Frisco Community Bible Church Youth Worship Team Ethnography

Introduction

The Dallas music-culture I have observed, analyzed, and participated in was the Frisco Community Bible Church Youth Worship Team. If the music culture is referred to as “the worship team” it is because the musicians decided that “it would be easier to call it that until a new name can be decided upon” (Anonymous). This blog will focusing on Ideas About Music, Activities Involving Music, Repertoires of Music, Material Culture of Music, and the Preservation of Music of this particular music culture. Although these aspects of music-cultures will reveal shared characteristics to other Christian music cultures, the aspects will also illustrate unique characteristics which set it apart from other music cultures in the Dallas area.

Methodology

The methods I used to collect my data and information about this music culture was by attending one of their monthly performances and interviewing some members of the culture. Most of the information I received from two college members, but I also noted and in my field work at the event. One interviewee was Rebecca Yu, a college student and Collin County Community College and the other one asked to stay anonymous. Contrary to the two college students I interviewed, most of the musicians are in high school, but my sources were sufficient enough to obtain the information needed grasp a strong understand of the culture.

The event I attended for my field work took place on a Sunday morning at 11:00 in a large sanctuary room in the Frisco Community Bible Church. The room had great acoustics and with rows upon rows of large red cushioned chairs. The stage had a large carpeted platform with a podium in the middle and grand piano on the left. Sharon, a high school girl, lead the “worship” section the Sunday service I attended. Each performer, dressed in suites and dresses, sharing microphones. In the congregation and I was able to participate in singing along with the performers because the words were displayed through a projector. In the back there were AV guys in charge of the over head projector, setting up the microphones, and making sure the performance runs smoothly.

Aspects of This Music-Culture


Ideas About Music
The beliefs in this music culture are based on an Evangelical denomination of Christianity. This church is a sister-church off the Dallas Chinese Bible Church (DCBC) in Richardson, Texas, a church I use to attend years ago. Apparently, the “church underwent a name change from Frisco Chinese Bible Church to Frisco Community Bible Church to give off a more accurate name based on the church’s doctrine” (Anonymous), thus leading to the Frisco Community Bible Church Youth Worship Team. Although, FCBC sprung from DCBC, a traditional style against Christian rock, rap, and use of drums, in both cultures music “plays an important role in our cultures. Music at our church is through any format that comes from the heart and its only intention is to glorify God” (Yu). This music culture shows a more liberal progressive form of music in contrast to other music cultures in the Dallas area.

Activities Involving Music
The music that is performed can be found on iTunes, Youtube, stores, and occasionally performed live at concerts, but most “music sources are mostly found on the web and played by the worship team” (Yu). Although these students do this out of free will, “they enjoy the events as a hobby, but with a professional attitude” (Yu).

I had the opportunity to join a few of their practice sessions and witness “music in the making” so to speak. Although some of the members compose music competitively or as a hobby, they don’t compose any music for the Sunday services, due to time constraints.

Repertoires of Music
God of this City: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d61LamkXfwk
Above All: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7Sn5rV
Nothing But the Blood: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvURm3k36IA
Enough: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Pl-FWskj5U
You Never Let Go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yuVQWhCAu4A
Radio Stations: 90.9 FM, 91.3 FM, 94.9 FM

Frisco Community Bible Church Youth Worship Team: http://crazy2idiot.xanga.com/audio/

These are the types of music that the worship team performs. All the song choices are composed by Christian musicians, who are mostly still composing and releasing new songs on the CD’s and radio. “The song choice usually is based on the leadership’s tastes combine with the audience’s preferences, since this can’t usually be done in one song, five or six songs are chosen to appeal to the different age groups” (Yu). On top of the importance of choosing songs, the lyrics have significant meaning in this culture. The last song in the event I attended, the interviewee who wants to keep anonymous, gave a brief speech to connect the song to the sermon. Although, most of this aspect is similar to other Christian music cultures, what makes this one different is that the students are given 100% control over song choice and decided on as a group, which in other music cultures, usually on person or the pastor/reverend/priest requests that the songs be centered around the sermon.

Material Culture of Music
There isn’t much material other than the actual instruments and technology used to create the music. A piano, guitar, violin, drum set, jambe, and microphones are the general tools used in the performance. What makes this unique from many other churches, like DCBC, is that this music church permits drums and jambes. Also another thing unique that sets this culture apart from other professional churches and music cultures is that the team consists of all students in high school or college. “The music itself is stored in a music software program. The tech/AV guys in the back have headphones and large amplifiers and adjusters to tinker with the voices and adjust them to the right volume and tones” (Anonymous). Although most churches have the same team in some vicinity either in a black room or in the back, this church is unique in the fact that the team consist of all teenagers. “No surprise many of these kids are very well experienced and also played instruments. This gives them the edge needed to contribution to the worship team in feedback and other methods to improve” (Anonymous).

Preservation of Music
This music culture is preserved through the kids that grow up in Frisco Community Bible Church who decide to step up with the “intention […] to glorify God” (Yu). As many college kids go off, the middle school and high school students take their place. “If they know how to play an instrument, most of the kids who want to serve are eager to learn” (Yu). Most of the children know at least one to two instruments. If they still want to be involved, but don’t have the money for the instruments, they can still sing and add vocals to the worship team. This method creates a specific age and music background to all the future musicians of this culture. “Unlike other similar Christian music cultures, we aren’t hired, professional, or even good at times; we just care about the heart and giving the people the umph they need to ‘get in the zone’ when the pastor starts preaching” (Anonymous).

Conclusion
The Frisco Community Bible Church Youth Worship Team is a unique music culture with specific attributes that make it different from all other Church singing groups. The aspects of music include Ideas About Music, Activities Involving Music, Repertoires of Music, Material Culture of Music, and the Preservation of Music.

Works Cited
Anonymous, Anonymous, current eldest remaining member. Personal interview. 1 Mar. 2010.
English Worhsip. Texas: Frisco Community Bible Church, 2010.
Yu, Rebecca, current counselor teacher performer. Personal interview. 5 Mar. 2010.