|
Jun
25
2012
|
|
Posted 333 days ago ago by Vern Sanders  0 Comments
|
|
8 likes  
  
Choirs ARE a Team Sport
Interesting thought, eh? Not a new one to me, as I have been talking and writing about this since at least 1978, as you can see by clicking here. Since the World Choir Games (Yes..Choir Games) are about to start in Cincinnati very soon, I thought it would be interesting to revisit my 1978 point of view, but update it specifically as it applies to church choirs.
First on my list in 1978 was the connection between music education and ensembles. I still believe strongly that the two go hand in hand, and I think that in the church it is even more essential. That subject is covered in much more detail elsewhere on this website by Colleen Cronin (click here to read it), so I'll move on here to the core of the team sport analogy. I do encourage you to read Colleen's cogent writing, though.
Pardon me while I put on my helmet...
I do so because I fully expect some flak being hurled in my direction when I say that, at some level (I say at some level) in spite of the physical education aspect, sports are entertainment. When I wrote the original article there was no ESPN.(it launched on September 7, 1979, and the "E" stands for Entertainment). Now ESPN has a whole bunch of channels, and they paved the way for things such as the Speed channel, the regional sports networks of Fox, and, eventually, the Food Network (Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives is my favorite) and the History Channel, among many, many others. If sports are not entertainment, why are so many people paying to advertise during the programs, and why are even more people watching?
And, in spite of the artistic aspect, so choirs are, at some level (I say at some level), entertainment, when they appear in public. Are there any of you reading this who haven't had at least one person (in your church ministry career) say to you: "I really enjoyed that anthem"? Thought so.
Let me take my helmet off now...
In 1978 I made what might be considered a preposterous statement, in the context of choirs in educational settings: "If the same level of student commitment is evident in the ensemble as in the football team, there is no reason why one performance per week is not possible."
Which, of course, is what church choirs have been doing for literally hundreds of years. Except that I meant (and said) one concert per week...in a public venue...for an audience. Because I also said that the only way to do it was to also have all the other perks that a football team takes for granted. Stay with me for a minute, because the list below will seem to be a bit unreal, or unrealistic. But play along:
• 5 "full" rehearsals for the singers of at least 3 hours over the course of a week
• during the full rehearsals an assistant director and accompanist are available for each section so that, at any time, a single singer up to the whole section can get direct, focused instruction in something that only pertains to that person or section while the rest of the rehearsal goes on
• at least 4 ensemble practice rooms, one for each section, each equipped with a piano, audio and video recording and playback equipment, recordings of each part in each song, sung by the assistant director who models the appropriate tone color, phrasing, dynamics, and more...
• an expectation that each singer will spend at least an hour in the practice room every day, if not more (besides the musical benefit, this also builds cameraderie amongst the members of each section)
• each practice room is staffed during "office hours" by either an assistant director available to work with singers individually or as a group and/or an intern to allow for access to previously recorded material for self study on the part of the singers
• a full time tech person to ensure that everything works all the time
• 5 score study sessions for the singers of at least 1 hour over the course of a week
• during the score study sessions experts are made available on an "as needed" basis for instruction in things like language/pronunciation, performance practice, historical context (for instance, imagine have the resources to bring in a composer -- even via skype -- to explain their work and the story behind it), and more...
• a full time administrative and marketing staff who take care of all music purchase/storage/distribution and collection, arranges venues and doing publicity, handles the assembling and printing of programs, fundraising, budgeting, and more...
• a full time "travelling secretary" who deals with all the details of getting the group to and from wherever they are going including transportation and meals for each "regular" performance (let's say every Wednesday evening...)
Sounds like an English cathedral with a choir school, doesn't it? But not practical (or possible) at your church, right?
Let's look closer. If you get past the administrative, marketing, and tech staff, what have you got? All right, let's reduce the schedule, eliminate the practice rooms and the musical assistant staff too. Now what do you have?
You have a goal, and a vision.
You also still have one anthem a week and/or some service music. And you have rehearsals and score study sessions.
So if you can't have "everything," you can still apply the team sport approach to what you have left. Here's how:
• create a "playbook" for each and every piece of music (I've provided an example for reference purposes, which you can find by clicking here)
• create a detailed rehearsal schedule that includes time for relevant warm ups, vocal training, technical development, and more
• create a "game plan" for each and every piece of music that explains its position in the worship service, why it is being placed there, the logistics of what has to happen to enable that piece to add to a seamless worship event rather than take away from it, and more...
Most importantly, create an environment in which your choir members are truly a team. They may not be ready to compete in the World Choir Games, or be a part of the Sing Off competition, but they can make some extraordinary music together, and lead worship in a way that touches people's lives. Now there's a goal for you.
I'm sure that you will have a comment, a response, a sling, or an arrow. Fire away below. I'm putting my helmet back on...
Blessings.
Vern Sanders
In addition to being the publisher of Creator magazine, Vern has served in some form of church music and worship leadership for 40 years in a variety of denominations both in the US and in Canada.He is currently Director of Music at First Presbyterian Church, Templeton, California. He regularly consults with churches and church leaders. Click on his name above to email him.
© 2012 Creator Magazine All Rights Reserved
No Comments
Add Comment
You Might Also Like These Articles
Joyful Noise Even though the church choir has been under attack for a generation, Creator publisher Vern Sanders explores 4 reasons why choirs are still a critical part of worship ministry... 15018 Views 14 Comments 5 Shocking Truths About Director-Accompanists Unexpected discoveries about the role of a director-accompanist... 12582 Views 20 Comments Funny How Time Slips Away Vern Sanders examines the state of worship wars, and finds that while the battlefield is very bloody, there is hope for the future. 11257 Views 45 Comments Should a Director Sing with Their Choir? Bob Burroughs addresses one of the most worst habits a choir director can have, and why the habit needs to be broken: A conductor should listen carefully and work out problems that are missed while trying to conduct and sing a solo concert at the same time. 8728 Views 14 Comments Lessons from 40+ Years as a Choir Director 10 Important Lessons Learned from 40+ years as a Choir Director 8529 Views 0 Comments
|
|
Word of Mouth
Thanks again for great customer service.
Kevin G. Lindsay
Organist & Director of Music Ministries
First United Methodist Church
Rochester NH
All Time Most Viewed Articles
5 Dumb Things Directors Say to Their Choirs Hugh Ballou lists 5 dumb things that directors say to the choirs, and what they really SHOULD say instead... 34915 Views 14 Comments Integrity Integrity is a character trait without equal. It is something that grows with age - and can be lost in a heartbeat. Guard it well. 34740 Views 3 Comments Nelson Mandela's 8 Lessons of Leadership Nelson Mandela’s eight lessons of leadership are truths that work well for world leaders, and also pretty well for church leaders... 15252 Views 3 Comments Joyful Noise Even though the church choir has been under attack for a generation, Creator publisher Vern Sanders explores 4 reasons why choirs are still a critical part of worship ministry... 15018 Views 14 Comments 5 Shocking Truths About Director-Accompanists Unexpected discoveries about the role of a director-accompanist... 12582 Views 20 Comments An Interview with Michael Hyatt Hugh Ballou interviews Michael Hyatt, who is Chairman of Thomas Nelson 12113 Views 0 Comments Funny How Time Slips Away Vern Sanders examines the state of worship wars, and finds that while the battlefield is very bloody, there is hope for the future. 11257 Views 45 Comments 5 Ways to Improve Your Annual Review Hugh Ballou examines 5 things a church musician can do to make an annual review more productive 10956 Views 0 Comments An Interview with Roberta Gilbert Hugh Ballou interviews Roberta Gilbert 10308 Views 2 Comments
|