Worship

Music Director Masterclass

Expectations for the Music Director

Ten expectations to set for your MD — captured in a written, signed job description — from exemplifying core values to learning your track software, plus how to handle a gifted musician with spiritual question marks.

Duration · 9:40

Mike puts these expectations in an actual job description that the MD signs — a commitment to try to meet them, with the worship leader’s help. (Mike offers his job description as a template you can adapt; the worship leader is responsible for placing that file alongside this lesson.) Here are the ten.

The ten expectations

  1. Exemplify the core values. Bloom’s are: represent Jesus, enthusiastically generous, multipliers, take initiative, strive for humility. Use yours.
  2. Be early — not just on time.
  3. Be prepared — practice on their own time, not rehearsal time, honoring teammates.
  4. Know all the parts and arrangements — not just their own. Crucially, know, not necessarily play: they should be able to mouth the drum groove or hum the lead line and catch when something’s missing or wrong (“that shaker’s gone from the verses”).
  5. Lead the team with confidence. They carry authority the worship leader has explicitly given them. This is a calling, not just a slot you fill.
  6. Keep growing spiritually. “Without proper self-evaluation, failure is inevitable” (John Wooden) — a passion for the presence of God and a heart in the right place.
  7. Keep growing musically. A genuine passion for music. A person passionate about Jesus and music is the ideal foundation.
  8. Mentor others — always watching for the next MDs and leaders to raise up (even, eventually, the next worship leader).
  9. Communicate with leadership — which requires you to be humble and open enough that they feel safe bringing ideas and hard truths.
  10. Learn your track software — at Bloom, Ableton Live (also Multitracks Playback; you might use Loop Community). Not just operate it — program it, troubleshoot it, fire tracks, and understand the flexibility tracks give you in worship.

These are high expectations. They should be — it’s kingdom work. And remember Mike’s framing: “I give them expectations, and I do everything in my power to help them meet those expectations.” It’s a calling you equip them to step into, not a burden you drop on them.

What about a gifted musician with spiritual question marks?

It depends. If someone is gossipy or divisive, they shouldn’t even be on the team, let alone an MD. But if someone is simply still growing, are you — pastor first — willing to disciple them? That may pause their journey to the MD role (maybe a 12-week book together), but it doesn’t automatically disqualify them.

Application

  • Draft your version of the MD job description. Which two or three expectations are non-negotiable for you?
  • Is there a gifted-but-growing person you’d be willing to disciple toward this role?