The greatest need in the field of church music today is for vital musicians, who are able to work with people; for persons who can develop the potential musical and spiritual resources in others. The choir director, therefore, must be much more than a well-rounded musician. He/she must also be a diplomat in the best sense of the word. I am convinced that the day has passed when churches are willing to tolerate or be hypnotized by cloistered, esoteric-mannered musicians. Colleges and seminaries which are offering church music courses and degrees, have an obligation to their students of church music to stress the fundamental necessity of personal relationships as they influence the development of church choirs. The philosophical and psychological factors confronted in the church choir experience cannot be ignored if each church choir is to reach its maximum potential.
The church choir director must consider such questions as:
- What are the purposes and functions of the church choir beyond that of providing music for the church services?
- What are the factors which best motivate the church choir member to give his/her time and energies to the church through his singing?
- Is the choir member to be educated through this process of serving his/her church through music?
- What are the rewards for the choir singer?
- Does the church choir serve specific needs for artistic expression to its members? If it does, in what way does this happen?
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