In the same vein as the previous post ... lessons about the risks of performance worship.

HERE

Music is powerful ... we are wired to respond to it, and we're wired to create it.  Just consider how many people go around humming, whistling, and singing in their daily life.

For that very reason we need to be careful of where our focus is: do we try move people emotionally and cry "Great worship" when they do?  Or do we strive to help people draw closer to God in intimacy, thanks, and praise? 

Either way the visible response may look the same ... but the one is manipulation, the other worship.

A good essay on this HERE.

Here's a church whose setup sounds much like ours.  Some encouragement, and some pointers to take note of.  HERE

We've had a stable repertoire for a few months now ... perhaps we should start considering bringing in something new?

Thoughts on this process HERE

Some really good advice:

The 100% rule. If you are the piano player and you're the only one playing, you are at 100%. You're playing it all. If you add a guitar, you just halved your contribution. You are 50% and the guitar is 50%. Add a drummer and a bass player, and you become 25%. What this means is that each instrumentalist plays a little less with the addition of other instruments, and no one plays 'all out'.

Read the full article HERE

An example of how an electric guitar, in simplicity, can augment the song ... and leave space for other sounds.  Also shows how even a very simple bass line can add (volunteers?)  :)  The song itself doesn't grab me much, but it is a useful one to diagnose parts.