WORSHIP/
MUSIC TRACK

Ah, the joy and power of music and worship! Music has dynamic, universal elements which we will all look at together in full group and in break out sessions. Each day your track of study will help you hone and enrich your specific musical craft, interest and purpose. Specialized breakout sessions from which to choose offer enhanced areas of exploration and study.

The Art of Practicing and Leading Authentic Worship

Two Tracks

With Manuel Luz, Jeremy Oliveria, Matt Combe, Kevin Ballotje and more.

Track A Pre-sessions primarily for Pastors/Worship leaders/ Aspiring worship leaders –while open to all seeking to expand their knowledge of all aspects of worship.

Track A pre-session begins Friday at 9:00 a.m. – 6:30, continues Friday night and Saturday 9:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (includes lunch and dinner both days)

Track Z for ALL worship leaders, musicians, vocalists, instrumentalists or other members of worship teams or others seeking to expand their knowledge and converse about all aspects of worship.

Track Z begins Friday at 6:30 p.m. and continues Sat. at 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (includes lunch and dinner on Saturday):

Jesus said, “the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23-24) Hitting THAT mark is the target. What is God’s true experience of us in worship? How do we reflect that in song choices. We’ll explore together the effect of the culture on worship…good or bad or hmmmm..?. Has cultural narcissism infiltrated church and worship? Ascend and The Worship track team are all passionate about refreshing and equipping worship leaders and teams with the art and skills to bring congregations to authentic “Spirit and Truth” focused worship. Plus, this music track offers engaging and elevating skill enhancement breakouts sessions for individual roles within a worship team:

For a pastor or worship leader wanting to inspire and advance your entire worship team together, an individual wanting to explore more depth of personal worship with music, Join us as we begin by examining, not the most current trends, but the theology of worship. Explore the patterns and principles rooted and revealed in Scripture. And with extra encouragement for young emerging worship leaders.

Track A launches your experience alongside the entire Ascend Creatives Conference Friday morning with other artists and musicians and artistic scribes (calligraphers) seeking to ignite their spirit and passions and to hone their giftings to the glory of God.

Whether you’re

DAY ONE – (Begins at 9:00 a.m.)

Breakout session topics include::

How to be prepared in Spirit and in Truth as a leader
How to Serve those in the room
Understanding how to arrange and provide music for who you have on your team
Band and Team dynamics – managing team dynamics and personalities. How to teach and encourage an upcoming generation of worship leaders and graciously rotate the seasoned generationally mature faithful ones.
Song selection - What are the most important elements in song selection? Do songs represent accurate theology? What are the songs designed to achieve? For us or for God? What about singability for the congregation? What is the role and unique purpose of periods of a cappella singing How about the hymns from generations/centuries of ages past? There are songs of deliverance, songs of Ascent, songs of praise, songs of thanksgiving, song of lament.. What do we use on Sunday mornings?
And more

DAY ONE Tracks A (continued) & Z Friday Evening - Welcoming All Music Track Attendees, begins at 6:30 p.m – 8:30 p.m.. plus the entire Ascend Conference - A Night of Artful and Honest Worship, with speaker, Manuel Luz.

DAY TWO - (A & Z) Saturday– Continued WORSHIP TRACKS

Saturday – 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (includes lunch and dinner) All Day sessions include Ascend Conference all group joint sessions, breakout worship track sessions ending with our open to the public final evening event.

Break out sessions for the team of leaders/musicians/ singers/ Topics include:

Band and team dynamics – working together with the team. Patterns of effective cohesion, unity, conduct and Conflict resolution.
Worship Guitar with (Andrew Kostrna & team): Tips, Techniques and Practices that enhance worship. Whether it's playing and perfecting chords, fingering, runs, or sonic possibilities on a guitar, this focus track workshop can expand your repertoire of skills. For those wanting to learn new possibilities and expand their guitar horizons. Enhance your chording, fills, using the capo,

Worship Paino/keyboard with Iryna Kudielina: Tips, Techniques and Practices that enhance worship. Building improvisational skills on the piano. Piano accompanying the singing in worship has changed dramatically in recent decades. From pipe organs, parlor organs to simplistic 4-part musical notes from hymn books of the last century, current worship piano generally follows a chord-based model with chording patterns, fills, runs and styles. Study with master classical pianist Iryna Kudielina who has been playing in church in Ukraine since she was 10 and now plays in a contemporary worship setting.. Whether it's playing and perfecting chords and chording transitions, fills, mood, runs, this focus track workshop can expand your repertoire of keyboard skills.
For SingerS/Vocalists – Tips, Techniques and Practices that enhance worship with Jenni Abdo and the team., God endowed power in the act of singing. It is commanded by God over 100 times in the Scriptures. It releases physical endorphins that activate a full body response and a mind/brain change. And worship vocalists have the honor of leading this practice in the church. This Specialized breakout session providing vocal enhancement, team vocal dynamics and unity, harmonizing training,
Personal preparation to worship in Spirit and Truth. Jesus said, “the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks.” (John 4:23-24) Hitting THAT target is the goal.
The big screen and smoke machines…….how to use our big screens, images, or no screen, and special effects most effectively and intentionally for worship. God orchestrated directives for a plethora of special effects for worship in the temple and the tabernacle all with a unified voice curating an atmosphere of holiness and sacredness. How do we translate God’s heart for the past worship environment with our modern churches? A worthy discussion with several keen perspectives.
Expanding the instrumentation orchestration possibilities in Worship – King David created over 1000 instruments . This session explores bringing chamber instruments and more orchestration to worship again.
Worship panel: Hear from and ask questions of a panel of experienced leaders