The following was taken from an article in February, 2007, called The day the music died. The author is addressing the factors that cause Christian musicians to struggle, in particular their congregations:
Musicians and singers who minister at Katoomba Men's Convention invariably say how they are blown away with encouragement when they look out at 3000 men singing their hearts out. But take them back into their home congregations and if they are looking out onto a group of people who look like they are at a funeral, it is very discouraging. Some singers have felt like shaking members in the congregation to see if they are still alive.
So why don’t people sing? In my opinion, one major reason would be because they don't know the songs!
Simple question. Simple answer. But I hear this complaint from parishioners quite often. They would love to sing them, but they simply do not get a chance to properly learn them. Often a new song is sung once during a service, then may not be sung again for another six months.
Think about it this way. The musicians have the music. The parishioners do not. They do not have CDs to listen to. The song is not played on radio or television regularly. They have no opportunity to "learn' the new song.
I have been told: "The parishioners don't want to learn new songs." But the parishioners say: "We don't get a chance to learn them properly."
So if people look wooden - if you feel like shaking them - or they are talking - ask yourself: Do they know the songs? Listen to a congregation sing lustily when they do know a song. It is not a matter of not being able to sing. It is a simple matter of ignorance.
Years ago I instituted a rule at our church that a new song needed to be repeated three weeks in a row. This worked fine.
Another factor to consider is the people who are supposed to be leading - teaching - the songs. In our church we practice the songs for that day 45 minutes before the
service starts. If the leaders can't sing the song, or don't know how the introduction goes, how can they lead the congregation?
I have been in a church where even the singing team did not appear to know what was happening. The leaders came in halfway through the first line.
Finally, ask yourself, “How easy is it for a congregation to hear the song they are supposed to be singing?” How clear is the lead the leaders are providing?
A few years ago I was teaching a new song and I thought to myself: “These people already know this song, it sounds good.” Then I was told: "But you are easy to follow." Are the song leaders easy to follow?
If the song leaders do not read music, then there has to be another way for them to learn the new song. I read recently of a music leader who made tapes or CDs for the music team to take home to learn a new song.
It’s all in the preparation:
* The congregation needs to hear the tune. When starting to teach a song keep the music to a bare minimum.
* Have a singer with a clear (not necessarily beautiful) voice.
* Do not have too much harmony in the vocals or the instrumentals.
* Discourage people who insist on singing harmony from the beginning.
Elly Byrne is a member of St. Hilda’s, Katoomba, where she is part of the music team. She has taught congregational songs at Katoomba and also at Holy Trinity, Wentworth Falls. Elly studied at the Sydney Conservatorium for 5 years, and is currently singing alto in Mountains Opera Chorus.
