we encourage all of you to continue to use your gifts for His glory and the growth of His kingdom this coming year.
-Andrew and Valerie Criswell
For the entire Christwill team
As we approach the end of the year, I find myself pausing and reflecting on the opportunites the Lord has placed before many of us in music. What an awesome gift to be given from our Savior. He has called us to a powerful ministry and with that comes much responsibility. So, let us stop, pause… read more…
