You Gotta Face the Music

By Derek Volkmann, 2.22.2025

Alright, the punny headline is really bad.

But there's truth to it: Some of us, especially worship leaders, can't stand coming face to face with ourselves when reviewing how well (or bad) a service went.

Still... it's necessary for growth, both in your confidence and your abilities and that of your team, as well.?

Confession Time

I'll be the first to say it: I really don't like hearing myself on playback. It feels weird to hear my voice come through speakers or headphones, and I cringe nearly every time.?

What makes it even worse is listening to myself singing because I hear all those pesky imperfections—being out of tune, not in time, awkward breath support, "chewy" diction...

...and don't even get me started on my guitar tone. facepalm

In music school, so much of my recorded practice time was meant to see where my phrasing, timing, and overall execution would come together, or rather "not" come together. There was a drive to match solos exactly, note for note, with every inflection and nuance delivered perfectly.

To be honest, it still carries over into how I listen back to church livestream recordings—perfectionism and seeing where that standard isn't met became normal operating procedure for me.

This isn't really a negative thing; there's a lot of value in being able to immediately identify discrepancies and know how to fix them. But reviewing performances isn't just about scanning for the "bad"; it's also an opportunity to affirm the "good."

Playing to Strengths?

When I go back and review our recent livestream recordings, I now try to look for what goes well in addition to what needs to be improved. This way, I know where the greatest strengths lie within my team and lean into that, while also helping them adapt and improve the parts that aren't as strong.

It can look like recognizing when:

• A singer turns the corner on matching intonation, or takes the leap on a "spontaneous" part and sticks the landing.
• A drummer captured the essence of a complicated groove, simplifying it and delivering a rock solid performance.
• A keyboard player stepped out of the "middle C" rut and is exploring the full range of the instrument.
• A guitar player pulled back and played tasteful rhythm and fills, instead of constantly filling up the space.?
• A bass player actually "leads" with their lines, instead of only sitting "in the pocket" with single notes.

Put the Time In

So much of my practice time was spent avoiding recordings of myself; it was anxiety-provoking to hear all the wrong things. But once I learned to recognize that review was also an opportunity to hear what went right, then it made regular review so much easier to handle.?

So I would encourage you to make review a normal, expected part of your routine when preparing for services. Go back and see what went well, what could be improved, and then actively discuss with your team about how to draw out their strengths and solve the issues that lead to less-than-desired results.?

Be blessed ????