SonBeam's Worship Band
Students (ages 15+) will develop their instrumental and vocal abilities in the context of a band, learning to play together in an ensemble. Our goal will be to pursue musical excellence as we use our talents and gifts to glorify God. We will spend a portion of our class analyzing the lyrics of worship music in order to categorize them thematically, learning how to choose worship music that complements preaching from the Scriptures.
This class will need students that are proficient in playing piano, keyboard, acoustic guitar, electric guitar, bass guitar, and drums. We will also need vocalists that can both lead with the melody and sing harmony. For this reason, the class will be by director approval only.
This class will have opportunities to lead worship at ministry centers, youth groups, church retreats, etc. The worship band may also provide accompaniment for other SonShine classes as needed.
Experience Requirements
1
Vocal Training
Students of all ages have options to begin their vocal and group performance training in Children's Choir, or Youth Choir*, where they will learn basic music theory and how to perform as a group to worship.
2
Accompaniment
Various private instrument lessons are available at SonShine, with an option of taking lessons with a focus in group performance and accompaniment, with the goal of training in a Worship Band context.
3
Band Experience
SonBeam's Ensemble class is the next step in group vocal training, fostering students' vocal skills in a smaller, more elite group, with an emphasis on musical arrangement and group creativity in performance of songs.
Vocal Training
Students who are applying for Ensemble are required to have at least two years of vocal training experience in one or more of the following classes or equivalent experience opportunities.
Accompaniment Experience
Students in Worship Band are required to have at least two years of demonstrated experience in one or more instruments or two years of experience in one or more of the below classes.
Worship Program Progression
Youth Choir
Ensemble
Private Instruments
Worship Band
Ages 12-20.
No previous requirements for participation in Youth Choir.
Ages 13+.
Two years of experience in Youth Choir or equivalent experience is required for participation.
An alternative option when taking private lessons is being taught with the focus being on accompaniment with others.
This skill is instrumentally helpful in the future whether or not students want to pursue Worship Band opportunities.
Students (ages 15+) will develop their instrumental and vocal abilities in the context of a band, learning to play together in an ensemble. Our goal will be to pursue musical excellence as we use our talents and gifts to glorify God. We will spend a portion of our class analyzing the lyrics of worship music in order to categorize them thematically, learning how to choose worship music that complements preaching from the Scriptures.