–Part I of this interview can be found [button style=”” url=”https://www.sonicnuance.com/2015/03/17/interview-freddy-wachter/” size=”” block=”false” target=”_self”]here[/button]
Ted: Ever had to dismiss a team member for whatever reason? If so, do you have suggestions for Worship Leaders?
Freddy: I would say the moment someone disrespects you, like calls you a vulgar name in front of people they’re done. If you let someone walk all over you in that sense they are going to use that against you. Now their is also a fine balance. One thing we teach here is grace and “assume the best and get the facts”. Sometimes I’ll say “I’m sorry you feel that way, can we talk later?” Because I want to find out why they acted like they did. Maybe they had a rough day at work or something I could pray over. But you have to use discernment and judgement per situation. If the person in question is affecting the vision of the team or if they think they are better than the team… then its time for them to go. I mean, its a team environment. Just like a football team – you got a quarterback who gets all the praise but he would be nothing without his defense. He will get tackled every single time.
Four things I look for whenever I bring a new person on. They are the four “C”s:
the Chemistry I have with them
the Competency that they have
the Character that they have
the Culture
Culture is a big one a lot of people miss. Musicians come from all kinds of backgrounds. You might have a gospel singer or an opera singer but you want that to fit in your culture. For the style that we use it might not work for a typical service, but if we have a “special” I might call that person up. So making the right stylistic choice per song.
Part of life is you’re going to have those conversations. Most musicians are very emotional – get their feelings hurt. So you have to use discernment and judgement. Are they adding to your team or taking away? Because if they are taking away, then you’re going to have to make that hard call.
Make sure you have the backup from your pastoral staff and your leaders before you make that call. You never know, people can start rumors and I’ve seen ministries get destroyed because of that.
Ted: Let’s transition to individual musician team members. I’m going to ask about some key members of a typical band. What do you look for in a drummer when somebody comes in and auditions? I would assume it would be keeping time, maybe playing with a click track.
Freddy: I play drums myself. There’s a saying I learned at worship school from professional musicians, “never practice alone, always practice with a metronome”. Every professional drummer I’ve talked to when I go to concerts plays live along with a click track. A drummer is the heartbeat of the entire song. If a drummer can’t keep beat then the song is destroyed. The congregation is confused clapping on the “one” instead of the “two”. Paul Beloche said “better no drummer than a bad drummer”. I believe that.
So I would say a drummer has to know how to play with a click, if not then they at least have to be teachable. Also they have to know dynamics. I think a lot of drummers overplay and show their fills. The best drummers in the world are very simple but technical.
If you learn the lingo of your drummer, your drummer will love you as far as communication. Also, look at the cues of the leader – pay attention to where the band is going.
Ted: Let’s move on to bass players
Freddy: I have so much respect for bass players because they are some of the most under appreciated musicians on the team because you don’t notice they’re not there until they aren’t there. I’m a firm believer that the bass player and the drummer are “married” together. The bassist isn’t playing exactly what the drummer is playing but you gotta play in the pocket. Also, play simple – the right notes at the right time. Because if you hit the wrong note then everyone hears it because its the low end. Also playing our style and being teachable is important. Regarding character, I would ask “are you trying to get your personal agenda across or are you trying to get one for the whole team?”
Ted: Rhythm guitarists…
Freddy: Same as the drummer, you gotta be able to play with the click. Do you have the right tone and playing the progression in the right way? Making sure you are playing the right voicing. Also hitting the strings when you are supposed to (muting the unwanted strings)
Ted: Keyboard player?
Freddy: They have to be flexible. Can they match the tones and go from playing a simple pad to playing a rhythmically complex part?
Ted: Lead guitarist?
Freddy: Don’t overplay and the tone is everything. The right delay, the right distortion. I look at the lead guitar and the piano as going hand in hand as they are doing little fills here and there. A lot of lead guitarists overplay, they want to play a solo every five minutes. A lot of rock and roll players are so used to playing all the time I check whether they can not play for sections.
Also splitting registers between rhythm guitar, lead guitar and keyboard. The concept of layering is very important. Its like painting a picture – depth, dimension, etc.
Ted: Singers?
Freddy: They have to know how to hear the notes. If they can’t sing to a chord or they can’t hear then they can’t sing. I don’t care how good a singer they are. I would say if you want to sing on a worship team you have to know how to harmonize unless you are leading the melody.
Ted: Keys of songs. What is your approach if a singer is struggling with a song in the written key? Do you switch keys?
Freddy: Absolutely. I will meet with the vocalists ahead of sending the songs to the team and ask, “what is the key you can sing this song in?” I want a key that’s comfortable for them.
Stylistic wise it has to fit. Can they sing with less vibrato? And no divas! The vocalists get all the attention. If the vocalists can’t sing it doesn’t matter what your team sounds like – the audience is just hearing that bad pitch. [laughs]
Microphone etiquette – backing away from mic when belting out a part, doing a sound check (singing not talking into the mic). Stage presence is a big thing – being able to interact with the audience that is not too weird or too showy.
Ted: Thank you for your time Freddy. I learned a lot as a team member and am sure others will too.
Freddy: No problem.
For more information, contact:
Freddy Wachter – Pastor of Music at Crossroads Church
Freddy@crossroadsfremont.org
