Church Choir

“I may be helping to bring harmony between people through my music.” Nat King Cole

The world is crazy and times are tough. How do you cope when things turn difficult? Many people sing together. They join their worship community choir; serving their congregation as well as making themselves feel better by singing with others. Others find a community outlet to sing in and it’s doubly great if that community chorus has a service component.

I know several children’s choruses who state one of the missions of their group, in addition to children making music together, is to help the community become a better place. Children are encouraged to have lemonade stands during the summer months to raise money for local homeless shelters. Winter holiday concerts have coat drives. Choirs raise money for children’s hospitals or go and sing for them. These children are taught to look beyond themselves and their community by fundraisers and service projects of all kinds, creating good young musicians as well as good young people in the process.

Church and Synagogue choirs lead worship by their music making. But often they go beyond their once or twice-a-week singing together to reach out to the community at large. They sing for community gatherings or partner with others for 9-11 remembrance services. They sing for Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day and Fourth of July and community Thanksgivings. They sing for those in nursing homes during holidays and reach out to the home-bound. Church Choirs and Synagogue Choirs serve meals for the homeless, gather toiletries for women’s shelters and raise money for projects in their own worship community. To sing in a Church Choir or Synagogue Choir is much more than “just” leading worship.

There are times when the text and music and messages we sing go further than we intend them to. We reach those in pain, physical as well as spiritual, by speaking to that pain and soothing gently. We calm those in turmoil, comfort the mourning and clarify a concept to those confused by war or death or illness or conflict. Without realizing that by simply singing, we often calm and comfort and clarify ourselves as well.

Community members could learn a lot from each other by singing together. When we flippantly say groups of people in conflict have come together to sing “Kumbaya,” we actually are speaking of a very real phenomenon. Originally the song was associated with human and spiritual unity, closeness and compassion. The metaphor of a group singing “Kumbaya” together has become a cynical catch-phrase but we could take it back to its true meaning; a coming together, despite differences, to sing (or do) something to foster understanding. Perhaps a little less cynicism might go a long way to create a more understanding and compassionate world.

There are many ways for us to use our music for good, our music for healing and peace-making. What ways do YOU use music for good?

Our series wraps up next Thursday with a bit of advice from ChoralNet readers; The “Know-It-All” in Your Life.

“People don’t slip. Time catches up with them.” Nat King Cole

No one looks forward to leaving our profession or to having to tell someone they should leave. It’s a tough time everyone will face, sooner or later; we all just hope it will be much later. Today’s Choral Ethics Blog will look at three different situations where leaving the choral profession has been an issue. Naomi*, Eddie* and Jessie* all have had to look, really look, at the kindest most ethical way to handle things.

Naomi has directed a wonderful church choir for about fifteen years. To say it’s been a “dream job” is an understatement. The person who has helped her most is Nancy Jo*, her choir’s president. When Naomi went into labor during a choir practice, Nancy Jo drove her to the hospital and called her husband. For Staff Appreciation Sunday, Nancy Jo makes sure Naomi is remember by her favorite flowers and a small and “perfect” gift. Music is filed, choir robes are cleaned and the Sunshine Fund always has money in it due to Nancy Jo’s diligence.

Unfortunately, in the last few years, Nancy Jo’s voice has been deteriorating. Nancy Jo has a wobble and a vibrato so wide, its three pitches. Naomi has gotten complaints about the choir’s sound lately, with comments about them “not being as good as they used to be.” She knows why but didn’t feel she should say anything and was not sure what to do.

I suggested she to speak to clergy; church choirs tend to be volunteers, with any and all who would like to sing, hypothetically, being welcomed. He told her to ask Nancy Jo what she would like to do, and so Naomi did. Nancy Jo has realized, due to some recent health problems, her voice wasn’t the same. Both decided, together, Nancy Jo would continue as choir president and occasionally sing anthems she loves but anything new, she would sit out. Not a perfect solution but a kind, and ethical, solution.

Eddie was the accompanist for a community chorus. The director, Andrew*, had been failing for at least a year. He couldn’t remember the page they were on or what Eddie’s name was. He was indignant when the chorus kept asking the page or measure number, after he “thought” he had told them. He often seemed confused where he was or who he was (there were times he thought he was singing, not directing). It was so sad and Eddie covered for him more and more.

Finally, Eddie approached the president of the board, but she would have none of it. Eventho it was obvious there was something terribly wrong with Andrew, she did not want to embarrass him by calling his abilities into question. Eddie wanted to speak with Andrew personally but fate took that option away from him; last spring, Andrew had a debilitating stroke. Now in rehab, Andrew is making progress but it’s slow.

Eddie contacted me earlier this fall to ask what he should have done. I told him I thought his instincts were spot on about approaching him, personally. My only other thought was, instead of speaking with the president of the board, he should have spoken with Andrew first. I also told him I admired him for wanting to spare Andrew any embarrassment. Life happens and this is one of those cases no one could have anticipated.

Jessie wants to quit his church job. He’s tired of the congregation and his choir. They have had a series of interims while the congregation shops around for the “perfect pastor.” As a result, no one is minding the store. Things fall between the cracks, and if those things have anything to do with the choir or Jessie’s playing, he is blamed. They no longer have a regular church secretary, so even if he gets his hymn and anthem selections in in a timely fashion, they often don’t show up in Sunday’s bulletin and he’s the fall guy.

Eddie feels his congregation has unrealistic views of what is best for them, so the interims keep coming and the transition is getting longer and longer. When there was confusion about his vacation (he asked for permission from whichever interim was there at the time he made plans, arranged for a substitute AND made sure the correct music and hymns were turned in to whoever was doing the bulletins for that week) and he was scolded, that was it.

When asked what he should do, I told him to look for another position. I understand his point of view, because until they get their act together, it will continue to be a mess and it will be draining. But I also told him to not leave, if he can help it, until after Advent and Christmas. To leave them in the lurch before the holidays would reflect badly on HIM and could cause him problems later on.

Our series continues next Thursday with a little bit of hope; Using Music For Good.

*Name Withheld

“The true mystery of the world is the visible, not the invisible.” Oscar Wilde

You all know “her” but you may not know exactly what she does. She is just there, connected with your ensemble in some way. What she does is invisible to you and everyone else, but I am here today to tell you, what she does is important. You’ve never really paid attention to what she does so you’ve never really thanked her. Your groups have always worked as a “well-oiled machine”—and you are grateful—but do you know who the “gears” are?

She is your music librarian or the president of your parent group. Or maybe she’s on your board (or the spouse of a board member) or the secretary of your church or department. She is a section leader or perhaps she has no defined job but is just helpful to you and your choirs. “She” may not be female either, but if pressed, you know exactly who I’m speaking about.

Your main thrust is the music, as it should be, but do you realize how many people it takes to get your concert up on stage? Or your fundraiser up and going and raising funds? There are many people, besides the obvious, who help you and your organization, your church choir, your choral program and without them, you could not do what you do. Think about it; all those little behind-the-scene things which separately, are not as important as the music but together can make or break your choral groups.

Your choir robes are cleaned every summer; someone takes them to the cleaners and brings them back. The concert programs are done in plenty of time for your concerts, collated and inserts are put in if need be. Tour tee-shirts, with all the correct sizes and THIS YEAR’S Tour Logo, somehow magically appear when they need to. Handouts are collated, music is filed and folders have the correct music in them; you are really not sure who made it happen. Your website and Facebook page and Twitter are all updated in a timely fashion. Bottles of water are ready for rehearsals and concerts and recycled without you giving it a thought. Chairs are set up on risers; your accompanist has what they need for every rehearsal. Concert PR material goes out when needed. Auction items and raffle prizes magically appear so your fund raisers can raise funds, with as little hassle to you as possible. All those little things are accomplished by others so you may keep your mind on the “important” things.

This year, as we begin our new academic and concert seasons, make it a point to learn “who does what” for you and your choirs so you may thank them appropriately. Since you’ve never really paid attention and never really thanked those responsible for your success, perhaps it’s time you began. I will guarantee this; if you don’t start thanking people now, you will quickly learn what it is they do for you when they no longer do so!

Next week, we begin a new Choral Ethics series for the month of October; When Times Are Tough.