How to Select Music for a Church Service
Have you been chosen to lead a church congregation in song? Choosing the right songs for a service includes making many decisions about the style and content of the wide variety of songs available. Thinking about the general routine of the church community you are contributing to can help you pick the right songs for a service. The congregation will appreciate your research in getting a good song list together.
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Instructions
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Choose a style. Church music comes in VERY different forms, from traditional four-part hymns sung a cappella to guitar-and-drums melodies sometimes called "praise music." One main part of selecting church music is to know about the congregation. While some church groups embrace praise music, others find it blasphemous or unholy and avoid it at all costs. If in doubt, ask someone who has deep knowledge of the congregation what style is appropriate.
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Think about how you are providing lyrics. For praise music, you need to use an overhead projector to show the congregation what to sing along. For traditional hymns, you need a good supply of hymn books. Part of selecting the music is knowing what you have resources for; if there are not enough books, you won't be able to use the songs in the book, and you must arrange other methods, like photocopying.
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Choose seasonal numbers. Some hymnbooks are more organized than others, but most have some variation of theme and style to cover different services during the year, from Easter to Advent. Try to find choices that represent the time of year and type of service.
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Select interfaith or international music as appropriate. Some services rely on music from other cultures and nations to add flavor to the worship experience. Again, this is found in some congregations more than others.
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Find easy melodies. Older song books are full of very challenging 4-part harmonies that older communities knew how to sing. Selecting these for your service can be a bad decision. The challenges of leading these songs sometimes prove too much for a songleader. Try to stick to melody lines that the average parishioner can read to avoid these headaches.
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