The choir ministry is an integral component of the music program for most churches. Choir ministry is a long held tradition of the church -a tradition that enriches the life of the church. It provides a unique opportunity for involvement as it allows for many persons with the gift of singing to participate in ministry simultaneously. Among other things, the choir serves to minister to God and to bring Him glory, inspire the congregation to worship and act as an extension of the pulpit as it teaches the doctrines and stories of the church through song. Additionally the choir serves to lead the congregation musically.
If the choir member is to be a full participant in this ministry, he must understand and accept his calling. He must believe that God has called him to this particular ministry and is using him for the furtherance of His Kingdom. The choir member must be convinced that he is necessary and vital to this ministry and should view his involvement, not as an obligation but rather as an opportunity to serve the Lord.
As with any other minister in the church, choir members should consider themselves as ministers of the Lord’s work. The fact that choir members stand before the congregation on a weekly basis, makes them a public testimony of the church, its beliefs and reputation. If choir members are seen conducting themselves contrary to the beliefs of the church, they are viewed as hypocrites by onlookers(Cutshall & Welborn, 1995). Their personal testimony/lifestyle invariably reflects negatively or positively on the reputation of the church.
Responsibilities of the Choir Member
Becoming a member of a choir is like joining any other team – everybody counts on you to be present, prepared and punctual. The choir member is expected to:
Practice and work hard
The only way to get really good at something is to practice. For choir members it means dedicating a fair amount of time and effort to hitting the right notes, when we are required to hit them, while singing the correct words! It therefore suggests that the choir member is expected to be focused, to be prepared for rehearsal, to work hard and to be given to paying attention to details with respect to the musical piece being prepared.
Listen and work with others
Being in a choir is not a solo effort. It requires time for blending voices and working together in order to create the beauty that the composer of the song envisioned. It requires learning to listen to others so that your voice is strong and true yet controlled so as not to drown out those that are singing alongside you.
Take direction
In order for persons to work effectively in any group there must be a single point person that leads the group. In a choir, the choral director is that person. In section rehearsals, the section leader is that person. Having a single point person helps the choir to remain on task and accomplish its goals. You may not always agree with the leader’s ideas or song choices for that matter, but following the person’s lead not only helps to coordinate everybody’s effort but may also provide an opportunity for growth in your own ability and creativity.
Show respect
The courtesy of respect should be shown to members of the choir leadership team and to fellow choir members at all times. Showing respect communicates in a silent way that you value an individual and that you consider him/her “worthy”. Where there is disrespect the opposite holds true. For relationships to be harmonious, regard for others must be shown, even where there may be disagreements.
References:
Music Ministries Manual: A practical approach. Department of Music Ministires of the Church of God
Music Ministry Manual: Church Structuring System, Cutshall & Welborn 1995
http://artzray.com/eight-things-i-learned-from-singing-in-choir
Profile of a Great Choir Member by J. Daniel Smith ( Adapted)
The gift of the choir ministry has been a tremendous source of blessing to the body of Christ throughout the ages. We have often listened with great wonder to beautiful choral music ministry that is pleasing to the ear and uplifting to the spirit! What makes a choir great? More specifically what does the model choir member look like?
J Daniel Smith takes us through a 10 point discourse on the “Profile of a Great Choir Member”
1. A great choir member loves the Lord and loves to sing. These are the two basic requirements to sing in our choir. There is simply a joy about the choir member who possesses these two passions. They have fallen in love with the One Who has placed the song in their heart.
2. A great choir member is faithful. It’s no secret that we can’t build a music ministry on people who aren’t there! Many people with the best of intentions just can’t make it to choir rehearsal, but I remind them that “people vote with their feet.” You make it clear where your commitment is by where your feet take you.
3. A great choir member is prompt. Ouch! The old adage is still true: “Early is on time; on time is late.”
4. A great choir member gets along well with others. You may not like the perfume of the lady sitting next to you or the shoes she wears, but you can still find a way to graciously accept those in the choir who can be challenging. The great choir member knows how to get beyond themselves and reach out to others. We have a little policy in our place that goes like this: You are allowed to criticize only if you have a better idea or plan.
5. A great choir member cooperates well with group efforts. Not everyone understands all the necessary dynamics of being part of a group. It therefore becomes the responsibility of the leader to explain it. Being part of a group requires often laying down your individualistic ideas and agendas…for the sake of the group at large. Some people can do this easily, some can’t. But the great choir members can at least recognize the importance of cooperating well with group efforts, whether it’s fund-raisers or special events.
6. A great choir member is committed to learning the music well. Excellence is valued. Great choir members want to get it right and want the musical presentation to be the best it can possibly be. They will go the extra mile.
7. A great choir member is committed to prayer. Devotional living is a priority and is evidenced by the fruit in their lives.
8. A great choir member is expressive and effective in communicating. No longer is it good enough to just stand there and sing. This is the day of powerful communication. For the audience to fully grasp the impact of your presentation, you need great choir members who will pour their heart into effectively communicating the lyric with sincerity. Just think about the lyric you are singing and sing like you mean it…because you do!
9. A great choir member is diligent in the rehearsal process. They are teachable and can focus. The hardest part of any choir director’s job in a rehearsal is not teaching or conducting the music. It’s getting and maintaining the focus of attention of the choir members. Sometimes that is easier than at other times. When it’s explained to the choir how some actions can totally break the focus of rehearsal, they can develop a greater sensitivity as to when that is acceptable and when it’s not. Occasionally, we all need a little break in the atmosphere, but when it’s time to ‘knuckle down’ and get the job done, you need choir members who are ready to focus with you and work.
10. A great choir member is accountable. I know of no organization of quality that does not demand some appropriate measure of accountability. In this day of voice mail and email, it’s easy to let the leadership know if you need to be absent from a rehearsal or service. The ultimate point to this is: Never leave the leadership questioning your level of commitment. To me, that is the full responsibility of the individual choir member. We all have situations and circumstances that take us away from time to time, but there’s really no excuse for not letting the leadership know why you are not at your post of duty. Don’t forget that the leader is counting on you.
So there you have it…characteristics that define great choir members.