Songwriting Archives - Rich Kirkpatrick

The Best Church Music is: UNCLUTTERED – Matters of context and clarity.

Rich KirkpatrickAugust 7, 201801.9K views

To value clarity in congregational music we often fight an uphill battle. Besides music styles and the history of our own local church, the ever-changing goals of what church music should be and “do” creates a moving target. Do we gather a congregation to be sent or do we attract to turn a crowd into a congregation? There is value, of course, in these two ideas about what a worship service should aim to do. They do not have to be mutually exclusive, but one will win out when it comes to church music. Do you have a cluttered desk of values? Does your church music make the points and support the goals that everyone openly understands? Or, do we keep things vague because the questions are too hard and it is politically expedient to muddle an issue that is often expressed emotionally? In other words, do we dumb down…

A Conversation with Brandon Bee – Songs from the Sky

Rich KirkpatrickJune 6, 20170794 views

Brandon Bee is a hard man to pin down. As a world traveler and dad of several kids, I caught him while he was in the car en route to renew his 16-year-old son’s passport for a trip to Italy. Raised by parents who were in a band, Brandon knew life on the road, and it seems his kids will grow up in what was normal to him. There is nothing ordinary about a guy who has 300 albums to his producer credits. More than a prolific musician and dad, he is also a minister of the gospel, serving in a local church in Eastern Washington state and leading a worship music movement in Italy. On top of all of the accomplishments in ministry and music, Brandon is a singer-songwriter, creating music from his unique perspective of Pacific Northwestern folksy blend. If you have heard his past solo projects or…

Country music isn’t that bad!

Joel BucknerFebruary 28, 20170718 views

Over the past few weeks, my worship team has been reading The HD Leader by Derwin Gray. The book speaks about building multiethnic churches and embracing diversity. According to the book, a homogeneous church is one that is made up of 80 percent or more of the same ethnicity. Ring any bells? I certainly grew up in a church that was homogenous. Every Sunday we had a full-on production: big choir, praise and worship team, a loud and passionate preacher, and it wasn’t church without a b3 Hammond organ. My church experience shaped my perception of what worship was “supposed” to look and sound like. It was what I was comfortable with, and for a long time, it was all I knew. I moved to Nashville, the music mecca, a few years after college and my perception of worship and church began to change as I was exposed to new…

Worship CD Review: Songs in the Key of the Congregation by Rick Muchow

Rich KirkpatrickJune 16, 20160417 views

From time to time I indulge in sharing music that many of you might not hear about in the main industry. Indie worship projects are as good or better than anything produced by major labels. Here is an example of a recent release. I have to say I love the new album Songs in the Key of the Congregation by Rick Muchow, worship coach, songwriter, and former worship pastor at Saddleback Community Church. Rick’s music company is named appropriately “Encouraging Music”–a label easily attached to the years of encouragement dished out by Rick to worship leaders and congregations all over the hemisphere. Encouragement isn’t always the easy words one gives. Rick pulls us deeper with this project just as he does in his mentoring. Beyond all that Rick brings to the table, it is musically produced with excellence and the tones and sounds are as modern as anything out there.…

Something BIG and NEW: “a beautiful liturgy” Music Project!

Rich KirkpatrickNovember 23, 20150292 views

At age 13, my daughter Emilie Kirkpatrick began leading worship with me. In the past eight years, she has released two projects of her own songs and is a in skillful worship leading as well as songwriting. These eight year have formed a collaboration. Recently, we formed “a beautiful liturgy” as a music group to write and lead worship! We have already recorded one of the five songs for our 5-song project! But, we need your help and support as independent musicians. On Kickstarter.com or on this video and link, you can see and hear our story! The site even has a sample of the song we already recorded. Please, give it a watch and let us know what you think!