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Author Topic: What makes a good Choir Director  (Read 1844 times)

Offline Dooley

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What makes a good Choir Director
« on: May 22, 2007, 08:25:25 PM »
I got asked this question a few days ago, and I figured I would post my response as a director as well as hear and welcome your responses! Thanks guys

To me, a good choir director is one who firstly is led by God.  Directing a choir is far more than just being up waving your arms and spinning around in a circle.  A good choir director probably should be able to teach correct parts to the choir.  If not teach, at least hear where there are errors and fix them.  A Good Choir director should be able to follow the spirit in service or concert.  If God says sing something else, then do it.  A good choir director should be able to tie the musicians, soloist, and the choir into one big mass of excellence. A good choir director should have a connection with the band to know the ins and outs of how the music should sound...A good choir director should know when to cut a song, or when to keep it going (the holy spirt sure helps with that one)...A good choir Director should be able to take charge of rehearsal, or of a concert in the microphone...I believe a good choir director should also at least be able to sing a little bit to flow with the holy spirit...A good choir director should know lots of songs to be able to flow...

These are just some of the things i said...What do you all think??
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Offline dcrosby

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #1 on: May 22, 2007, 11:31:34 PM »
I agree with a lot that you mentioned, however I think I may be coming from a different aspect than what you maybe coming from. I think a good director has to be a good follower meaning following the flow of the service, what the pastor or minister wants, the emotions of the congregation and also being able to follow the minister of music. In many cases the director does not have the duties of the M.O.M. Being able to follow these keys will make them a great leader. Being a leader who can win the influence over the choir is important. They must know how to tactfully and effectively communicate with other choir members and musicians. I'm big on a person's character more so musicianship. As M.O.M. I feel that I can teach anyone with a love for music how to listen for certain things in a song, but I can't really change who they are in their heart. If they love the Lord, they'll know a lot of songs and they'll understand which songs are appropriate for which situations throughout a service. They don't have to be able to play any instrument, but having an ear and the ability to teach parts are very important.
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Offline bradleymoorer

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #2 on: May 23, 2007, 07:33:54 AM »
I feel that a good choir director is a strong leader who is willing to be a good follower, in the grand scheme of things you choir director falls under your M.O.M., at least at my service. A good choir director will know how to do things in proper and descent order. Knows all the choir parts backwards and fowards so that there are no hiccups in the flow of the song. The responsibilities of a choir director are fairly easy. The choir director should not be controlling the band, but communicating with the M.O.M. to initiate changes. My $0.02!
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Offline Dooley

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What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #3 on: May 23, 2007, 12:58:00 PM »
I guess my issue is I am both the Choir Director and M.O.M and I was speaking moreso on behalf of those choirs that are not part of a church...IE community Choirs, or Gospel Choirs
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Offline rayrock

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #4 on: June 01, 2007, 09:28:37 AM »
Great post and replies. I am a choir director and I director 4 choirs at my church. So can I ask a question? What do you do when you are a good choir director?

What do you do when the music staff have meetings and they never include you? You are part of the music ministry when on 10:00 Sunday morning but not for the whole benefit of the growth of the ministry. What do you do when they make song selections and the don't include you and you only find out the song on rehearsal night?

What do you do when they change to songs selection in service without tell "the choir director"? What do you do when the M.O.M brings the same songs over and over and wonder why people are not coming to rehearsals? What do you when the music department calls a meeting with the deacons and not the pastor to discuss "concerns'?

What do you do when at that meeting the M.O.M and musicians only concern is that the choir director changes the songs arrangement on Sunday and they want $25 dollars to go somewhere with the choirs? The repeat a chorous a 5th time instead of 4. Does that call for a meeting with the deacons? Come one people!  You didn't bring the youth choir in when it was time to come in. Ooop, we miss the intro and you bring it around again? Is anybody feeling me? In other words, they really have no complaint about the choir director but to keep it fair in their power game they have to say something.

People they call a big meeting and the only thing on the agenda was the choir director didn't end the song right? HELP ME PLEASE!!! It makes your upset sometimes especially when you are giving your best for God and other get just give enough for a check. 

Help me yall
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Offline sjonathan02

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #5 on: June 01, 2007, 09:46:57 AM »
Quote from: rayrock on June 01, 2007, 09:28:37 AM
Great post and replies. I am a choir director and I director 4 choirs at my church. So can I ask a question? What do you do when you are a good choir director?

What do you do when the music staff have meetings and they never include you? You are part of the music ministry when on 10:00 Sunday morning but not for the whole benefit of the growth of the ministry. What do you do when they make song selections and the don't include you and you only find out the song on rehearsal night?

What do you do when they change to songs selection in service without tell "the choir director"? What do you do when the M.O.M brings the same songs over and over and wonder why people are not coming to rehearsals? What do you when the music department calls a meeting with the deacons and not the pastor to discuss "concerns'?

What do you do when at that meeting the M.O.M and musicians only concern is that the choir director changes the songs arrangement on Sunday and they want $25 dollars to go somewhere with the choirs? The repeat a chorous a 5th time instead of 4. Does that call for a meeting with the deacons? Come one people!  You didn't bring the youth choir in when it was time to come in. Ooop, we miss the intro and you bring it around again? Is anybody feeling me? In other words, they really have no complaint about the choir director but to keep it fair in their power game they have to say something.

People they call a big meeting and the only thing on the agenda was the choir director didn't end the song right? HELP ME PLEASE!!! It makes your upset sometimes especially when you are giving your best for God and other get just give enough for a check. 

Help me yall



baptist church?
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Offline dcrosby

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #6 on: June 02, 2007, 03:12:31 PM »
Just like you vented to us. It seems like you need to vent to those people. Don't sugar coat it, let them know how you feel. If they don't know, nothing will change. Keep it professional though.
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shane254

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #7 on: June 06, 2007, 01:46:47 PM »
LOL. SJ u plain wrong for that.  ;D

Now them some issues no one would wanna do to me! Cause they'll know their ABCs after I'm done telling em how school is kept. Cause if I'm reading right u ain't a director here but a choir mascot. LOL. Maybe u should have a little talk with em. I'm glad someone said that the director doesn't have to know how to play but should know when they stray. Cause I can't play anything for my life. But my musicians be amazed when I tell em what to play every now & then. But I was always concerned about me not playing an instrument. I hope to change that soon tho.

Do u think Choir directing is a calling from birth? lol. I mean I think I was born singing in harmony. Was that a sign? ;D

Rayrock check the yellow pages for a listing of churches in ur area. ?/?
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Offline God angel

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #8 on: June 19, 2007, 05:36:36 PM »
I do believe that a good choir director should be a great leader and know voices and notes and always remember your attitude reflects your leadership. but i have a question also what do you do if the musician we dont have a m.o.m only a musician is trying to let the drummer direct the choir when that person was never name as a choir director just the drummer. there have been great conflicts in our choir because of this.please answ.
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Offline PianoWizard

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #9 on: June 19, 2007, 08:57:58 PM »
Welcome to the LGM family "God angel".....Be Blessed.

PianoWiz...
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Offline FireBaptized101

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Re: What makes a good Choir Director
« Reply #10 on: June 21, 2007, 11:24:12 AM »
Quote from: Dooley on May 22, 2007, 08:25:25 PM
I got asked this question a few days ago, and I figured I would post my response as a director as well as hear and welcome your responses! Thanks guys

To me, a good choir director is one who firstly is led by God.  Directing a choir is far more than just being up waving your arms and spinning around in a circle.  A good choir director probably should be able to teach correct parts to the choir.  If not teach, at least hear where there are errors and fix them.  A Good Choir director should be able to follow the spirit in service or concert.  If God says sing something else, then do it.  A good choir director should be able to tie the musicians, soloist, and the choir into one big mass of excellence. A good choir director should have a connection with the band to know the ins and outs of how the music should sound...A good choir director should know when to cut a song, or when to keep it going (the holy spirt sure helps with that one)...A good choir Director should be able to take charge of rehearsal, or of a concert in the microphone...I believe a good choir director should also at least be able to sing a little bit to flow with the holy spirit...A good choir director should know lots of songs to be able to flow...

These are just some of the things i said...What do you all think??


Well I am a Choir Director and I think choir directors should have all of the qualities u mentioned. P.S.-It's this assist. choir director, who can't sing or anything....why doesn't he just give up...he kno's he can't sing, and he can't do harmony....
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