New M.O.M in need of advice

[GRACENOTE]

About a month and a half ago, I started playing keyboard/organ for my home church. I just transitioned from playing with 1 other keyboard player, a drummer and director, to it being an organist and me on the drums. NOW however it is just me on the keys/organ. Our praise team is almost non existant and our choir (As sweet as they are) are not musically inclined! So harmony is almost out of the question at this point.

I have goals and lesson plans for the music department. I have started out by doing everything in unison but I cant even get them to sing the rhythms correctly.(ALthough I sing it for them and play the song) I worked 2hrs on one song and by the time we left the song was in decent condition. BUT ON SUNDAY I DO NOT KNOW WHAT HAPPENED!  DO you guys have any teaching methods that I could use to be more productive and more accurate?

And I have about 2 young kids that can accually sing pretty well but Its tough working with them for 2 reasons. they have little patience and they are my niece and my cousin.  Now this sucks because I can work with them at rehearsals and at home cause we are family.  BUT I dont want people in the church to feel like I give all the solos or leads to my family. But they are the only ones that will step up and have good voices. Do I let them sing everything or do I just not have leaders?

[sjonathan02]

Working backwards, you can do both. Use songs that don't have leads as well as songs that do. And, with the songs that do have leads, use yo' kin. I don't see a problem with using those who want to be used AND have the ability.


As for the rest, it probably has nothing to do with your ability to teach and everything to do with their ability to learn AND remember parts (or, in unison in some cases).


If they want to complain, tell them they need to do better. Period. From one M.O.M. to another.

[LaylaMonroe]

Are you sure the songs you're teaching are as easy as you think they are? I'm only asking because sometimes our perception can be off a little bit. Somewhere around here, there's a thread with songs easy enough for the musically-challenged.

Also, try giving them the songs ahead of time so they can get a feel for it. Even if they can't get the parts, they can still learn the melody and the rhythm, timing, lyrics, etc. That makes it a lot easier to teach.

And I also think you should try to do songs without leads, and when you do have to assign a lead, just try to do it fairly. I'm not really a fan of having one person (or 2 ppl) doing all the leads. I think it breeds animosity, and if you have problems already, the last thing you need is resentment and frustration or animosity in the choir stand.

[Jmanley1116]

I definately agree that you need to check your song selection.  You should start VERY simple.  I mean...He Has Done Marvelous Things...simple.  <----this is actually a great song to start with as the parts are simple, there are modulations involved.

[GRACENOTE]

@ sjonathan02 THanks 4 the advice

@ LaRue1212 and Jmanley1116 thank you for the advice as well.  About the song selection, I was thinking that my perception was off too! lol but the song that we did was Moving Forward.(in unison) and they had it in rehearsal but when it was time to sing it was like everything we rehearsed went down the drain. and i chose that song because thats what they wanted to sing. They heard me play and sing the vamp after alter call and they were like its was nice and we should do it.  I feel like i have a realistic goal with these choirs. I know that we arent pros and we dont have singers. But I wrote out a plan for the next few months and picked some songs so that I can give it to them in advance (even tho I dont think it will help because we have tried it before and #fail).  and HE has done marvalous things is on the list for one of the 1st songs that I will atempt in parts.
 but thank you guys so much! If you guys have anymore advice, song selections or anything like that, i am always willing to listen and learn.  And do u guys  think that was a bad song choice?

[LaylaMonroe]

@ sjonathan02 THanks 4 the advice

@ LaRue1212 and Jmanley1116 thank you for the advice as well.  About the song selection, I was thinking that my perception was off too! lol but the song that we did was Moving Forward.(in unison) and they had it in rehearsal but when it was time to sing it was like everything we rehearsed went down the drain. and i chose that song because thats what they wanted to sing. They heard me play and sing the vamp after alter call and they were like its was nice and we should do it.  I feel like i have a realistic goal with these choirs. I know that we arent pros and we dont have singers. But I wrote out a plan for the next few months and picked some songs so that I can give it to them in advance (even tho I dont think it will help because we have tried it before and #fail).  and HE has done marvalous things is on the list for one of the 1st songs that I will atempt in parts.
 but thank you guys so much! If you guys have anymore advice, song selections or anything like that, i am always willing to listen and learn.  And do u guys  think that was a bad song choice?

I wouldn't call it a bad song choice, but I don't really consider that song to be "easy" (especially not for a group of non-singers that have rhythm problems). I was thinking of more of a 1-2-3 song for singers like the ones you've described.

And as for them asking to do it, I really wouldn't have been moved by that any more than I'd be moved by a 12 year old asking to drive my car. To that, my answer would be: in time, sure... but right now? You're just not ready, dear.

When I say "easy" I'm thinking of stuff along the lines of "Oh Lord, We Praise You" (not that song, but something as simple as that). Like I said, we do have a thread (or two) somewhere around here that has some easy songs. Maybe Jonathan or someone can pull it up for you.

[sjonathan02]

Here's a list to start you off


All you need to do is search 'easy praise and worship songs'.