Vocal Health

We are embodied creatures. If we desire to do the work on ministry for the long haul, it will take intentionally cultivating our heart, mind, soul, and yes, even our bodies. Singing weekly, through rehearsals and services can take a toll on your voice and body if you are not pursuing healthy habits and practices as you ready your body to lead corporate sung worship. Here are a few things I have learned over the years:

Stay hydrated. Water isn’t just for times when you’re singing. You have to be regularly giving your body the hydration it needs. Coffee, alcohol, dairy, sugar, and lack of sleep all dehydrate and strain your body and voice. Drink more water than you think you need, and remember it takes at least 20 minutes for the water to hydrate your vocal cords - plan accordingly.

Know your voice. What range and keys are most comfortable for you to sing consistently? What is your vocal tone and ability? Are you trying to sing like someone else in a sound or style that your voice cannot accommodate? Familiarize yourself with your specific voice so that you can play to your strength and minimize weakness.

Warm up. It was not until after college that I began to warm up consistently every time I led worship. It can be a bit tedious, but it has made such a difference not only in my ability to sing well through rehearsal and a service but strengthen my voice overall from week to week. The program I use is called Singing Success. Downloading their app is an easy way to test to see if this program is the right fit for you. Another great resource is Jan Smith’s vocal coaching. In this video, Jan provides a warm-up (and down) routine that is simple and accessible.

Hire a vocal coach. Even the most basic vocal ability will benefit from trained professional teaching you how to stand, how to breathe, and how to care for this instrument God has built into your body.

Drink this. Whether it is seasonal allergies, or overworking my voice, I saw Jonas Myrin (songwriter, artist, and incredible vocalist) post on his Instagram years ago. What you need: Ginger, Lemon, Clove, Cinnamon Stick, Honey. How to: In a mug or glass measuring cup cut half a lemon, add 6-8 cloves, one cinnamon stick, lots of honey, and grate lots of fresh ginger. Add a cup of hot water, steep the tea for 3-4 minutes, strain into a fresh mug, and enjoy! I’ve also heard good things about Diane Sheet’s voice tea as well.

If we are to take seriously the song selection and liturgy - which we should, we should also take seriously the way we prepare our body and voices to lead God’s people in sung corporate worship. We care and serve others well when we prepare our heart, soul, mind, and body to lead people in song.

How do you care, maintain, and grow your voice?

A Philosophy of Worship

Ready or not, Sunday is coming. Most worship leaders, teams, and churches are able to execute the rhythm of weekly gatherings. They can choose songs, schedule a team, and move through a rehearsal well enough to lead during the Sunday service. This is no small feat - especially for those serving, leading, and overseeing as volunteers. Regardless of church size, I often find something amiss - there is a lack of clarity, vision, and direction around corporate sung worship and the worship team.

I think this may be why so many worship leaders, teams, and churches are carbon copies of what we see online, and in the CCLI Top 10 songs. We sense the clarity, vision, and direction of these churches, writers, and worship leaders, and in an attempt to create that in our own unique contexts simply copy and paste. But when our corporate gathering becomes so outwardly referenced (rather than Scripturally rooted, and contextually appropriate) we lose clarity, vision, and direction.

This is why I advocate every worship leader, and church writes a philosophy of worship. A Spirit-led, prayerful, formation of guideposts and markers that will anchor the direction of the corporate gathering, and sung worship of your church.

Creating a philosophy of worship helps you weigh the songs you introduce, train worship leaders, shape the culture of the team, and the corporate gathering and keep you steady when loud voices attempt to move you in an unhelpful direction.

In creating a philosophy of worship that serves your context, here are a few questions I think are helpful as you study, think, pray, and write:

What does Scripture say about worship?

What are the mission, vision, and values of our church? How do they inform our gathering?

What are distinctive, non-negotiable for our team, our leaders, our songs, and our service?

How does what we do as a gathered church fuel, impact, and influence who we are as we are sent out on mission?

Need help fleshing out a philosophy of worship for your church? Send me an email here.