"The Domino Effect"

We have often heard and spoken of the value of just one soul.   That's what our focus as a Christian should be - to reach just one more soul.  This morning John and Amy Robinson sang a beautiful song - "Reach Just One More Soul", written by Amy.  It hit the mark as does all of the songs that they write and sing together.
You can also use this point of view in the your music ministry - each soul that you have the honor to work with is so valuable.  If you take just one person out of your music ministry for one weekend it can change the whole program and your options.  Three weeks ago Travis and Ruth Smith were on vacation. What did that mean?  It meant that the Men of Victory Quartet could not sing and that we would need another song leader for the auditorium Sunday School class.  If I would have wanted to schedule Voice of Triumph Ensemble or the Faith Trio, that would not have worked.  This is all because one family was out of town.  The same thing can happen on any given week with any given musician out of town - that is the domino effect.
The music ministry is unlike the Sunday school and bus ministry, where workers can be replaced at the last minute or the assistant teacher or bus captain can step into a position.  Musicians work together and have to practice a song for hours before they can be ready.  So when one is out or sick, the group is usually not functional.
I have learned the value of one musician when four families are out of town and the second solo spot needs to be filled.  When I call the "one" and they agree to sing, I am grateful and know their value - irreplaceable!
When scheduling, dealing with people, and choosing music for musicians treat each one with special value.  Pray for each musician every week and express your gratitude regularly.  Birthday cards, thank you notes, and letters are thoughtful ways to make each person feel that they are valued.
When I think of musicians that have come through our church, I hope that they have fond memories of participating in the music ministry of the Longview Baptist Temple.  I also hope that every one that is currently involved in special music knows that they are special and are doing a great work.
Recognize the value of "one" and God will take care of the big picture!

"Back to Basics"

It's good to remember where you came from.  I remember being a new church pianist and having the music director look at me and say, "What key are you in?"  I looked back and said "What?"  He said, "What KEY are you in? You know, how many flats or sharps at the beginning?"  I just counted and said "4 flats."  That was the extent of my knowledge of key signatures.  I remember watching someone play a V7 chord arpeggio as an introduction, then going home and practicing.  I knew it sounded good, but I didn't know what it was.
It's easy for me to assume that every piano student had a theory book.  Not only did they have a theory book, they did the lessons.  Not only did they do the lessons, they understood them.  Not only did they understand them, they remembered them.  Not only did they remember them, they applied them...NOT!
Sorry to be a little worldly there...Theory is like any other skill, you have to do it, use it, repeat it, etc...to remember it and learn it.
I recently had a church pianist ask me a question and I sent her the following as a starter lesson.  I wish someone would have sat me down, looked me in they eye, and explained things to me when I was just starting as a church pianist.

1.  Every key has seven tones - tone 1 = tonic, tone 4 = subdominant, tone 5 = dominant.  In English - C major scale, tone 1 is C, Tone 4 is F, Tone 5 is G.  The most predominant tone/chord in the key of C is the 1, which is C.  The second most predominant tone/chord in the key of C is the 5, which is G.  The third most predominant tone/chord in the key of C is the 4, which is F.
2.  If you notice while your playing hymns, you are basically only playing three chords for each hymn.  You are playing the 1, 4, and 5 chord.  That is why you can almost go into autopilot with your left hand because you will play mostly chord 1, then chord 5, then chord 4.
3.  Keys:  Most popular for church pianists...
Key of C - primary chords - C-F-G  (G7 to go into C)
Key of G - primary chords - G-C-D (D7 to go into G)
Key of D - primary chords - D-G-A (A7 to go into D)
Key of F - primary chords - F-Bb-C  (C7 to go into F)
Key of Bb - primary chords - Bb-Eb-F  (F7 to go into Bb)
Key of Eb - primary chords - Eb-Ab-Bb   (Bb7 to go into Eb)
Key of Ab - primary chords - Ab-Db-Eb  (Eb7 to go into Ab)

The last listed for each key above is the 5 chord.  We usually use Roman numerals, but it means the same thing.
3.  The modulating chord to get to a key is the 5, with a seventh added to it, just count up seven notes from the 5,  or count back one from the 5


Part 2 coming...

Have Fun While You Serve

Today is Sunday, July 4, 2010.  Maybe you thought, "What a drag, having church on the Fourth of July holiday." I honestly can say that today was an enjoyable day.  The preaching was a blessing and the atmosphere was one of thankfulness and just being happy to be an American.  I didn't have to sit outdoors swatting flies or mosquitoes!!
Because of just finishing the Teen Convention and a change in our church meetings schedule we haven't quite got our rehearsals back into the normal routine. Add vacations, sickness, and one musician called in to nursing duty and that can also cause a challenge.  In spite of these "setbacks" God blessed today and I honestly can say that I enjoyed being at church.
Was everything perfect?  Well, I don't believe so, but I do believe we did our absolute best for our Lord and that the result fit into the entire scheme of His will.
I had originally planned for the Joy Trio and Daughters to sing "Red, White, and Blue", but oral surgery of one singer prevented that plan.  Then our Strength and Beauty Ensemble was supposed to do a new patriotic song, but a deacon's meeting and a busy teen convention schedule derailed that one.   My daughter, Victoria, has been out of the special music mode for several weeks due to being a new mother and was feeling good enough this weekend to practice and sing, so I said, "Praise the Lord, let's sing on Sunday morning!"  Chandler Tolley sang a beautiful solo, as planned - "It's Time to Pray".  The Men of Victory Quartet was ready for Sunday night but our tenor was called in to work at the last minute and our men's quartet became a mixed quartet when Mrs. Sandy Londeau filled in!
I had the privilege of playing a piano trio with Amy Robinson and Nicole Koehn.  We played "Stars and Stripes Forever" and I had a great time, even though I was sitting in the middle and the skinny person should be in the middle!  I didn't have a worry with those ladies on each side of me doing all of the hard stuff!
When the problems come, just take them as a challenge, do what you can with what you have, and leave the work in the Lord's hands.  You'll have fun while you serve!

Organizing Priorities

I am so blessed to have a wonderful job in the ministry.  I love what I do and the people that I work alongside.  Another benefit is some flexibility in my schedule.  There are times when my family needs more attention than other times, like this past week - my granddaughter, Kate, was born!
Weighing in at a whopping 7 pounds 3 ounces, Kate has turned our world upside down.  Victoria delivered by C-section on Wednesday, June 23rd.  I became very ill on that day and had to leave the hospital before the delivery.  During that time as I lay in bed while my daughter was in labor, the Lord seemed to let me know that all would be well, even without my involvement!  Yes, the Lord would take care of Victoria, the baby, the doctor and nurses, and make sure that the pictures were taken...
Joanna Bagwell, a lifetime friend of my girls, came up to labor and delivery from her job in the hospital clerk's office.  She took more pictures than I would have and did a great job!  She provided "support" for Jessica and Victoria.  Even today I don't regret not being there because it must have been the Lord's doing, I couldn't think about being in the delivery room that day!
I was able to be there at the hospital the next two days and bring Victoria and the baby home to our house for a few days of recuperation.  On Monday we took the baby for a consultation with the nurse and discovered she had jaundice, so back into the hospital she went.  Victoria and Kate stayed in the hospital for three days.  I was back and forth during this time and missed a few scheduled meetings.  Today, Friday, we took Kate for her follow-up visit and found out that she has gained weight and is doing well.
My pastor has allowed me to be a mom and "Gigi" to Kate without my feeling guilty.  The music ministry has always been at the back of my mind and in my prayers.  I have been able to do some organizing work and typing and I'm ready to get back into the full "swing" of things, if the Lord allows!
When circumstances are totally out of your control it is easy to become frustrated or to feel useless, but God is doing a work on you.  He sometimes needs to show us that the ministry is not about us, it's about Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit, and helping people.  We need to live our lives fulfilling God's purposes.  My family is my primary responsibility, but my church sustains my family.  My music ministry is a bonus, it is a blessing for me to be able to do.
My church will and can survive without me, but I cannot survive without my church!

"Beating the Blahs"

Got the "blahs"?  For us, school has been out for three weeks.  I had a BIG plan of seventy-five things I wanted to accomplish this summer - want to know how many I've checked off of the list, let me see...four!  Just reading that list makes me feel "blah", I don't know what I was drinking when I typed that up, it must have been a surge of adrenaline and caffeine combined!
In the music ministry it is hard to hide a case of the "blahs", it becomes so obvious to those who work with you.  Symptoms may include...
1. Cancelled rehearsals
2. Tardiness to rehearsals or church services
3. Lack of energy and/or enthusiasm
4. Grumpiness or shortness of temper.
5. A "whatever" type of attitude
6. Having to drink two cups of coffee with three advils before going to church
7. Lack of creativity with the music arrangements, accompaniment, or your clothing!
8. Having to talk yourself into practicing or showing interest.
9. Being able to leave a stack of new music untouched for days...
10. Changing the subject when group members want to have new outfits.

How did I come up with this list?  I live this list during certain times of the year!  Life happens when you're busy making a schedule or making plans.  Sometimes we just have to put one foot in front of the other and keep going through the "blahs" until the Lord steps in and gives us a personal revival.  If you know the symptoms of  your "blahness" you can remedy this feeling.  Here are some things that work for me.
1. Stick with the rehearsal schedule, no matter what.  Look at the calendar first and make sure you don't schedule rehearsals on holidays!
2. Go early to rehearsal!  Get yourself a treat - coffee, a coke, etc...  Get the music ready and greet each member as they arrive.
3. Take Vitamin B-12 or a B complex vitamin every day.  I use Super Subingual B-12 by Trivita.  It's not bi-lingual...  you place it under your tongue and let it dissolve, I can tell a difference if I don't take it! If you decide to try it, please give my name as a reference!  Jennifer Petticoffer, customer #13387870.  They send prizes! ha!
4. Grumpiness - if you get to rehearsal early and have time to practice alone or play and sing alone you'll be in a better mood.  For after service rehearsals, lay out all music to practice before the service so you can just walk into the room and procede with rehearsal.
5. A "whatever" type of attitude can be caused by being distracted or a general lack of thinking about your ministry.  Take time every day to think about your work.  Pray for each musician every week, pray for the groups, even pray for the P.A. man!  Revival will happen if you do that!
6. Maybe you need to go to bed earlier on Saturday evening and take a short nap on Sunday afternoon...I do! Spend more time in your Bible reading.  Have a soul winning goal of talking to a definite number of people every week and winning at least one person a week to the Lord.  Invest in the church members in ways that are not music-related - send get well cards, birthday cards, go to baby showers, bridal showers, visit sick church members in the hospital, etc...
7. Force yourself to do new songs, look for new music, and change your wardrobe colors every once in a while.  Mrs. Amy Robinson notices that whenever I'm sick I do a lot of music research and song assignments.  This is totally true!  I have stacks of music catalogs or music books to research that I don't have time for on a normal basis, but when I'm sick and bored stiff, I sit with stacks of music and work!  No interruptions except the thermometer, tylenol, and pepto!
8. Make a practice (no pun intended) to practice before eating a particular meal.  Food is a great motivator!
9. If you can leave new music untouched - call 9-1-1!  I walk in with new music and go directly to the piano.   It's important to get your "appetite" back for learning, you just have to force yourself to practice and open a new book every once in a while!
10. If singers want a new outfit - that is big!  Revival is just around the corner.  Be enthusiastic and realize that this is a commitment and expense that shows devotion to the Lord!  Be grateful!
I hope you can beat those "blahs", if you think of another way, let me know!

Summertime Survival

Summer is officially here, we reached 100 degrees in Longview on Sunday afternoon!  Looking across the auditorium I noticed a few families missing and some choir chairs with alternates, but all went well anyway!
The best thing that we musicians can do is to do is plan big -  and then have Plan B, Plan C, Plan D, E, etc...  Get your back-up plans by going through the music files and look for "dormant" groups, you know, those who haven't sung in a few months because a new babies, sickness, job changes, etc...  Have a few extra practices as soon as possible and let them know to be ready just in case they're needed.
If and when all of your regular group members show up for their rehearsals, take advantage of the time and practice a couple of old songs and let them know that these are for emergencies, you may be calling the night before!
Our choir director has a vacation calendar for all to sign at the beginning of the summer so he'll know how many to plan for in the choir each Sunday.  I usually ask each group if they'll be gone on their next scheduled singing date and then make changes if needed.  Most large groups are not affected by one or two people missing, as long as they are not "key" singers or soloists, more than that and it's probably best to reschedule.
Another way to be ready at all times is to find new music for your soloists.  Let them know that they are "on call" and need to be ready in case of emergency.  Use summer time to do music finding, research, organizing, and re-assigning songs.
If you have a big event this summer, like revival or teen conferences, you can use the music that was scheduled during the conference throughout the summertime, especially if it was new music for the conference.
Remember that you can enjoy the music ministry, even it if is summertime!

Letting Go and Letting God

Pictured: Jennifer and Jessica in the Muskogee Regional Medical Center ICU after Jessica regained consciousness.


When I was growing up there were several popular bumper stickers (none of which ever donned my Daddy's chrome): "Honk! If you love Jesus", "God is my Co-Pilot", "Lucky Me I Live in Longview", "Let Go and Let God", etc...
Some were funny and some didn't mean much.  This past weekend I learned the value of the last one, I had to let go and let God do what He wanted.  I have learned this about the music ministry, but when your life is unexpectedly detoured you sometimes grab at anything and everything you can to hold on to.
It was Memorial Day weekend and I was looking forward to having our Heaven-themed service.  I knew that Pastor and his family would be out of town so we would need to "step up" and put extra effort into all of the music.  Little did we know that we would be needed in Muskogee, Oklahoma to be with our daughter, Jessica, while she was in ICU.  (You can read this story in another other blog..)
While we were on our way we all had to make phone calls - choir director, Amy Robinson, Sunday school superintendents, Connie Vazquez, Pastor, etc... to let all know we would not be able to fulfill our Sunday positions.  I thought about my Sunday School class, the specials I was supposed to play for, the choir, choir rehearsal, and just being at my church.  Then I thought, this is out of my hands, let go and let God do His work.
I never have to worry because I have capable and talented musician friends who are ready at a moment's notice to do whatever is needed.  What a blessing!  I knew that I would miss being there more than they would miss my being there and that consoled me.
Then I turned to grab at any ideas on how to help Jessica, bargain for her with the Lord, try to work things out in my life so God would heal her, find out the why and how of her illness, ask questions, etc... Then the Lord reminded me to "let go".  I couldn't change anything by saying "what if" or blaming doctors, nurses, or paramedics.  I couldn't help the situation by preaching to Jessica about the dangers of diabetes type I as she lay unconscious in the ICU.  I just sat there and worked on trusting.  I trusted the cranky nurse, the doctor who looked like he belonged on the Food Network, the "Red Neck" nurse, and the doctor who reminded me of a Pentecostal nanny.  Then I realized I was just trusting God and His perfect plan for us.  No matter how you got there, He let you get there, He is with you every step of the way, He provides each need, and He feels  our heartaches.
As I look back on it, I can chuckle a little and say, "Why did I even worry?"  But in the midst of the trial, when the fear and unknown are before you,  you have to let go and work on trusting.  Get a verse or a song in your heart, then just let go and let God.

Isaiah 65:24 - And it shall come to pass, that before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.