Depending on the demographics of a faith community, you might serve a congregation from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds. Some members of the community might prefer a traditional worship style, while others demand something more contemporary. Music ministry leaders must be familiar with a variety of worship styles, know which style best serves the worshiping community, and recognize when each is appropriate.
Also take into account the leadership styles and preferences of the clergy and lay ministers. A collaborative management style is required for successful music ministry leadership. Faith communities are typically busy with service and other outreach activities. Know the priorities of the community, be flexible and compromise when necessary.
When you walk into a faith community with a 40-voice choir, a full-time organist and competent instrumentalists, your primary concern is not recruitment, but retention. If there is no organized music ministry, however, the first order of business is to recruit singers, instrumentalists, cantors, soloists and, in some cases, sound equipment operators.
As music minister, you should lead the effort to recruit new members, but delegate this task to members of the congregation whenever possible in order to keep them directly involved in the process. Besides using word of mouth, create printed announcements, hold special concerts to stir up interest in the music ministry, organize potluck dinners or even place ads in a local newspaper to draw attention to the music ministry and invite new participants.
Once a music-ministry team is formed, plan activities throughout the year to stimulate continued interest and involvement. To show appreciation for the team's hard work and dedication, plan special events, such as dinners, outings, workshops, and retreats.
Newly appointed music ministry leaders might not be aware of how much time they will spend managing complaints from individuals or groups, mediating inter-personal conflicts within the music ministry team and even resolving disagreements with the clergy or lay staff. Take time to get to know each person you work with and you will be better prepared to respond when issues or conflicts arise. In general, being flexible and yielding when the situation calls for it is a valuable strategy for preserving peace and good order.
It is a good idea, as long as everyone is comfortable with it, to include prayer, meditation or meditative reading in each meeting of your music ministry team. Your work is about serving the faith community. So, a brief time for reflection, which may include some familiar form of prayer, is settling and prepares the group for greater concentration while rehearsing for your next event. Retreats, at which the music ministry team can get away and spend time in a peaceful setting, are also effective. Providing such opportunities for additional instruction, and engaging your team in spiritually uplifting activities, is an excellent way to boost morale and increase a sense of unity.
In order to provide a continual challenge and heightened interest for your musicians, select music that is varied and that matches the voicing and instrumentation of your team. For instrumentalists, select music that is native to their instruments; some players object to continually transposing music written for other instruments. You might need to create arrangements. In some musical groups, the musicians themselves can arrange parts for their instruments--another excellent way to increase involvement. Obtain the appropriate copyright permissions before arranging published material. Many music publishers offer licensing options that accommodate the needs of music ministry.
Singers, , in many varieties. Some have studied singing and others have naturally pleasant voices and are able to carry a tune, while others need additional encouragement and education in music fundamentals. Know how to train your singers to blend their voices to produce a unified sound. In addition, you must understand the form and function of the music you are performing, and be able to communicate that understanding to your musicians and lead them in delivering an inspirational performance.
Musical accompaniment, singing, clapping, dancing and movement can all be elements of worship. Matching them with the appropriate occasion and level of solemnity is important. The choice of processional music, songs, interludes and music to accompany liturgical acts is neither random nor entirely at the discretion of the music ministry leader. In many places of worship, the community celebrates events associated with annual seasons. The elements of music and worship differ with the special day or season being celebrated. Be sure these are well coordinated.
Finally, you must demonstrate proficiency in music, whether as organist, conductor, band leader, guitarist, lead singer or other instrumentalist. Never forget that perhaps the most desirable outcome of effective music ministry leadership is empowering the individual members of your team. Recognizing and developing talent, encouraging enthusiastic participation and having patience in forming an often disparate group of musicians into a cohesive ensemble are among the key attributes of an effective music ministry leader.