Looking for Advice for Singers

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Hello All,

I'm trying to put together a good praise team at my Church. I've got some decent instrumentalist, PSG, Bass, Keyboard, Drumer, 6 string. Not pros, but fairly good.

Now I'm trying to get the singers, 2 girls, 2 guys, to actually LEARN the songs and not depend so heavily on the sheet music.

Anybody out there ever had any luck with any particular methods? I'd love to hear about them.

Thanks a million!
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David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

Ted Lowe Jr · From: Tennessee, USA

It really helps if your singers can read music and have their parts wriiten out for them, after a few practices they should be able to memorize their parts, and having a good keyboard player that can play their parts for them when learning is very helpful. i don't know of any other methods to help them get rid of the music crutch other than practice and memorization. It might look better with out the holding music or having music stands but I would prefer they be able to sing the correct notes and sound as good as possible and if they need the music in front of them to do it, why not let them?

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Hi Ted,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. Maybe I should clarify a little. I'm in no way opposed to the singers having their music with them.

What I'm having to deal with is them showing up at 5 minutes prior to the Service, and saying "I don't know how this song goes" when we've done it 6 or 7 times over the last few months. In a lot of cases, we've just practiced it the evening before.

Any suggestions?
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David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

Ted Lowe Jr · From: Tennessee, USA

I see, I recommend that you might give them Cds of the songs to listen to, I think they should put forth an effort to try and listen and be familiar with the songs if they want to sing on the praise team. Either cds or perhaps post the songs on a website storage space and let them listen online or download them. We have had similar problems in the past also and it is a kind of touchy situation to deal with sometimes, but when we think about what we are doing and why we are doing it, we should realize that we should strive to do the very best we can do,
The Praise Team is leading the congregation into worship and that demands a certain professionalism, IMHO. I think if you give out CDs of the songs and a pep talk might do the trick. Best of Luck with it.

Bill Hatcher · From: Atlanta Ga. USA

I work on a high profile Church praise team. All pros in the band...very few pro singers. Just make sure you get some dedicated people first who approach out front singing in a praise time as a ministry. They are out front....they not only represent the music team, but they also reflect the Church also. We have had praise team members leave because of conflicts in what the Church required of them even when they were not on stage....in their personal lives.

You also need to have a good keyboardist who can take the sheet music if availiable and work with the singers playing parts for them to sing if they are not music readers. Most of the Contemporary Church music is easily learned by singers and pretty soon they develop the ability to not only sing the melody but come up with parts also. Luck to you...don't scrimp on the resources for these folks. They are important. Give them some manner of compensation. They can make a BIG difference in a Church.

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Bill and Ted, thank you both for your input. We are a small Church with limited resources, both physically and financially. I'm not complaining by any means as I know that our needs will be met, one way or another.

I guess I'm just a bit fuddled with the singers due to the ability of the instruments to be able to pick and play a song within a try or two at practice, then jump right in and play it on Sunday morning without problem.

It seems that our vocalist can not do that. I'm not sure that it is lack of ability, but rather lack of commitment and determination. I know these folks and what they are capabil of in their work, their hobbies, etc.

I guess I'm looking for more motivational tools than anything else.

Example: I prepare the song list no later than Thursday of each week and e-mail it out to everyone in the group. (everyone has access to the music, their own copies) I practice daily as do the other instruments. All of the instruments show up at practice with their copies of the list, their copies of the sheets or charts as needed.

The singers come in and say, I need a copy of the song list and the music, I can't find mine, or such other statements.

I need to motivate these guys without brow beating or humiliating them. I want everyone to have fun, but I also want a well prepared presentation.

Hope that this explanation is more understandable.
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David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

Andy Jones · From: Mississippi

David,those people need to understand that they are not only singing,but are also worshiping.The Lord deserves our best at all times.Mistakes will be made because we are human.If those people were serious about what they are doing,they would have their music and be prepared to worship.There is nothing wrong with relying on the sheet music to glance at during the song,but they should be looking into the worshiper's faces as they sing.There's no doubt in my mind that knowing the music well produces confidence and confidence results in quality.If they can't or won't be better prepared,then music may not be their calling.Maybe I'm harsh,but that's my feeling about worship.

Andy

Ellis Miller · From: Cortez, Colorado, USA

David,
First of all, you are to be commended for taking this on and for your efforts toward a quality presentation. You have already gotten some very good advice from other posters.

I would emphasize the possibility of having separate rehersal sessions for the singers and a keyboard player. Even in professional situations, the vocal harmonies are often the most challenging aspect of the musical production and the vocalists really need to have a handle on their parts.

It sounds like the "elephant in the room" is the commitment level of the singers. Unless the singers are willing to commit to a certain performance level, you are stuck with what you have. Perhaps a positive, respectful conversation is in order to determine what the members' expectations are for the group and what they are willing to put forth to reach those expectations. Fair warning.... their expectations might not be the same as yours. Good luck
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Ellis Miller
Don't believe everything you think.
http://www.ellismillermusic.com

David Collins · From: Madison, North Carolina, USA

Andy and Ellis,

Thanks for taking the time to respond. You both make good points. A couple of them I was already afraid of and hoping that I'm wrong.

These are some really good folks. I want to be sure, or at least as sure as I can, before i make a judgement call as to whether it is lack of caring, or if they need a better coach than I am able to be.

Keep the ideas coming guys. Thanks a bunch!
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David Collins
www.chjoyce.com

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