PLease Help!!!! Starting a Youth Choir from scratch

[Holy Roller]

I started a youth Choir last Year and I will say this. it's been about the biggest challenge I've ever taken upon myself.

They are all teenagers (a few are in their early 20s).


here is the Problem. I just cannot get some of them to sing out or move. many of them don't worhip.

It seems this generation is just "out there" som where lol ! when we grew up, we had church, we shouted , we were the ones in the alter etc.
I don't see that as much now Do you ?


Are there some Tricks,some kinda reward system, somethings I can try with tehm ???
I have worked with training their voices and they are sounding better, but they are for the most part, intimidated.
I see other youth choirs that are energetic and will at least sing out. so what are they doing that I am not ???

I can use all the help I can get !!! 
I

[sjonathan02]

You should sit down and have a real honest talk with them about their level of desire.

Do they want to be there? Do they have a honest, real relationship with the Lord? Do they like to perform? Yes, I said it; don't trip see VTGuy's post about it 


Tuning and training their voices is the easy part. Getting them to show others (their peers, their parents, their pastor) how they feel about God in an open setting IS intimidating.

So, ask them what they want to do. After that, let them know what you expect, then take it from there.


I'll be praying for you. 

[MrSparrow]

It's tough to do things with that age group sometimes. The biggest challenge for them is to worship in spirit and in truth NO MATTER WHO'S LOOKING AT THEM...

I respect this generation because they want it all the way or not at all...

They aren't going to "play church" like my generation (I'm in my low 30's) did.

The biggest thing you can do for them right now is expose them to other youth who are on fire for the Lord. There's strength in numbers. If they feel like they are the only teens/young adults in their community that sing and dance, they will not push themselves to engross themselves in worship.

I'm not saying you need to say, "the youth choir down the street is doing such and such, why can't you do it?" I'm not saying you need a rival choir to inspire your singers either.

Just continue to show the true love of Christ and eventually they will come around. Most of the uninspired singers in my youth choirs are the ones being "forced" to sing "or else". Make a move to discover their true motive for being in the choir. If it is truly because their momma or daddy said so, then talk with their parents and give your blessing for them to join the usher board or security team... Once those who don't want to be there aren't there anymore, you can focus your energy on the ones who want to be there. One more thing, it is VERY important that you get started training them to direct, sing, and even play for themselves. The sooner you take yourself OUT of the picture the more the kids will respond to the challenge. If you're doing EVERYTHING for them like selecting ALL the songs, selecting ALL of the movements, selecting all of the color schemes/attire etc... is it really THEIR CHOIR or is it YOUR CHOIR and they do what YOU say? Also since they are old enough to handle things, have them select their own officers to plan out trips, concerts, social events etc... then they will blossom and enjoy themselves soooo much that they will recruit other singers who love to sing...



Just a few thoughts...

MrSparrow

[Holy Roller]

That was a wealth of information! thanks Brethren i really appreaciate it.

This is really a confirmation to what i was feeling to do. I'm going to sit them down, have a couple of meetings, rap sessions with them. the group I have are pretty much unchurched and I can see now that we have sort of put the cart before the horse.


sparrow, i think you're right. this generation is a lot more transparent. I think we were taught all the mechanics of "church" , how and when to shout at just the right moment, how to "look"holy etc. the kids today are not impressed at all.

those were great suggestions. the director is 15 and all the leads are youth but none of them can play so the adult band has to play for them. I'm going to take you up on those suggestions like exposing them and taking myself OUT of the way - that worked for me so it should help them too. that was Good advice!

i was also thinking of bringing in someone to do a youthc choir workshop. maybe another voice would be good.
any ideas to get them inspired to learn to play instruments ?

I'll take all the suggestions i can get !

[churchboi09]

I know exactly what you are going through.  My youth choir is going through the exact same situation at church.  Not that I am the director but I participate in that choir.  I thought this was my choir director writing this bullentin at first but it wasn't.  The youth choir at our church don't move and sometime not all the time they don't sing out. My choir director constantly encourages us to sing out and move but there is no confidence in them.  Only a few are willing to step up and sing out and do what is required.  All we can do is pray until something happens.

[sjonathan02]

I know exactly what you are going through.  My youth choir is going through the exact same situation at church.  Not that I am the director but I participate in that choir.  I thought this was my choir director writing this bullentin at first but it wasn't.  The youth choir at our church don't move and sometime not all the time they don't sing out. My choir director constantly encourages us to sing out and move but there is no confidence in them.  Only a few are willing to step up and sing out and do what is required.  All we can do is pray until something happens.

Prayer is great and I encourage it, but the Bible clearly tells us that faith without works is DEAD. So, while you've done something in the spiritual, you MUST do something in the natural in order for there to be a change.

Have a discussion with group (since you're in the choir, this should be easier coming from their peer); make a suggestion; talk with the director and/or the pastor.

Remember, you've got to activate your faith. 

[pianofingers21]

Well, you're gonna think I'm crazy, but here's what I did with our youth group that had the same problem. (we still do to some point but everyone adjusts at their own pace)

I did sit down and have a talk with them, asking who wanted to truly serve the Lord and who wanted to worship but was just embarassed.. Once I found out everyones motives I did something that most ppl find funny or stupid, etc. 

I TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS during all of our rehearsals. I bought two small touchlights for the keyboard/organ and of course the drummer didn't really need lights so we went at it that way. I started out by directing the choir at first as to how I wanted them to worship..  Hands lifted, clapping, swaying, dancing..etc.   And after about a month or so of this.. I started turning on more lights.  And before long we're running with full lights.. and the youth have just gradually become adjusted to worshiping with one another.   

I still have to give encouraging words now and then about not paying attention to who may be watching, but for the most part we're changed!

God bless!  I hope this will work for you as well!

[sjonathan02]

Well, you're gonna think I'm crazy, but here's what I did with our youth group that had the same problem. (we still do to some point but everyone adjusts at their own pace)

I did sit down and have a talk with them, asking who wanted to truly serve the Lord and who wanted to worship but was just embarassed.. Once I found out everyones motives I did something that most ppl find funny or stupid, etc. 

I TURNED OUT THE LIGHTS during all of our rehearsals. I bought two small touchlights for the keyboard/organ and of course the drummer didn't really need lights so we went at it that way. I started out by directing the choir at first as to how I wanted them to worship..  Hands lifted, clapping, swaying, dancing..etc.   And after about a month or so of this.. I started turning on more lights.  And before long we're running with full lights.. and the youth have just gradually become adjusted to worshiping with one another.   

I still have to give encouraging words now and then about not paying attention to who may be watching, but for the most part we're changed!

God bless!  I hope this will work for you as well!

Now, see THAT'S action. You're right, it IS funny!!! 

[ilovetosingforgod]

I just started a youth choir and I have there support however we are a small church and we have an older musician and he just does not seem to want to play the latest songs so that seem to be what is slowing us down as far as moving forward I thought that if I start not thinking about it and just start singing without the music however without the music is a challenge because the kids rely on the music to guide them into the song. Well I need all of your prayers and suggestions.

[saxandkeys]

I just started a youth choir and I have there support however we are a small church and we have an older musician and he just does not seem to want to play the latest songs so that seem to be what is slowing us down as far as moving forward I thought that if I start not thinking about it and just start singing without the music however without the music is a challenge because the kids rely on the music to guide them into the song. Well I need all of your prayers and suggestions.

Here's a suggestion.....START SLOW and EASY.  Ask the musician to learn 1 contemporary song a month.  Also.....find a traditional song that the musician knows.....tinker with it.....and rearrange the song to sound a little more contemporary.  THIS WORKS!!!  try it and see what happens.

[nessalynn77]

Here's a suggestion.....START SLOW and EASY.  Ask the musician to learn 1 contemporary song a month.  Also.....find a traditional song that the musician knows.....tinker with it.....and rearrange the song to sound a little more contemporary.  THIS WORKS!!!  try it and see what happens.

Good suggestion.  Let us know how it works.

[betnich]

It's tough to do things with that age group sometimes. The biggest challenge for them is to worship in spirit and in truth NO MATTER WHO'S LOOKING AT THEM...

The biggest thing you can do for them right now is expose them to other youth who are on fire for the Lord. There's strength in numbers. If they feel like they are the only teens/young adults in their community that sing and dance, they will not push themselves to engross themselves in worship.

Just continue to show the true love of Christ and eventually they will come around. Most of the uninspired singers in my youth choirs are the ones being "forced" to sing "or else". Make a move to discover their true motive for being in the choir. If it is truly because their momma or daddy said so, then talk with their parents and give your blessing for them to join the usher board or security team... Once those who don't want to be there aren't there anymore, you can focus your energy on the ones who want to be there. One more thing, it is VERY important that you get started training them to direct, sing, and even play for themselves. The sooner you take yourself OUT of the picture the more the kids will respond to the challenge. If you're doing EVERYTHING for them like selecting ALL the songs, selecting ALL of the movements, selecting all of the color schemes/attire etc... is it really THEIR CHOIR or is it YOUR CHOIR and they do what YOU say? Also since they are old enough to handle things, have them select their own officers to plan out trips, concerts, social events etc... then they will blossom and enjoy themselves soooo much that they will recruit other singers who love to sing...

Good advice - will take that to heart.

Have been going through a similar thing w/our kids+youth (yes, it's one choir). In addition, on Youth Sunday they call ALL the kids up to sing, not just the ones who attend rehearsal. I have seen the non-singing kids joke around, say out loud "I'm not gonna be in the choir", or stand there with blank looks on their faces, distracting and de-motivating the ones who DO want to sing.

Have talked with some youth and the leadership, but parents told me they gave their kids no choice to be ushers or whatever, they 'had' to be in the choir. So I -

- Simplified and cut down their songs (1 instead of 2, more Sunday-School kid songs like "Arky, Arky", cut the parts down to melody, use commercial tracks and shorten them to under 3 min.) Told them we cannot do Gospel songs like "Souled Out" unless they sing out.

- Made CD/Lyric packages of the songs for the next few months to give out to the parents, to sign out for and thus get some parental involvement.

- Am trying to do more 'kid-friendly' activities w/them (without extending our short rehearsal time too much) like having the little ones dance like raindrops on a rainy day, then doing a bit of 'Didn't it Rain, Children'.

I know we all have a long way to go, and I have lots of room for improvement. Any thought or suggestions?

[JoanHall]

In the youth choir I've been working with, one of the main reasons the kids would get hesitant about singing out was because they were nervous about what the other kids in the choir would think of them ("will they make fun of my singing?", etc.).  As they got to know each other better, they started to show a little more confidence.  They also sing better on songs that they feel very familiar and comfortable with.

Believe it or not, when some new kids joined the choir, it actually caused some of the experienced members to start clamming up again.  They felt comfortable singing in front of their established friends, but not in front of the new kids.  So one of the things I find myself saying a lot is, "If everybody decides to wait and see whether the person next to them is going to sing, nothing will ever happen.  I need for you to just sing and not care if the person beside you is singing or not."

Fortunately, the church where I direct the youth choir has a youth minister who is very caring and puts together lots of activities (both spiritual ones and fun ones) for the young people.  I think the involvement they have with that spills over into the choir stand and helps make my job a little easier.