BCMMP Remembers Maestro Royzell L. Dillard

BCMMP mourns the loss of friend and colleague, Royzell L. Dillard.  A lauded educator, esteemed performer and highly regarded mentor, “Mr. Dillard” leaves a tremendous legacy through the lives of many in whom he invested much time, energy and inspiration.  A native of Tennessee, Dillard matriculated from Memphis’ Hamilton High School and journeyed to Virginia where he completed a BA in Psychology and MME (Music Education) from Hampton Institute (1983) and Hampton University (1988) respectively.  At the time of his passing, Dillard was in the process of completing a DMA in Music Education from Shenandoah Conservatory.

Since 1986, Dillard served Hampton University and surrounding communities in a host of capacities including: Assistant Professor of Music, Director of University Choirs and Minister of Music at Hampton University’s Memorial Church.  His jubilant spirit was matched by his stern pursuit for excellence.  Following in the steps of the great exemplars that guided him, Dillard developed a unique approach to challenging his students to unimagined greatness through the sincere pursuit of self-respect, integrity and academic achievement.  Dillard not only demanded students to execute, but he also mandated that they execute with intentionality, purpose and with conviction.  A scholar of the African American experience through music, Dillard was well versed as an educator and an extremely versatile performer.  Equally skilled at singing arias, spirituals, art songs, hymns, jazz standards and gospel songs (traditional and contemporary), his baritone/ bass voice was known for its strikingly brilliant use of just enough technique to reveal his depth of training and just enough power to reveal his width of life experience: an amazing combination that always brought the music to life.

In 2000, Dillard was chosen to serve as co-director of the Hampton University Ministers’ Conference and Choir Directors’ & Organists’ Guild along side Dr. James Abbington.  Equally committed to the training of future leaders in music ministry, the two launched the Church Music Academy in 2001; an endeavor where both committed time, energy and resources to intellectually stimulate and spiritually guide collegiate students from all over the country in an empowering and practical setting.  The Ministers’ conference and the Church Music Academy are only two of the many outlets through which Dillard shared, groomed, guided and empowered.  His life was a living testament of service.

Many musicians, choral directors, musicians, pastors and ministers of music around the country (and the world) are grateful and indebted to Mr. Dillard.  The entire Hampton University Family, the Hampton Ministers’ Conference and Choir Directors’ & Organists’ Guild will forever miss him.  Still, for many more of us who simply knew him as “Roy,” we too, will miss our dear friend, fellow musician and fraternity brother. We thank God for the gift and blessing of Maestro Royzell L. Dillard.

Be sure to subscribe to BCMMP on YouTube and BCMMP on Facebook for important resources and updates!

Rev. Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project.  BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.”  For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.

© Black Church Music Ministry Project, Inc. all rights reserved

Posted in Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, Dr. James Abbington, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, Royzell L. Dillard, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

September eNewsletter

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Posted in Black Church music ministry | Leave a comment

August eNewsletter

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Posted in administrative skills in music ministry, Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, praise & worship, shared ministry vision | Leave a comment

Administrative Skills (Part II)

One of the most important and under recognized skills of any managing music ministry leader is the skill of knowing when to ask for help!  Perhaps more common sense than skill, we all need help at certain moments in leadership.  God has certainly blessed each of us with skills, talents, gifts and the like, but he has also blessed us with each other.  Far too often we find ourselves overwhelmed and in distress without an effective strategy to relieve or release the pressure.  Our first response should be to turn to the Lord through prayer!  Our second response is to seek assistance from a trusted mentor, advisor, consultant and/ or resource person.  It’s that second step that we have a tendency to avoid.

God created us to be relational.  In fact God created us to love one another.  In our ministries our ability to love others and to be loved is often reflected in our desires to mentor and to be mentored.  Rest assured that there is somebody somewhere who has wrestled with similar ministerial challenges that you are presently wrestling with.  Be assured that no matter how large or small the challenge you face is, there is somebody whose prayers, advice and strategic vision can aid you.  We all need trusted mentors, advisors, consultants and/ or resource persons.  At the very least they can pray with and for you as you navigate the tough terrain of your situation.  Many of us need to learn to ask for help (from the right people)!

What other administrative skills do you find essential for success in music ministry?

(Leave a comment below, or click the “comment” button at the end of the tag words)

Be sure to subscribe to BCMMP on YouTube and BCMMP on Facebook and BCMMP on Twitter for important resources and updates!

Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project.  BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.”  For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.

© Black Church Music Ministry Project, Inc. all rights reserved

Posted in administrative skills in music ministry, Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry resources, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

July eNewsletter

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http://www.icontact-archive.com/c7FVADXIijC1fM_xXgHGrGbU8xG579pa?w=3

Posted in Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, Dr. James Abbington, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, praise & worship, shared ministry vision | Leave a comment

BCMMP June eNewsletter

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Posted in administrative skills in music ministry, Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, Dr. James Abbington, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, praise & worship, shared ministry vision, shared theological perspecitve, Transformative Worship | Leave a comment

Dr. James Abbington in Boston – “Transformative Worship: Elevating Worship to the Next Level”

On Saturday morning, May 14, 2011 from 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM, BCMMP will present Dr. James Abbington in a half-day conference on “Transformative Worship: Elevating Worship to the Next Level” at Northeastern University, Boston, MA.  Dr. Abbington is Associate Professor of Church Music and Worship at Candler School of Theology, Emory University in Atlanta, GA; Executive Editor of the African American Church Music Series published by GIA Publications, Inc; and past co-director of the annual Hampton University Ministers’ and Musicians’ Conference.  Dr. Abbington is one of the leading authorities on Black Church Music and Worship.

For more information and to pre-register visit: http://www.bcmmp.org/events.html

Here’s why you should pre-register and attend:

1)      Through his dynamic presentation, Dr. Abbington will share issues and challenges facing Black Churches across the nation relative to Worship and Music, while also sharing “best practices” and strategic solutions to resolving some of these systemic challenges.

2)      Dr. Abbington will share some of the critical analysis and practical applications that have made him one of the most sought after lecturers, consultants and keynote speakers for institutions of higher learning, denominations and organizations within the United States and abroad.

3)      As a musician par excellence, conductor, professor, editor, author and one who believes in inspiring local church music ministries to excellence, this is a rare opportunity to be encouraged, challenged and empowered by one of God’s anointed and appointed.

4)      Very rarely do pastors, ministers of music, worship & arts, clergy, seminarians, choral directors, musicians, choir members, praise & worship leaders and laypersons come together to engage in spiritual leadership development.

Come be a part of this historic half-day conference as Dr. James Abbington shares on the topic: “Transformative Worship: Elevating Worship to the Next Level.”  There will be plenty of time for Q&A and interactive conversation!

For more information and to pre-register visit: http://www.bcmmp.org/events.html

Be sure to subscribe to BCMMP on YouTube and BCMMP on Facebook and BCMMP on Twitter for important resources and updates!

Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project.  BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.”  For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.

© Black Church Music Ministry Project, Inc. all rights reserved

Posted in administrative skills in music ministry, Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, Dr. James Abbington, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, praise & worship, shared ministry vision, shared theological perspecitve, Transformative Worship, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Administrative Skills (Part I)

Serving as a music ministry leader is often a thankless duty.  Granted, for those of us who play instruments, lead solos, direct/ conduct or serve on the praise & worship team, we get immediate responses (both good and not so good).  Yet, beyond that most of our parishioners, church leaders and perhaps even clergy will never know where we actually spend the bulk of our time and energy.  Whether you are the end-all-be-all sole musician/ choir director/ praise & worship leader or the administrator of a team and/ or staff of musicians and directors, communicating with the various ministries and ministry leaders within your congregation is a time consuming chore.  This is especially true when every decision has to be vetted by different committees made up of laypersons without any knowledge or understanding of music ministry.

The ability to effectively communicate and navigate the wild terrain of church politics is a key administrative skill that is necessary for success in ministry.  Another key administrative skill is fiscal management.  We must have a healthy respect for budgeting and must be able to structure a budget based on the mission and vision of the ministry as opposed to budgeting based on personalities, individuals and “that one musician or director who we have to get.”  As a leader, we are held accountable not only for being good stewards of our gifts, talents and skill sets, but also for taking care of the resources that we manage.  This not only involves our operating budget, instruments, sound equipment, music library and the tools we rely on week by week, but also the individuals God has blessed us to lead.

What other administrative skills do you find essential for success in music ministry?

(Leave a comment below, or click the “comment” button at the end of the tag words)

Be sure to subscribe to BCMMP on YouTube and BCMMP on Facebook and BCMMP on Twitter for important resources and updates!

Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project.  BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.”  For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.

© Black Church Music Ministry Project, Inc. all rights reserved

Posted in administrative skills in music ministry, Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A Heart for the People

The ministry of worship (inclusive of music) is an extremely vulnerable and intimate pursuit.  As many ministers, managing music ministry leaders, theologians and scholars have articulated, worship is an action verb!  In addition to being something that you do on a continuous basis (lifestyle), worship is also about relationships – relationship with God and with each other.  During collective worship we align and coalesce our personal lifestyles to create harmony to the glory and pleasure of God with God being the sole audience of our collective worship.

As leaders of worship we must be exemplary models of what a life of worship looks like.  We must develop a passion for God’s people; a passion that allows us to be sensitive to the various needs and diverse concerns of a multitude of people.  We must learn to love people from all walks of life, all persuasions and of all generations.  It is our duty to maintain and extend our skill sets and abilities including our passion for the people we are called to serve.  It is our mandate to hold ourselves accountable and to be held accountable by those we serve.  It is this two-way accountability that challenges us to realize that integrity is essential in the ministry of worship.  As God loves us, so must we love one another.

Be sure to subscribe to BCMMP on YouTube and BCMMP on Facebook and BCMMP on Twitter for important resources and updates!

Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project.  BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.”  For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.

© Black Church Music Ministry Project, Inc. all rights reserved

Posted in Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Shared Ministry Vision

Our research shows that the congregations with effective music ministries (as articulated by their peers) share a couple of common characteristics.  In this post, we will mention the first and most important – that the managing music ministry leader (See What is A Managing Music Ministry Leader?) understands his/ her role and function as a partner to the pastor/ bishop with the major task of aiding in developing and nurturing healthy collective worship.  In order to accomplish this, shared ministry vision is essential.  Shared ministry vision mandates that there is agreement that God reveals to the shepherd the overall vision for the House of Worship.  In turn, the shepherd articulates the vision and delegates areas of responsibilities to his/ her leadership.  In this capacity, the managing music ministry leader receives his/ her charge from the pastor/ bishop and not vice versa.  Innovative ministries accomplish this with a few practical things that we noticed in our research:

1)      Weekly meetings and/ or communication between pastor and managing music ministry leader;

2)      Both managing music ministry leader and pastor attend the same conference, workshop, and/ or seminar at least once a year (and spend time debriefing the experience);

3)      Regularly share what success in worship feels like (seasonally);

4)      Trade or swap CDs, DVDs, books, articles, readings, blogs, playlists, YouTube videos, sheet music and any other examples of inspiring information that displays captivating, innovation and/ or effective approaches to ministry that might motivate and encourage self-reflection and forward motion; and

5)      Always keep ministry and the “best interest” of the congregation at the forefront of decision-making.

Shared Ministry Vision is a continual process of developing mutual trust and shared responsibility within a growing partnership.  Communication is essential, but more urgent is a healthy understanding of servanthood.

Be sure to subscribe to BCMMP on YouTube and BCMMP on Facebook and BCMMP on Twitter for important resources and updates!

Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project.  BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.”  For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.

© Black Church Music Ministry Project, Inc. all rights reserved

Posted in Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, effectiveness in music ministry, Innovative Ministry, leadership in music ministry, music ministry, music ministry resources, shared ministry vision, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments