Christwill Music Blog » Encouragement for Soloists

Welcome Molly

Christwill Staff (Valerie) — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 10:22:52 +0000

We’d like to introduce you to Molly. She’ll be writing articles for you on our blog. We are delighted to be able to present you with her insight and wisdom – sometimes in a funny way, sometimes in a serious way, but always with the heart and mind of a worship leader that seeks to give all glory to God and assist those around her to do the same. We know that over the course of time, you’ll come to appreciate the Word she delivers.

“I’m one of those people who have always known what I was meant to do. I am a musician. I was born a musician. I have always loved music, but not just any music. You see, I am a child of the King and I have been enlisted in His service. The joy of my heart is to please my heavenly Father and to honor Him by honoring His Son, the Lord Jesus. He put His music in my heart years ago and still today it gives me such joy.

I am Molly and am the worship team leader in a local church. I work with a team of gifted singers and an incredible band. Music ministry is what I live, breath and eat every day.”

Read Molly’s first installment of our new series Chronicles of a Worship Leader, Worship in PJ’s and article Music – Created by God for God. It is our sincerest hope that you will find encouragement and Truth to help you walk the path that God has set before you.

Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 7, Southern Gospel Easter

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:49:49 +0000

Easter soundtracks are often quite emotional and can provide both singer and audience with such a special worship experience. With the Easter holiday marking a pivotal part of our Christian faith, one can imagine that there have been many, many songs written about the occasion.

This is part of a series of Easter soundtracks and in this article, I will focus on the southern gospel style of music. This particular music genre certainly has numerous soundtrack options from which to choose. By no means should you consider this an exhaustive list but we do feel that it is a great representation of the options that are out there and certainly an excellent place to browse songs as you seek to expand your Easter repertoire.

For those of you who sing as a part of a group, there are quite a few songs for you to choose from when planning your Easter selections. The Crabb Family sings a very powerful & moving song called “Trail of Tears.” There is also “When He Was on the Cross” by The Florida Boys & “There’s Not a Crown Without a Cross” by The Martins. You could also consider “The Cross Now Is Empty” by The Hoppers or “I Claim the Blood” by The Hemphills. If you prefer more of the quartet style of southern gospel, you should check out “There Rose a Lamb” or “It’s Still the Cross”, both performed by the gospel quartet Gold City, or “Then Came the Morning” by the Cathedrals. In addition, Brian Free & Assurance have “It’s All About the Blood” and “I Still Cling to the Old Rugged Cross.” There are so many options available to you and all of these selections are extremely appropriate for Easter services. If you regularly perform with a gospel group, you really cannot go wrong with any of these titles.

For those of you who specialize in duets, please do not disregard songs that are originally performed by groups. If the song fits your style and you are moved by the lyrics, then by all means, convert it to a duet. Make these songs your own and use them in the way that will best communicate with your audience.

The same goes for soloists although there are also a fair number of solo songs already available. Janet Paschal has a voice that quite a few women will likely find appropriate for them. Her Easter titles include “The Body & The Blood” and the all-time favorite, “Written in Red.” There are many other great songs for women including Kim Hopper’s “The Cross Said It All,” Tammy Jones Robinette’s “What Happened To Your Hands,” Karen Wheaton’s “The Tomb Is Empty” , Barbara Mandrell’s “He Grew The Tree,” and Dottie Rambo’s “The Perfect Rose.”

Favorite selections by men include “Three Rusty Nails” by Mike Purkey, “I Believe Jesus Died For Me” by Carroll Roberson and the much-loved song “The Old Rugged Cross Made The Difference” performed by the Gaither Vocal Band. In addition, men soloists should also consider listening through the various group options as you will likely find quite a few appropriate selections there that you would be able to turn into a solo for yourself.

As you can see, the Easter selections and opportunities for performers who like to sing the southern gospel style are quite numerous. Whether you are beginning your search through these selections or seeking to add a few new titles to your already broad collection, I hope this article helped you take an additional step towards a more expanded repertoire of southern gospel soundtracks for Easter.

See all our Easter Accompaniment Track Titles

Establishing a Musical Repertoire
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 1, Funerals
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 2, Baby Dedication
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 3, Easter
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 4, Traditional Easter
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 5, Inspirational Easter
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 6, Contemporary Easter
Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 7, Southern Gospel Easter

Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 6, Contemporary Easter

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 11:05:31 +0000

I know that many of you already embrace contemporary Christian music as a preferred style for your ministries. I also know that quite a few of you prefer more classic or traditional genres. There are certainly appropriate styles available for all singers. But as a greater number of churches become increasingly more contemporary in nature, adding more contemporary songs to your repertoire can be a great decision. In this article, I will focus on some of the more popular contemporary songs for the Easter season.

Quite a few songs are geared more for trios or small groups but any of these can also be turned into solos if you prefer. However, they are quite beautiful with the harmonies so you may want to consider that as well. Perhaps the most popular contemporary Easter song for a group is “Arise My Love” by Newsong. This song tells the story of Jesus’ resurrection and is quite moving. For some powerful songs with more intricate harmonies, try “The Great Divide” by Point of Grace and “The Glory of the Blood” by Avalon. Other group songs worth checking out include “Beautiful Savior” by Casting Crowns and “Crucified with Christ” by Phillips Craig & Dean.

There are plenty of options if you are looking for a song intended as a solo as well. “My Redeemer Lives” by Nicole C. Mullen has been an exciting Easter favorite for years now. For women, you might try “Lamb of God” also by Nicole C. Mullen. “Why” by Nichole Nordeman tells the story the crucifixion and the reason that Jesus died for us and is also a great option for Easter.

For men, “To Ever Live Without Me” and “You Were There”, both by Jody McBrayer of Avalon, are great choices. David Phelps also has a beautiful Easter song called “Behold the Lamb.” I know these three options may be vocally challenging but thanks to soundtracks that are available in various keys, there are more options to make the songs accessible to a greater number of performers.

Easter is truly such an important occasion in the church calendar and I hope that some of these songs will help you expand your options for your next Easter service. Also, be sure to check out our articles on Easter soundtracks selections from the contemporary, traditional and southern gospel genres.

See all our Easter Accompaniment Track Titles

Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 5, Inspirational Easter

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:40:26 +0000

In this article, I will continue our series on Easter soundtracks and focus on quite a few inspirational titles. Some of these were considered contemporary when they were first introduced into the market but considering other styles that are now available, we classify them in the inspirational category. All churches are different but most of these are songs whose style would be accepted in quite a wide range of churches.

First, I would like to address some of the titles by an artist many have called “the queen of Christian music” – Sandi Patty. Granted, this lady has quite the voice and you may find her songs too challenging. However, your odds of finding a key that is appropriate for your voice greatly increase with our multiple key soundtracks. I have included links to each of the songs listed below but please check out other tracks by the same title to explore the various key options. “Via Dolorosa” is always a favorite at Easter. Typically, the second verse is performed in Spanish but that is not necessary. You can simply repeat the first verse if you prefer. Another song that speaks to the sacrifice Jesus made for us is “The Day He Wore My Crown.” On the other side of the scale, she has a few songs that are more celebratory in nature. “They Could Not” is an incredible song of Jesus’ victory over the grave. There are also a few with more of an “Easter morning” feel. These include “Glorious Morning,” “Was it a Morning Like This” & her famous duet with Larnelle Harris, “I’ve Just Seen Jesus.” When it comes to dramatic, exciting Easter songs, one needs not look any further than Sandi Patty.

I do, however, realize that not everyone can perform songs like these. There are plenty of incredible inspirational choices for all the altos and the men too.

Ray Boltz has several appropriate and moving Easter songs including “Feel the Nails,” “What If I Gave All,” “The Perfect Tree” and the story-telling song, “Watch the Lamb.”

Other classic inspirational choices include “How Beautiful” by Twila Paris, “What Held You On The Cross” by Michael O’Brien and “The Wonderful Cross” by Phillips, Craig & Dean. And do not forget that males do not have to stick to songs by male artists & vice versa. If you’re a tenor and you want to make a song by Sandi Patty work for you, go for it! Make these songs your own. That will help make you the best musical communicator that you can be!

See all our Easter Accompaniment Track Titles

Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 4, Traditional Easter

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:34:35 +0000

Perhaps some of the most loved songs to hear at Easter time come from the library of time-honored, traditional music that we remember hearing in our younger years. Music and the message of music, especially songs such as these, transcend time. What a gift it is to be able to pass on our love of some of the old favorites to the younger generations. Please look and listen through the following songs that represent some of the favorite traditional Easter songs of our faith.

Arguably the most popular and powerful Easter song of all time is ‘The King Is Coming” by the Gaithers. This song has been sung by so many and touched so many lives since Bill Gaither wrote it. What a gift he gave us when he wrote this & so many other beloved songs! Other great Easter titles by him include “Because He Lives,” “It Is Finished,” and “I Believe in a Hill Called Mount Calvary.” Several of these songs are now included in the hymnal and are often sung by congregations as a whole. That can be a very sweet part of an Easter service but do not let that stop you from turning one into a solo. Songs often come across differently when sung different ways. Choose what is right for you and for your place of worship.

Hymns often provide a classic & traditional flavor to special services such as Easter and many are now available on soundtrack. Three traditional hymns that are often used at Easter include “In the Garden,” “There Is Power in the Blood” & “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross.” If you have a small group of people that you sing with sometimes, check out these arrangements of two of these hymns by the trio Selah: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross” & “There is Power in the Blood.”

Two additional Easter favorites that are more on the dramatic side are “Rise Again” by Dallas Holm and “He’s Alive” which has been sung by many different artists including Dolly Parton. These are two songs that you should definitely consider adding to your Easter repertoire if you do not already own them. Remember to search for other arrangements if these particular ones don’t suit you.

Easter is certainly a time of celebration and sometimes nothing is more moving than a classic, traditional song. We hope some of these have you helped you add to your Easter collection.

Establishing a Musical Repertoire – Part 3, Easter

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 10:18:16 +0000

The Easter celebration marks an extremely significant time of the year for Christians. Churches often reserve this day for special Easter services whether it be cantatas, children’s programs, sunrise communion services or programs dedicated to special music. Any singer who sings in churches should have a repertoire stocked with several appropriate songs readily available as Easter approaches it every year. I will highlight over 50 of the more popular Easter soundtracks in the next few articles.

As with other holidays and events, it is always a good idea to have a variety of musical styles available so that you can cater your songs to the audience for which you are singing. However, I also understand that most people have their own stylistic niche in which they feel the most comfortable. For this reason, I have grouped our Easter soundtrack suggestions into 4 different genres: Traditional, Inspirational, Contemporary & Southern Gospel.

I encourage you to read through all 4 of the articles & listen through songs from each genre represented, even if it is a new style for you. In addition to rediscovering some old favorites, you might just also find some new songs. And maybe one of them might just provide that “perfect” song for your Easter singing this year.

See all our Easter Accompaniment Track Titles

Discover New Artists – Southern Gospel Quartets

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 11:56:01 +0000

We hope you enjoyed our first article on Discovering New Artists & we hope that you found a few new artists or songs that you enjoy. Please keep the feedback coming, we love it!

This time we are focusing on a specific genre of music – southern gospel quartets. The southern gospel genre dates back just about as far as any type of “Christian” music. In fact, even a lot of the contemporary/pop and even rock singers in Christian music today began by singing southern gospel in their churches when they were younger. And of these southern gospel groups, one of the most popular & widely-recognized has always been the southern gospel quartets. Three of the oldest & most loved quartets are The Cathedrals, Gold City & The Kingsmen. There are many other quartets that could fall into this category & we will discuss some later but for now, we will focus on these three time-tested favorite groups.

The Cathedrals
The Cathedrals have been called “favorite” by many a southern gospel fan. In 1964, what was called the “Cathedral Trio,” which included Bobby Clark, Glen Payne & Danny Koker, added bass George Younce & became the “Cathedral Quartet.” From 1964 to 1999, the quartet recorded & toured all across the country. The wide-sweeping appeal & impact of this quartet is certainly hard to measure & their legacy lives on today through the songs that they gave us. Some favorites that you should check out if you have not heard or performed them include: ”Can He Could He Would He,” “This Ole House,” “Movin on up to Glory,” “Then Came The Morning” & “We Shall See Jesus.” Whether or not you’re familiar with their music, you should really check out The Cathedrals – a Farewell Celebration. This recording is from 1999 when many of the original singers from the group came back and sang with others who were part of the Cathedrals over the years. It is not only an inspiring collection of music but also a precious tribute to the men who helped form the group & sang with them for much of their lives. The project is also available on DVD. The Cathedrals are definitely a southern gospel group to get to know if you have not already.

Gold City
Another timeless favorite in the southern gospel genre is Gold City. The group began in 1980 & continues singing today. As with The Cathedrals, a lot of members traded in & out of the group over the years. Two artists of note who went on to find their own place in the southern gospel hall of fame are Ivan Parker & Brian Free. Each of these men was a valuable asset to the southern gospel genre when they were a part of Gold City & also as they went on to follow their separate paths within the industry. Favorite songs of the Gold City quartet that you just cannot risk missing include: ”When He Reached Down His Hand,” “It’s Still the Cross,” “One Scarred Hand,” “When I Get Carried Away“ & perhaps THE quintessential song from Gold City – “Midnight Cry” which we carry nine different versions of for you to choose from. Many a standing ovation has been given to performances of “Midnight Cry” through the years. There is also a CD you may wish to look into as well: The Very Best of Gold City.

The Kingsmen
And then there is The Kingsmen. This southern gospel group has been encouraging & inspiring listeners with their unique style since 1956. They too have had members come and go during their 54 years of singing. One artist to note is Anthony Burger who later became the piano player for many Gaither projects & tours until he died suddenly in 2006 at the young age of 44. He and many other talented musicians lent their gifts to The Kingsmen as they wrote, recorded & traveled across the country performing. Favorite titles by The Kingsmen include: ”When Mama Prayed,” “What a Day That Will Be,” “Hello Mama,” & what is probably their most popular and emotional song – “Wish You Were Here” – nine versions on our site to choose from One other interesting fact to note is that in the early 90s, Gold City & The Kingsmen joined forces to create a series called “Kings Gold.”

We hope that these artists & songs have either brought back some wonderful memories to you or introduced you to some music that you will be able to use in your personal ministry. As always, let us know what you think. We love hearing from you.

More in this series:
Discover New Artists

Establishing A Musical Repertoire – Part 2, Baby Dedication

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:41:07 +0000

One of the sweetest events in which to participate is a baby dedication service. What an honor it is to stand with parents and musically be a part of their child’s dedication service. This is handled differently in different churches but for those who attend or sing in churches that allow a soloist to participate in the ceremony, there are some really precious songs that can make a sweet moment even sweeter.

Sandi Patty’s “Masterpiece” is a great song to add to your basic repertoire for baby dedication songs. This one has really stood the test of time.

Masterpiece (Christian World)
Masterpiece (Daywind)

Other staples that you can’t really go wrong with include: “Fingerprints of God” by Steven Curtis Chapman, “I Want to be Just Like You” by Phillips Craig & Dean, “Dreams I Dream For You” by Avalon and “We’ll Be There” by the Gaithers. In addition, you may also want to consider songs like “Another Child To Hold” by Ray Boltz, “The Greatest Gift” by Steve & Annie Chapman, or maybe even the classic hymn “Jesus Loves Me.”

Please take time to listen through these songs to find some that touch you personally and that you feel you can add to your repertoire. The perfect song can provide the finishing touch to an already precious moment in the life of a new baby. Feel free to post below and share some of your favorites.

See our complete list of Baby Dedication Accompaniment Tracks.

Discover New Artists

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:57:36 +0000

So we promised to help you discover new artists in 2010 and we’re keeping our word. We’ll have several articles dealing with this subject over the next few weeks & on throughout the year. This first article will deal with a few lesser known artists that have some great soundtracks you may be able to add to your collection.

Christy Nockels

This wife & mother of 3 is a worship leader in her church. Her style is contemporary praise & worship & the messages in her music are quite powerful. Her CD “Life Light Up” is filled with uplifting, encouraging, modern worship praise songs. She has a strong mezzo voice but even if that doesn’t describe your voice, her soundtracks are available in multiple keys so you can perform in the appropriate key for your instrument. Check out “Life Light Up” an “No Not One” on our site.

Life Light Up (Daywind)
No Not One (Christian World)

Britt Nicole

If you’re a fan of music that is a little more upbeat, you should check out the new CD from Britt Nicole. “The Lost Get Found” ranges in musical styles from pop songs to ballads. Several songs are available on soundtrack & can be very powerful songs to share with younger crowds. The title song, “The Lost Get Found” is an upbeat song that deals with missions & being bold about sharing your faith. “Walk on the Water” is more of a ballad and speaks into having such faith in God that you can deal with whatever faces you in life. If you find yourself singing for younger people or in more contemporary settings, be sure to check out Britt Nicole.

The Lost Get Found (Christian World)
Walk on the Water (Christian World)

Jason Crabb

Okay so this guy may not be as “lesser known” as the others we’ve discussed but did you know that he has his own solo record now? No longer singing with the Crabb Family, Jason now has a solo cd absolutely filled with great new songs ready to be discovered. The CD is self-titled. It includes an outstanding new version of “Through the Fire” that is not to be missed. His vocals shine in every cut on the album. You’ve got to have a fairly big, powerful instrument to keep up with Jason but if this fits you, you might not find a better source for new soundtracks than this new CD.

Walk on Water (Christian World)
Walk on Water (Daywind)
Somebody Like Me (Daywind)
Sometimes I Cry (Daywind)
One Day at a Time (Christian World)

We hope that these suggestions are helpful to you in your search for new music. Check back soon for an article about some great new songs by some old favorite artists.

More in this series:
Southern Gospel Quartets

It’s a New Day

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 11:31:45 +0000

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!

Avalon has a song called “New Day.” The chorus is: “It’s a new day. Oh, it’s a new time & there’s a new way. Gonna live my life; all the old has passed away & the new has come. Thank God it’s a brand new day!”

Is it a goal to discover new artists & new music? Is it a goal to expand your ministry geographically? Or maybe just sing more often where you already are? Or perhaps you want to make sure that you have more family time this year. Whatever your goals may be, we want to help.

Starting soon, we will have a series dedicated to discovering new artists & new music. Check back often as we introduce more & more music over the course of this year.

New Day by Avalon (Daywind)
New Day by Avalon (PraiseHymn)

What Do I Wear?

Christwill Staff (Joy) — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:38:52 +0000

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:

Do not make a wardrobe decision that will be distracting to your audience.
When singing for formal occasions, deeper, darker tones are usually more appropriate than flashy colors or busy prints.
If in doubt, the more conservative choice is the way to go.
Women, spend time on your appearance but be aware that excess makeup or “pageant hair” can be a distraction.

The bottom line is – Be professional but also be yourself & be comfortable. And most of all, be confident that the Lord will use your ministry to further His kingdom. And isn’t that our primary purpose anyway?