Report from TUNE UP 2019
Thanks to all who joined us on August 17, 2019 at Christ Church United Methodist Church Sugar Land (Sugar Land, TX).
The TUNE UP gathering is an annual event in the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod for contemporary church musicians. Over 50 participants from 20 different churches gathered in the Houston area in August for a day of training and networking. This was the sixth annual event that brings together a diverse group of leaders and participants to work on issues related to band-led worship in a congregation.
One of the unique things about TUNE UP is the multi-denominational atmosphere. This year musicians and worship leaders from Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, Nazarene, and non-denominational churches all participated in an ecumenical and collegial environment.
The gathering began with opening worship and presentations from Clayton Faulkner (Director of Worship, Faith Lutheran, Bellaire, TX), Craig Gilbert (Purposed Heart Ministries, Alvin, TX), and Mark Swayze (Pastor of Contemporary Music and Community Growth, The Woodlands United Methodist Church, The Woodlands, TX). Words of welcome were offered by DeAndre Johnson (Pastor of Music and Worship Life, Christ Church Sugar Land, TX). The opening worship band was formed by the track leaders for the day. This included music led by Brian Christopher Clay (Worship Leader and Director of Communications and AV technology, St. John’s Lutheran Church, Knoxville, TN).
Healthy relationships among band members quickly emerged as one of the main takeaways for the day. Many of the struggles and conflicts that bands run into can be best addressed through healthy relational connectedness both at and away from church. Leading worship together begins with mutual respect and care for one another.
After opening worship everyone divided into instrumental, vocal, and tech breakout groups. The instrumental breakout groups were divided by specific area (worship leader, acoustic/electric guitar, bass guitar, keyboard, drums, vocals, and sound tech). There were also conceptual track offerings in the afternoon that included sessions on leading in humility, working with what you’ve got in your specific context, invitational leadership, and running an effective rehearsal.
One of the highlights every year is the “Coaching for Bands” session. This was essentially a masterclass on arranging music for bands. A group of volunteers from the attendees were spontaneously selected to form an “instant band” that had never played or sang together before. They were given a popular worship song to lead together. After a run through, they received feedback and help with their musicianship and presentation from a panel made up of the breakout group leaders. By the end of the session the group had made great strides in improving their cohesion and leadership of the song.
One attendee who has participated for several years commented, “Each time we think, ‘We’ve gone every year – what more can we possibly get out of this?’ Then we attend and remark on the way home, ‘Wow! So glad we went because we learned this and this and that.’ This is why we want to see this keep going. We learn new things each time AND we also realize how far we’ve come in implementing items we’ve learned in the past when they are suggested to others during the current event. Such a great opportunity to exchange ideas with other groups that we do not currently get anywhere else.”
Another attendee commented, “The concepts presented are applicable to any style of worship, not just contemporary. Listening with an open mind uncovers the challenges we face and encourages us to use new thinking in our approach to worship and music and excellence in execution.”
Plans are underway to hold another TUNE UP event in 2020. This website (TuneUpGathering.org) will have updates and registration information.
Announcing Two TUNE UP Events in 2019
Welcome to 2019! We are excited to bring worship leaders and church musicians together for two events this year.
March 23, 2019 – Psalm Immersion with Richard Bruxvoort Colligan
August 17, 2019 – TUNE UP worship band gathering
Richard Bruxvoort Colligan is a psalmist making adventurous music for the ever-evolving church. A composer and musician, he serves across denominations singing songs, teaching the psalms and telling dumb jokes.
He has recorded several albums of original worship music, and his hymns have been published by the UCC, ELCA, UMC and PCUSA. Richard earned his M.A. in Theology and the Arts from United Theological Seminary of the Twin Cities and is currently working on his DMin through Eden Seminary in St. Louis. Since 2004, his central vocation has been immersion in the Psalms, studying, teaching, singing and creating new congregational songs for all 150. He teaches Psalms at several seminaries, in workshop at events and local churches and he is the weekly Psalm Correspondent for the Pulpit Fiction podcast.
He lives with his wife and teenage son in Strawberry Point, Iowa. Free listening at PsalmImmersion.com.
Registration for the Psalm Immersion will open soon. Registration for the TUNE UP gathering in August will open after Easter.
Stay tuned for more updates.
TUNE UP 2016! Join us for a day of training and worship.
We have a date for this year’s event: Saturday, August, 20, 2016! The event location this year will be back at Faith Lutheran Church, 4600 Bellaire Blvd, Bellaire, TX 77401. We have many returning leaders as well as some new faces to lead and inspire us this year. Registration will be opening after Easter.
Be a sponsor of TUNE UP
We are looking for churches and other organizations to help make the TUNE UP worship band gathering a success by donating toward the event. Your support of this event will help keep registration costs affordable for everyone.
For a $500 sponsorship, your church/organization would be listed as a sponsor on the promotional material as well as the event website. Additionally, you can send as many members from your worship team and congregation to the event at no further registration cost. We know that many churches see the fruits of offering a quality worship music experience and would like to invest in making this possible for other churches. We would greatly appreciate your help in providing financial support to further equip and enhance worship band ministry throughout our synod and beyond.
For further questions or to join as a sponsor, please use our Contact form.
TUNE UP in Louisiana!
TUNE UP Louisiana POSTPONED! We’re sorry, but the event schedule for February 22 in Louisiana has been postponed till a later date.
We want you to know that we have confirmed the date for TUNE UP worship band gathering in Louisiana: Saturday, February 22, 2014.
The event will be hosted by Christ the King Lutheran Church in Kenner (1001 W. Esplanade Ave. • Kenner, La 70065). This event is designed for acoustic guitarists, electric guitarists, bass guitarists, drummers, keyboardists, vocalists, and audio/video techs.
Look for more details and online registration for the event coming soon!
TUNE UP worship band gathering – Saturday, August 10, 2013
Welcome!
This event is for Worship Bands, Youth Bands, Praise Teams, Sound Techs, Vocalists, Keyboardists, Electric Guitarists, Bass Guitarists, Acoustic Guitarists, Drummers, Pastors, and Directors of Music.
If you want to learn and grow as a contemporary worship musician, this is the event for you.
SPONSORED BY:
Messiah Lutheran Church (Cypress, TX)
Faith Lutheran Church (Bellaire, TX)
St. John Lutheran Church (Angleton, TX)
Tree of Life Lutheran Church (Conroe, TX)
TUNE UP 