Rehearsal System

[churchyreal]

I was curious to how some of you all's churches do rehearsals. Right now the group that sings the following Sunday practices twice throughout the week. For example, our gospel chorus sings on the 1st Sunday so they practice the Tuesday and Saturday before that Sunday. How does your church do rehearsals?

Right now I am in the process of proposing a new system for rehearsals. An idea one of the members gave 2 years ago that I think is a brillant idea is every choir practicing every Saturday. The earliest choir would practice at 8:30am and all 6 six groups would be in and have rehearsed by 3:30pm that afternoon. Yes that is long but it would give each choir at least 3 to 4 opportunities to learn songs and actually perfect them. They could also choose if they want to rehearse or not but would still need at least 2 practices before singing.

The benefit of that system is that it would free up the week more for people wanting to go to bible study or just enjoy family life. Choirs/groups not singing the following Sunday would get an hour and groups singing the next day would get at least 90 minutes even if they didn't use it up. Choirs would have to discuss their business at a separate either before or after rehearsal. Some are in multiple groups and that would be one of the few problems and us musicians would have to be present from 8:30am till 3:30pm which equals almost an 8-5 day...lol.

A modified system would have our praise team still practicing on Friday nights, have only rehearsals on Saturday but only require 2 rehearsal and not every group would have to practice, This means less time for musicians having to be at the church.

Give me your opinions on this proposed new system (the original and modified models).

[sjonathan02]

I propose you get rid of all those choirs.


Srsly, you can't possibly have that many people singing on different choirs, there MUST be some overlap somewhere.



And, if I'm wrong...God BLESS ya'll AND, the question would be whether or not folks wanted to give up their Saturdays.

[churchyreal]

I propose you get rid of all those choirs.


Srsly, you can't possibly have that many people singing on different choirs, there MUST be some overlap somewhere.



And, if I'm wrong...God BLESS ya'll AND, the question would be whether or not folks wanted to give up their Saturdays.

Yeah there's some overlap. Like many in our praise team sing in the young adult choir. Some in Male Chorus sing in Senior Choir and Gospel Chorus (basically another senior choir but been around 65 years.....lol). So there's definitely some overlap. We'll see what happens.

[sjonathan02]

Yeah there's some overlap. Like many in our praise team sing in the young adult choir. Some in Male Chorus sing in Senior Choir and Gospel Chorus (basically another senior choir but been around 65 years.....lol). So there's definitely some overlap. We'll see what happens.

Unless your Male Chorus can sing like the Canton Spirtuals or Men of Standard, eliminate them (that one is more based on my experience listening to the average male voice...it ain't pretty).

Put everyone in the 'Gospel Chorus' (change the name, though) because it's been around for ever and people really don't like change all that much.

Make your young adult choir your 'praise team' or 'praise choir'.

Now, you've got a 'praise choir' and 'Gospel Choir'. Two rehearsals, you're out by noon on Saturdays (if you come in @ 9 or 10...if the choir directors are really good).


Consolidate to be more effective in ministry.

[under13]

I stopped reading at "Saturday 8:30 am".  Can the people get 1 day to sleep late?

[churchyreal]

I stopped reading at "Saturday 8:30 am".  Can the people get 1 day to sleep late?

That group would be the praise team practicing every Saturday in that 8:30 to 10:00 slot. See that's the biggest disadvantage of that system cause every Saturday is early.


Hmmm. Thank you Under13!

[sjonathan02]

I stopped reading at "Saturday 8:30 am".  Can the people get 1 day to sleep late?

Agreed.

[2tight]

WE COMBINED SOME OF THE CHOIRS 2GETHER. AS FAR AS THE REHEARSALS. THE MALE CHORUS PRACTICES EVERY SATURDAY AT 9:30AM-11AM.THE YOUTH CHOIR PRACTICE EVERY OTHER THURSDAY FROM 6PM-7:30PM.THE MASS CHOIR PRACTICE EVERY SATURDAY FROM 11AM-12:30PM. THE PRAISE TEAM PRACTICE EVERY OTHER SATURDAY FROM 12:30PM-2PM.

[churchyreal]

Combining choirs would be nice but the way things are that won't happen anytime soon...lol!

[jonesl78]

I was curious to how some of you all's churches do rehearsals. Right now the group that sings the following Sunday practices twice throughout the week. For example, our gospel chorus sings on the 1st Sunday so they practice the Tuesday and Saturday before that Sunday. How does your church do rehearsals?

Right now I am in the process of proposing a new system for rehearsals. An idea one of the members gave 2 years ago that I think is a brillant idea is every choir practicing every Saturday. The earliest choir would practice at 8:30am and all 6 six groups would be in and have rehearsed by 3:30pm that afternoon. Yes that is long but it would give each choir at least 3 to 4 opportunities to learn songs and actually perfect them. They could also choose if they want to rehearse or not but would still need at least 2 practices before singing.

The benefit of that system is that it would free up the week more for people wanting to go to bible study or just enjoy family life. Choirs/groups not singing the following Sunday would get an hour and groups singing the next day would get at least 90 minutes even if they didn't use it up. Choirs would have to discuss their business at a separate either before or after rehearsal. Some are in multiple groups and that would be one of the few problems and us musicians would have to be present from 8:30am till 3:30pm which equals almost an 8-5 day...lol.

A modified system would have our praise team still practicing on Friday nights, have only rehearsals on Saturday but only require 2 rehearsal and not every group would have to practice, This means less time for musicians having to be at the church.

Give me your opinions on this proposed new system (the original and modified models).

The part in bold has me concerned because you would probably burn out people (a.k.a volunteers) that are in multiple choirs.

Im assumming you are proposing more practices because the choirs aren't learning the songs efficiently enough. If so, more practice is not always the best answer.

[sjonathan02]

The part in bold has me concerned because you would probably burn out people (a.k.a volunteers) that are in multiple choirs.

Im assumming you are proposing more practices because the choirs aren't learning the songs efficiently enough. If so, more practice is not always the best answer.

Truth. What's being done during the current practice time is key.

[csedwards2]

what I see as an issue would be your musicians, which potentially, could be there for the whole day. Giving up every Sat!!! If I were in that position, the increase needed in my salary to give up every Saturday till 4pm would be significant.

[sjonathan02]

what I see as an issue would be your musicians, which potentially, could be there for the whole day. Giving up every Sat!!! If I were in that position, the increase needed in my salary to give up every Saturday till 4pm would be significant.

Yep.

[churchyreal]

The part in bold has me concerned because you would probably burn out people (a.k.a volunteers) that are in multiple choirs.

Im assumming you are proposing more practices because the choirs aren't learning the songs efficiently enough. If so, more practice is not always the best answer.

That's partially correct but also to free up time during the week. The key thing is that in this proposed system the option to rehearse every week is present but it doesn't mean that each group has to rehearse every week. However they must have at least 1-2 practices before singing on their assigned Sunday. I do agree that more practice is not always the best answer.

Truth. What's being done during the current practice time is key.

True. Right now our biggest problems is no set authority on who conducts rehearsal (everybody and their momma.....lol tries to run rehearsal) and coupled with this is no set minister of music, no set rules and no pastor. For the most part there is a "get in and get out" attitude.

what I see as an issue would be your musicians, which potentially, could be there for the whole day. Giving up every Sat!!! If I were in that position, the increase needed in my salary to give up every Saturday till 4pm would be significant.

You right. As of now the proposal would keep our praise team rehearsals on Friday night and have the rest rehearse from 10:00am to 3:30pm.

[sjonathan02]

That's partially correct but also to free up time during the week. The key thing is that in this proposed system the option to rehearse every week is present but it doesn't mean that each group has to rehearse every week. However they must have at least 1-2 practices before singing on their assigned Sunday. I do agree that more practice is not always the best answer.

True. Right now our biggest problems is no set authority on who conducts rehearsal (everybody and their momma.....lol tries to run rehearsal) and coupled with this is no set minister of music, no set rules and no pastor. For the most part there is a "get in and get out" attitude.

You right. As of now the proposal would keep our praise team rehearsals on Friday night and have the rest rehearse from 10:00am to 3:30pm.

Fix the part in bold, FIRST. Other than that, you'll get NOTHING accomplished.

[jonesl78]

Fix the part in bold, FIRST. Other than that, you'll get NOTHING accomplished.

I agree. Choir rehearsal should be a time to practice and sings songs that have been prepared prior to rehearsal by leadership. It is also a time that should be managed by one person, IMO. Without the presence and acknowledgement of a person to have the "final say so", you will likely have chaos and lack of direction regardless of what rehearsal system you choose. Just curious, who makes decisions before and during a typical choir rehearsal? Also, who makes decisions during service if something has to be changed?

[sjonathan02]

I agree. Choir rehearsal should be a time to practice and sings songs that have been prepared prior to rehearsal by leadership. It is also a time that should be managed by one person, IMO. Without the presence and acknowledgement of a person to have the "final say so", you will likely have chaos and lack of direction regardless of what rehearsal system you choose. Just curious, who makes decisions before and during a typical choir rehearsal? Also, who makes decisions during service if something has to be changed?

Good questions.

[jgause2]

I agree. Choir rehearsal should be a time to practice and sings songs that have been prepared prior to rehearsal by leadership. It is also a time that should be managed by one person, IMO. Without the presence and acknowledgement of a person to have the "final say so", you will likely have chaos and lack of direction regardless of what rehearsal system you choose. Just curious, who makes decisions before and during a typical choir rehearsal? Also, who makes decisions during service if something has to be changed?

You are absolutely correct.  Without the one person who is "in charge", you will have nothing but experience.  Learned from experience.  I'm not sure what your position within the Music Dept. is, but in my experience, its always been the MOM, who would just happen to be either the director or musician, if there is any questions regarding the choirs, the conduct of rehearsals, the structure of rehearsals, it should go through them.  There needs to be a meeting where this position is assigned, whether it be the director, or musician or whoever, and whoever it is assigned to needs to go to the rehearsal and basically start laying down ground rules for how things are going to start going.

Let them know that you are in charge, and things are going to start being in decency and order.  You make the final say, and thats that. Anything regarding the Music Ministry during rehearsal or service goes through you, and thats it.  Those who are used to having their way might get upset, and if they end up leaving, then maybe its for the better of the ministry.   But people will grow to respect the effort over the long run, and are more likely to fall in line if there is stern leadership up top.  People need to recognize who is in charge and that person also needs to be consistent with what they do.  Then and only then will things begin to be accomplished.

[churchyreal]

I agree. Choir rehearsal should be a time to practice and sings songs that have been prepared prior to rehearsal by leadership. It is also a time that should be managed by one person, IMO. Without the presence and acknowledgement of a person to have the "final say so", you will likely have chaos and lack of direction regardless of what rehearsal system you choose. Just curious, who makes decisions before and during a typical choir rehearsal? Also, who makes decisions during service if something has to be changed?

It depends on the choir. For the choirs that have members ages 50+ (Male Chorus, Senior Choir) the president or choir director will make decisions in rehearsal except Gospel Chorus whcih is a bit of a mixture of me and the choir president. In the Youth Choir the president runs rehearsal but I bring a lot of input to rehearsal direction. Young Adult Choir, president runs rehearsal and in praise team I basically run the rehersal. When it comes to Sunday morning if something has to be changed it depends on the choir but it's very rare that a lot has to be changed.

[churchyreal]

You are absolutely correct.  Without the one person who is "in charge", you will have nothing but experience.  Learned from experience.  I'm not sure what your position within the Music Dept. is, but in my experience, its always been the MOM, who would just happen to be either the director or musician, if there is any questions regarding the choirs, the conduct of rehearsals, the structure of rehearsals, it should go through them.  There needs to be a meeting where this position is assigned, whether it be the director, or musician or whoever, and whoever it is assigned to needs to go to the rehearsal and basically start laying down ground rules for how things are going to start going.
Let them know that you are in charge, and things are going to start being in decency and order.  You make the final say, and thats that. Anything regarding the Music Ministry during rehearsal or service goes through you, and thats it.  Those who are used to having their way might get upset, and if they end up leaving, then maybe its for the better of the ministry.   But people will grow to respect the effort over the long run, and are more likely to fall in line if there is stern leadership up top.  People need to recognize who is in charge and that person also needs to be consistent with what they do.  Then and only then will things begin to be accomplished.

One of the main problems in our music ministry is that roles are not defined. I think if our pastor had stayed we were heading in the direction of defining roles. Our pastor saw me as an up and coming minister of music but told me because this is my home church (keep in mind that Im 22 and about to urn 23 and started playing piano for the church when I was 17) just to go with the flow to save controversy. Right now we don't have a pastor so basically the president runs everything. Again depending on the group, some of them I'm in charge of rehearsal and others the president is. I choose to just go with the flow and ever since that has happend things have been much better for me. The only group where I solely run the rehearsal is praise team.

Again the fundamental reasons of this rehearsal proposal is to save time during the week and just have everything (except praise team) on Saturday. As of now the praise team would stay on Friday night and the other groups would practice from 10:00am to 3:30pm. The option would be there to rehearse every week but they would have to have at least 1-2 practices before singing.