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Main => Ministry, M.O.M, Praise Teams and Choirs => Topic started by: Ms. Blue on May 22, 2013, 09:26:01 AM

Title: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: Ms. Blue on May 22, 2013, 09:26:01 AM
Hey All!!

I'm still getting use to posting on here but you all have been so helpful to me, so THANK YOU!! I have been soloist for the past 21 years. I've been singing in the choir for the past 23 years. A choir president for 10 years and now our choir director had to leave because she became the first lady at another church.  I was appointed the choir director by my pastor and have very minimal experience on how to do this. The most challenging part is not having a musician and although the Lord blessed me with a voice, he skipped me when he gave out gifts on instruments  ;D ;D ;D. Do you all have any advice for me.  I appreciate your help. I'm not completely lost just need suggestions.  THANKS!!!
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: JoanHall on May 22, 2013, 10:30:26 AM
Hi!  Welcome to choir directing!

Here are two articles you can look at:
God Bless!
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: betnich on May 22, 2013, 11:30:25 AM
Good advice, Joan...

I visited a church last Sunday - had instruments, but no musicians.
The choir did all their songs acapella; hand claps and tambourine helped.
Then a soloist came up and sang to tracks...
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: Ms. Blue on May 22, 2013, 11:52:48 AM
Good advice, Joan...

I visited a church last Sunday - had instruments, but no musicians.
The choir did all their songs acapella; hand claps and tambourine helped.
Then a soloist came up and sang to tracks...

That sounds like my church.. we use performance tracks for the choir and when I sing solo's. My concern is more so to help with warm ups and things of that nature. We have been without a musician for a while so i'm used to that part.
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: betnich on May 22, 2013, 12:08:26 PM
A slow worship song (like ALLELUIA or one of Israel Houghton's) is a good unison warm-up for choir. If you can encourage them to do parts after the first verse, even better...then if they are up to it, try a more traditional exercise, like scales or "Mee, May, Mah, Mo, Mu"
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: Ms. Blue on May 22, 2013, 12:20:05 PM
A slow worship song (like ALLELUIA or one of Israel Houghton's) is a good unison warm-up for choir. If you can encourage them to do parts after the first verse, even better...then if they are up to it, try a more traditional exercise, like scales or "Mee, May, Mah, Mo, Mu"

Thanks very much
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: sjonathan02 on May 22, 2013, 01:02:29 PM
That sounds like my church.. we use performance tracks for the choir and when I sing solo's. My concern is more so to help with warm ups and things of that nature. We have been without a musician for a while so i'm used to that part.

You can use ANYTHING to warm up a choir.  I mean,  you can take a song that you sang last Sunday,  and use it as a warm up song next rehearsal; especially if there's something you thought could go better than it did on Sunday.
Title: Re: I'm a New Choir Director.. any advice
Post by: Ms. Blue on May 24, 2013, 07:43:25 AM
thanks sjonathan02