Teaching songs

[audratwin]

I have directed church choirs (off and on) for about 20 years altogether, starting when I was only a teenager. In the last 10 years I have been in a church where the choir directors (2) do not teach as you describe here which is also the way I am accustomed to teaching and learning a choir song. I don't play piano, but neither does my two most recent directors. I think the difference between me and them is that I have grown up in church around gospel music to include having a mother who played the piano and directed. The two most recent directors that I have sang under didn't grow up in and around gospel choirs. They both are very talented; however, there early learnings of music came from the club scene - great bands. They both were mentored by renowned musical talents but not gospel. They were back up singers who got saved and brought their singing gifts to the church. That's commendable. However, I am so frustrated with how my current director teaches a song. They play the recorded song or ask you to listen to it on your own time before rehearsal, then at rehearsal the musician plays it and the choir is told to sing it. The question is asked, "do you hear your part"? If people say "yes", we move on. If someone says, "no", the director may stop and sing the part in question but many times the choir members fumble their way through. Believe it or not, the choir has good sound (not disciplined, though and very little expression and few dynamics, which should also be taught by the director) People enjoy us but the method of teaching often drives me to frustration as it takes way too long to learn a song. My suggestions have not been welcomed in the past. What do you suggest I do - grin and bear it or leave what I know is my calling as a worshipper? The director is very controlling and I perceive intimidated by the gifts of others so how do I handle this. Help?

[betnich]

This method is okay for the melody (sopranos) and instrumentalists, but altos and tenors need to have their parts played out repeatedly. Perhaps they are giving out CD's for you to listen to because they feel it saves rehearsal time.

Ask the leader if they could add your part played or sung to the songs on the CD....but don't hold your breath, may not be possible, this is extra work for the director...

[audratwin]

Actually I find that this method takes longer and does not save rehearsal time especially when people have not done their homework. And you are correct, your idea does mean extra work for the director.  Our director is very busy and probably would not have the time, energy or desire to add parts to a cd.  That's a good suggestion though and maybe somebody out there can use it.  So I guess your response to my dilema is "grin and bear it", huh?

[JoanHall]

Actually I find that this method takes longer and does not save rehearsal time especially when people have not done their homework.

When you talk about people who have not done their homework, do you mean the directors or the singers in the choir?  If the members of the choir are also not committed to excellence, then you have an even more difficult situation to deal with.  But if the choir members do have a desire to do better, maybe there can be ways to work it out.  Ideally what should happen is that any choir members who are still feeling shaky about their part would feel comfortable saying, "I'm not sure I've got my part, I need to go over it a few more times."  If they're hesitant to say that, maybe you can say it.  Even if you're solid on the part yourself, if there are others who are not, you could say, "Can we go over the alto part a couple more times?"  This might encourage others to be more vocal about getting the kind of teaching that they really need from their directors.

I believe that sticking with your choir and continuing to give your own best effort is the thing to do.  It may inspire others, or maybe it will just be preparing you for whatever the Lord has for you to do next.


(Not wanting to be self-promoting, but if the directors are open to the idea, they can check out ChoirParts.com and pick up individual practice tracks for a few songs, or make a custom order for a song they want to teach.)