How did you get started
in Christian music?
The answer to this question
is an extremely long story, which I have in its entirety under the heading
bio.
I have included a summarized version below:
God patterned my whole
life toward a music ministry from even my very first piano lesson. However,
I have not always been directly open to the calling. My typical human
rebellious nature insisted that another area I enjoyed, such as math,
computers, or teaching, was the life for me.
It was not until I went
through the darkest valley of my life and almost died that I finally
understood how precious my life is to Jesus. Soon after, the Holy Spirit
came to me in a way He had never come before (not even the time when
I was baptized). Then God actually spoke to me, saying, "Matt,
you aren't using your talents in music..." The rest is pretty much
history.
That same summer, during
a tour with the Melashenko
Family Singers, my Uncle Joedy encouraged me to write music. I was
skeptical, but I decided to try it. The Lord began pouring out thoughts
and themes that I never expected.
A few months later, I
decided to follow the call full time and gave my first concert at my
mother's home church on Thanksgiving weekend in Greeneville, Tennessee.
Now, I now continue to book churches all over the United States, speading
my music and testimony to all who will hear.
How can I get started
in Christian music?
Here are my eight
(8) steps to starting a music ministry:
1. Prayer
- If God wants you to use your talents for Him in this particular way,
He will open the doors. If your relationship with Him needs to be addressed,
work on that first. Be sure to listen to what He has to say, even if
it means giving up something you really love. It is possible that God
needs you somewhere else.
2. Education
/ Music Training - If you love music and can't sing or play,
well, you're up a creek without a paddle, lol... Lessons in a musical
instrument (voice is an instrument too) for a minimum of five (5) years
is probably a bare necessity.
3. Special
Music - This is a great opportunity in the church to get started
using your gift. You can polish your stage presence and get comfortable
playing in front of people. I recommend twenty (20) to twenty-five (25)
live performances either for a recital or a special music before looking
at doing a full-length concert.
4. Public
Speaking - This may not seem important, but if and when you
do a concert, you will need to feel comfortable talking in front of
people, without wondering what to say and without feeling like everyone
is judging you or maybe bored with you. This process can take some time.
(If you haven't had speech in high school or college, this is extra
important.)
5. The
First Concert (Test Run) - I have gotten in trouble for this,
but I truly believe that your first concert is a test--a test to see
whether or not this is something you want to do as a means of ministry
and support or just a fun hobby on the side. PRAY PRAY PRAY & listen
to what God is telling you! Pick 8-10 songs that you can perform flawlessly
and arrange them in such a way as to keep your audience interested.
Make sure to tell stories and to include some kind of personal testimony
during the concert. Forget about an offering the first time. You can
add that later, if you feel God leading you in that way. Then arrange
and prepare to give a sacred concert at either your local church or
any place God opens the doors. After the concert, I GUARANTEE you will
be able to tell whether or not God has called you into this particular
ministry, and, if so, whether part- or full- time, etc. Pray more and
listen to what God is telling you to do.
6. Begin
Your Journey - If you feel God has definitely called you into
a music ministry, target an audience that can relate to your personal
testimony (how you came to know Christ) and can also relate to your
struggles and trials. Find a group to market (churches, schools, nursing
homes, etc.) and begin your ministry, taking it slow at first. If it
gets to be too much for you, stop. God does not want you to do something
that stresses you out. If you are enjoying it, then allow God to take
your ministry and make it grow. It may take a long time before you can
depend on to make a full-time living. I suggest doing it only on weekends
at first. You can still work during the week, and perform in places
you get booked on the weekend.
7. Record
a CD - Having a recorded project (even if only a partially
completed one) is important to finish within a year of starting your
ministry. By this time, you are probably taking up a love offering or
asking for an honorarium in exchange for your performance. Dedicate
the majority of your revenue towards completing your first musical project.
Once you have it done, you now have a second source for generating revenue.
Other ways may include: shirts, stickers, postcards, etc. (anything
people can get to remember you by...)
8. Keep
Things Interesting - After a couple of years doing a part-
or full- time ministry, it can be easy to get caught up in the same
old routine--doing the same songs and saying the same things every concert.
Avoid this. Never perform an identical concert more than ten (10) times.
Sure, the concert will work a hundred times, but you need to keep it
interesting for you too. Try to complete a CD at least every three (3)
years, to increase your repertoire of songs, and also to give your fans
something new to enjoy! :) Allow God to continue to lead you, and there
is no limit to what you will accomplish. If you get signed to a record
company, great! Put in a good word for me... :)
Here are a few good web
sites that give good suggestions and tips for aspiring artists:
What is the process
for booking you for a concert?
The process is very simple.
Click on the contact
button above and you may make your booking request via mail, e-mail,
or telephone. You will be sent a promotional package with more detailed
information about the ministry. It is usually a good idea to plan ahead
by setting a definitive date and time, because my schedule tends to
fill up rather quickly.
Are you related to Lonnie
or Joedy? How do you fit into the Melashenko Family?
Actually, I am. As a
Melashenko, I come from a long line of "preachers and teachers."
Lonnie and Joedy are both my dad's brothers (Uncle Lonnie and Uncle
Joedy). Lonnie is the director and speaker of the Voice
of Prophecy (radio ministry) and Joedy works part time as the associate
speaker and coordinator of youth projects for the Quiet
Hour (youth ministry). Joe Melashenko is my grandfather, whose singing
evangelism (including several years with the King's Heralds) dates all
the way back to the 1940's.
As to how I fit into
the Melashenko family, my grandpa Joe (and his wife Anne) had five (5)
boys: Lonnie, Joedy, Dallas, Eugene, and Rudy. My father is Eugene,
who currently resides in Waynesville, North Carolina and is taking a
sabbatical leave. Since he has been in church ministry for over 25 years,
he is taking this much-needed break to just relax and also improve his
health (since he has stomach problems as well as insulin-dependent diabetes).
His most recent churches were located in Morgantown, West Virginia and
Oakland, Maryland. Eugene has taken this "resting" opportunity
to do booking & scheduling for many of Matt's performances.
Do you plan to record
a CD?
I am planning several
CD projects. I just recently completed my first project at the end of
2004. It is entitled I Believe and it is a variety
project, including 7 original songs, 3 hymns, and 4 modern songs (redone
as a cover). You will find music clips and lyrics on the tunes
section of the web page. You can also order this project by pointing
your browser to the ordering
page on the menu above.
I am also planning to
record another variety project (Nothing To Fear), an
instrumental project, a praise and worship project (with my brother),
and, eventually, a Christmas project, all of which will have further
information regarding their release at a future time.
What denomination/faith
are you?
Let me first say that
regardless of denomination, I am a Christian. I believe
the entire Bible is the inspired Word of God. I also believe that Jesus
Christ was God, became man, died for my sins, and now offers an eternal
life with Him if I choose to accept that gift of grace and have faith
in Him.
That being said, I am
a baptized member of the Seventh-day
Adventist Church.
How long have you been
a musician?
I began taking piano
lessons when I was six years old, and I have been playing off and on
ever since. Although my grandmother taught me to sing harmony as a small
child, I have never actually taken voice lessons. However, my voice
was "discovered" during my freshman year at Mount
Pisgah Academy when I began singing in the chorale (small choir).
My voice and keyboard
talent grew through the years, especially at Southern
Adventist University, where I took numerous music theory and ear
training courses and also sang a variety of parts in the Die Meistersinger
male chorus. Eventually, my knowledge of how musical systems work coupled
with my experiences in school grew into a fine-tuned, somewhat similar
form to what many commonly refer to as "playing by ear."
Do you sing with the
Melashenko Family Singers?
I add my voice to my
family as a second tenor whenever we have opportunities to get together,
and I enjoy the quality time that I am able to spend with each and every
member of my family. I also recently designed and developed the new
Melashenko
Family Singers web page. I try to keep the page updated with all
the new features, projects, and plans that the Melashenko Family Singers
have.
Where can I purchase
Melashenko Family music products?
Click on the ordering
tab to purchase any of the products by Matt or the Melashenko Family
Singers using PayPal. You may also e-mail a request to Matt Melashenko
Music at: matt@melashenko.com.
Is there any way I
can support Matt Melashenko Music financially?
If you would either like
financially sponsor this ministry or possibly make a contribution, send
a check or money order to the address provided on the contact
page. A tax-deductible receipt will be mailed to you at the end of the
quarter.
Another great way to
support this ministry is to order my CD project, entitled I
Believe . It is only $15.00, and includes two free stickers
as well as free shipping. Go to the ordering
page and click on Add to Cart
to order this exciting new inspirational project. You can also make
a donation using a credit card by clicking on the Make
A Donation link.
Some of you are going
through a difficult time financially. If you cannot support Matt Melashenko
Music financially, but would still like to be of some help in his new
ministry, you can send a letter of thanks and recommendation to him
(preferrably if you have heard him live in concert), and always remember
to pray continuously for his ministry.
Do you plan to go
back to school?
Right now I am completing
my degree in middle grades education from Western Carolina University.
I am enjoying it thoroughly but also enjoying the time on the weekends
to minister through music, as I used to do full time.
Also, time and experience
are becoming two of the most powerful and important aspects of my lifelong
education, which will continue to grow every day of my life. Above
all, though, I will always seek to grow closer to the one source of
all true education, Jesus Christ.
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