You may have at one time or another heard the expression: “Less is more.” This is very true when it comes to music. Sometimes the notes we don’t play are just as important, or more important, than the ones we do play. By this is mean that sometimes we can play too many notes, rhythms, and chords and stomp all over someone else’s part that they are playing. This can make the music seem muddled and overbearing. If you have two guitar players at the same Mass, make sure they don’t play the same rhythms. One can strum while the other picks or better yet, use a capo and have them play different parts in different keys. Of course, this may mean writing the music out in a different key depending on the skill level of the player. Make sure you listen to the recording of the song before playing it and get it to your musicians as well. The performances and recordings of Catholic music has really soared in the last few years and it is easy to find great recordings of many of the songs you will be using at a Teen Mass on either www.spiritandsong.com or www.wlpmusic.com. One of the challenges you may face in your group is musicians getting bored with just strumming one chord each measure or maybe even not playing on a song or two that needs to be simpler. Make sure you constantly remind your musicians that it’s not about them and that they are there at the service of the Church, the Liturgy is not there at their service. There are also times however, when less is not more. Take for instance a time when you may be leading music or a song by yourself or with just a few instruments. You may then need to fill the song out more and not leave so much space. It is always important to to lead the Assembly with your playing. What I mean by this is to always give them a solid rhythm to come in on. At the end of a verse, for instance, you may need to add in a solid chord or scale that leads the Assembly to know when to come in. When there is a whole group playing, other instruments may make this more obvious, but when you are on your own it is up to you to make sure the people know when to come in. Remember that the ultimate goal of Music in the Liturgy is participation and we need to do whatever we can to make the music pleasant to the Assembly’s ears as well as encourage them to sing well.