"Leading A Music Ministry"

What Does It Involve?

Leading a Music Ministry or Music and Arts ministry can be a daunting task. It involves administration, psychology, the skill to lead and most importantly a comprehensive musical understanding of the needs of the particular congregation you are serving. Great leaders are also great followers. When you learn how to follow you learn how to lead. In leading a Music Ministry, you have to take into consideration the different parts of the ministry you are attempting to lead. You also have to have a clear understanding of the vision of the Pastor and church that you are serving. If they do not have a clear vision then you will need to assist them in creating one based on their wants and needs as a church and Music Ministry. You would be surprised how many churches do not have mission and/or vision statements concerning their Music Ministry.

Whether you are currently a Minister of Music, getting ready to be one, or aspiring to be one its important that you understand your job in a particular ministry. In general a Minister of Music is in charge of the overall operation and musical health of the church. In my opinion, you should possess the skills play, teach, direct, sing and administrate especially if you are working at an African American church. You should not be dependent on anybody in order for you to be successful in your job. NOW, even though you possess those skills having a staff is surely helpful in being successful.

HIRING AND BUDGET

 If your church has the budget for you to hire help then you should always hire the kind of staff that will aid and enhance you and the church in the worship experience. In other words, do not hire inferior musicians. You should always seek to hire people who can make a significant change in your worship experience musically and spiritually.  I always seek to hire people who can do what I can't.  

Sometimes as the Minister of Music, churches try to short change you financially by forcing you to settle for less qualified musicians but they want the best quality of music and worship. ISN'T THAT IRONIC. Its like they don't get it. They do not understand that quality comes with a price. Quality musicians are NOT hard to find they are just hard to keep. They are hard to keep because if they feel hampered by the restraints that are sometimes put on them by Ministers of Music's, Churches and Pastors then its time to leave and seek other opportunities. Restraints can be spiritual, music and/or financial. Churches are quick to honor Pastors but ignore the musical leaders in the house. A "Thank You" sometimes can go a lonnnnngggg wayyyyy.

SONG SELECTION

Ministers of Music who are great build comprehensive programs for their choirs, praise teams, musicians and congregations that they serve. They not only teach music but they teach the Ministry of Music which is more than just reading and/or learning music and notes. They are sensitive to the musical and spiritual needs of the church they serve and often pick music that is relevant to those needs. You should pick music that is also relevant to the vocal ability of the choirs you teach. Always be mindful that unless your choir is vocally super natural they can't sing everything. You should carefully select music that will bring the best out of a particular choir. For some of you that may mean doing a lot of unison singing until your choir can handle some part singing. You should research musical selections and not just the Top 40 songs you hear on the radio. Most of the time you, and the people you serve, will receive the greatest blessing from songs that are less popular. You should always teach music that has some scriptural basis to it. Songs that have scriptural background to it are more effective and more likely to stick in the hearts and minds of your choirs and congregation.

NON-  MUSICAL RELATED ACTIVITIES


It's important to coordinate a few activities throughout the year with your music ministry that are non music related. Fellow shipping out of the choir stand is very helpful in attaining unity. Sometimes the people just need to know that you as the leader are a human being and that you like to do other things. People trust who they know and like. If they can see another side of you, every now and then, it helps in the choir stand.


TRAINING AND WORKSHOPS


Leaders who do not attend training sessions and workshops are stag net and boring. You should always be in a posture of learning. Its VERY important to get out of your church as much as you can and attend workshops so that you can hear and see what others are doing. Workshops are often great sources of opportunity to get new music. The bible commands us to sing unto the Lord some new songs. It's hard to get new songs if you can't get out.

LEAVING A LEGACY


Everybody should aspire to leave something positive behind for the next person to use providing that you had a positive impact on the people you were serving.Creating a musical library of your works, whether physical and digital, is important to the next person who will have your job after  you. A great Minister of Music does not operate out of spite but out of love for the Ministry of Music and the people you serve.


Peace,
Phillip Carter

The Gospel Music Industry vs. The Gospel Music Ministry

There are thousands of artists (Major and Independent) that are not only involved in the Industry of Gospel Music but also the Ministry of Gospel Music. I, like many of you, have one time or another, intertwined the two as one but they are different yet they can come together depending on the vision of the artist. The word "Industry" refers to the production of an economic good or service. (Wikipedia). It's important to understand that the Gospel Music industry can involve ministry but ministry is not the focal point. The focal point is the marketing, distributing and selling of products for money. Without money, an industry would fall and that's why so many artists and some major labels in the past have fallen because of the lack of financial resources due to various reasons. The Gospel Music Industry is comprised of major Corporations, small labels, mom and pop record stores,( which are vastly dying) promoters,media, marketers, publicists, radio personalities and churches.The industry is primarily ruled and influenced by major labels who have the necessary funding to reach the average Gospel Music buyer with their products and services. The labels products are their artists and the products they create(CD's, DVD's etc) and depending on the success of those products other residuals are created such as royalties, merchandise etc.

The Gospel Music Industry does not have to follow any moral or religious code nor do the artists they promote. They concentrate on making music that people want to hear. When major labels sign artists, they look at the talent and marketability of the artist. If lifestyles were a prerequisite to being signed by a label then there would be no labels because most of the artists that we know and love have lifestyles that wouldn't measure up. There would be no industry. Just think, if you only bought products from corporations and artists with whom you knew were operating by biblical principals, how easy would it be for you to get what you wanted although it would be interesting to know how many corporate executes, who promote Gospel Music, actually know Jesus as their personal Savior.  To the Gospel Music Industries credit, many songs, videos, songbooks and award shows have been beneficial to the everyday lives of Christians around the world. Gospel Music would not be where it is today if it weren't for the Gospel Music Industry but let's not spiritualize it folks. It is what it is. I'm in the industry and if I don't make money, I can't continue to make records and travel. Major planning and implementation makes major artists. Artists don't do well just because their anointed. Their are people in our local churches who are anointed and if they had the right business model behind them they would be selling records too.

The Gospel Music Ministry is different. When one is in the ministry of Gospel Music, their primary focus is the salvation and uplifting of souls. Many artists, major or independent, when they step on stage their goal is to minister God's music to the waiting audience or congregation. The ministry is not focused on money, although money is needed to survive, the ministering of music is essential to their mission in life. I would venture to say that most Gospel Artists make an attempt to minister Gods music every time they are offered an opportunity. However sometimes personal ambition and arrogance gets in the way.  The Gospel Music Industry and Ministry can walk together if the artist desires it to be so. When you are sold out for God your integrity means more to you than money. You thrive off of ministry and you let the ministry drive your business and not vice versa. I hear some of you saying now, I would prefer ministry over industry well let me tell you that without an Industry you and I would not be exposed to the ministries of most of our wonderful Gospel Artists.


Peace,
Phillip