There's no doubt it's difficult to memorize your music. Between chords and lyrics and constantly changing keys it can be hard to remember it all. But it's also hard to do a lot of things when it comes worship leading and just because something is difficult doesn't mean you shouldn't do it.
Here are 3 benefits of memorizing your music for worship leaders:
1 | You can't make eye contact if you're staring at your music
I know you think you aren't staring at your music... But let's be honest, you are! Those promises to only casually glance at your music "when you need it" quickly turn into a staring contest between you and your chord chart when you're leading. It becomes a comfort zone that's hard to break out of. Not only do you not have to worry about what chord or words come next, it also provides a safe place to look where you don't have to engage your congregation.
The problem is: you SHOULD be engaging your congregation. Eye contact helps you connect with them and allows you to gauge the room which, in turn, allows you to lead them where they need to be led.
2 | You are forced to be more familiar with the songs
Memorizing your music makes you a better musician because you are forced to actually learn the song structure! When you just read your music off the chart, you don't actually know it. It's the difference between reading a speech you've pre-written and speaking from memory. When you memorize your music you don't have to think about what comes next because you already know!
3 | You are forced to engage with the truth of the song
When you memorize your music, it forces you to be engaged with the truth of the song. In the memorization process you are forced to consider not just the words themselves but what the words actually mean. It's like reading a book. It's one thing to read the book - it's a whole other thing to actually comprehend what's being said.
Do you memorize your music before leading worship? Or do you use a music stand or iPad? Let us know in the comments below!
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