How to Be an Effective Alto Worship Leader

Being an effective worship leader requires more than just a good voice.

Being an effective alto worship leader requires more than a good voice. It requires you to be capable of leading the congregation and worship band in singing songs of praise. Not only do you need to be able to sing well, but you must also be spiritually grounded.

Things You'll Need

• Musical instrument
• Bible

Instructions

1. Practice alto singing. Alto is the second highest voice in choral singing; it is lower than soprano, but higher than tenor. The alto range is typically between G3 and F5. If you don't already know how to sing alto, consider taking professional lessons; it's very important that a worship leader can sing in key at all times.

2. Practice a musical instrument. It's not mandatory to know how to play an instrument, but most worship leaders play at least one. The most common worship instruments are pianos and guitars. If you don't know how to play a musical instrument, don't worry: it's not hard to learn basic chords on either a piano or guitar.

3. Read your Bible and pray. While it may seem obvious, people commonly neglect the spiritual aspect of being a worship leader. In order for your words to be true and genuine, you need to make sure that you are constantly fostering a personal relationship with God. Make sure that you are always praying that you will be able to direct the congregation into worship.

4. Practice with your worship team. Try to practice with the same group of people each week. By playing with the same individuals, you increase connectivity and your sound will become more succinct. Make sure that you practice together and not separately, even if everyone feels that they know the songs. Practice routinely and also try to include a brief practice right before the service to get warmed up.

5. Lead the church in worship. Sing enthusiastically and genuinely. Show the congregation that you truly care about their spiritual development. Don't just put on a show; always remember that the attention should be on God and not on yourself. Sing your best and try not to be too hard on yourself.

References

• Experiencing Worship Leaders: Worship Leaders
• "Higher Praise"; What Does a Worship Leader Do?; Bob Kauflin; June 10, 2002

Resources

• Worship Leader Magazine