I need Help!!! A survey about Church music

OK, I'll bite! I'm a pastor, but I also lead the worship - best of both worlds.

 

Worship Pastor at my church... here goes, my answers in bold:

 

SBC/CBF

Choir President

almost none

Choir rehearses about one hour per week

no

I've never had much interest in it.

no

My church is a "traditional" Baptist church. We use organ and piano accompaniment for hymns and choir. We also have string, brass, and recorder, ensembles. The choir sings traditional choral anthems and arrangements. We do this because it best supports and aids our worship. However, I understand that churches vary and that what works best for one church may not work well for another. Each church has to make that decision for itself.[/QUOTE]


Tim Reynolds

 

For Music Directors:
What denomination are you? SBC

Would you consider your church to be fundamental, why? WE ARE TRADITIONAL SBC BUT HAVE SOME FUNDAMENTAL HOLDOVERS FROM OUR RURAL AND CULTURAL HERITAGE
How many attend your church? ABOUT 70 IN SS, ABOUT 90 IN WORSHIP

Is there a choir? YES (ADULT YOUTH AND CHILDREN)

If so how many hours a week do they practice? ABOUT 45 MINS

How many singers? ADULT - 20 MORE OR LESS, YOUTH - 10, KIDS - 25

Is there a praise team? NO

What is your highest level of training in music? MMCM from NOBTS

Are you familiar with conducting patterns?YES

If so how did you learn? LEARNED AS A TEEN

Do you use conducting patterns with the congregation?YES

What is the most important aspect of choral conducting? COMMUNICATION

What is the most important aspect of congregational conducting? KEEPING MUSICIANS UNIFIED AND TO CREATE AN ATMOSPHERE FOR WORSHIP

What are your feelings on Contemporary Christian Music? I LIKE IT ESPECIALLY BLENDED IN WITH OTHER STYLES FOR VARIETY

Is there “Rock” (for lack of a better word) music at your church Sunday morning?NO

Sorry for caps, not yelling, but my bold thingy doesnt work.

 

kmdiva,

Non-denominational

Play guitar and dobro

None

Dont really practice, I just play. I've been playing for 28 years.

Probably not because we have some sign gifts of the Spirit in evidence.(tongues and prophecy, etc)

Some of it I love. Some of it I cant ever listen to its so bad.

No

God bless,

Mike

 

I've served as both music director and in other capacities. On Wed night, I would say I still serve in that role (2/3 of the time); so I'll answer from the 1st list:

For Music Directors:
What denomination are you? SBC
Would you consider your church to be fundamental, why? I would, (we're a fairly conservative SBC church) but heck, that's all perspective...to some we're probably flaming libs; to others, we're probably "fundies."
How many attend your church? Sundays: around 700 in the AM, 350 at night; Wednesday, about 150 youth, 350 total.
Is there a choir? Second AM service--adult; PM service--youth
If so how many hours a week do they practice? Adult: 1.5 hrs/week; youth;
How many singers? Adult Choir: 40; Youth choir: 35;
Is there a praise team? Sunday 1st AM service
What is your highest level of training in music? College courses; 3 years of piano; 2 years of music theory (private lesson)
Are you familiar with conducting patterns? Yep
If so how did you learn? Music theory; 1 conducting class
Do you use conducting patterns with the congregation? Seldom, if ever on Wed. nite; on Sunday AM when filling in I do so more in 2nd service, and in PM when filling in
What is the most important aspect of choral conducting? Make sure your zipper is zipped
What is the most important aspect of congregational conducting? Same
What are your feelings on Contemporary Christian Music? It's a style...just like traditional
Is there “Rock” (for lack of a better word) music at your church Sunday morning? "Rock" as in style, maybe; that's a matter of perspective anyway...our music is carefully evaluated and only God-honoring music is used.

 

What denomination are you?
Southern Baptist
Would you consider your church to be fundamental, why?
Conservative, fundamental but not fundamentalist
How many attend your church?
70 on a good Sunday
Is there a choir?
Yes
If so how many hours a week do they practice?
One hour
How many singers?
12-15
Is there a praise team?
No
What is your highest level of training in music?
Some college courses, usual seminars, etc
Are you familiar with conducting patterns?
Yes
If so how did you learn?
A book on conducting, some teaching from a conductor.
Do you use conducting patterns with the congregation?
Yes
What is the most important aspect of choral conducting?
Entries and cutoffs, teaching choir to watch you
What is the most important aspect of congregational conducting?
Keeping one eye on the hymn book, one eye on you, one eye on...oops sorry.
What are your feelings on Contemporary Christian Music?
I'm not culturally attuned to it. I like some individual pieces, though
Is there “Rock” (for lack of a better word) music at your church Sunday morning?
No
Any other comments about music would be appreciated.
The first priority for a music leader is to make sure the text is Biblically sound, and that the music is appropriate for the text.

 

We don't really have a Music Director position, but I have been the song leader for several years, so I guess I fit the bill.

For the record, I have not been leading the song service myself in the past few months. Since I started preaching more, I am typically given a pass on the song leading, with some exceptions. We usually have 2 or 3 other leaders available now. Since I stopped doing the whole thing, my dad (a deacon) has started trying to lead for most of the service. He can't typically stand for that long though and has the other deacon help him.

 

Sorry James, you're not what we're looking for.





You need more experience.


:tongue3:

 

Would you say more about your singing school experience? Did it include any work with The Sacred Harp?

Tim Reynolds

 

What denomination are you?
Independent Fundamental Baptist

How do you serve in the music ministry of your church?
Not allowed to as I am not a member (our church has very unbiblical notions on membership but its the only one within 50mile radius!!)

There is no choir - only a pianist and flautist.

How much formal musical training do you have?
Concert Pianist

How much practice do you put into your area of service?
None - not allowed!!

Would you consider your church to be fundamental, why?
Yes. KJVO and sound teaching.

What are your feelings on Contemporary Christian Music?
To be avoided like the plague

Is there “Rock” (for lack of a better word) music at your church Sunday morning?
Never, - we have been taught very clearly against it - even to listen to.

Any other comments about music would be appreciated.
Music should be about only one thing - Ministering unto the Lord.
Any choir should spend as much time in prayer together as they do practising.

 

Absolutely.

There are several Primitive Baptist related singing schools in Texas. The one I've been going to all my life is called Harmony Hill Singing School in Azle, Texas (just northwest of Ft. Worth). It was founded in 1954 and the campgrounds cover approximately 25 to 30 acres. This past year, there were about 350 people (students, teachers, parents, etc) in attendance. It lasts for one week during the 2nd week of June each year. The last was one of the hottest sessions I've ever been to, and I don't mean the singing. The heat reached 103 degrees three days in a row. The buildings do not have air conditioning and we eat under a large metal open-air pavilion. There are no tvs or radio, aside from the weather radio we keep in the front office. It really is quite like getting out of the world for a little while.

The Sacred Harp sessions take 1 hour each day after lunch and "rest time". Usually, there are some 50 people who participate in that. The rest of the day consists of four 45 minute classes teaching shape notes, chords, time/key signatures, and the all around basics to reading and singing music, depending on your age and level of experience, as well as group assemblies and devotionals. It is very structured with a time schedule for each task during the day, including games, playtime, and chores for the kids to do with their "buddies" and counselors.

Their website is www.harmonyhillsingingschool.org if you're interested.

Most of the Sacred Harp singers there would put me to shame. They are very good and many of them visit the different conventions around the U.S. each year for Sacred Harp. I just try to do my best with the songs I'm most familiar with that have notes I can actually hit. I sing treble (tenor to normal folks) and they usually pitch the songs pretty high.

It's a very fun time though. I've only missed one session since birth because Tropical Storm Allison hit the night we were supposed to leave and flooded our house and cars. (Well, I've really missed two if you count the one I missed because I was being born.)

The lady who was one of the founders (with her parents) will be 88 years old this year and she has won many, many gold medals and holds several world records in the Senior Olympics. Her name is Helen Beauchamp; all of us who grew up going to Harmony Hill call her Aunt Helen.

I encourage anyone who has not been to a singing school like this to go. It is really an experience, especially if your idea of "roughing it" is staying at a motel with no cable tv.:laugh:

 

I'm driving down to Fort Worth tomorrow for the Sacred Harp singing at Southwestern Seminary named in honor of my father, William J. Reynolds, who started it in 1985. There is a short singing school at 8:45 A. M., and the singing starts at 9:30. They usually have about 125 singers. Come up if you have a chance.

Tim Reynolds

 

kmdiva, can you be a little more specific about what you're asking? What type of techniques are you looking for?

 

All music and singing should be for the honor and glory of our Lord and Savior.
If its intention is to moves the TOES instead of the SOUL....God is not in it!!!!!!!!!!

 

For Everyone Else:
What denomination are you?

American Baptist and CBF ... our church dropped its SBC affiliation

How do you serve in the music ministry of your church?

Organist

How much formal musical training do you have?

Six years of piano, three years of organ, forty years ago!! I am a recently retired pastor.

How much practice do you put into your area of service?

About two to three hours a week

Would you consider your church to be fundamental, why?

Not at all. Evangelical in the best sense of the word, but neither in attitude nor in teaching fundamentalist.

What are your feelings on Contemporary Christian Music?

We blend it with traditional hymns in thematic "sets"

Is there “Rock” (for lack of a better word) music at your church Sunday morning?

No, our contemporary is "soft"

Any other comments about music would be appreciated.

When I joined this church I noticed that the piano and an occasional soft-beat percussionist were not enough to lead 175-200 people in singing, particularly in a sanctuary that will seat maybe 450. The organist had retired, and they had found it expensive to replace her. So I volunteered to play for free, hymns only, no choir rehearsals (I'm teaching a Bible study during that time anyway). It is working well, I think. For funerals and weddings I am getting called on more than the pianist, but she rehearses with the choir, plays the contemporary music as well as the hymns, and does the preludes and postludes.

We also have some members who occasionally play flute, violin, recorder, etc.

:godisgood:[/quote]