They work relatively well, just remember that singing to canned music is VERY different than singing to live music.

Almost every week, one of my points is Native Ministry and without an organist. Things I have learned- they start right off. There is no first verse run through to find the page or get the tune in your head. Some sound too fast and others too slow. Whether a congregation can read music, hold or pause, the music will assume they can. There are many hymns that have irregalar tunes chosen and then you cannot substitute.  You can have a meaningful worship using them, even if it is every Sunday. BTW It does not work to have the minister loading and working the CD, though I have to try. LOL

Thanks for the tips - now I have to sort through the 7 volumes & decide which ones might be most relevant to the music taste/focus of our group :-) 

There are lots of accoumpaint tracks out there for many hymns in VU and MVU.  Most are much more contemporary. 

Many, many churchs and church choirs use these - not so much for UCC but lots of other denominations.

There are lots of accoumpaint tracks out there for many hymns in VU and MVU.  Most are much more contemporary. 

Many, many churchs and church choirs use these - not so much for UCC but lots of other denominations.

I realized very quickly that the way to do it (because in the summers in Atikokan we had to use tehm every week and I was the A/V tech) was to rip them onto my laptop.  Then I could either just build a playlist for the day (which is what I usually did) or burn a CD (which is what I did for when I was away) with the pieces we were using in the order they were being used.  No CD switching needed.

I don't know if this is related to the topic, but in a two point charge where I do supply, only one church has a piano and a small but enthusiastic choir.  After choir practice each week they record the music and choir and send it over to the smaller church.  I don't know the technique used but somebody sits up front in a corner and pushes the buttons for the Introit, then the opening hymn, children's hymn, offertory, etc.   It seems to work.   The congregation sings along. 

It is related Seeler - another way of using our technology to enhance experience. 

I was at a wedding this summer - at a cottage.  The groom's mom (a professional vocalist) sang a blessing which was wonderful.  She had recorded the accompaniment, and also had recorded a harmony track  herself in her home studio & used it to sing to at the wedding - lovely. 

Not to be rude folks, but accompaiment tracks have been around for at least two decades.  Ok, maybe more.   They are used all over the place......this isn't new technology - I can remember sings duets and solos in church when I was in my early 20's.  I'm 54 now....

I even made my own using Band In A Box - pick a hynn, pick a style, put the chords in and away you go - we used at Presbteyr a couple of times and in church.  Remember though, if you start something you get put in charge.  LOL.

The nice thing about using tracks - at least for most hymns - is they become a song - no slowing down on the last line of each verse (yes, some churches do this) - a 4 or 8 bar lead in so you don't have to hear the whole hymn before you sing it.  You need someone to lead - takes folks a while to learn when to start (come in)

If using in your congreation - do not make it the clergy person's responsiblity - especially if they are leading the singing as well - if you have a choir - make sure the choir can hear it - remember we have organs and panios so that they can be heard over the singers. 

I pump it through the sound system - controls right beside me - and lead if I have to.  Many, many traveling soloists use tracks .  Many choirs attract more youth and/or younger members as the choir pieces take on a whole different sound - more professional. 

Remember, that if you have musicians in your congreations use them first - and/or supplement with tracks.  Musicians have feelings and you don't want to step on anyone's toes...

My little church uses them every Sunday.  I personally notice some songs are quicker than I'm used to and some don't play enough verses.

Yes - for sure Jobam - not an entirely new thing.  Nice to see the compilation tho from the VU/MV hymnbooks.   Seems a useful thing.  

Some commented on pacing of the music - we notice that too when we have different organists playing for services - pace can differ quite a bit!  Artistic interpretation I suppose, or maybe skill has an influence when playing unfamiliar pieces.