Pastor wants to start a community choir

[Pretty_Brit]

Okay. I am working with a new church who is preparing to open soon. The pastor wants to start a community choir. I have no complaint with this. I just wanted to know how in the world do you teach a choir with people who may or may not have ever sung in a choir before. I also wanted to know if you guys knew any easy starter songs.
I am thinking about teaching Emmanuel (N. Hutchins) and Praise Him (New Jersey Mass). I know I need more than two.

[sjonathan02]

You can audition folks who desire to be in the choir.

As for easy songs:

Alpha & Omega

You deserve the Glory (You are Great) Juanita Bynum

Lord, You are good

One more chance (Pastor David Mobley)



There are others, I just need to think of them.

[betnich]

Yes, auditions would be good, if possible, to find peoples' capacity and ranges.

We have recently started a 12-15 person choir in our small church, and for now am concentrating on simpler songs with no leads and older congregational songs, like GOD HAS SMILED ON ME and MAY THE LORD GOD BLESS YOU REAL GOOD. We have done NO GREATER LOVE (GMWA version), I CAME TO MAGNIFY THE LORD, without the leads. Am preparing to do OH, WHAT HE'S DONE FOR ME and I SHALL WEAR A CROWN the same way; hopefully people doing the leads will come later. Last rehearsal I introduced Kirk Franklin's Till We Meet Again as a closing song - they seemed to pick that up quickly.

We have a shortage of true Tenors and several in the 'monotone' section, so our performances aren't perfect, yet....have been teaching some parts, but mainly we are singing melody.

SOULED OUT might be good -

[betnich]

Oh - also GOD IS IN CONTROL -

Ricky Dillard's version -

Ricky Dillard & New G - God Is In Control

And by James Hall -

James Hall - God Is In Control

[churchyreal]

Musically I like Ricky Dillard's version better.

[Pretty_Brit]

Thanks I'm also thinking about Forever You're My King.

My Real Question
How do I do this. I started back in the day (7 years ago) with an existing choir. So I have no real idea about starting and testing voices.

[sjonathan02]

Thanks I'm also thinking about Forever You're My King.

My Real Question
How do I do this. I started back in the day (7 years ago) with an existing choir. So I have no real idea about starting and testing voices.

The biggest thing is: Can they sing? Can they find the melody and then sing in harmony?


If they can do those two things, everything else will come because, at a later date, you can determine who is a soprano vs who is an alto, etc.

[betnich]

My Real Question
How do I do this. I started back in the day (7 years ago) with an existing choir. So I have no real idea about starting and testing voices.

If it's mostly beginners...

Start out with just melody - most people can sing a melody, if it's in their range (Congregational - about C to C). It's when they get out of their comfortable range that they go flat or sharp. And singers are more on pitch when they stand next to someone who knows their part. Have them sing something simple like Amazing Grace in different keys to get an idea of their range - how high/low they can go.

Parts and phrasing can come later, with more experienced singers, or once you've sorted Sopranos, Altos, Tenors...

[sjonathan02]

When I auditioned for academy choir, the teacher would ask what part we want to sing, and then  start at middle C on the piano and play each note either up or down until the person reaches the end of his/her range. That might be something to try.

Great idea.

[JoanHall]

I would recommend starting with songs that have a lot of unison and gradually moving into songs that have more harmonies.

What is your pastor's vision for the community choir.  If he wants it to be a tool of outreach, then auditioning people and only taking the ones who sing really well might not be compatible with his vision.  On the other hand, if he wants the community choir to provide a very high quality of music, then you would want to set the standard higher for who can join.

I have a web page about working with a choir of beginners.