What is the Best Way to Tell A Person They are dont have a Leading Voice?

[ilovetosingforgod]

 
Hey you Guys?
How do you tell a choir member that there voice is not a leader voice?

Here is the situation I have a choir member and he is an awesome person and totally super guy but he BUTCHERS songs when he leads......
How can I tell him in a polite way?

Or Should I continue to allow him to lead despite the fact that the congregation and pastor are not pleased?
However the Minister of Music wants him to sing....?

[under13]

Teach him how to sing.

[ilovetosingforgod]

Teach him how to sing.

Yes I have tried to work with him but the thing about it is he just has a flat voice

[JoanHall]

In my choir there are only one or two people who have "lead singer" voices.  But I can usually find some song that matches each person's abilities.  Some songs have spoken leads, or shoutin'-and-hollerin' type leads, and those can work for people who are not songbirds.

Honestly, if someone goes flat a lot, I would rather have them do a lead than have them in the choir mix messing up the harmonies.

If a person is fixated on one particular song that they want to lead and it would just be a disaster, I would tell them "that song isn't the right style for your voice, but I think the lead on _____________ would be a good fit for you."

[CJ_Pasley]

Wow, we are musician not magicians. Record him and let him hear himself. Is the MOM deaf? In corporate worship you can give what you got to the Lord. When you say the Lord has called me to the ministry of vocal music he has given you the tools to use your craft. Please don’t sing in choir because of the hype. I think we should go back to B.C. days when people were stoned for not perfecting their craft. Always be honest. Some people are called to minister but not all are called to pastor. Some may have the gift to sing but lack leader skills.

[sjonathan02]

Wow, we are musician not magicians. Record him and let him hear himself. Is the MOM deaf? In corporate worship you can give what you got to the Lord. When you say the Lord has called me to the ministry of vocal music he has given you the tools to use your craft. Please don’t sing in choir because of the hype. I think we should go back to B.C. days when people were stoned for not perfecting their craft. Always be honest. Some people are called to minister but not all are called to pastor. Some may have the gift to sing but lack leader skills.

I'd love to see a Biblical reference for that. 


I agree that no matter what the MOM wants, unless they are willing to deal with it, personally, that individual would not lead another song. Period. And, I wouldn't tell them, verbally. My actions would do all the talking. 

[blyempowered]

Wow, we are musician not magicians. Record him and let him hear himself. Is the MOM deaf? In corporate worship you can give what you got to the Lord. When you say the Lord has called me to the ministry of vocal music he has given you the tools to use your craft. Please don’t sing in choir because of the hype. I think we should go back to B.C. days when people were stoned for not perfecting their craft. Always be honest. Some people are called to minister but not all are called to pastor. Some may have the gift to sing but lack leader skills.

I absolutely disagree on all levels. Can you provide the biblical evidence for that?

[CJ_Pasley]

Ok Ok they weren't stoned,(they did stone people back then)  however they were skillfully trained and called by God. Everybody didn't sing in the Temple. If you don't have the gift why try to sing? I could say that I have the gift of prophecy and get up Sunday after Sunday and say the first thing that comes to mind. Does my desire to want to be a prophet even though God hasn't called me into this area of ministry supersede my lack of ability I could say God called me to preach( self called) with no true calling, no training, no studying, no biblical foundation do we just let him preach?. The Choir, Praise Team, Musicians is a ministry. For years and years the Choir has been a dumping ground for members to have something to do. They need to really seek God and find out their true calling.

[JoanHall]

For years and years the Choir has been a dumping ground for members to have something to do.

Yes.  Years ago I had to have a talk with my father (the Pastor) about that.  Whenever a new convert would join the church they would encourage them to join the choir so that they would feel involved.  I told him that I would be willing to accept draftees into the choir like that if the other auxiliaries in the church did the same.  If he's willing to take the next new member who needs something to do and put them on the deacon board, and take the one after that and have them start teaching Sunday School, with no regard for their actual abilities, then I'll take one in the choir.     

[sjonathan02]

Ok Ok they weren't stoned,(they did stone people back then)  however they were skillfully trained and called by God. Everybody didn't sing in the Temple. If you don't have the gift why try to sing? I could say that I have the gift of prophecy and get up Sunday after Sunday and say the first thing that comes to mind. Does my desire to want to be a prophet even though God hasn't called me into this area of ministry supersede my lack of ability I could say God called me to preach( self called) with no true calling, no training, no studying, no biblical foundation do we just let him preach?. The Choir, Praise Team, Musicians is a ministry. For years and years the Choir has been a dumping ground for members to have something to do. They need to really seek God and find out their true calling.

Don't get it twisted, we hear what you're saying and agree.  There just needs to be a way to tactfully say that.

[vtguy84]

Wow, we are musician not magicians. Record him and let him hear himself. Is the MOM deaf? In corporate worship you can give what you got to the Lord. When you say the Lord has called me to the ministry of vocal music he has given you the tools to use your craft. Please don’t sing in choir because of the hype. I think we should go back to B.C. days when people were stoned for not perfecting their craft. Always be honest. Some people are called to minister but not all are called to pastor. Some may have the gift to sing but lack leader skills.

Let's be a littlle more tactful please.  Do you have any vids of your craft; I'd love to see them!

In terms of the original question, the choir director/minister of music is responsible for having these difficult conversations with people.  I have some powerhouse choir singers who just are not good with solos.  It is ok to have a conversation to state that they are not solo material.  I have to do this quite often.  A soloist has to have a strong power to adlib and command the song.  Not every choir singer is meant to solo.