Worship band
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A worship band is a band that leads singing in Christian worship. They are often known as a worship team or a praise band. Worship bands often play contemporary choruses or praise songs.
Many churches which use modern styles of music in their worship form their own worship bands. Some contemporary Christian music bands also act as worship bands for events, and may label themselves as such.
As a trend within the Emerging Church phenomenon as well as contemporary and seeker-sensitive hurches, there has been an evolution in the style of music employed in congregational or small group worship. This involves an increased use of modern worship music to either supplement or entirely replace traditional hymns. Worship bands are most common in evangelical groups, but can also be found in mainline Protestant churches as well as in Roman Catholic worship.
Along with the new styles of music is the incorporation of non-traditional church instruments. Typical band instruments such as guitars, both acoustic and electric, harmonicas, and drum kits have emerged as the instruments of choice in many churches, leaving out the more traditional organ or piano. A band usually has one main song leader, or two who alternate the role of leading a song, and one to several back-up singers. Worship bands usually lead congregational singing replacing the traditional church choir.
A worship band can create a contemporary sound to the worship that younger worshipers can identify with. Worship bands can also be utilized in order for non-churchgoing visitors to feel more comfortable, whereas in traditional worship settings they may feel intimidated.
