Debriefing and Improving
Musical excellence is built by constant evaluation and small iterative tweaks. Three practical ways to debrief — between services, from rehearsal recordings, and from the livestream — done with encouragement, not just correction.
Another factor in musical excellence is constant evaluation and making small, iterative improvements. Tiny tweaks, one step at a time, week after week, compound into major improvement over just a few short years. Excellence isn’t a switch you flip — so make evaluation and debriefs a regular part of your process.
How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.
Three ways to debrief your team
1. Between services. If your church has multiple Sunday services, touch base with the team after the first one. Ask:
- How did it go? What needs to change?
- Were any transitions too long or too short?
- Are there major mistakes to correct before the next service?
- And the important one — “Do you have any input for me?”
When you show the team you’re open to evaluation, they’ll be far more open when you have input for them.
2. Listen to rehearsal recordings. Record your midweek rehearsal’s final run-through and evaluate it before Sunday. Alex used to grab the recording from the sound guy, drop it on his phone, and listen through his car speakers on the way home — making mental notes (“that chord was wrong,” “that person is clashing with that person”) — then send the link to the band with fixes. By Sunday, they’ve already made the changes to sound amazing.
3. Watch the livestream back. Go home, take a nap, eat, then put on good headphones somewhere quiet and watch the whole worship set. Evaluate yourself first: Did you smile? Were you welcoming? Did you fumble your words? How was your stage presence? Then send the team the link with encouraging words.
Let people evaluate themselves
A key principle: don’t do everyone’s evaluation for them. Send the link, encourage them to watch and assess their own playing, and let them own it.
- For team members who crave feedback, give it — but individually, never in a group text.
- Keep that feedback specific and kind. Alex’s note to a keys player: “You did really great today. So thankful for how much you prepare. One small thing — when you’re doing fast arpeggiated piano that loops, be careful not to rush ahead of the click. Other than that, you’re doing excellent.”
Encourage, don’t just correct
Don’t forget to celebrate the good things that happened in that service.
Be corrective, but also encourage. If you only focus on the negative, you’ll depress, discourage, and stress the team out for the next service. Keep debriefs upbeat, joyful, positive, and expectant.
Application
- Could you add a quick between-services huddle this Sunday — one that asks the team for input on your leadership too?
- Will you start recording your rehearsal’s final run-through and reviewing it before Sunday?
- Who on your team craves feedback? Send them one specific, encouraging note privately this week.
- When you debrief, what’s the first thing out of your mouth — a celebration, or a critique?