Forming a choir...

[MauRece]

Hey everyone. It's been a while since I've logged onto here, but I'm back now...lol..(not that I've been missed).

At any rate, the vision of my pastor is to have a great music DEPARTMENT, not just a "praise team," which is what we have now. Every year at the beginning of the year my Pastor goes on sabbatical for a month and a half almost. In conversation yesterday he told me that by the time he gets back, he wants rehearsals in play for the choir. He told me various people to go to personally and see if they would be interested, and he said if I could get at least 15 people (membership isn't THAT big, but big enough) that he'd be satisfied with that. Thing is............

I'm NERVOUS and SCARED as heck. I've been directing since I was 13 years old. (7 years) I LOVE DIRECTING!!!!! I'll murder a song when directing it. I'm also able to teach a song to people as well. BUT---To start something that's newly formed and having the chance that it may fail/not work, that scares me. I can be a woos at times. My pastor sees something great in me as far as the choir goes...There's no doubt an anointing in me for it...but it's still scary y'all...

So what I'm asking for is for tips as far as starting something "new." A newly formed choir. A new establishment. I need tips on rehearsals techniques and all the good stuff...Please help me out you all. God bless!!!

~May Your BEST Day In 2006 Be Your WORSE Day In 2007~

[childofgod4u]

Well first off welcome back 2 LGM....and happy new year 2 ya.Secondly I know how ufeel about startin something new and having that terrible feeling of not succeeding....Well all I gotta say is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trus in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to your own understandg,In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"

What I'm saying is; get a group of your 15 people who want to be apart of this choir and are will to be commited and patient with you and go with the flow,also make sure you have all the musicians you need and let them know that they will have 2 b committed also to this ministry.Try some easy warm up songs to sing that way you can figure out peoples voice ranges,and separate them into your sopranos altos and tenors.And Most importantly before you start your rehearsal!!!PRAY...PRAY PRAY AND PRAY SOME MORE.I pray that everything that goes well....keep me posted.

[2tight]

Well first off welcome back 2 LGM....and happy new year 2 ya.Secondly I know how ufeel about startin something new and having that terrible feeling of not succeeding....Well all I gotta say is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trus in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to your own understandg,In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"

What I'm saying is; get a group of your 15 people who want to be apart of this choir and are will to be commited and patient with you and go with the flow,also make sure you have all the musicians you need and let them know that they will have 2 b committed also to this ministry.Try some easy warm up songs to sing that way you can figure out peoples voice ranges,and separate them into your sopranos altos and tenors.And Most importantly before you start your rehearsal!!!PRAY...PRAY PRAY AND PRAY SOME MORE.I pray that everything that goes well....keep me posted.

[2tight]

Well first off welcome back 2 LGM....and happy new year 2 ya.Secondly I know how ufeel about startin something new and having that terrible feeling of not succeeding....Well all I gotta say is Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trus in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to your own understandg,In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths"

What I'm saying is; get a group of your 15 people who want to be apart of this choir and are will to be commited and patient with you and go with the flow,also make sure you have all the musicians you need and let them know that they will have 2 b committed also to this ministry.Try some easy warm up songs to sing that way you can figure out peoples voice ranges,and separate them into your sopranos altos and tenors.And Most importantly before you start your rehearsal!!!PRAY...PRAY PRAY AND PRAY SOME MORE.I pray that everything that goes well....keep me posted.

I agree with u.Just let go and Let God,I wish u the best.

[rwynn]

Praise the Lord,
You have been given a wonderful opportunity. When something is new, it is exciting. There are no problems, yet. Have the vision of what kind of choir you want before you get it. Some people can sing their tales off, but cannot sing in a choir. That is okay if you are willing to work with them and train them. If you audition members, your choir is more likely to have a better sound, but you are risking offending someone. I would suggest that you make clear what you want from the choir at your first rehearsal. I mean really make it plain exactly what you want, (eg. must be able to sing on key, must have right attitude....ect). Let them decide if they can follow the rules, and let the Lord lead you...........God Bless, Rachel Wynn

[MauRece]

Thank you all for your responses...

KEEP EM COMING. I NEED MORE FEEDBACK, PLEASE?

[MauRece]

Hey everyone! Pray that all is going well. Well...uhmm...so I talked to a few people in service on yesterday (ya know, the ones that are REALLY interested and are willing to be faithful). Anywho, I've come up with 9 people. 5 altos 2 sopranos 2 tenors. I need suggestions. I need suggestions on songs to minister. I need suggestions on rehearsal dates...I just need someone to talk to while I VENT about how freakin' nervous I am. lol. God bless.

[oldskoolgospel]

Praying for you, Rece.  It's funny because I've been talking with my pastor and I may be handed the same opportunity that you've been given.  I go to a small church, too.  I hope everything goes well.

[sjonathan02]

Hey everyone! Pray that all is going well. Well...uhmm...so I talked to a few people in service on yesterday (ya know, the ones that are REALLY interested and are willing to be faithful). Anywho, I've come up with 9 people. 5 altos 2 sopranos 2 tenors. I need suggestions. I need suggestions on songs to minister. I need suggestions on rehearsal dates...I just need someone to talk to while I VENT about how freakin' nervous I am. lol. God bless.

Dude, PM me. A question or two at a time. I'll see if I can help you out. 


First bit of advice, relax. God's got it all in control. 

[drakeboy]

Hey MuaRece

Last year this time I was in your shoes. I can tell you that if you trust God everything will come to past. I have had my group for a year now and I can tell you not everybody will see your vision(make sure that God has given you a vision), and that everyone who started with you might not stay with you. I started out with 8 (3 altos, 3 sopranos, and 2 tenors) and now I have 3 faithful ones ( not everyone seen the vison. Also remember just because they can sing they are not excused from following the rules of the group. Just know that if you make a rule stick to it and don't let no one run over you. I will be praying for you and I already claim your success.

If you need any other advice you can contact me at gratefulministries@yahoo.com


Be Blessed,


James

[judgescholl]

I can not give you advice regarding forming a choir. I have sung in at least three choirs in my life. I can give you my best/worse perspective.  The worse was the one which had a small choir and a rehersal 15 minutes before the service.  The best is when things are planned way ahead of time such as Choir rehersal being on the same day every week, extra rehersals such as on saturday known well ahead of time, major concerts planned on the church calendar to have the support of the congregation. 

[Naturelle]

I tooooooooooooootally feel you!  I thought I was the only one...I'm just starting out with a new choir I mean brand new with ppl just coming to accept Christ never sung in a choir or by themselves nada and I'm a new director.  I have 1 soprano, 1 soprano/alto(who I use as a soprano cause I don't have many ppl), 2 altos and 3 tenors.  The one soprano and one alto are my sisters and they are used to singing in a choir been doing it for years and can sing and hold notes...everyone else is a newbie.  To be honest we sang our first song on Sunday and they sounded great.  Only god I'm telling ya cause they sre still not entirely ready.  And I'm scared that I look completely dumb and clueless if they don't sound up to par.  I tell you waht I do...

I pray and pray and pray and pray.  I work with them indiviually I stress the importance of being in tune with God's presence singing fromt he heart and under the direction of the holy spirit.  I don't know if I'm doing everything right, and I know there might be mistakes but I'm constantly seeking God's direction.

Come talk to me if ya need to vent cause I need to vent too ...We've been ask to sing at a banquet dinner THIS SATURDAY!!!! and we havent rehearsed anything to prepare for it.  We JUST SUNG ON SUNDAY!!!! For the FIRST TIME!!!!! ARRRGHHH!  I can't say no.  It's the muscians who play for us that requeted us to sing and they have been sooooooooo supportive and patient.  THe choir doesnt even know yet even tho most of them are going to be there.  It would be different maybe if it was a seasoned choir, but since it's not, it might not be as easy for us to pull it off.  PLEASE PRAY FOR US!