It seems that churches all over the country are lamenting over the diminishing number of church musicians available for ministry.  From coast to coast, churches of all denominations and all sizes are increasingly concerned by the withering pool of musicians who offer their talents, skills, gifts and musical training for service in local churches.  The situation has grown so challenging that some congregations have begun utilizing pre-recorded tracks, compact discs and other means of substituting for “live” musicians - a dramatic departure from the Black Church musical heritage.  Articles in local, regional and national newspapers have attempted to chronicle the situation from a sensationalized perspective.  The New York Times published “Black Church Hungering for Musical Talent” on January 13, 2007, suggesting that the proposed musician shortage has led to musicians traveling from state to state to fill the void at major metropolitan churches able to subsidize travel, lodging and salary.

 

In a later writing, we will explore the numerous reasons that we have found through research for the perceived shortage of church musicians.  In this writing, however, we aim to offer hope to congregations struggling with the reality of not having the music ministry personnel of choice.  To that end, many of our churches have to learn how to grow a music ministry from within.  Here are a few ideas for consideration:

1. Survey your congregation to find the hidden musicians then strategically work these musicians into the music ministry in creative appropriate ways.
2. Work with a highly regarded local or neighborhood church musician who might be able to provide music lessons to a few select individuals within your congregation who show promise, potential or interest.
3. Teach your congregation to value and encourage the fledgling musicians within the flock.  Consistent encouragement will not only keep these fledgling musicians within the flock, but will aid them in progressing at an increased rate.
4. Support passionate, yet fledgling musicians with lessons and/ or systematic training.
5. Encourage healthy mentoring situations with local or area church musicians who might be able to walk aside less advanced musicians to help groom and nurture them.
6. Invest in your children and youth who are interested in music and perhaps even taking lessons.  An investment today could yield an effective church musician in a relatively short amount of time.
7. Expand your evangelical outreach to local community centers, schools and venues of performance.  Keep your eye out for underappreciated underutilized or unrecognized talent.
8. When musicians are scarce, combining choirs to maximize the time and effort of remaining musicians is a wise choice.
9. Redefine the mission, vision and goals of the ministry to reflect the present situation with an eye towards the desired goal.  When a qualified musician becomes available, there has to be a place for him or her to fit in.
10. Train the church to enjoy and love music even if it is a cappella.  A singing church will not rely on or be held hostage by the lack of a musician.

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

This entry was posted on Tuesday, September 30th, 2008 at 10:18 pm and is filed under Black Church, Black Church music ministry, church music, church musicians, leadership in music ministry, music ministry. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.