Why Do We Have Auditions?

We have a vision for continuously increasing our worship ministry here at New Heights. Auditions are a very practical tool for evaluating the skills and heart of people who feel called to serve on a worship team. And we promise that it will never be like American Idol!  We want to create a non-intimidating atmosphere for our audition process as much as possible. At the same time, we value honesty, and we want to encourage the pursuit of skill in the music we present to God.

If you have a heart to lead others into meaningful worship, and you feel you are skilled with your voice or musical instrument, we would love to get to know you! Before you audition, please read the expectations and requirements below for participation on the worship team.

Basic Requirements for Participation

To be eligible for the worship team, you must consider New Heights to be your home church, and have attended regularly for a minimum of 2 months. We are looking for trustworthy, team-minded people who will take the commitment seriously.  Maintaining a humble, teachable attitude is very important. The worship team is not a platform for showcasing individual talents, but a place of service to the congregation. Previous experience in a small group, on a worship team or in a band is required. While there are similar principles used in most live music situations, every band or team experience is different. Be prepared to learn new ways of doing things even as we follow standard practices.

When You Audition

When you audition we ask that you select only one instrument. (However, if you are auditioning for an instrument, you may also try out for vocals.) We will give you a few song choices in advance and ask you to choose one to prepare for your audition. We expect you to come to the audition as musically prepared as you would come to a weekend service--and be able to execute your parts, at least, at a semi-professional level (sounding as close as possible to what is on the original recording). Musicians who are high school-aged or older will be considered for a team that serves during the weekend worship services at the campus they currently attend. Musicians who are high school-aged or younger may be considered for one of our student ministry teams.

After You Audition

After you audition we will contact you within one week to let you know whether or not we have a position for you on one of our worship teams. Also, we may ask to see you again for a call back at a later date.

Skill Requirements

Please click below for further guidelines to help you determine if you are ready to audition.

The worship vocalist's primary function is to provide vocal harmony with the worship leader and other worship vocalists. You should also have good stage presence and be able to model worship for the congregation by maintaining an attitude of worship while singing with the team. Our focus is on God, not on performing.

Skill Set:

• Be able to sing on pitch.
• Be able to hear and sing a harmony.
• Be able to reproduce a harmony part for a given song consistently (singing the same part for a song each time that song is sung).
• Be able to control vocal elements such as volume and vibrato in order to blend with the worship leader and other vocalists.

To provide rhythmic support as needed by the worship leader.

Equipment Required:
Must own your own guitar with built-in electronic pickup system and an electronic tuner with bypass. Instrument should be able to hold tune and be in good repair.

Skill Set:

• Have a good knowledge of open chords and barre chords. Should have good working knowledge of the guitar neck. 
• Be able to play different strumming patterns as called for by the given song. 
• Be able to control dynamics while maintaining consistent tempo. Must be able to play with a click track (metronome) and hold tempo. 
• Be able to transpose chords and use a capo. 
• Should be comfortable learning parts by ear. 
• Ability to arpeggiate chords and flatpick is very desirable.

To provide rhythmic support and sonic textures as needed by the worship leader. To play specific parts (lead lines) for songs as needed.

 Must own your own guitar and equipment and be able to reproduce tones consistent with modern contemporary music. (This can be done inexpensively with modern modeling amps. A big pedal board is not required!) Must own an electronic tuner with bypass. Instrument should be able to hold tune and be in good repair.

Skill Set:

• Have a good knowledge of major and minor chords and basic scales. Power chords are essential!
• Be able to play competently in the upper registers of the neck (above the 5th fret).
• Be able to control dynamics while maintaining consistent tempo. Must be able to play with a click track (metronome) and hold tempo.
• Be comfortable learning parts by ear.
• Should be able to arpeggiate chords.

To provide bass content and rhythmic support as needed by the worship leader. To play specific parts for songs as needed. 

Equipment Required:
Must own your own instrument. It should be able to hold tune and be in good repair.

Skill Set:

• Have a good knowledge of the neck, i.e. know the notes in the first five frets of the neck on all strings, preferably without looking.
• A knowledge of basic scales would be useful.
• Should understand basic rhythmic divisions; quarter notes, eighth notes, triplets, etc.
• Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
• Be able to control dynamics while maintaining consistent tempo. Must be able to play with a click track (metronome) and hold tempo.

To provide solid rhythmic foundation for the worship team. 

Equipment Required
Must own your own sticks/mallets/brushes. 

Skill Set

• Must be able to hold steady time against a click track.
• Be able to play a variety of basic quarter note and eighth note rock drum patterns. Others; 2 beat country, 6/8 time signature beats, etc.
• Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.
• Be able to control dynamics while maintaining consistent tempo. Must be able to play with a click track (metronome) and hold tempo.

To provide sonic textures and keyboard parts for the worship team.

Skill Set

• Must be able to hold steady time against a click track.
• Be able to read simple chord charts. 
• Be able to play in a variety of musical styles: contemporary stylings, rock, etc.
• Be able to play piano, Rhodes, organ, and pad sounds appropriately.
• Should know chord inversions and be able to find different chord voicings.
• Should have familiarity with general modern keyboard architecture, i.e. how to recall patches, find different sounds, use a modulation wheel, etc.
• Should be comfortable learning parts by ear.