Playing for a Children's Choir

[Shalom123]

I began Music Director at a church in April.  There were several other musicians on staff.  The pastor didn't care for the musician over the children's choir.  When I informed him that this was the sole musician for them, he agreed to hire another one.  That musician played one Sunday and then quit because they were not given a contractural agreement.  Since then, another musician was hired, but not to play for that choir, nor is this person compensated to play for the children's choir.  (This is also not a part of my contract; I am to supervise the musician over that choir, but not responsible for teaching it.)

The pastor has since left the church.  The adult supervisor for the children is somewhat being demanding about what music she wants the children (about 5 kids) to sing.  In other words, she wants them to sing Mississippi Children's material when they don't have the numbers or capacity and has offended the other musician, which only agreed to help temporarily.

My hands are full and also, this is not my calling to work with children's choir; so, what is the best solution for this situation?

[csedwards2]

I began Music Director at a church in April.  There were several other musicians on staff.  The pastor didn't care for the musician over the children's choir.  When I informed him that this was the sole musician for them, he agreed to hire another one.  That musician played one Sunday and then quit because they were not given a contractural agreement.  Since then, another musician was hired, but not to play for that choir, nor is this person compensated to play for the children's choir.  (This is also not a part of my contract; I am to supervise the musician over that choir, but not responsible for teaching it.)

The pastor has since left the church.  The adult supervisor for the children is somewhat being demanding about what music she wants the children (about 5 kids) to sing.  In other words, she wants them to sing Mississippi Children's material when they don't have the numbers or capacity and has offended the other musician, which only agreed to help temporarily.

My hands are full and also, this is not my calling to work with children's choir; so, what is the best solution for this situation?

just because you dont have the same numbers as the group you choose to cover, doesnt mean you shouldnt attempt the song. You are probably looking for the song to be an accurate interpretation of the original while she may only be concerned with the cute kids factor-which is still very adorable even if the song was incorrect.

[sjonathan02]

just because you dont have the same numbers as the group you choose to cover, doesnt mean you shouldnt attempt the song. You are probably looking for the song to be an accurate interpretation of the original while she may only be concerned with the cute kids factor-which is still very adorable even if the song was incorrect.

Spoken like the elementary school teacher you are. 

[APsalmist]

The best solution: right after you pray, begin to advocate for the best musician-leader the church will afford to work with your children so that they have a quality experience in their church choir - an experience that will expose them to a variety of musical genres in a manner appropriate for their age, an experience that instructs them about music in worship and instructs them about music so that when they become adult, they can make a willing transition into the adult choirs. Also pray about the strength that you'll need as you stand in the gap until a suitable children's choir leader manifests.