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If I Had 10min With Church Musicians, I'd Say This.

Travis Dykes

75,753 views

There are so many lessons I've learned from being a church musician that I wish I learned sooner. Today I'm sharing some key principles that has helped me that can also help you thrive being a musician playing in church.

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Video Chapters
00:00 | Intro
00:26 | Point #1
01:28 | Point #2
03:01 | Point #3
05:04 | Point #4
06:40 | Point #5
07:43 | Point #6
09:20 | Final Thoughts

This video is meant to spark conversation, so let me know in the comments if there are any points you would add to this list!

Thanks for watching!

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20 Comments

@exoressdelivers70 2 months ago

I was a paid musician. I 'needed' that money to help pay my bills. I'm talking vital bills electricity, water, insurance, food, etc. Not cable bill, gym membership etc. Then I asked God to give me courage to step out in faith to believe He will provide. On the 1st Sunday when I normally got paid, I turned it down. The very next day (Monday) my boss called me in and said I was getting a promotion and the pay increase was EXACTLY the same amount of my church pay. I need no further proof that God provides. That was 25 years ago. After that I started tithing. Today I am financially situated and after bills are paid and money put aside for emergencies I have way more extra money to spend that I ever thought I would have. God will do it!

@larriveeman 2 months ago (edited)

been playing at church for 35 years, totally volunteer, non-paid and fine with that, rather then thinking of it as a gig, its a ministry. We all have the flesh to deal with.

@AspynDotZip 2 months ago

let me add one of my own points: SERVE OUTSIDE OF THE WORSHIP SET!!! go out into the world and feed the needy, pray for those around you in your everyday life, and be a light to the world every day, not just on Sunday

@DonnHarpersWykkydAmbitions 2 months ago

As a musician, when I played in church, I viewed my playing as an offering to GOD.
I couldn't think of getting paid to give an offering.

@LordHowseCat 2 months ago

You said it perfectly. When I make a mistake on Sunday, I don't beat myself up for not being perfect-- but I am concerned about who it distracted and how it may have negatively impacted their moment with God.

@ReasonablySane 2 months ago

I like to follow Psalms 33:3 "play skillfully". And I also believe that perfection is the enemy of excellence when striving to do something. It's why perfectionists have a hard time getting anything done - or often, even started.

@DaRealChompi 2 months ago

Hey there Travis,

I cant stress enough that as a group of ministry you need to play together outside of Sunday. Not only rehearsals but simply jamming together one afternoon/

@FRESHHOMEMUSIC 2 months ago

Thanks for sharing. Most small churches I know don't have the budget to hire a full-time worship pastor, let alone paid musicians.
As a part-time worship leader, I am truly grateful for all of our volunteer worship musicians who faithfully give their time to rehearse together on Wednesdays and joyfully serve God together on Sundays. Their commitment and willingness to serve are a tremendous blessing to our church.

@Mr-chuggz 2 months ago

Bro not practicing before Sunday is crazy I hate when people do that like you have to live with the songs

@tommcmichael8679 2 months ago

Musicians who are volunteer need to speak up when in need of equipment. If there is a way for the church to help that would be great! Also, everyone is part of the team, serve one another.

@oklahomahank2378 2 months ago

Structure of songs can be a chart trap. If the singer decides to do one more repeat, you have to be ready. If you are obsessed with the chart you might miss it. When I am singing I am watching the audience. If they are into it or singing along I might want to do one more chorus.

@Robodog69 2 months ago

If it's a big Church there might be a Music Director Position that gets paid. But the rest of the praise and worship team is volunteer.

@terrywilhite 2 months ago (edited)

Brother, absolutely spot-on! I've been playing for five decades (I'm 61, playing in church since I was 9) and you nailed each one of them perfectly. Being paid to play is not the end of the world, but what we do is a ministry ... and looking back I can tell you the Lord blesses exceedingly abundantly above what we can imagine when our hearts, not just our instruments, are tuned to Jesus and we serve, no necessarily for a check, but for his pleasure.

@lowbridgenc 4 weeks ago

Connection over perfection. Love it, brother. I play bass at my church, have played on Sundays in several churches for decades now, and I hit the wrong region of the fretboard once just this past Sunday. In the second service. I could name the song, and I could tell you where in the song it was. But that's not important. It's kind of like singing: make a joyful noise. Not a perfectly harmonic and on-beat noise every single stinking time. Joyful. It's a privilege. And for those who said Psalm 33:3, right on. You're representing Him, and good worship is contagious. I see it every week. God bless you, Travis.

@nathanbourquin6554 2 months ago

An excellent key player from my church told me something once that I will never forget because of how horrible of an advice it was. We played a lot of "spontaneous stuff" which in itself isn't bad, its just a style. But I asked him how he goes about practice for it. And he basically told me to not practice the songs in order to let the spirit flow through you better.

so whatever he said, I now do the opposite. I practice the song as close to the original as possible. And then I let go of the expectation of playing that. And that way I am way more confident when we start playing something different

@Maydoggie 2 months ago (edited)

I use charts even during the Sunday service. I wish I didn't need them, but I don't memorize very well, nor do I play by ear very well. Also there's the fact that it's frequently Saturday afternoon when the songs are posted.

@slapnpop826 2 months ago

I absolutely agree, I could get paid more at other churches, but my stress level would be much higher. So chasing a check is not the way to go.

@Guitariaga 2 months ago

I can’t imagine my musicians playing the charts from memory. I don’t expect my flutist, cellist, or vocalists to memorize their parts.

@PihuPandit-t6l 2 months ago

I swear ever since Travis got that vortalex posture corrector his posture has improved SO MUCH lol, just look at videos from 2-3 months ago.. huge difference

@difalkner 2 months ago

Good video! Another point I've tried to make dozens of times is that Sunday morning during the service doesn't need to be the first time the media team hears the songs. They need to be at rehearsal along with the band and Praise team to know who has a lead, who's singing which verse, who's starting the song, etc.