After signing up on the form below, someone will contact you.
Why do we have auditions?
We have a vision for continuously increasing our worship ministry here at Mag. Auditions are a very practical tool for evaluating the skills and heart of people who feel called to serve on a worship team. And we promise that it will never be like American Idol! We want to create a “dread free” atmosphere for our audition process as much as possible. At the same time, we value honesty, and we want to encourage the pursuit of skill in the music we present to the Lord.
If you have a heart to lead others into meaningful worship, and you feel you are skilled with your voice or musical instrument, we would love to get to know you! Please read the expectations and requirements for participation on the worship team below, and fill out the questions as completely as possible. We will be getting in touch with you about scheduling an audition.
Basic requirements for participation on the worship team:
To be eligible for the worship team, you must consider Magnolia Church to be the place you attend regularly.
Participation in joining our church and membership class is encouraged. You should be in agreement with our mission and vision statements. We are looking for trustworthy, team-minded people who will take the commitment seriously. Maintaining a humble, teachable attitude is very important. The worship team is not a platform for showcasing individual talents, but a place of service to the congregation.
Previous experience on a worship team or in a band can be helpful but is not required. While there are similar principals used in most live music situations, every band or team experience is different. Be prepared to learn new ways of doing things even as we follow standard practices.
Expectations for participation on the worship team:
The time requirement for worship team members is approximately 8 hours per week when they are scheduled for the weekend services. (This time frame does not include personal practice time.) Included in the time requirements are Wednesday evening rehearsals (6:00pm-8:00pm), Sunday morning rehearsals (7:30am-9:00am) and Sunday morning services (9:30am-12:15pm). Team members are required to stay for the entire service, though they are not required to sit through both messages. All team members are encouraged to sit through one entire service.
We make every attempt to not over-schedule team members. You do not have to play every week to be on the worship team. There may be weeks where you are not scheduled.
We expect all individuals to use our service planning tool www.planningcenteronline.com for scheduling. Planning Center has various tools you can use.
- Accept/Decline scheduling requests.
- Review scheduled services.
- See the service order.
- Block-out the days you would like not to serve.
- Limit the number of times you serve per month.
Skill Requirements
Below are the basic skills needed for each position on the worship team.
Worship Vocalists
The worship vocalist’s primary function is to provide vocal harmony with the worship leader and other worship vocalists. They also model worship for the congregation by maintaining an attitude of worship while singing with the team. Their focus is on God, not on performing.
Skillset
- Be able to sing on pitch.
- Be able to hear and sing a harmony part for a given melody, i.e. should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
- Be able to reproduce a harmony part for a given song consistently, i.e., sing the same part for a song each time that song is used.
- Be able to control vocal elements such as volume and vibrato in order to blend with the worship leader and other vocalists. The ability to sing in different styles is very desirable.
Acoustic Guitarists
To provide rhythmic support as needed by the worship leader.
Skillset
- Have a good knowledge of open chords and barre chords. Should have a good working knowledge of the guitar neck.
- Be able to play different strumming patterns as called for by the given song.
- Be able to control dynamics while maintaining a consistent tempo.
- Be able to transpose chords and use a capo.
- Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
- Must own their own guitar with built-in electronic pickup system, and an electronic tuner with bypass. Instrument should be able to hold tune and be in good repair.
- Ability to arpeggiate chords and flatpick very desirable.
Electric Guitarists
To provide rhythmic support and sonic textures as needed by the worship leader. To play specific parts (lead lines) for songs as needed.
Skillset
- Have a good knowledge of major and minor chords and basic scales. Power chords are essential!
- Should be able to play competently in the upper registers of the neck (above the 5th fret).
- Be able to control dynamics while maintaining a consistent tempo.
- Must own their own guitar and equipment, and be able to reproduce tones consistent with modern contemporary music. (This can be done inexpensively with modern modeling amps and software (i.e. MainStage). A big pedal board is not required!) Must own an electronic tuner with bypass. Instrument should be able to hold a tune and be in good repair.
- Should be comfortable learning parts by ear
- Ability to arpeggiate chords and flatpick very desirable.
Bass Guitarists
To provide bass content and rhythmic support as needed by the worship leader. To play specific parts for songs as needed.
Skillset
- Have a good knowledge of the neck, i.e. know the notes in the first five frets of the neck on all strings, preferably without looking.
- Knowledge of basic scales would be useful.
- Should understand basic rhythmic divisions; quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, etc.
- Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
- Be able to control dynamics while maintaining consistent tempo.
- Must own their own instrument. Instrument should be able to hold a tune and be in good repair.
Drummers
To provide solid rhythmic foundation for the worship team.
Skillset
- Must be able to hold steady time and play to a click and stems.
- Be able to play a variety of basic quarter note and eighth note drum patterns.
- Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
- Be able to control dynamics while maintaining consistent tempo.
- Must own their own sticks/mallets/brushes.
Keyboardists
To provide sonic textures and keyboard parts for the worship team.
Skillset
- Must be able to hold steady time.
- Be able to read simple chord charts. Reading music is desirable but not required.
- Be able to play in a variety of musical styles.
- Should know chord inversions and be able to find different chord voicings.
- Should have familiarity with general modern keyboard architecture, i.e. how to recall patches, find different sounds, use a modulation wheel, etc.
- Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO AUDITION.
Damaris Paz, Associate Worship Leader
damaris.paz@magonline.com
