How to Build a Church Choir
Are you a music director who has been hired to take charge of a church choir? This can be a frustrating job, as you sometimes find yourself being thrust into the position of having to please the minister, the choir members and congregation. To build the kind of choir that will be an asset to any church, you should take time to put certain things into place.
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Instructions
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Make sure that you have strong support from the pastor of the church. Having him behind you is pivotal to your success. Speak to him on a regular basis to keep him informed about your vision. Find out if how often he prefers the choir to sing and what his expectations are.
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Find out what your salary is going to be. Being a choir director is a job and your salary should be outlined in the beginning. Some choir directors set their own fee. Others negotiate pay with the pastor.
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Find out what your budget will be to pay for music and other materials.
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Find a dynamic accompanist. Hiring a pianist and/or organist who can both read music and play by ear is extremely helpful in getting your program started. The accompanist should have experience working with choirs, be able to work well with you, attend all necessary rehearsals, performances and church services. He should be responsible. A good church musician usually requires payment so you need to talk with the pastor and come up with a reasonable fee.
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Hold auditions for singers. While many people want to sing, not everybody has the talent. You want singers who have good voices, can stay on pitch, are capable of learning songs quickly and can easily follow your directions. Find out from the start if those you choose to be part of the choir are willing to put in the effort and time required to participate.
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Find music that is appealing, inspiring and uplifting. Have hymnals or sheet music available. Every person should have his or her own neatly-organized music folder at each rehearsal and service.
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Set up church officers. This can be done by having the choir members vote on a president, secretary and treasurer. Emphasize that these individuals need to be committed and responsible people.
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Consider creating a special website for your choir. It can include photos, rehearsal and service schedules, recognition of individual choir members and a list of upcoming events.
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Come up with fundraiser ideas such as car washes or candy sales to help pay for trips, new robes and new music.
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Give concerts. Showcase your choir in special concerts at church and go to other churches to sing as a guest choir. This gives your choir members something to look forward to and increases their enthusiasm.
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Comments
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This is beautiful.
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God inhabits the praises of His people. Thus, It's highly pertinent to give Jah the best of praise 'cos He's worthy of this.
