"Someone asked the question...why do we sing...when we lift our voice to Jesus..what do we really mean?" Whomever asked that question asked a really good one indeed.
I have had the pleasure of being a church musician for several years now (yes I said several years even though I'm not that old). The church I grew up in and played for most of my life wasn't that large, but I have had the opportunity to play at several funerals, weddings, and for other church choirs. The current church that I play for has a nice sized membership (close to or over one hundred people for Sunday School).
One thing that I have noticed about church choirs, is that like every music group, there are different roles. You have the back-up singers, the lead singers and the breakout star. Many of you have played the role of the back-up before, some of you for several years. You know who you are. The back-up singers NEVER, and I do mean NEVER lead a song. The back-up singers are in the choir, but no one really knows they are in the choir. Other than the people in the choir, no one else in the church even knows their names! But baby, they can throw down on some harmonies! Those tenors hit those notes so hard you can just feel the Spirit all through your bones, the altos add that extra something that turns a song into music and don't even get me started on those sopranos. What can I say? Oh yes, whenever you hear those good old gospel songs that have three different parts going on at one time you better give it up for the back-up singers because baby they are doing their thing! However, before you get too excited back-up, lets back up.
Alright now, we know you have a good voice and that you can hold a tune. That's great. You're not a leader and you probably never will be. Now, don't get me wrong, there may be an occasion where you lead a song (or two), and perhaps you'll even get a solo under your belt. (More than likely this will be at a family member's wedding or a funeral) Please, please remember that as a back-up singer there are several others singing with you. All of you singing at the same volume is KEY to the harmony of the song. Nothing is worse than that one soprano that you can hear singing over EVERYBODY ELSE in the choir and in the wrong key because she's trying so hard to be heard. And don't think I'm letting you off the hook Mr. Tenor sounding like a bad trombone player up there! We know you're there and we appreciate you, but if this was American Idol you would've been voted off a long time ago. The fans (nor your choir members) do not like you! You have become considered a weakness to the group and before long they will stop letting you know when the choir is on program at other churches because they don't want you to show up. A rose is a rose and a daisy is daisy. Both are pretty so just be content with who you are!
Now let's talk about you leaders. Oh yes, you know who you are too. You are the ones who used to be back-up but you came on out one day and thought you'd give that song a try. It was phenomenal, it was amazing, it is YOUR song. And other songs like it are for you. There are certain songs that just "fit your voice" and when you get them, baby you tear them up! Have the whole church on their feet crying and shouting before the song is over! But don't forget, there are "certain" songs for you and not all songs.
Leaders, if the choir was Destiny's Child you would be Kelly Rowland. We know your voice and we even like your voice. It's about time you got the chance to shine and when you do it's good. You, however, are no Beyonce. No offense to you, but you just don't have that umph, and the problem with that is when you try to act like Beyonce you start sounding like Tina Marie, and that's just not a good sound for anybody! Stop trying to add all that "ooo, yea yea yea", it doesn't work for you. And pretending to get happy and having us in that vamp for 15 minutes doesn't work for anybody! We all know you're faking when as soon as the song is over you put your mic on the stand and sit right down. Come on now, when Shirley Ceaser get happy they just have to fade her track on out because there's no telling how long she will be singing. Its just not your time to shine. Stick with what you know because you do it well, but please leave that other stuff for the showstoppers.
Oh the showstoppers! The breakout stars formerly known as soloists. You can SANG! Anything, anytime anywhere. You're the one that can't walk into a service without a getting a request to "sang a little somethin'". You are the one that the leaders can't stand because they know you could take their songs and do them forward, backwards and sideways. My only problem with you is this: You've gotten the big head!
You think that for some reason you are the latest and the greatest since David himself sang the Psalms. You can't ever sing a song like it was written. Oh know, you have to slow it down, stretch it out and hold those notes until every preacher in the pulpit stands up to acknowledge you. You know how to work a crowd like any superstar, and in your mind the only difference between you and Yolanda Adams is just that you haven't been discovered yet. You can see yourself making a record (if you haven't already) and performing for sold out shows in front of thousands making millions! If that happens then good for you, but right now we only paid our tithes and we came here for the Word and not the concert. Please get it together so we can all go home.
Choir members, I love you all of you. Back-up, leaders and stars but remember the songs are sang for the glory of God, and not the glory of YOU! God bless and keep praying!
P.S. Musicians, we are not off the hook either, I'll get you on a later date!
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