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:
After my experience with
depression, I began to look for what God wanted me to do with my life.
That summer, the Melashenko family was traveling through Canada doing
performances and singing at camp meetings - we were working on our GOD'S
LEADING THROUGH THE GENERATIONS video project and it really opened my
eyes to the power of music and its blessings on people.
I began writing music
on many of those long rides across the provinces. I thought perhaps
I should try giving a concert of my own - God's plan came together as
I performed at Greeneville, TN in November 2002. Sharing my story for
the very first time in front of an audience was very difficult, but
also powerful, as people could see the amazing miracle of my life.
Since then, I have performed
in all 50 states, as well as an appearance on 3ABN. I finished my degree
in education, and now seek to help the students I work with daily to
see the love of Jesus, as I have found.
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.
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
additional CDs?
I am planning several
CD projects.
Currently, I am in the
process of completed my second CD, Nothing to Fear.
This will be a variety project, and will include many originals, hymns,
and covers. To hear a sample, download the song Seek
One Thing, which is now available as a free download.
I completed my first
project at the end of 2004. It is entitled I Believe
and it is a variety project also. 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 eventually planning
to record 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, lived as a 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 at the Milo Academy Seventh-day Adventist Church
in Days Creek, Oregon.
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 designed and developed
the 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 Matt Melashenko, PO Box 278, Days Creek, OR,
97429. 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 the CD project, entitled I
Believe . It is only $15.00, and includes 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 this ministry
financially, but would still like to be of some help, you can send a
letter of thanks and recommendation (preferrably if you have heard the
concert live), and always remember to pray continuously for this ministry.
Did you ever go back
to school?
After completing the
50 state tour, I did return to school and completed my B. S. Ed. degree
in Middle Grades Education from Western Carolina University. Two years
ago, I accepted a position as director of information technology at
Milo Adventist Academy in Days Creek, Oregon. I still travel on the
weekends and summers, ministering to God through music.
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.
| 
