1. SELF EXAMINATION:
Ask your self the following questions, AMONG OTHERS to determine your motive for joining the choir:
Did you join the choir because:
– You love singing and have a good voice?
– You love music and would like to learn more?
– You have a good voice?
– You want to showcase your talent/gift?
– You have musical skills that can help improve choir ministrations?
– You have experienced the power of music to bless and you want to bless others too
– You prefer to serve God in a ministry that does not depend on you alone so personal responsibility is reduced.
– You are shy and prefer to serve in a ministry where you can hide among the crowd and still be seen as a worker/minister?
– etc.
USE THE ABOVE TO DECIDE WHETHER YOU NEED TO REPENT AND REMAIN, OR LEAVE THE CHOIR. PRAY WITHOUT CEASING ABOUT YOUR MINISTRY AND FOR ALL MEMBERS
2. PHYSICAL AND PRACTICAL EXPECTATIONS FROM A CHOIR MEMBER
You must have an ear for music. In other words,
– You are NOT tone deaf,
– You have a good singing voice and carry a tune alone
– You can follow rhythm and melody,
– You are prepared by faith to make the sacrifice necessary to take responsibility for your role
– You are prepared by faith to attend as many rehearsals as possible and make practical contributions to improve ministration
– You are prepared by faith to do your best to always arrive on time for rehearsals
– You are prepared by faith to do PRIVATE voice, instrumental, musical and song practices on your own, beyond general rehearsals
– You are prepared to discipline/control your voice and pace to match the level and tone of other members
– You are prepared to stand aside when you know that you have not mastered your part of the song.
– You are prepared to reject a role that you are not sure of. NOT FALSE HUMILITY, BUT HONEST
SELF ASSESSMENT
– YOU ARE PREPARED TO SWALLOW YOUR PRIDE AND COOPERATE WITH THE CHOIR TEAM
REGARDLESS OF YOUR OWN OPINION, PREFERENCE, GIFT OR SKILL.
3. CHOIR MINISTRATION TIPS
A Church choir ministration is:
– More about delivery of WORDS than of the melody; No matter how sweet the melody of the song is, if the words cannot be heard, the choir would have failed in its purpose to edify
– More about sound than about noise. Shouting and screaming while singing distorts the quality of sound emitted end defeats the purpose
– More about inspired delivery than about volume. There are times when choristers are even expected to deliberately lower their voice to match the mood of the words and melody, and then raise it, just to grasp the attention of the congregation and create the necessary impact.
– A microphone or loudspeaker volume that is too high distorts the sound and makes it unpleasant to the ears
– Each choir member is expected to modulate his or her voice so as not to drown others, except perhaps when singing a solo. And even then, discipline must be exercised so that the volume does not distort the rendition
– Gestures while singing must match, complement and project the words being sung
– Accompanying instruments must ACCOMPANY the song and NOT DOMINATE IT
– Sound technicians who are responsible for positioning and regulating microphones and loudspeakers should be involved as much as possible in rehearsals. One may even go as far as to dedicate a particular sound technician to the choir, so he or she can get used to the quality of voices, and know what to do during ministration.
– Decorum must be observed in dressing, behaviour and comportment at all times before and after ministration.
4. TIPS ON CARING FOR YOUR VOICE
– Avoid shouting as much as possible
– Avoid iced water as much as possible
– Avoid situations that may lead to a cold or catarrh as much as possible
– Ginger, bitter-cola, warm lemon and honey and even mixed with a little pepper are good for healing the throat.