Black Church Music Part 1/ Concerning Hymns In The African American Church;

Black Church Music Part 1
Concerning Hymns In The African American Church;

I think it's important to note that the majority of hymns we sing in the black church were not written by us. They were given/taught to us by whites. Hymns and European anthems were promoted and ingrained in "US" as a more sophisticated, theologically sound form of worship in lieu of our own songs.

Growing up in the black Baptist church and subsequently studying classical music in college(HBCU) further promoted this music superiority complex ingrained in "US" by Europeans. In most white Universities and some HBCUs, black church music is still seen as unsophisticated and less technical due to the lack of education of many professors, university restrictions and in some cases lack of resources.

I think hymns are important. I've spent more than half my life learning, playing and singing hymns. Many are rooted in sound theology. I think hymns, regardless of who wrote them, should be sung in church. They have and continue to provide spiritual nourishment. My concern is "OUR" exaltation of European hymns and anthems, as we currently define them, as a necessity for worship in the black Church. We exalt "Their" music and degrade/downgrade our own as optional choices. It's even sadder that the majority of black church musicians are not aware of the hymns written by black people.

I see this trend also with CCM/Black Gospel Music but that's another post. I want to encourage African American church musicians to research, learn, introduce and teach your congregations the hymns and anthems that were written by our own people. We've already spent hundreds of years promoting hymns written by others. You may find a deeper connection with your audience. Many of our songs/hymns were written to address "OUR" conditions of which we are still suffering from in many ways.You will unlock new treasures for the people you serve. They may take a little longer to learn but that just speaks to the musicality, sophistication, technical prowess and spirituality of our people that "OTHER CULTURES" have been trying to emulate for years.

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"Dealing With Unruly Church Employees"

As I stated in earlier blogs, being a leader is quite a daunting task especially in the church. One of the challenges that leaders often face is dealing with unruly employees. One of the definitions of unruly is " Disorderly and disruptive and not amenable to discipline or control" (Google). I would suspect that the latter part of that definition applies to most of our unruly situations (lacking discipline or control). There are 2 kinds of unruly employees. There are those who do all of their dirty work behind the scenes using the telephone, internet and group discussions. They secretly plot against you or someone else and form regimes to either overthrow you or to make your job difficult, unproductive or sometimes unbearable. Then there are those who have no fear in publicly displaying their displeasure's, thoughts, emotions about anything and everything you do with no complete thought in mind as to the effect of their public outcry. In other words they choose to hang themselves.

I know some of you are thinking "I would rather have the public outcry then the private stabbing in the back". Well keep in mind that the public outcry can cause folks to leave ministries, choir stands and pews. It does just as much damage. So how do you deal with unruly employees. If you are a Pastor, or a person who has authority to hire and fire, then you could just fire the person right? Well that only works if the person has no credibility or fan base within the congregation. I've known many Pastors who have fired employees on the spot for valid reasons and suffered consequences because they did not take into account the public sentiment for the individual they fired. Maybe you could sit the person down to talk and pray with them about the situation in the hopes that they will change right?. Well that works sometimes but most of the time it doesn't because the unruly individual does not see their own behavior as a problem. They view you, the employer, as the problem and maybe you need to change rather than them. So here are some tips that have worked for me and others when dealing with an unruly employees.

1. Keep an accurate timeline and documentation of where, when and what was said and done by the individual(s).

2. Try to avoid public confrontations with the individual unless your support system is so strong that it can withstand the possible backlash.

3. Always approach the unruly employee with kindness not letting him know how you really feel or what your possible strategy is in dealing with that person.

4. If your a Pastor, never call out that particular employee from the pulpit. Again you never know the public sentiment for a person and you do not want to gauge it from the Pulpit. If your public rebuke does not work in your favor then you have lost credibility and respect among your parishioners regardless of whether they express it to you or not.

5. Approach the individual with your evidence of their unruly behavior and ask them to stop or face the possible consequences that you have laid out. Most will not stop but they might change their method of attack so keep that in mind.

6. When the dismissal takes place never offer up the reasons why unless someone asks. You weaken your position as leader if you have to over explain your self to any and everybody. Just have the evidence ready if and when they come calling for it. NO ONE CAN ARGUE WITH THE TRUTH.


These are just a few ways to deal with unruly Church employees but there are others that I am sure some of you will mention. I welcome your thoughts, ideas and suggestions and I pray for you if you are in one of these situations.


Peace,

Phillip Carter

"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

"What is Church/Gospel Music Supposed To Sound Like"

This is a great debate in a lot of churches and among Christians around the world especially in the US. This debate is not a new one. The great Thomas Dorsey,  whom we revere in all of music, was ridiculed for emulating a blues sound in church with his piano playing and singing. Edwin Hawkins was slammed for his hit song "Oh Happy Day" which was initially rejected by church audiences for sounding to secular or what about The Saint's in Praise Vol 1 which was spearheaded by the West Angeles COGIC in 1992 and was initially rejected by its own church members and mainstream black gospel radio for sounding too white.  I remember when "Stomp" by Kirk Franklin was released to radio and many Christians and Clergy went completely bananas over theology of the song. Now we have Holy Hip Hop which is being completely ignored on mainstream Gospel Radio due to the fear of rejection by mainstream church audiences. We also have Christian Rock, Neo Soul Gospel and and many other sub- genres of Gospel music that is out there right now being embraced by some and rejected by others.

We all have our ideas about what Gospel Music/Church music is supposed to sound like. All of us need to consider the fact that our ideas have been shaped by someone or something else. If you grew up in church then most of your thinking and opinion is rooted in what you heard in church as a child or what you were taught. Because many of us have our own ideas,  its important to define what church music is then to verbally assault or reject a modern day sound that you or I may or may not understand. Church music is defined as "music intended for performance as part of services of worship"(The Free Dictionary). Its a broad definition with little specifics. I would define it as "music rooted in scripture or personal experience to be performed in worship or other venues for the purpose of edifying the body of Christ".

Church music has evolved from the Gregorian Chant to Holy Hip-Hop. If society and its music were not allowed to evolve then we all would still be chanting in service with cloaks on. Its important that we do not judge the sound of the new wave of music but rather the content. I can name many songs from Negro Spirituals to some of Gospel Musics current hits that were not rooted in scripture but it had the so called "Church Sound". One example is the song 'Down By The Riverside" which has no biblical meaning but rather a cultural meaning instead. When slaves needed to converse with one another or arrange meetings they would say words and catch phrases that the slave master could not understand in order to meet up such as "I'm gonna lay down my burdens down by the riverside" which  means meet me at the river, I got something to tell you. Now that song is considered a church son by many and some of us shout over it but it has no spiritual significance. It's important to remember, appreciate and pass down our heritage as African Americans but it shouldn't be mistaken for a church song.  Just recently there were major questions over the hit song "Back To Eden" by Donald Lawrence and its biblical meaning. Does God really want us to go "Back To Eden"? That's for you to decide. I never sung it in church because I could never understand why I needed to go back. I prefer to go forward to Heaven.

We are more opinionated about the sound of something then its content. We tend to shun what we do not understand. Some of the deepest, scriptural based lyrical content I have ever heard has come from the Holy Hip-Hop generation and its music. On the other hand, I have also been blessed by the poetic scriptural lessons that have been placed in Hymns. Any song that blesses God and edifies the believer can be a "Church Song" or can be sung or spoken in church. It's fine to have your preferences about the kind of song or style you like but it's not ok to ridicule others for theirs. In many of our churches today our youth and young adults are shut out from expressing themselves in their modern day vernacular with music. Many of us who are older were treated the same way when we were young yet we do not extend the grace, that we wish we had, to our younger generation. Let's get over our narrow mindedness about what Church or Gospel music is supposed to sound like and lets embrace what, I believe, God is doing through the new sounds that are out their today. All music comes from God. It's what man does to it that makes the difference.


Peace,
Phillip Carter

Praise and Worship vs. Hymns

What is the real difference between a Praise and Worship song and a Hymn. Well here it is. The best analogy I can think of is the difference between fast food and a slow cooked meal. Praise and Worship songs are quick and easy songs designed to engage the worshiper. Praise and Worship songs are not meant to be complete works but rather a collection of simple versus and musical hooks with lyrics speaking directly to or about God. Hymns are complete musical works that often follow a pattern. The language of Hymns tend to walk you through this life and introduce you to life eternal. Hymns are a slow cooked meal. They don't always grab you or engage you right away. Hymns written in the earlier periods often require some understanding of the language before an appreciation can be developed. While Praise and Worship songs are designed to engage the worshiper right away, Hymns  are designed to grow and develop the worshiper. Praise and Worship sets the atmosphere while Hymns tend to preach the sermon.

It's important to have both in the lifestyle of the believer.  They both serve a greater purpose. I pity congregations who exalt one style over the other. It's not the style of Christian music that is the most effective but rather the attitude behind the music being offered up in worship. Many Pastors and Praise and Worship leaders have replaced Hymns with  Praise and Worship songs because the hymns were being presented poorly and  Praise and Worship songs do not require as much energy and time to learn, sing and produce. In other words,  fast food music was preferred over music which is rich in information about the One we worship. Many do not realize that the phrase "Praise and Worship Music" encompasses all Christian music. It's ignorant to say that one song is Praise and Worship and one is not when both glorify God in one way or another.  It bothers me to see that many of our churches, who only do Praise and Worship music, have relegated hymn singing to funerals and special occasions. Isn't it ironic that when a funeral happens we, all of a sudden, want to hear "Amazing Grace" or "Precious Lord". It also bothers me to see churches who refuse to embrace Praise and Worship out of fear that it may somehow replace the Hymn experience in worship.  When you understand the role of both then the intimidation will go away. Praise and Worship is no longer a phenomenon, it is here to stay and churches who refuse to embrace are also doing themselves a musical and spiritual disservice.

The slow cooked meal is always a necessary meal to eat although sometimes you need to eat a little fast food first as an appetizer for a boost. Praise and Worship music, as we know it today, serves as a spiritual boost to any dead situation. It also helps to have an anointed song leader who understands how to lead the congregation in singing Praise and Worship songs. Some of our greatest songs written to date have been Praise and Worship songs. Its important for every church to have a healthy musical diet. It keeps our spirits in a posture of expectation.

 Praise and Worship (Fast Food) can get the job done but Praise and Worship alone can also lead to spiritual and musical immaturity.  Hymns(slow cooked meal) have served a vital role in our lives as Christians but God has given us new songs to sing along with the Hymns that take us threw new experiences with Him. The most powerful services I have ever been in are the ones where the leaders and congregants understand, accept and apply both well in the worship experience.


Peace,
Phillip Carter

"Hell In The Choir Stand"

Have you ever asked yourself the question, why is the Devil always in the choir stand/loft? There is always somebody complaining about something. Then there are those who are just plain nasty and you can't figure out why they are even there. Hold up!! Then you start to believe they are there just to get on your last nerve as a choir director.(lol) Many people believe its because Lucifer was a chief musician thriving and working through music so naturally the choir stand at church would be a  prime target. While the first part of that statement is very true, the last part I choose not to believe. If you are having problems with your choirs at church its not Satan's fault. It's yours(Pastor or Choir Director) The reason why your church choir acts the way they do is because some of the people in it DON'T BELONG THERE.

Regardless of church affiliation or denomination, it seems we all have something in common. We believe in placing people in positions of authority who belong there such as Deacons, Trustees, Stewards, Ushers, etc. These positions are filled with people who have the passion to serve in those capacities and the gifting/skill set to fulfill the need.  Isn't it ironic that most of our church leaders do not require the same scrutiny for people who wish to sing in the choir or praise team. It's amazing to me that we open up the doors to the choir stand for all to come when its the choir who is responsible for singing and ministering the songs of Zion unto the Lord and a waiting congregation. The praise team or the choir has the awesome responsibility of setting the atmosphere for true worship. Why on earth would you want to have someone, who doesn't belong trying to fulfill that responsibility? The only folk who can fulfill that responsibility are minstrels and psalmists called by Almighty God. You got to be "Called" and a "Anointed" for the work of ANY ministry and that includes the MUSIC MINISTRY.

People who have a passion and gifting for a certain ministry tend not to raise hell or complain because IT'S A PASSION. People who are passionate about music are intense individuals who are in a constant state of growth, learning and application. Passionate people do not have the time to raise hell. In church, choir members who are passionate about learning, singing and ministering the songs of Zion have a different zeal then the ones who are not. I have NEVER seen a person passionate about any subject try and sabotage that which he/she is gifted to do. 

I have tried on many occasions to remove folk from choirs, that I have directed in church who obviously don't belong, only to be thwarted by the Pastor who doesn't see music ministry the way that it should be seen. Some Pastors value "quantity" more than "quality". If you are a choir director you have either heard or said this statement before "I'd rather have 10 folk who want to be here then 100 in the choir stand occupying space and not here to glorify God". If the Deacons, Trustees and other "important" positions in the church require approval and scrutiny, so should the potential choir members who wish to minister during service. 

It's not longer cute to have hell raisers singing in worship. We need  people with the right attitude, right gifting and right living to minister on Saturday/Sunday morning. If you don't have any minstrels in your church then play some anointed tracks. (lol). Time out for folk who think their doing us a favor by gracing us with their presence in the choir. They need to consider what their REAL gifting is and then the hell raising will stop immediately. You've heard of the expression before that your "attitude determines your altitude". If that statement is true, and I believe that it is, some of our altitudes during worship could be much higher if we had the right attitudes leading us in worship. 

Peace,

Phillip Carter

"Should Church Musicians Be Paid"

This is one blog that is easy to write. The answer is "Yes", absolutely unless they opt to volunteer their time and some musicians do. I think the bigger question is how much should they be paid? That answer is based on the job description and the economical status of the employee and the employer. I remember this debate being heavy in my youth especially in the more charismatic churches. Well actually it wasn't, if you were a musician in the Pentecostal church you were not going to be paid. The philosophy was you (the musician) were supposed to volunteer your time and talent for the Lord and the Lord is going to bless you as a result. This debate is still a heavy one in our christian churches. Today there are many who believe that paying musicians is terribly wrong and on the flip side their are many musicians who refuse to do anything for free.

I am not going to quote biblical scriptures on the reasons why I think musicians should be paid because I have had the experience of hearing preachers and church folk twist the Gospel up and down to make it fit their perspective on the situation. I will say that in the OT musicians were NOT paid but their needs were met by the Temple while they were working. The Temple provided shelter, food etc.  In this day that would equal to mortgage, car note, insurance, retirement, clothes and food. Who would need a check if this were taking place? However that would be ever so costly wouldn't it? So compensation would be the most logical solution. 

I think what most people do not fully understand is the amount of skill and time it takes for a person to become a skilled musician yet a alone a skilled church musician.  Many people like myself have gone to school, studied and received degrees in order that we might perfect our craft. Then their are some who never went to school but through experience and mentorship have become excellent musicians sometimes better than the ones who went to school. It take equal amount of time and effort to become a skilled musician as it does becoming a preacher or Pastor. I know that's a controversial statement because many Pastors do NOT see musicians as equals in any way but that's more of a philosophical belief then a biblical one. 

Church musicians are not equal to deacons, nurses, trustees or any one else. You can't wake up one day and decide to be a musician. It's a gift from God that some have from birth and others develop later on in life. You can't go to a few training courses and learn to be an excellent musician. IT'S HARD WORK.  Some of us just make it look easy because we've been doing it for so long.  Now if your in the Black Church you most likely will have to play, sing and direct at the same time unless you have other persons in the church who assist you in the other areas.

As I mentioned earlier, churches should compensate musicians based on their(the churches) needs, economical status and musicians qualifications. If your church cannot pay a musician, for whatever reason,  to play for your church then you should consider other options unless you have someone who is willing to donate their time and talent to the church which is perfectly fine. I am in awe of the musicians who have the financial resources to not have to ask for compensation from the church. If I could play for free I would. Many churches think that musicians are money-hungry freaks that go to the highest bidder and some are but the majority of us are Disciples of Christ and we wanna see the ministry flourish. However we have needs to and they must be met. Many of us have outside jobs as well as church jobs trying to keep our families afloat. My father always told me to have an extra job because churches can flip the script on you in a heartbeat and you will be out of work and money. I pass that on to you young musicians who are relying on the church for your well being. YOU BETTER GET A DAY JOB. (LOL)  

Lastly, if the church has enough money to pay the Pastor,  the electric company, the water company, the insurance, gas, and the accountant (all who provide services for the church) then they SURELY ( I feel the organ coming in right now) they can compensate the Levite in the temple who provides the sweet melodies of Heaven here on earth. 

(There are many who read these blogs but don't leave comments. Please leave your comments. It helps us as a body to engage in these meaningful discussions)

Peace, 

Phillip 

"Musician vs. Pastor" -Round 1

Sometime between the 80's and 90's there was a shift in the Black Church concerning the role of the Musician/Minister of Music in the church. When I was growing up, the musician/director was just that. They came and played/directed the choir and then the preacher would preach and there was minimal confusion because it seemed like everyone knew their role in the ministry and worship service. I could not remember a time when I was growing up that their was noticeable confusion between the Pastor/leadership and the Musician/Minister of Music or Director.

We are in an age now where, in some of our churches, one can see and feel power struggles going on in worship. The Musician wants to preach and the Pastor wants to direct the choir and tell the musician/director how to play/sing and direct. We have gotten so self-centered in our approach to worship that we have forgotten that the worship service is about our Praise/Worship and service to God and the salvation of lost souls. We've traded those commands in for the longing of "Self Glory" and "Recognition". Also, their is this other underlying thought that if the Spirit doesn't move when it's my turn to shine then it must not be present today or the people didn't come with a mind to worship today. lol


Pastor's and musicians need to understand that  they both hold significant roles in the worship and servitude to God and infighting doesn't help or enhance anything. Now infighting is different from disagreements. Disagreements are sometimes healthy and often lead to a greater understanding between the Pastor and Musician. Ultimately the Pastor is the Spiritual leader of the church and is in charge of the spiritual health of the congregations he/she serves . The musician should respect the Pastors role and wishes concerning worship and try to assist the Pastor in carrying out the vision that has been laid out. If there is any discrepancy regarding the musicians willingness or ability to carry it out then changes need to be made.  However that does not mean the Pastor has the right to use the musician as a stepping stone for his/her(the Pastors) glory.

Musicians should be clear in what their role(s) are in a particular church. If the Pastor asks you to play, direct and lead Praise and Worship then that's what you should do with all of your heart. Notice the Pastor did not ask you to preach or teach "Sunday School" during worship. That's the Pastor's job. The Pastor wants you (the musician) to lead worship and usher Gods people into the presence of the Lord with accuracy.  Pastors you should trust your musicians to do the job you assigned for them to do and not attempt to do it for them, or in some cases, with them. Even if you were a choir director yourself, back in the day, you should still allow your musician/director to do their job and if the Spirit leads, then you jump in on the reprise(my opinion). If the only people you hire are the ones you can fully control then your are an insecure leader.  


The churches that have successful music ministries are the ones where;
1. Everyone understands their role and open dialogue is welcomed
2. No one individual is above reproach including the Pastor
3. Visions and Roles are understood and accepted by all parties involved