Worship Team Information
General Policies for the Worship Team
REHEARSALS / SCHEDULE / TIME COMMITMENT
Before you audition, please be aware of the time commitments involved with the worship team.
There are rehearsal times during the week, as well as a rehearsal before services and the actual
services themselves.
Example: (A typical week for the worship team that is scheduled to be on for the weekend):
Thursday: 6:30 pm – Set up for worship leaders, instrumentalists and audio/visual team
7:00 pm – Rehearsal begins
Sunday:
7:30 am – worship leaders, instrumentalists, audio/visual team rehearsal
9:00 am – first worship service
10:30 am – second worship service
We cannot stress enough the importance of practicing on your own to learn your parts. It can
turn into a much longer rehearsal if even one person comes unprepared. This is an important part
of the Time, Commitment and Excellence issues. The extra time built into rehearsals will allow
for prayer and team building.
Thursdays Rehearsals
(EXAMPLE ONLY, TIMES NOT AVAILABLE YET)
Rehearsal for the worship leaders, instrumentalists and audio/visual team will be from
7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
The rehearsal is held on stage in the Worship Center. This rehearsal typically lasts two hours.
Sunday Sound Check
Sunday sound check is just that. It is a sound check and should not be the time to learn music.
We will spend a few moments in prayer, then begin the sound check and work out the final
logistics. Please be on time. It is difficult to recap everything that was said or done while you were
gone. Worship leaders, instrumentalists and audio/visual team need to be in the Worship Center
and on stage or in the booth by 7:30 a.m. ready to begin the sound check. This means having
your instruments and microphones ready. Each team member will be responsible for his/her own
set-up of instruments, stands, music, etc.
In order to start sound check on time, please come early to set up your gear.
LOGISTICS
Dress
We desire a look that will identify our style at Timber Ridge Church. Timber Ridge Church has a
come as you are, casual feel and we want our worship leaders to have the same feel. We are not
matching everyone in the same colors for clothing – just dress normally. However, because you
are on the stage and in the public eye, please steer away from shorts, ripped jeans, holey t-shirts,
rumpled clothing, etc.
The bottom line is, if your clothing distracts from leading and serving, then it will most likely
distract others from the vision of Timber Ridge Church.
Please dress to our style and who you are!
Stage Presence
Let your stage presence shine from the inside out. Move appropriately, communicate and make
eye contact.
General Tips
During rehearsals, requests to the audio person or monitor person need to go through Micah, or
whoever is leading worship. Please avoid yelling things to the audio techs from the platform, or
leaving the stage to talk with the Technical Team.
If you have needs or questions regarding schedules, dress or any other specific question,
contact Creative Arts Pastor, Micah Petrea -- micah@timberridgechurch.com or (512) 644-1546
UNITY
Unity on and with the team is crucial. It is so important we have given UNITY its own section to
address this subject.
We spend a lot of time together! There are no stars. Therefore, teamwork is not an option. It is a
Necessity! We are here to serve and need to model servant-leadership. Egos have no place on
our team. “Difficult” people will not continue on the team – no matter how great the talent. This
includes things such as chronic lateness, canceling with little notice, non-submission to the
leadership, lack of preparation, ego problems, or causing dissension between other members on
the team.
All Worship Team members are expected to be consistently involved in TRC, special events, a
service each weekend, LifeGroups, etc. Only attending when you are scheduled to sing or play
lacks a team mind-set and is not what we are about. Taking steps in your spiritual walk and
connecting to each other comes first. Being on the stage comes last.
Many positions at TRC are considered leadership roles and come with a set of responsibilities
and a standard for participation. Those on the worship team are “high-profile” people in the
church and are expected by the staff and leadership to be striving to lead Christ-like lives.
Choosing to partake in sinful activities and situations, or choosing to live a life-style not honoring
to Christ and the church, would need to be addressed and would be cause for an individual to be
asked to step down from the team for a time. This is for the protection of the reputation and
integrity of God, the church, as well as the rest of the team.
We are a biblical church passionately loving God and compassionately loving people. As we
compassionately love people, negativism, criticism and complaining are not embraced! If you find
that you have a difference of opinion that needs to be addressed, please address it with the
appropriate person, rather than in a team setting. If you find that you have a difference with your
Creative Arts Pastor or Lead Pastor, please address the leader privately and not in a meeting or
rehearsal setting. Ask them when would be a good time to get together and work to resolve the
conflict.
There is a zero tolerance policy for gossip! We encourage community and fellowship among the
team. Do your best to get to know other members and allow them to get to know you. This
upholds our value of authentic relationships. Some of the strongest friendships are among our
Creative Arts Team people. If you have a prayer request please contact your team coordinator or
the Creative Arts Pastor. We are available for any needs you might have and are here to serve.
.
* And finally, we request that all Creative Arts Teams volunteers be in the process of
becoming Partners of Timber Ridge Church. We know that this could take a while for
some. At this time it is not mandatory.
If you haven’t completed the Partnership Class, we hope that you will make it a priority to
attend the next class. This is the best way to make sure the team that leads our church
from the platform is unified in its commitment to Christ and its understanding of what that
means. If you have any questions about how to sign up for the class,
please contact Micah.
Requirements for Worship Leaders and
Instrumentalists Auditions
Age Requirement:
We ask that you be at least in the 9th grade and currently involved in choir/band or some
music lessons pursuing your craft.
Here is what vocalists need to bring:
NADA.
Please choose from the selection of songs.
We will do all assessments either with live band or with acoustic accompaniment.
Please select a song style you believe could be done at Timber Ridge Church.
Some areas you will be assessed in:
 Pitch
 Overall Sound
 Stage Presence
Here is what instrumentalists need to bring:
Instrument and necessary equipment
For band auditions, please contact Micah for audition material and times.
Some areas you will be assessed in:
 Tone Quality
 Style
 Correct notes
 Ability to read chord charts
Vocal Team Skills
Worship Leaders (Core Group of Singers on Rotation)
1. High Skill level for vocals – Giftedness in addition to ability
 Excellent pitch and pleasant tone quality
 Has ability to sing well with a live band setting
 Can consistently perform a song with excellence – strong control of voice
 Blends with other instruments – Doesn’t overpower, but is strong on his/her part
2. Great Stage Presence – Puts the audience at ease
 Exhibits confidence rather than nervousness or arrogance
 Fits the song style, has a current look and sound
 “Delivers” the song
 Makes eye contact with the audience – draws them into the song
Instrumentalists
1. Stage and Performance Experience
 Has the ability to play well with others and to follow the leader
 Has experience using monitors
2. Skill Level for Instrumentalists
 Controls pitch and tone quality
 Reads music and/or chord charts
 Carries individual parts
 Blends with other instruments – Doesn’t overpower, but is strong on his/her part
3. Good Stage Presence – Plays with confidence and joy
 Exhibits confidence rather that nervousness
 Makes eye contact with the audience
 Looks welcoming and encouraging to the congregation