Some fundamental guidelines for willing musicians.

Notes from zoom meeting with Ps. Edwin Dadson, Ntokozo & husband

This is some key points now which was discussed as fundamental guidelines for willing musicians. 

 1. Know your vocal range.

- Try vocal exercises over and over again, starting as low as you can to as high as you can.

2. Find the keys that best fit your vocal range.

- Note the suitable keys for each song.

- The Keyboardists should help singers choose the best keys for songs.

3. Record and listen to yourself.

- Monitor your progress

* You are as good as your last gig

*There is always room for improvement

*The more you practice, the better you get. (Parable of the talents - Matthew 25:14–30)

*God gives each of us talents and giftings. Do not get jealous of anyone's talent.

*It is disobedient to not grow your talent/gift.

Gift is what God gives you, skill is what you give back to God.

-Learn from others

- Invest in yourself

4. While you're still working on your skill, don't experiment it in public

*A song has to minister to you deeply first before you minister to others.

- Consistently fill yourself before pouring out (spiritually and technically).

- Be constantly ready in and out of season.

5. It is important to plan/prepare.

- Think about a sing wholistically.

- Don't do too much in the first verse(take it slow) because its the introduction of the song.

- Know the melody of the song

- Build up slowly to the chorus

-Step up the second verse up a notch

- Second chorus has to be stronger

- Let it all out at the vamp and bridge as they are the climax of the song.

*When you plan and the Holy Spirit takes over, you are never lost.

- Assume a good posture when you sing

- Watch videos

- Find people to teach and give demonstrations to Bvs.

6. It is important to remember that our individuality is necessary for the proper function of the body of Christ.

- Be yourself, you don't need to mimic other people's singing.

7. Techniques -You can emphasize a phrase or word in a song by singing it a couple of times.

*There's a difference between techniques and gimmicks

- Long notes work!

- The climax of a song doesn't always mean high notes.

- Sometimes on stage, a singer needs to be silent and listen(for a few seconds) to what the spirit of God is saying at the moment.

* The loudness around the singer should not drown the voice of God.

8. Be patient - it takes time to get better

- Google is your friend. Search for vocal exercises on Google and YouTube.

9. If your vocals are cracking, you need to rest. Be quiet, rest your vocal cords.

- Be intentional of how to use your vocal cord.

10. A music director should know music.

- The MD should have leadership skills.

11. Always keep your throat hydrated 

- Drink lots of water

- Coughing injures your vocal cords

- when you feel the urge to cough, swallow.

12. Learning to play an instrument improves your singing.

- Learn more musical vocabulary.

13. About stage fright - Be honest to God about it in prayer.

Proverbs 28:1

14. Its all about God. Always give all the glory to Him.

Learn to Grow as A Gospel Musician, Live Zoom discussion hosted by Pastor Edwin

A Time with Mr & Mrs Mbatha, Hosted by Pastor Edwin Dadson via zoom

God gives us gift and we give him skill. Gift is prayed about but skill is learnt and worked out.

Failing to develop yourself is disobedience.

Skills not properly rehearsed and well developed is not done on stage because you are trying to figure it out. 

Food is very good for the body to nourish you whiles you are eating you don’t have to bring it. So preparation is better before doing it outside . 

The song must hit you before you sing it. The song has to minister to you first. Meditate on it and you do it well. 

Music is combination of skill and the power of God.   The song to be ministered by you must be rehearsed and fed on in the spirit like more than two weeks before the day of ministration. Knowing the word of God is paramount which gives you the urge to tap into the things of God to minister or write songs. 

They also said Constant reading of the word and praying is very essential whether you will need it now or later.  Your preparation today will bail you out in future opportunity. Chew the scripture in and out of season so when there is a song you are to minister, scripture pops up from your spirit. An experience of God also gives you the fore knowledge to singing from the heart. 

Planning is very key at all times in singing. In writing a song you take people on a journey so the beginning ( first verse) mustn’t be chunked with lots of lyrics but the other verses. 

The melody of the song is the character of the song and the heart of the song. The bridge is the portion when you carry your listeners along and there lies much strength. 

WHEN YOU DONT PLAN AND THE HOLY SPIRIT TAKES OVER, YOU WILL BE LOST BUT WHEN YOU PREPARE AND HE COMES IN, YOU FOLLOW SUIT DULY.

Music is a journey.

You can draw inspiration from other singers and learn from them but be you.

Be yourself and learn from people ahead of you. 

Techniques is very good but you must leave your audience full, i.e not to get them excited without experiencing God. Emphasizing certain words is very good but it shouldn’t be too much if not it becomes gimmicks. 

There should be moments whiles singing that you must keep quiet to hear what the Holy Spirit is saying. This will help you know where the spirit wants you to emphasize or repeat it or do something. You have to keep calm and listen to God at a point in time. It is not all songs that must be heavily driven by the lead singer, sometimes you have to allow the song to flow and worship as well. 

When you have vocal cracks  just have rest. Don’t talk plenty, written note can be used sometimes@Ntokozo. 

Ghanaians are doing very well in music but I think we will do better if much time is devoted for it. 

Most Ghanaians are working and doing music so much energy isn’t put into it because of stress. 

Collaborations is very important to launch you out there. 

God bless you