by Chris Owenby | Aug 20, 2020 | Uncategorized
A few months ago I warmed up to the idea of digital rehearsals on Zoom and began leading my choir members in rehearsal again. It took a little while, but I did it! And now I’m able to regularly connect with my singers and give them a platform to connect with one...
by Chris Owenby | Aug 6, 2020 | Uncategorized
Singing is an important part of worship. In his classic, A Treatise Concerning Religious Affections, Jonathan Edwards says, The duty of singing praise to God seems to be given wholly to excite and express religious affections. There is no other reason why we should...
by Chris Owenby | Dec 31, 2019 | Growing a Choir
The Choir Trial Period is one of simplest and most effective strategies you can implement. It’s a great strategy any time of the year, but the best time to use it is just before of Lent and/or Advent. =========> Here’s how it works: Think about...
by Chris Owenby | Oct 19, 2019 | Uncategorized
Ministry. We use that word a lot in the church. But what is ministry? The dictionary doesn’t do a stellar job of defining the term. A quick Google search reveals a limited definition: “ministry is the work or vocation of a minister of religion.”...
by Chris Owenby | Feb 11, 2019 | Planning and Programming, Sheet Music
We’ve all been there. It’s like pulling teeth sometimes to get the choir to sing. A dreadful experience, indeed. We want our choirs to enjoy rehearsal. We think about the rehearsal all week long. Meticulously structuring it in hopes of achieving good...
by Chris Owenby | Jan 31, 2019 | Planning and Programming
Plan, program, plan, program. This endless road lies ever before us church musicians. It’s easy to get “stuck in a rut.” How many times have you planned that all too familiar choral anthem this year just because your choir knows it well? (Trust me,...
by Michael Cromwell | Nov 14, 2018 | Inspiration, Managing a Choir
Let’s face it, people seem to be afraid of commitment these days – especially any kind of a long-term commitment like singing in a choir. As church music directors, how do we make our singers’ commitment worth their time and energy? Furthermore, how do we keep people...
by David Scott | Nov 1, 2018 | Managing a Choir, Resources
Sooner or later, it happens to all of us… despite the best-laid plans, accompanists might be unavailable to fill a last-minute need or that upcoming program. You might be thinking “Yea, though I walk through the valley of death…” well, it’s not quite...
by Chris Owenby | Sep 19, 2018 | Resources
You know it’s coming. It’s not like it can sneak up on you! Christmas comes the same time every year. But each year, you can catch yourself asking the same question that many other church music directors ask – How do I plan creative, yet accessible...
by Anthony Rimore | Sep 6, 2018 | Growing a Choir, Managing a Choir
For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. – Matthew 6:21 This was originally going to be only one blog post, but as I began writing, I realized that the topic of paid section leaders is much more complex than originally envisioned. Today we focus on...
