"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