June 23, 2008  

Practical Tools
Vern Sanders

Creator Leadership Network

THE READERS SPEAK...
When there are 5 Mondays in a month we dedicate one of them to hearing from our readers about an issue in ministry. Normally that is run on the fifth Monday, but we thought that this month's topic was timely enough that it was better served by publishing it earlier. The topic in question concerns summer choir programs in the church, and the original question was this:

• How many of you cease adult choir activities during the summer? Why? I for one have always had a fundamental difficulty with taking a break from anything I considered to be a viable ministry, especially one that plays such a big part in the weekly worship service. I guess I am also asking this question because my choir has checked out since Easter and I am curious about the health and experiences of other Adult Choir ministries. I went from 30+ singing for the Easter musical to 10 or less every Sunday since.
  
  God Bless
   
  Robert C. McGee
  Associate Pastor Of Music
  First Baptist Edinburg, TX 

   

  The answers which follow form a type of dialogue, and are printed in the order in which they were received. We’ve used colors to more easily identify each individual answer.  

In my former church (as of 3 weeks ago) I did take off the month of July. We would do a patriotic musical and then I was gone 3 of the 4 weeks in July. The choir still sang in July each Sunday. I had a little drop off on Sunday’s basically because they were out of town. School started for them the first week of August.

In my current church I am working all the way through July. I am not giving them a reason to slow down. We will kick-off our Christmas music in August.

Hope this helps…

Dr. Danny Koonce
Minister of Music
FBC Douglasville, GA

At my last church I was at (+/- 500 at worship; choir of +/- 40) we spent about 3 years doing beginning to end of 2 services with the choir 52 weeks a year, by the pastor's...ahem...invitation. The choir finally got to the point that they were walking around with almost literally their tongues hanging out. So I convinced the pastor to let us leave before the sermon in the second service. Although it was predicted that the world would end as a result of this, it didn't happen, and the choir's morale improved signficantly.

Beginning with the following summer, I quit holding mid-week rehearsals from father's day to labor day, and instead increased my Sunday morning warm-up time by 15 minutes. I then planned simpler (many 2 part, or "de facto" 2 part anthems) that would take much less preparation, or things that the choir knew quite well, for use during the summer season. It worked really well, and I am, this summer, about to implement the same system at the church I now serve.

A couple of things...

Good news: it was like kids with summer vacation...by the time we got to the end of August, almost all the choir was really ready to go back to the mid-week rehearsals.

Bad news: I never knew what I was going to have on Sunday morning, and my pastor and I had a deal that my fall back plan on any given Sunday (even though we listed the anthem in the bulletin) was to sing an "arranged" version of a hymn. I made the go/no go decision no later than 30 minutes before the service began, and in about 8 years of doing this only had to "punt" twice.

Blessings,

Vern Sanders
Creator Magazine

My choirs usually take 4-6 weeks off during the summer (since 1993, with the exception of 1997).  My “Contemporary Service” Praise Team continues to meet through the summer, even though we may move rehearsals to Sunday afternoon or Saturday.

I work my people really hard all year and I think they deserve a break.  Actually, they (you know “THEY”) often demand it.  I have always sought the opinions of my choir leadership team (officers) and they almost always, unanimously, support taking a little break.

I try to schedule my time away for July (while the choir is off, so that I can miss up to 4 Wednesdays).  I go to approximately 3 of these each July: missions trip, youth (music) camp, children’s (music) camp, a music conference for me (like Glorieta Music Week), and/or a week of vacation.  I usually don’t miss any Sundays during July (except possibly the vacation week) and thus; the choir and I (or my substitute) are in the loft every Sunday.

I discovered, back in 1992, that unless the choir is working on something special, July and early August rehearsals are “a bust” anyway, because attendance is less than half of what it is while getting ready for a major production.

Ira Pinkston, Worship Pastor, Del Norte Baptist Church, Albuquerque, NM

This is a good question, and one that probably has a personal answer for each church.  I have found taking July as vacation month to be most successful.  We continue choir each Sunday and employ an extra-long warm-up.  The choir looks forward to voting for their favorite anthems of the year, and we use these for July services.  The favorite anthems encourage attendance by those who are not on vacation.
 
After several years I noticed choir members were strategizing family vacations, mission trips, reunions... to be away in July.  This helps create a more dependable choir during June and August and allows me to catch a vacation.  I think we are all creatures of cycle, and even four weeks of downtime can help us reload with energy, envigorate recruiting, and establish commitments for the coming year.
 
I'm sure there are many formulas for success, but July vacation has been a big help for us.
 
All the best,
Joe Hopkins

My choir goes to a more condensed practice schedule during the summer.  We usually practice every other week for June, July, and August but start back regular full-time when school starts back ~ 21st or so of August.  We still have a choir regardless in the loft on Sundays as they are expected to help lead worship.  We usually sing anthems we already know, old favorites, or I’ll throw in an occasional instrumentalist as I am fortunate to have a few college students home from school who play well.  I too have experienced the choir “checking out” in the past.  It seems to be worse when Easter comes early like it did this year, when there was no time to rest between preparing big Christmas music and preparing Lenten and Easter music too.  I do know of other churches who take off just the month of July.  I know of other churches who do alternative types of things like a generational choir (never done these myself).

Take Care!

Tina McGready
Music Director
St. Peters Lutheran, Lexington, SC

I always wanted to have the choir loft filled by Sunday School Departments.  You know: Adult 1 and 2 (young adults) are responsible to fill the loft one Sunday, then Adults 3 and 4, and so forth.  First United Methodist Church, Waxahachie Texas has done this for years and I am going to try to remember it for next summer.

Ira Pinkston, Worship Pastor, Del Norte Baptist Church, Albuquerque, NM

The Chancel Choir at St. James takes a summer break in July and August.  We have a choir of 15-17 members who sing most Sundays from Labor Day until the end of June and they really enjoy having July and August off. They rarely miss a rehearsal or worship service, and I really appreciate their dedication.  

During July and August, we have a summer choir that meets just before the service and we often sing a hymn arrangement or other familiar anthem.  I also schedule the handbell quartet, other instrumentalists to play, or small vocal ensembles to participate in worship.
Although some of the Chancel Choir members choose to participate in these summer groups, they still come back in September rested and ready to go.  This schedule works really well for us.

Donna Vaughn

Creator published a wonderful article some years back entitled "Consider a Family Choir" by Tom Shedd. I'm not sure that it is in our article list, but I'll try to get it up on the site right away if it is not.

Blessings,

Vern Sanders
Creator Magazine

First let me say thank you for your excellent publication; I especially look forward to my "Monday Morning Email," as it serves to get my week started off on the right foot.

I wanted to share my approach to summer choir which has worked well for the past number of years. I plan a "Composer's Weekend" for early Fall and invite a favorite composer to join us in a weekend retreat setting (I've discovered that  mid-September works best with our church calendar). I'll collaborate with the composer to pick 10–12 anthems for the program and we'll primarily spend the summer working on that music; on occasion, I'll use one of those anthems on a Sunday morning for a "teaser" and to help lesson the preparation load. Then, in September, the composer will join us for a Friday evening, Saturday morning rehearsal retreat (instrumentalists will join us for the last half of the Saturday rehearsal), the composer will join us in our two Sunday morning worship services in some capacity and then we'll present an afternoon and evening concert.

Getting to meet and work with a composer that they "know" through music has been a wonderful motivation for the choir and has reaped wonderful results. Logistically, we have a summer rehearsal time change (an earlier rehearsal since our rehearsal night children's activities are suspended for the summer) and also take off the first Wednesday of June, July and August for vacation.

Thanks again for your good and insightful work.

Barry Green
Bonsack Baptist Church, Roanoke, Virginia 

Here's what I do at St. John Lutheran, Sudbury, MA...
 
Toward the end of the regular choir season, I select five selections from the choir library that the choir knew and loved and rehearsed them. Then I looked at my own personal coming and going calendar for the summer and choose the five Sundays from June 8 - Sept. 7th when we will sing those anthems. At the same time, I announce in the church newsletter and weekly bulletin an opportunity to join with our "Summer Choir" -- any of the five Sundays. My choir will have the core of singers (some, of course, will be gone on vacation) and those who have time constraints during the regular year but are great singers will have an opportunity to join with us.  Warm-up and rehearsal for the summer choir will be held one hour prior to the start of the Sunday service. 
 
Initially I put together a calendar of all the summer Sundays and encourage people to sign up for a Sunday. I encourage vocal soloists, duets, trios, quartets, and instrumentalists. I invite musicians to involve other musicians from the community (nonmembers) who they would like to play with. This is also an opportunity for college kids home for the summer to make music! We have flutists, cello, clarinet, trumpet, pianists. It is amazing how quickly folks will sign the calendar and commit to making a joyful noise unto the Lord.
 
If a Sunday has no volunteers, we may have a block of time for congregational singing of "Favorite Hymns". The congregation gets to pick them and we'll sing a verse of about a half dozen gems!
 
Lois Toeppner
Minister of Music

I will give the choir a list of the anthems that they have sang between September and May, excluding Christmas anthems. I ask them to select their top five anthems and turn in the sheet. I will tally up the numbers and select the top fifteen or so (depending on the Sundays during the summer) anthems from the list, and that is the list that we sing from for the summer. We begin with the anthem getting the least amounts of votes and work our way up to the anthem getting the most votes. The anthem with the most votes is sung the last Sunday in August.
Also, since these are well known to the choir, on Wednesday nights, we come in and sing through the upcoming three anthems - getting out early to repay the choir for all of their hard work during the rest of the year. They seem to like this.
 
Bill Poyner
Minister of Music
Covenant Baptist Church
Collierville, TN

Here at Grace U.M. (Indiana, PA), our regular Chancel Choir (SATB) does not meet during the summer. Instead we have our "Summer Special Music Program". We offer special choirs (SSA  or TTBB) or instrumental/handbell groups that meet for a few weeks and participate in the worship service once or twice during the summer. We also give our people a chance to sing solos or duets. Often times there are people who like to use their musical talents - but don't feel as if they have the time for a year-long committment. A few weeks in the summer is fine for them.
    Also - during the month of July, we have our "Old-Fashioned Hymn Sing".
Everyone comes about 15 minutes early to our Traditional Service (9:00).
The members of the congregation call out their favorite hymn numbers, the
pianist plays, and we all sing! This is a very up-lifting way to start the service.  Also - in the summer, it's easier to get up a little earlier.

    Have a blessed day,
      Tina Ensinger

We take July off, then start the “Drop In” choir during the month of August. I choose several songs that we’ve done before and are a bit easier. We advertise that the Drop In choir is for anybody, “no Wednesday night rehearsals and no experience required.” We meet earlier than normal on Sunday morning and “learn” the song for the morning. Over the years, I’ve found that the majority of the singers are from the choir, so they already know the song and are able to help any new people. And, many times, the Drop In folks will stay when the new choir season begins and we’ll gain new choir members.

Doug Ferguson
Associate/Worship Pastor
Crossroads Multinational Church
Cerritos, CA 

1) We Take June off (no Sundays in the loft – no Wednesday rehearsals)
a. Instead, we have mass “Birthday Choirs” sing each Sunday
b. On the first Sunday, we have everybody whose birthday is January through April come fill the loft and we sing a well known-hymn
c. On the second Sunday, likewise we have everybody whose birthday is May through August come fill the loft and we once again, sing a well-known hymn
d. On the third Sunday, which is normally Father’s Day, we ask all the ladies to fill the choir loft to sing “Amazing Grace” and maybe some other well-known hymn (we do the same on Mother’s Day with our men filling the loft)
e. On the fourth Sunday, we resume with our Birthday choir, September to December, again singing a well-known hymn
f.  If there is a fifth Sunday, we will probably have just had Vacation Bible School, and we ask all of our kids to fill the loft and lead our worship service just like they had experienced all week long…it is so much fun to have our kids do this…they love it!!!
2) For July we do the following
a. Sing “sugar sticks” and other anthems voted on by the choir on each Sunday…therefore only needing a brief touch-up rehearsals…
b. Have Wednesday rehearsals, with an emphasis on Christmas…we have CHRISTMAS IN JULY…we try to get as much Christmas under our belts as possible…we have large group rehearsals and sectionals as much as time will allow…because we are already singing anthems we know for Sunday, the bulk of time can be dedicated to getting a head start on Christmas…

PraiSing Him Always,

Jason Stewart
Minister of Music and Worship
Shively Baptist Church, Louisville, KY

At Magnolia Avenue Baptist Church in Riverside, CA we do some of our best choir work in the summer. We send out a notice that "Summer Singers" are welcome and "Summer Rules" are in effect:
        "Take your vacation and come back to choir when you get home, whether it's to rehearsal or Sunday services."
For several years we have done a "Celebrate Freedom" program for the Sunday before July 4, This is an outreach-based patriotic theme with four or five memorized pieces with special lighting, Living Pictures behind a scrim, and confetti for the climax. (It's a "show." You can tell because the orchestra stands have lights and the conductor uses a stick.)
Then we will begin work on our Summer Worship Concert to be presented the last Sunday evening in August. We have used all of the God With Us series, Experiencing God, God Is In This Place, etc. This program is not memorized to accommodate people coming in and out during the preparation period. From many years of experience I can say that keeping a project before the people is the key to high attendance at rehearsals and Sunday services in the summer.
---O. D. Hall

We present a patriotic presentation on the last Sunday in June. We don’t rehearse on Wednesdays during the month of July. We sing some of our favorite anthems during July and still fill the loft. We’ll resume rehearsals the first Wednesday school is back in session the third week of August.

Mark Garner
Associate Pastor – Worship & Creative Arts Ministries
First Baptist Church, Hurst, Texas

During the summer our choir usually goes to singing 2 times per month for June & July and then takes August off completely. Then we have a “Jumpstart on Fall” at the end of August or the beginning of September.  That gives me time to focus on planning music for the Fall and Christmas and is a nice “break” for those so faithful to be in worship each week.

Blessings,

Vivian Baughman
Choir Director, The LIFEhouse Church

We've done different things with various levels of success. We are a small church.

A couple of years we had a men's choir for about 5 weeks, then a women's choir for 5 weeks. We did pick up a few new singers doing that. Everybody got 5 weeks off that way.

This summer, we are trying yet another approach. We are having what we call ... tadaaaa ... SUMMER CHOIR. It will be intergenerational, children, youth and adults. At our church, we divide everyone up by age group in everything we do. I'm hoping families will respond to this one chance to do something together.

Robby Head

We usually present a Patriotic work on the Sunday before the 4th of July, so we’re working through that time to get ready for that event.

Each Wednesday in rehearsal, we let the choir rate the previous Sunday’s anthem on a scale from 1-10 on a slip of paper.  We take up those ballots and average them out to determine our Top Ten from that previous year.  On the Wednesday following our Patriotic presentation, we will sing through those Top Ten selections.  We will then dismiss our rehearsals for our “Choir Vacation” beginning next Wednesday and come back on the Wednesday after school starts.  During that time we’ll meet in the Choir Room a little earlier on Sundays to give that week’s song a lick and a promise before we sing it in that day’s worship.  And since these are our favorite songs over the past year, it usually doesn’t take much wood-shedding to get it back up to snuff.

We’re not finished singing through our top ten when we return to rehearsals, but it gives us a chance to look at new music a little longer without having to hit the ground running trying to get something new ready for each week’s worship.

As we have typically presented a Christmas work, an Easter Pageant, and a Patriotic or some other special work each year, our Choir Vacation is a welcome break before we gear up to hit it all again!

David Baker
Associate Pastor / Worship Ministries
Chisholm Heights Baptist Church
Mustang, OK

Our choir stays reasonably active during the summer months, but we do have some "down" time as the rest of the year keeps us very busy.
 
We always plan an early June spring concert with the choir, orchestra, and handbells and it is  an expected and gala event.  There are no rehearsals during the month of July, so June is spent in preparation for July Sunday's.  We do a lot of "sugar sticks" during July and August, primarily pieces we have done throughout the year.  Rehearsals resume in August.  Our annual patriotic event is on June 29, so we are also in preparation for that.
 
During the month of July and August our orchestra also "rests" for a few weeks and play for worship only once a month. Normally, they play every week.  They need the break as well.  In late August we have an all Saturday morning rehearsal (9:00 AM to 1:00 PM) with choir and orchestra to review fall and Christmas music.  That is followed by a cookout.
 
Steve Jett
First Baptist Church
Powder Springs, Georgia

During the summer we move from regular choir schedule to a pickup choir, rehearsing the hour before a service.  Attendance varies greatly, obviously, but we seem to keep a pretty consistent core; I have a sign-up sheet, and we encourage congregational members to do a choir try-out on an uncommitted basis.
 
What really makes the difference in choir numbers seems to be what's happening in the service musically. When we move to our summer 10am services I operate musically on one of two possible series. Last year, and alternate years, music for worship is chosen largely by genre - we may have a service that uses African-based music, or Hispanic; it may be plainsong or Reformation; it may use the hymns of Watts and Wesley or of writers like Marty Haugen. It gives me the opportunity to do some teaching to the general congregation about the sources of our musical worship, and to look at our Anglican traditions as well as the traditions of our faith brothers and sisters in other parts of the world.  This year, and alternate years, we operate a series called "These are a Few of My Favourite Hymns" in which congregation members work with me to select music for "their" Sunday that reflects their faith journey and the music that comforts or inspires them. It's a good opportunity to look inward at who we are, to introduce people to each other, and to remind folks that the hymns that they don't like may be deeply meaningful to someone else, and that what I want in music worship is less important than what we need.
 
Brigid Coult
St Mary's Kerrisdale Anglican Church
Vancouver, BC

As you know, it’s a difficult struggle to have enough people to have a choir in the summer, especially when you’re not a large church with a large choir. We also don’t want to go an entire three months without a choir – it doesn’t look as good to visitors. We have a compromise at our church where the choir takes a 5-week break – all of July and a bit of August. We use vocal and instrumental soloists or small ensembles during July. In June and August as the numbers are smaller anyway, I do have to use simpler music and often music for 2-part or SAB choirs, though actually we tend to have better attendance from the men than we do the women. In my musical choices I also look for pieces with more limited range for those slim months. Attendance picks back up later in September.

Stanley Livengood
Director of Music
First Presbyterian Church, Fort Smith

Final Thoughts 

As you can see, there are a wide variety of approaches being used, but they do tend to fall into several large categories: no change, modified for the summer, and no summer choir, to name just three. Even if this information comes to late to plan for this year, bookmark this MME for next year's planning.

Finally, when it comes time to start back up for the fall season, don't forget to get copies of Creator's Choir Members Issue for all your choir members. Here's a thought: use the magazine as devotional or study material at your choir retreat. And, for those of you that have tested your choir's musical literacy by taking the Musical Literacy Test (you can get it by clicking here), this year's Choir Members Issue contains a follow up article by Paul Hill that you can use as a resource for teaching your choir to read music even better than they do now. If you are not a subscriber to the print version of Creator I encourage you to subscribe now by clicking on the "Subscribe" tab at the top of this page.

 Blessings.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  Vern Sanders

Vern is the publisher of Creator Magazine. He 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 Worship at First Presbyterian Church, Grover Beach, California. Vern regularly consults with churches and church leaders. Click on his name above to email him.  

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