What is Music West?

Music West is a network and a web space for the Lord's musicians in Melbourne's West. If you write music, lyrics or poems for Jesus, or just love worshipping through music and song, then this is a place where you can link up with others, find out what is happening musically, give help to other musos, gain inspiration for your own creative efforts, or publish your music and songs for others to use.

When the Lord is truly honoured in his church, and the Holy Spirit is free to move among God's people, then he gives his people music to express their worship life. It is great to use the music of others in the wider body, but the greatest blessing comes from singing our own songs to the Lord.

Most of the churches in the west are small, with few resources for musicians, and fewer opportunities to share and play together. Through Music West we can encourage each other by alerts of musical events and opportunities, sharing of our insights and inspirations through the forum or blogs, and the pooling of our resources. For example, many churches and groups have already begun to plan their Christmas events. Through Christmas West we are looking for musicians and choir members. You could become involved in this.

Perhaps you've written a song that you would like to become more widely known. Here at awakening west we can help turn your musical ideas into reality and publish them, either as sheet music on paper or as a downloadable file, or as a soundfile for others to listen to. We could start a library of scores and MIDI files. We will also list and review websites that provide music, software and other resources for musicians and songwriters. Those more experienced can provide online tutorials on any aspect of music and music making. Do you have any helpful hints for others - not just in playing for worship but also about wedding or funeral playing, or improving your playing or vocal technique? Do you have any funny stories? I must tell you the one about the big old American organ I used to play that had an electric blower out in the back hall, and many Sundays, half way through a hymn the belt would come off. It sounded like an old gramophone winding down, or a bagpipe deflating. Not at all conducive to worship!

You might never become famous (the nearest I've come is backing Robert Colman for a Worship Seminar and alternating with Nolene Prince at an Ellel Conference), but think of the thousands of churches with at least one worship service a week, plus all the weddings, funerals, conferences, and special events. That's a lot of gigs, and someone is playing them! You never know, but your music might get picked up by RCM.

If you have any ideas, suggestions, requests and offers of help, then please let us know through the forum or via one of the feedback forms on this website, or email me at webservant@awakeningwest.com. Whether you are interested in traditional music or the latest techno, everyone is welcome.

The Priestly Role of the Musician and Singer

As a musician myself (45 years piano and organ, now playing synths and a bit of bass at Williamstown Baptist and gigging with Liz and the M&Ms), I was greatly encouraged when I found out two things:

First, the Lord himself loves to sing. In Zephaniah 3:17 the Lord says, "The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

Second, being a musician or singer is a priestly function. There are many references to this, but one important one is in 1 Chronicles 15, where King David appoints singers and musicians from the priestly tribe of Levi to accompany the Ark of God into Jerusalem. And now, as John tells us in Revelation 1:6, Jesus has made us all priests. If you thought being a musician or singer wasn't very important to the Kingdom of God, remember that it is the singers and musicians who LEAD the way into battle (read the stories of King Jehosophat, and of Joshua).

Be glad you are musical, because music is a thing of the spirit, and musicians are close to God's heart. I'm looking forward to hearing from you all. God bless,

Mal