Combining Choirs/Intergenerational Choir

[MissRiss]

Has anyone ever had to combine a choir with another one?

We are having issues with very few kids coming to practice. We presented the issue to the choir presidents and they were not receptive AT ALL.

Does anyone have an intergenerational choir? How is it working?

[MissRiss]

Does anyone have an ideas on how to get kids to choir practice?

Back in the day, my aunt would load up the 78 Chevrolet with kids (before seatbelt requirements) and take us to practice.

[vtguy84]

Usually find out who the 'cool kids' are and getting them interested in coming will bring out the rest of the kids.  Also having a meeting with the parents and sharing the vision will also help bring the kids out.....because the parents have to be interested in driving them out to rehearsal.

[sjonathan02]

Usually find out who the 'cool kids' are and getting them interested in coming will bring out the rest of the kids.  Also having a meeting with the parents and sharing the vision will also help bring the kids out.....because the parents have to be interested in driving them out to rehearsal.

True. You could do the flipside and NOT have a Youth Choir at all. When you're asked why, you can state your reasons.

[jgause2]

True. You could do the flipside and NOT have a Youth Choir at all. When you're asked why, you can state your reasons.

which is exactly what we did at our church.  combined all the choirs.  A few(not ALL) of the "troubled" youth were always being a distraction, and after a while, they just up and quit.  I think that was a good thing, because now we have ppl that are really dedicated to singing, and its not all about having your own choir.  The ones that left, they've been complaining eversince....which may be part of the reason why our Pastor decided to split up the choir to form a youth choir, and our MOM is currently considering looking for a new church home.

[sjonathan02]

which is exactly what we did at our church.  combined all the choirs.  A few(not ALL) of the "troubled" youth were always being a distraction, and after a while, they just up and quit.  I think that was a good thing, because now we have ppl that are really dedicated to singing, and its not all about having your own choir.  The ones that left, they've been complaining eversince....which may be part of the reason why our Pastor decided to split up the choir to form a youth choir, and our MOM is currently considering looking for a new church home.

Was your current MOM around during the turmoil of the Youth choir back in the day? If so, have they voiced their concerns? If so, was your pastor around during the turmoil of the Youth choir back in the day? If so, why would does he want to split up the choirs?

[jgause2]

Was your current MOM around during the turmoil of the Youth choir back in the day? If so, have they voiced their concerns? If so, was your pastor around during the turmoil of the Youth choir back in the day? If so, why would does he want to split up the choirs?

Both have been  there for atleast 5 years.  Our choirs were combined early 2006.  The MOM thought it would be a good idea, for a few reasons:

1) He was having trouble controlling some of the youth (gotta have patience dealing with the youth of today, and his patience is next-to-none)
2) The adult choir was weak in numbers (average of 2-4 ppl per rehearsal)
3) During the summer months, youth are on vacations, so combining the choirs would keep consistency within the music department, instead of just having a youth choir 8 months out of a year.


The MOM has been voicing his concern about spliting up the choir because of the fact that we are not large in numbers, and that we wouldn't have enough to make a decent choir, for either the adult or youth.  Not to mention that He doesn't connect well with some of the youth.

Our Pastor has decided to split it up anyway.  He says he's trying to reach out to the children and youth, and believes that starting back up the youth choir, and a childrens choir (ain't but 3 children that REGULARLY attend), a drill stem team, and stuff like that will draw more children and youth into church. 

However, our MOM believes his motives are different than what I explained, and because the MOM and the Pastor haven't really been seeing eye to eye for the longest time, and the MOM is always feeling disrespected, He made up his mind that he wanted to look elseware for a new church home.

[sjonathan02]

Both have been  there for atleast 5 years.  Our choirs were combined early 2006.  The MOM thought it would be a good idea, for a few reasons:

1) He was having trouble controlling some of the youth (gotta have patience dealing with the youth of today, and his patience is next-to-none)
2) The adult choir was weak in numbers (average of 2-4 ppl per rehearsal)
3) During the summer months, youth are on vacations, so combining the choirs would keep consistency within the music department, instead of just having a youth choir 8 months out of a year.


The MOM has been voicing his concern about spliting up the choir because of the fact that we are not large in numbers, and that we wouldn't have enough to make a decent choir, for either the adult or youth.  Not to mention that He doesn't connect well with some of the youth.

Our Pastor has decided to split it up anyway.  He says he's trying to reach out to the children and youth, and believes that starting back up the youth choir, and a childrens choir (ain't but 3 children that REGULARLY attend), a drill stem team, and stuff like that will draw more children and youth into church. 

However, our MOM believes his motives are different than what I explained, and because the MOM and the Pastor haven't really been seeing eye to eye for the longest time, and the MOM is always feeling disrespected, He made up his mind that he wanted to look elseware for a new church home.

Gotcha. Thanks for the share. Sometimes, it can be beneficial to both parties to part ways, either for a time or permanently.