Do you plan for your rehearsal?

[SisterT]

After reading the topic "how long should rehearsals last" I thought I'd share an article I wrote for workshops I do.

God is a God of order. Everything we do, we do, for his glory. His Word tells calls us to excellence, “Let all things be done decently and in order” (I Corn 14:40).

Why is it then, during our choir rehearsals, things seem o----o----o….....Out Of Order!  :?  Have you ever left a rehearsal feeling you made no accomplishments?  8O  Has there been no order, direction or plan?  :x Choir rehearsals should be planned.

Haphazard rehearsals produce a haphazard ministry. I cannot stress the importance of planning on paper. Many of us fool ourselves into believing that we will remember every detail of what we need to accomplish. It is very important that we get into the practice of writing down what we plan to accomplish. There is nothing wrong with having a plan…..there is nothing right about wasting time.

I usually plan for a maximum of 90 minutes. My rehearsal begin after Wednesday Bible Study at 8:15 pm. We do not get out until 9:45 p.m. We must be considerate that others with families and jobs are volunteering their time.

Here is an outline of my rehearsal plans. Minutes are approximate.

1. Worship (prayer and praise, 5 minutes {or as directed by the Holy Spirit}) - Prayers of praise & thanks to God, as well as prayers for the request of choir members.

2.   Business (5 minutes) - Choir president presides. More time is allowed if we are preparing for a special event. Because we meet each week, there is usually not much new business to discuss.

3. Devotional Thought (5 minutes)  -  A brief, well-prepared teaching, devotion, or humorous story related to music
ministry -or- testimony from a choir member.

4.   Evaluate the last worship service (5 minutes) - This is optional, and not done during each meeting. We evaluate at least once a month. Honest evaluation of the ministry as a whole is expected. We do not single out individuals. No "put downs" or hidden agendas.

5.  Vocal Warm-up (10 minutes) - A brief but thorough warm-up is needed to get a choir’s sound focused.

6.  Rehearse Selections ( 30-45 minutes) - Musicians & directors should be familiar with the songs before rehearsal time. Time is wasted when one has to figure out lyrics, chords and/or choir parts during the rehearsal.

7.  Final Run (15 minutes) - Sing through songlist without stopping. This helps a choir and musician to learn how to “cover up” mistakes during the worship.

[sjonathan02]

My goodness, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were picking my brain or looking over my shoulder at my notes.


The only addition to what I used to do is the devotional thought never "thought" about that one.


Bless you, Sister T. This is going to help someone tremendously.

Jonathan

[SisterT]

My goodness, if I didn't know better, I'd think you were picking my brain or looking over my shoulder at my notes.

Maybey I am looking over your shoulders.  :lol:

Reminds me.... my daughter went to her 6th grade dance and I told her she couldn't dance with a boy. I told her, just because she don't see me doesn't mean that I'm not there.

I hope this info is helpful. I hate disorganization.

[churchyreal]

I know I'm late, but for Sister T, I'd like to know your copyright rules or whatever in using your material to help other choirs. Your information is very valuable and is really useful to me but I want to get your permission to use it first before I use it.


Thanks, churchyreal

[SisterT]

I know I'm late, but for Sister T, I'd like to know your copyright rules or whatever in using your material to help other choirs. Your information is very valuable and is really useful to me but I want to get your permission to use it first before I use it.


Thanks, churchyreal

Use it, just give credit where credit is due.

Glad I could help you.

[churchyreal]

Thank you and I will give credit where credit is deserved.

[lxp4898]

Thank you SisterT. I just read this on you web page saturday and printed for my M.O.M...I'M A firm believer that you rehearsal your have a format .....and i.m.o.o rehearsal you be spirit filled example 5years ago we would shout,worshop,and just be slayed in the spirit know it feels like folk are bother by rehearsal lead singer think this is american idol and musician not learning the song correctly but prefer to learn every run from a to z so . i printed what i seen on you page prayed over it .....i will keep you posted   

[SisterT]

Thank you SisterT. I just read this on you web page saturday and printed for my M.O.M...I'M A firm believer that you rehearsal your have a format .....and i.m.o.o rehearsal you be spirit filled example 5years ago we would shout,worshop,and just be slayed in the spirit know it feels like folk are bother by rehearsal lead singer think this is american idol and musician not learning the song correctly but prefer to learn every run from a to z so . i printed what i seen on you page prayed over it .....i will keep you posted   

Do let me know. And make adjustments according to your needs. I'll say a prayer for you too.

[chrisjr4]

Yep, I agree. Organization is what gets things done. I thank God for my choir director who plans out her rehearsals as well. Otherwise, the choir would probably keep bringing up random songs playing around until it's time to go and sound horrible on Sunday. God would probably leave until the sermon.

[3rd-Day]

Yep, I agree. Organization is what gets things done. I thank God for my choir director who plans out her rehearsals as well. Otherwise, the choir would probably keep bringing up random songs playing around until it's time to go and sound horrible on Sunday. God would probably leave until the sermon.

Absolutely. You cant be standing in front of people and you are visibly unorganized. They will begin to question your ablilty to lead. Its unprofessional too.

[earlbjenkins]

Hello, thanks for the rehearsal outline; it leads into my discussion, I'll begin with some  background:
I am an intermediate piano/keyboard player at our church and I have been playing with them for about 2 months. We have a primary keyboardist who is also the minister of music. He has been at the church for about 6 months and before that, the P&W/Choir sang acapella, along with a drummer, even though there is a hammond B3, an organ and a piano that was collecting dust. Once the church was blessed with our minister of music, then a bassist and myself came along.
There are several issues that have developed which are hindering growth both spiritually and musically:
1. The minister of music is truly blessed musically, but there is no organization.
2. The choir director that was running the show in the past has become bitter and doesn't feel as though the music is necessary. Her favorite qoute is "We sang acapella for 2 years and we have been doing just fine."
3. When the minister of music isn't available, then the choir goes into a state of "panic," and even though we still have musicians available, they want to revert back to the "old days," even neglecting to practice; which as I stated above, isn't the most organized.
4. I'm still learning a lot and I have really humbled myself, but it's becoming very frustrating when you know that god has called you to do something that you love, but the people involved cannot subjucate themselves (some being church leaders that are supposed to help us to grow stronger in christ).
5. A prime example is that the minister of music had to go out of town and the choir members found out about it before practice. Although we had been given a list of songs for sunday on the previous practice (and had even reheased them), the former choir director changed ALL of the songs. Myself, the bassist and the drummer were at practice, but the choir just ran through the new songs. The only interaction with the musicians was when they asked me to confirm what key they were singing the songs in. Once that was established, the musicians practiced the songs on Saturday evening. When I called the former director, we agreed that we would meet about an hour early on sunday morning (already too late), to make any necessary adjustments to the songs with the music. Well, by the time everyone was there, the director decided that there was no need to rehearse (bad move). About 10 minutes before church began, the minister of music walked in (he had just driven 20 hours). He asked about the songs and I gave him the list of songs; which weren't even familiar to him. I took him through the songs in the key that was rehearsed a few evenings before and he said that he would just follow me. Well as soon as the first song began, it happened; the choir was singing in 3 different keys, one of the soloists stopped singing and wanted to begin all over again...with a packed house watching!!! Needless to say, this was repeated on EVERY SONG!!! The minister of music asked me what had happened and I explained everything, without trying to find fault in anyone, but myself, the drummer and the bassist had to really pray because we definately did everything to be prepared.

This all points to a lack of organization during rehearsal and also some egos being tossed around. I know that I said a lot, but is there any advice/help that you can provide based off of any of the above issues?
Thanks, god bless

[drummer_boi23]

the choir i play for has a period of time where they can sit for 3 minutes and get some air

[B_XALTED]

Ha!!! it take my choir almost 2 hours to go over 2 songs... the musicians refuse to practice at home, then when we get to church on Sunday it sounds pieced together... I am a drummer, and i practice... On my pad at work (all day), and then at home, then church. Why can't they take time out too??? i have a family too (no kids, but responsibilities at home). Am I wrong to feel this way? The last thing I want is to seem ungrateful that God has blessed me with this gift... But I feel that I take out a lot of time to practice... whay can't they???

[sjonathan02]

Hello, thanks for the rehearsal outline; it leads into my discussion, I'll begin with some  background:
I am an intermediate piano/keyboard player at our church and I have been playing with them for about 2 months. We have a primary keyboardist who is also the minister of music. He has been at the church for about 6 months and before that, the P&W/Choir sang acapella, along with a drummer, even though there is a hammond B3, an organ and a piano that was collecting dust. Once the church was blessed with our minister of music, then a bassist and myself came along.
There are several issues that have developed which are hindering growth both spiritually and musically:
1. The minister of music is truly blessed musically, but there is no organization.
2. The choir director that was running the show in the past has become bitter and doesn't feel as though the music is necessary. Her favorite qoute is "We sang acapella for 2 years and we have been doing just fine."
3. When the minister of music isn't available, then the choir goes into a state of "panic," and even though we still have musicians available, they want to revert back to the "old days," even neglecting to practice; which as I stated above, isn't the most organized.
4. I'm still learning a lot and I have really humbled myself, but it's becoming very frustrating when you know that god has called you to do something that you love, but the people involved cannot subjucate themselves (some being church leaders that are supposed to help us to grow stronger in christ).
5. A prime example is that the minister of music had to go out of town and the choir members found out about it before practice. Although we had been given a list of songs for sunday on the previous practice (and had even reheased them), the former choir director changed ALL of the songs. Myself, the bassist and the drummer were at practice, but the choir just ran through the new songs. The only interaction with the musicians was when they asked me to confirm what key they were singing the songs in. Once that was established, the musicians practiced the songs on Saturday evening. When I called the former director, we agreed that we would meet about an hour early on sunday morning (already too late), to make any necessary adjustments to the songs with the music. Well, by the time everyone was there, the director decided that there was no need to rehearse (bad move). About 10 minutes before church began, the minister of music walked in (he had just driven 20 hours). He asked about the songs and I gave him the list of songs; which weren't even familiar to him. I took him through the songs in the key that was rehearsed a few evenings before and he said that he would just follow me. Well as soon as the first song began, it happened; the choir was singing in 3 different keys, one of the soloists stopped singing and wanted to begin all over again...with a packed house watching!!! Needless to say, this was repeated on EVERY SONG!!! The minister of music asked me what had happened and I explained everything, without trying to find fault in anyone, but myself, the drummer and the bassist had to really pray because we definately did everything to be prepared.

This all points to a lack of organization during rehearsal and also some egos being tossed around. I know that I said a lot, but is there any advice/help that you can provide based off of any of the above issues?
Thanks, god bless

Someone, with a talent for organization, needs to come in and assist the MOM. That's what happens at my church. Her name is Pam, and her sole responsibility is to take care of all of the administrative duties, so much so, that my MOM doesn't have to be bothered with those things.

As for your other concerns, take them to God in prayer; then stand still and know that He is God. You can speak, in love, to the various members who have fears when the MOM is away.

As for the musicians, YOU may need to step up and set up separate rehearsal times for the band. The question must be asked why are people are there in the first place.

I pray this helps.