Music class for ministry members
Forum category
Hello folks. A longtime SI lurker posting a question here.
I recently re-inherited the music director position at my church. I was music director in the past from around ‘93-‘99. Our choir has grown to about 30 people, and I see a challenge with many of the choir members not having any clue as to music theory. We have a great group of folks, but it’s discouraging when we constantly spend time going over what are really simple rhythms, dynamic changes, and phrasing.
We did a pilot program this Summer where I had a choir member who is a musician put together a 9-week lesson plan on simple music theory and teach it to a small group of choir members. The class was approx 15 minutes long, and held prior to choir rehearsal on Sunday evening. I have noticed a general uptick in the productivity of those people who took the class. For curriculum we use selected lessons from Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory books 1 and two (which comes in a binder including books 1-3 for those who want advanced study on their own) which is a book oriented toward adults.
My question is this: I would like to somewhat expand on the pilot class we did and conduct a mandatory music theory training series for all choir members. In order to be fair, everyone would take it, even those few who are relatively educated (ironically I think those people would be the most willing to attend as well). Because we have 30 people, to make it manageable as well as interactive I would probably break the choir into 3 10-member classes. I’m looking for general feedback from fellow music directors:
1. Have you ever managed or participated in a church program like this?
2. How would your own choir respond if you asked them to participate in this kind of program?
3. Do you feel this kind of thing would benefit your choir participants overall — increase rehearsal productivity, quality of sound/performance, etc?
4. Would you consider a “test-out” for folks whom you know are totally up to speed on all the important theory concepts?
To further support this, I have another choir member who is currently a college student, willing to teach a sight-singing series to the choir this coming Summer as part of her education practicum. I also have support from the church Pastor on this — he thinks it’s a great idea, but we need to work out these details and ensure it’s the right thing for us.
There is another somewhat sadder, but beneficial side effect to this program. I have a small number (around 3) of choir members who joined into the ministry in the past who have not been blessed with the gift of music. They basically cannot hear the difference between harmony and melody, and also cannot carry a tune for more than 4 notes in a row. These sessions may help them come to a self-realization that their called ministry may not be one involving music. It will also set a nice baseline for future incoming members, we would basically go through the study material in an abbreviated way with them to ensure they have a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of choral participation.
Thanks,
I recently re-inherited the music director position at my church. I was music director in the past from around ‘93-‘99. Our choir has grown to about 30 people, and I see a challenge with many of the choir members not having any clue as to music theory. We have a great group of folks, but it’s discouraging when we constantly spend time going over what are really simple rhythms, dynamic changes, and phrasing.
We did a pilot program this Summer where I had a choir member who is a musician put together a 9-week lesson plan on simple music theory and teach it to a small group of choir members. The class was approx 15 minutes long, and held prior to choir rehearsal on Sunday evening. I have noticed a general uptick in the productivity of those people who took the class. For curriculum we use selected lessons from Alfred’s Essentials of Music Theory books 1 and two (which comes in a binder including books 1-3 for those who want advanced study on their own) which is a book oriented toward adults.
My question is this: I would like to somewhat expand on the pilot class we did and conduct a mandatory music theory training series for all choir members. In order to be fair, everyone would take it, even those few who are relatively educated (ironically I think those people would be the most willing to attend as well). Because we have 30 people, to make it manageable as well as interactive I would probably break the choir into 3 10-member classes. I’m looking for general feedback from fellow music directors:
1. Have you ever managed or participated in a church program like this?
2. How would your own choir respond if you asked them to participate in this kind of program?
3. Do you feel this kind of thing would benefit your choir participants overall — increase rehearsal productivity, quality of sound/performance, etc?
4. Would you consider a “test-out” for folks whom you know are totally up to speed on all the important theory concepts?
To further support this, I have another choir member who is currently a college student, willing to teach a sight-singing series to the choir this coming Summer as part of her education practicum. I also have support from the church Pastor on this — he thinks it’s a great idea, but we need to work out these details and ensure it’s the right thing for us.
There is another somewhat sadder, but beneficial side effect to this program. I have a small number (around 3) of choir members who joined into the ministry in the past who have not been blessed with the gift of music. They basically cannot hear the difference between harmony and melody, and also cannot carry a tune for more than 4 notes in a row. These sessions may help them come to a self-realization that their called ministry may not be one involving music. It will also set a nice baseline for future incoming members, we would basically go through the study material in an abbreviated way with them to ensure they have a thorough understanding of the fundamentals of choral participation.
Thanks,
I’ve been mulling this one since you posted. I didn’t want to go shooting off my virtual mouth, especially since I am not a choir person per se. My biggest concern from choirs I have been in, would be are you running the risk of hurt feelings and misunderstandings? If you are confident enough to pull it off, fabulous.
I substituted for junior high choir (public school) today and oh boy, does that teacher make the students learn theory. I went back to watch her with her last period class and was extremely impressed with what she was doing with seventh grade girls. If twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls can turn off the giggles long enough to learn, one would hope adults could do the same. Incidentally, in our district as I circulate around and go to concerts, a healthy portion of the music files and concerts are dedicated to what would be considered sacred literature - and this is in the Pacific Northwest, not exactly a hotbed of “cultural” Christianity.
Enough for the commercial break. Yes, absolutely an understanding of basic music theory should enhance rehearsal productivity. A test-out option would seem to be fair to those who have the basic understanding, but I would say to have an actual documentation of that ability to avoid accusations of favoritism.
Keep us posted as to your decision and how it enhanced the choir.
I substituted for junior high choir (public school) today and oh boy, does that teacher make the students learn theory. I went back to watch her with her last period class and was extremely impressed with what she was doing with seventh grade girls. If twelve- and thirteen-year-old girls can turn off the giggles long enough to learn, one would hope adults could do the same. Incidentally, in our district as I circulate around and go to concerts, a healthy portion of the music files and concerts are dedicated to what would be considered sacred literature - and this is in the Pacific Northwest, not exactly a hotbed of “cultural” Christianity.
Enough for the commercial break. Yes, absolutely an understanding of basic music theory should enhance rehearsal productivity. A test-out option would seem to be fair to those who have the basic understanding, but I would say to have an actual documentation of that ability to avoid accusations of favoritism.
Keep us posted as to your decision and how it enhanced the choir.
maybe you could be a little more “sneaky” about it, lengthen your rehersal times by 15-20 min, and just make it a regular part of choir rehersal instead of a special class … ? Might cause less stir then.
Discussion