Songleading is so different from performing, too-- I'd love to hear Joe Offer's thoughts on what makes songleading unique.(The material below is excerpted from orientation material in draft for potential new associate band members who live far but visit and play with us often.)
Leading Worship Music
I'm our group's overall band director, tho this doesn't mean I direct much in terms of how each player will do their part. I initially set the tempo and phrasing-- the feel of the song, since it will be actually SUNG.
We like it when individual players interpret a song for their instrument in their own way, in terms of ornamentation, once we have hit a groove on the rhythm and phrasing. Things morph in a good way; I don't impose the sound but let it emerge and listen for that.
Sometimes I will ask individuals to play certain instruments on certain pieces (fiddle vs banjo for example), knowing how that person will probably style it, but it's very flexible depending on who is present and what they brought.
Creative chaos, and I have veto, by general agreement.
I suppose come across as bossy if one is overly sensitive in areas of authority. What is more accurate, I think, is that this directiveness is mainly due to the lack of rehearsal time to futz around having a committe meeting, and the lack of time spent by others on learning new songs in advance-- we are all playing with the jukebox in MY head because I am the only one so far who has the time to review new music and do arrangements for everyone. I prefer to think of myself as willing to make a decision when one is needed, in a timely and clear fashion, but it comes from knowing the band well and knowing a song well because no one else has usually heard it until I sing it for them.... even if it's just enough singing from me to get the tune into Tom or Hardi's head if it is one they will songlead.
~Susan