The last time I posted about what’s going on musically in my world, I hinted at some musical weaknesses that I’m working on.

I thought I’d give an update and share the three best things about learning new songs:

1. Learning new songs is good for me spiritually
Last week, was my busiest week yet: I had five music setlists to keep track of!

• Monday: Focus Band rehearsal
• Thursday: Cherish Girls
• Friday: Edge (youth)
• Sunday am: offsite at another church’s chapel
• Sunday pm: ALC Leeds

Being in such an intense song learning curve is requiring me to raise the bar of song-learning. This means listening to music all the time, bathing myself in new words.

The outcome is: I’ve been so bolstered in my spirit to meditate on God’s Word. Often the setlist is chosen for me, and when I start listening to the new songs, I laugh at how often they are for me! Themes of freedom, healing and grace are so relevant to me right now.

• “In Your presence, in Your power, awakening, For this moment, for this hour, awakening”
• “Invading all my weakness, you wrap me up in grace, the worst of me succeeded by the best of you.”
• “With you, Hope is now restored, Salvation by your blood, rescued me, With you, Freedom is now real, Salvation by the power of Jesus, The power that rescued me”
• “Above all sickness, above all fear, above every heartache here, In Earth and Heaven My God reigns”

2. Learning new songs helps me understand the art of musical arrangement
Having served in my home church band for over 10 years, I know that it’s easy to stick to one arrangement of a song and leave the creativity at the door. With some recent Academy lectures on musicianship and with all these new songs, I’ve taken more of an interest in understanding this.

Also, as I learn new songs, I need to listen carefully to the keyboard and piano part, which helps me become a better music arranger. (See last week’s academy quotes for a quote on this.)

For some songs, I get to listen to the stems for ALC church recordings. Importing each stem track into Garageband helps me listen and analyze each section.

3. Learning new songs helps me be organized.

Since the ALC worship team has a central database of mp3s and chords for songs on their lists, I have access to downloading everything I need to learn. This is a great model that is so helpful for churches to follow. (It puts the resources in the musical volunteers’ hands, as well, a great benefit)

To keep everything straight, I’ve started a masterlist document on my computer which I update with each song that I learn. This usually has the chords for each song, and often the Nashville Numbering system.

Learning curves can be uncomfortable, depending on how steep that curve is. There’s no doubt about it, God is shaping my character, and giving me a chance to grow musically, too!