Handling Criticism: Part Two
In part two of this two-part series, Marvin Copaus introduces common conflicts choir directors and worship leaders face and how to deal with them. If you haven’t read part one, you can find it here. Communication issues There are some folks that really don’t mean to criticize, but they don’t understand the why behind what’s being done. […]
Handling Criticism: Part One
In part one of this two-part series, Marvin Copaus introduces common conflicts choir directors and worship leaders face and how to deal with them. It’s a typical Sunday morning at your church, and you are ready to lead God’s people in worship. You managed to get the family to Sunday School on time, and everyone […]
Have Yourself a Merry (Low-Stress) Little Christmas
Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Wishful thinking? As all church musicians know, Christmas starts in June or July when you begin planning and choosing music and doesn’t end until December 25 (or December 26 this year, since Christmas falls on a Sunday). The to-do lists never end and no matter how hard you try […]
Planning Powerful Band and Choir Rehearsals
By John Chisum Call me “idealistic,” but I could do with a lot less stress these days. Life itself is stressful enough, and if we were completely frank and honest with ourselves, leading Wednesday rehearsals can be one of the most stressful hours we face. Other than Sunday mornings when the sound system is emitting […]
The Step-By-Step Process for Rehearsing a New Anthem
The following post originally appeared on Ashley Danyew’s blog. Be sure and check out even more helpful content about leading choirs on her site here: ashleydanyew.com. How do I introduce this anthem to my choir? It’s a question we’ve all asked ourselves at one point or another. And truth be told, the rehearsal process for a church […]
Breaktime’s Over! Tips for starting your new choir season
Summer is ending. The kids are headed back to school, the weather is slowly but surely cooling down, and football season is (aptly) “kicking off.” This time of year is a return to normalcy for many, and choir directors would be wise to take advantage and get their folks excited for what’s to come. Whether […]
Why People Aren’t Joining Your Choir (and How to Change It)
by John Chisum You’ve spent months culling through music, thinking, praying, and planning. You’ve set up a calendar and scheduled the perfect songs for just the right Sundays. You’ve thought through instrumentation and which musicians need to be scheduled. You’ve talked with the lead pastor about sermon subjects, series, and Scriptures. You’ve got all the […]
Why Have a Children’s Choir?
By Joyce Samples Children learn by watching the role models in their lives, but they also learn by participating. Providing a children’s choir in which they can learn, grow, move, and serve in God’s kingdom is an important way to accomplish spiritual growth in each child’s life. Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way […]
Sunday Setlist Stuck on Repeat?
If you’ve been in any position to lead worship at your church, you know the struggle of balancing the old songs with the new. You may feel the pull to stay relevant but don’t want to simply give in to what’s popular. On the other hand, you might be tempted to rely solely on songs […]
5 Tips for Dealing With Conflict in Worship Ministry
For better or for worse, dealing with conflict is part of that territory in worship ministry. Having dealt with conflict in church music ministry on all kinds of levels, I’ve learned many things throughout the years that are a tremendous help. Here are five tips that will help you deal with conflict in your church […]