SONG LEADING
PURPOSE: Singing is an integral part of praising God. The song leader’s skills directly affect
the praising of God in group settings. This event encourages the development of song leading skills in young men and women.
PROCESS:
Each Church will:
1. Register each participant in proper grade category.
2. Submit a possible song leading judge to be used as needed.
3. Make an overhead transparency of each participant’s song which includes the music and words. The song must be public domain (no copyright indication on original) or your congregation must have a church copyright license (CCLI) # before copying any songs. Place “Public Domain”, “PD”, or the CCLI # as applicable in the middle of the side margin of the transparency so that it may be easily seen when the transparency is placed on the overhead projector.
The Event Director will:
1. Be sure an overhead projector is available in each performance room.
2. Assign judges for each time period.
3. Return judges’ forms and results to Convention Events Director with award recommendations.
4. Provide a list to Coordinator of recommended song leaders for Saturday Night Celebration, Sunday morning’s men’s and women’s class and Sunday morning worship.
RULES:
1. Each participant will be judged according to nine areas of Judging Criteria. Each of these areas will be judged on a point continuum that will reflect the skill level of the participant as shown during the event. The point continuum for each Judging Criteria is listed under the Judging Criteria of this event.
2. Boys and girls will perform in separate rooms. Three male judges will judge boys. Three female judges will judge girls. An award rating will be assigned based on the point average among the three judges’ sheets.
3. Spectators will not be allowed to enter or leave the room during a song.
JUDGING CRITERIA
1. It has been said that music is one half math and one half emotion. Song leading may be expressed in similar terms. A large portion of song leading is indeed technical, while an important aspect of song leading is spiritual leadership. Therefore, the judging criteria for song leading is divided into the following:
2. Technical Aspects
a. Transparency: Each participant must bring a transparency to the event containing BOTH words and music – NO EXCEPTIONS, NO EXCUSES! A mandatory five (5) points will be deducted if the transparency does not show either the proper Church Copyright License number (CCLI#) or Public Domain designation in the side margin. It is strongly recommended, though not required, that a song be chosen that fits on a single 8.5 x 11 transparency. The participant, if using a multi-page song or multiple songs, will perform transparency swapping.
b. Pitch: The participant must pitch the song so it can be comfortably sung in all four parts – Soprano, Alto, Tenor, and Bass. NOTE: A pitch pipe or tuning fork may be used to assist the participant in pitching the song correctly. Using either is not mandatory and will not impact points awarded positively or negatively.
c. Tempo: The participant should employ the correct beat and the appropriate mood for the song.
d. Volume – Projection: The participant’s voice should be loud enough to be heard by the judges while the song is being led. The judges may not be sitting at the front of the room.
e. Verses / Verse Transition:: Each participant will lead two verses, and only two verses. NO EXCEPTIONS. The two verses must be led as the music dictates. The participant should follow (and lead) the dynamic markings of the music – fermatas, crescendos, ritardandos, etc.- which indicate whether the music should be soft or loud, fast or slow, etc. Good movement from one verse to the next is expected. – NOTE: A song with a single verse may be repeated once to fulfill this criterion. Arrangements will be allowed. (For example: “Two verses, then the chorus”, etc.) However, the arrangement must transition well between the verses. Arrangements may be from two songs as long as ONLY two verses are led. That means one verse each from each song. Both songs, if used, must be sung without ANY break. In other words, the second song must be led with a smooth transition from the first song. Keep in mind that the ability to lead the group will be impacted by the song or songs selected!
3. Spiritual Aspects
a. Poise: It’s only natural to be nervous in front of a group of people, but does the participant channel this nervousness to excel? Does the participant give the impression that he/she is prepared to lead this song? Is the participant ready and confident to perform the task at hand? Does the participant place the transparency on the overhead projector correctly the FIRST time? Does the participant exhibit good volume and diction when announcing the song?
b. Interaction: Song leading never just entails a single individual worshiping God. Rather, song leading is an individual communicating with the body, and the body communicating praise to the Lord. Therefore, is the participant worshiping with the group or by him/her self? Is EYE CONTACT present, or does the participant
rely on the music too much – i.e. “staring” at it? Does the participant take charge of the group?
c. Spirit of Worship: Does the participant set the tone, mood, and atmosphere for the group? Does the participant’s expression and appearance reflect the song being sung? Does the participant sing with the spirit and sing with the understanding of the song being sung? (Corinthians 14:15).
4. Overall Effectiveness: Would the judges consider asking the participant to lead the singing at a group gathering?
AWARDS:
1. Each individual will be rated according to the following scale:
2. Gold = 95-100 points, Silver = 85-94 points, Bronze = 70-84 points; No Award = 0-69 points
3. An appropriately colored engraved plate for the individual’s Award Plaque will be given to each person receiving a Gold, Silver, or Bronze Rating.