I am a big believer in the art of programming. I would define programming as outlining a performance in such a way that it creates an emotional effect such as tension, struggle, release, etc. I think that you have an opportunity to make a greater impact on your congregation simply by what order you put your musical numbers in and what ties them all together. When you have the rare opportunity to take an entire sacrament meeting such as at Christmas time or Fire (or Choir)side, even more emphasis, thought and prayer needs to go into how the meeting unfolds. However, here are some general “rules that I follow to make a program successful.


Preparing an entire program is somewhat like writing a book or a movie. Most successful programs (books and movies included) follow one of two general outlines. Think of the last 300 or so page novel that you took the time to read. When did it really start getting good – to that point to where you couldn’t put it down anymore? Generally, that happens about two thirds of the way through or 200 or so pages in or an hour in to your favorite hour-and-a-half blockbuster. It is the climax. After that happens the writer generally spends the remaining fist full of pages wrapping up back story and explaining motive, etc. This is one type of program.

The other popular program type being used is one that builds tension all the way to the end with the final act or in our case finale musical number being the culmination of the entire hour of other numbers. We see this quite often in action movies and books. However it makes for a great Christmas program as well!


First and Final Numbers First: Your opening and your closing generally have the greatest impact on how the people perceive the rest of the program. I generally try to start with something short and peppy. This draws the congregation in to what you are doing. You are showing them that you worked hard at this and that you want them to feel engaged in it. You want them thinking, “Wow, this is better than I thought it would be.” The final number is really what should be chosen first. It needs to be your anchor and your message. It needs to be that small phrase that people can remember. For example, if I were building a program around my arrangement of Come, All Ye Faithful, the phrase that is emphasized the most is “Come let us adore Him.” All other numbers would be chosen to build or work into that message.

Orchestration: If you have vocal, piano or instrumental solos you need to consider whether those pieces are moving you toward your climax or calming you away from it – wrapping up the back story so to speak.

Message/Lyric: Sometimes programs work well if you consider chronological order. For example, When Joeseph went to Bethlehem would come chronologically before Hark, the Herald Angels Sing and may fit better both musically and lyrically before the Angels come in. Just something to think about.

Tempo: With the exception of the opening number, tempo can really determine where something will fit on a program. It is also important to use songs that vary in tempo and to use them correctly. Use all fast, upbeat songs and the program probably won’t have a clear climax to it. Use all sacred, slower hymns and everyone will be asleep before you get to your intended message. Mix them up a bit much as a good author will take time out of a fast paced storyline to explain why a character makes a certain choice or describes in detail the sound, smell and touch of something.

Narration: In my opinion, nothing bogs a program down more than a lengthy talk plopped somewhere right in the middle. Keep the program moving by only including short scriptures, spiritual thoughts, and testimonies. People have come to hear the message of the music. President J. Reuben Clark once said, “"We get nearer to the Lord through music than perhaps through any other thing except prayer." Think of the typical Music and the Spoken Word broadcast. How much time is spent on word as opposed to the music. Generally the word portion is simply to nudge the direction of the program in a different direction. One of my pet peeves is a Christmas program where the narrator (generally the most monotone high priest available) reads nearly the entire Nativity from Luke 2 while stops are made along the way for the songs that fit in where appropriate. It is like telling the same story twice. Consider verse 7: “…and wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger…” This is inevitably the point where some stop –even mid-verse to start singing Away in a Manger. What if, instead, the narration was taken from 3 Nephi 1:9-14 (which might still be a little too lengthy for my liking). “…the time is at hand, and this night shall the sign be given.” And as the narrator is finding his seat the choir launches right into Away in a Manger. The verse led to the song rather than repeating it.

Above all, remember, the Spirit is able to pierce crusted hearts through music that may not otherwise be reached by the word alone. Use the tool of music as your Sword of the Spirit to prick the hearts of those who will come to hear the beautiful music you and your choir will present. This is where real magnification of your calling will come into play, in preparation for the pricking of hearts. May God bless you in your efforts. Seek the Spirit while programming and you will be guided accordingly.

Here is an email I received and my response.

Hi, my name is Riley, I am 23 years old, a newlywed, and recently called as the ward music director and also asked to put together the ward choir. I am pretty musically inclined, I've been singing since forever and play several musical instruments. However, I'm not so sure as to my director abilities. Any advice on putting together a choir and being an effective leader would be wonderfully appreciated. I've been reading on your site and am already getting some good advice, but I am still very nervous and unsure if I can pull this off! Thanks for your time
Riley

Dear Riley,

Congratulations on your new marriage and your new calling. The Lord will surely bless you for your efforts in both of those areas in your life. If I could give any piece of advice in regards to your new calling as ward choir director, it would be that no amount of musical training will be sufficient unless you bring enthusiasm and testimony to your rehearsals. I can certainly relate to your nervousness about embarking into “uncharted territory” as a director. It can be very intimidating to stand in front of others that may have more training or more experience than you do. The important thing to remember is that each of those individuals that come to your rehearsals are there to serve Christ. They are literally fulfilling the law of consecration at your rehearsals (as are you) because they are giving of their time and talents. Respect their time and their talents but remember that the Lord called you to direct this specific work – not Sister UsedToBeDirector… you. He had faith in your talents enough to entrust you with this responsibility and therefore, your choir will have faith in you and because the Lord has faith in you, I have faith in you.

One of the most important aspects of a rehearsal isn’t necessarily pounding notes repetitively – although that has its place, too – but more importantly is that of recognizing the Spirit. When you have “a moment” in rehearsal where something comes together and the Spirit endorses the message you have delivered to each other in that rehearsal, stop and recognize those moments. They can be powerful teaching moments if they are not easily discarded as a moment where the music “just clicked.” Bear your testimony often and let your choir know that you have every intent of serving in your calling by magnification and then back that up with your actions.

Please let me know if there is anything specific I can help with.

Ward Choir Guy

I have just completed an arrangement of Lead, Kindly Light. I would like to kick start it's distribution by offering it for FREE for the next 15 people that respond to this post or to my Facebook page. Each person will get 25 copies free to use however you want.

Also coming up... Each year when I submit to the LDS Music Festival, if I get rejected, you get it for free. This year I submitted, Zion's Youth. In a couple of weeks, I will be offering 10 people the chance to get this piece for FREE. Keep watching for that. In the mean time, let me know how I can help.

Shortly after my wife and I were married, we had a new house built for us and moved into expected newlywed, newly-homed bliss. Those of you that are chuckling and shaking your heads know that this illusion didn’t last long. We were only in our home a few weeks when I was called to be (wait for it) the ward choir director. My wife, bless her heart, was called to teach the 6th nursery class (yep, 6th, you read that right). I had held this calling 3 times by this point so I figured I knew what I was doing so I told the bishop that I would like to hold choir practice right after the block of meetings and that is how I had found success before. The bishop shook his head and said, “Sorry Brother Robison but I am not allowing any extra meetings on Sunday so that our members can be with their families on Sunday.” I think I nodded my head as a vision MoTab-sounding choir quickly evaporated into, well, one of the six nursery rooms! What I found out quickly was that if I didn’t get creative and quick, our ward choir was never going to get off the ground. Here are a few suggestions that I found success with. Each ward is different and so not all of these may be helpful to you but hopefully you will find something that you can use that will work for your choir. Bear in mind that my goal is MAGNIFICATION not just fulfilling the calling. There is a distinct difference and one takes more time than the other.

Expectations

If you listen to the people that have been in the ward or whoever it was that had the calling before you and they say, “We just can’t get a ward choir going in this ward. It is just impossible,” then walk away. If that’s what your expectations are, then you will be right. People will notice your enthusiasm and rise to the occasion. If you stand at the pulpit and make an announcement that your personal goal is to fill the choir seats at the front of the chapel, people will respond to that. Be positive. It WILL be hard at times and sometimes you will have a rehearsal with 3 people but you DON’T send them home. You hold that rehearsal as if there were 20 and people will rise to the occasion.

Non-Sunday Rehearsals

Yep, I said it. A calling other than YM, YM, EQ, WC, RS or any other official sounding abbreviation, that requires time OTHER than Sunday. For the situation outlined above, we found that Wednesday’s at 7:30 PM was the most effective. But what about mutual?!? Bear in mind that this advice is for wards that really aren’t going to have much of a mutual so conflicts should be minimal. Find a day and time that works for as many as possible.

Provide a Nursery

Seems pretty simple and fairly obvious, right? Don’t discount common sense. The way we worked it is we would send around a sign-up sheet around the rehearsal once a month and the choir members would just take turns being a nursery leader for half of a rehearsal. That way what everyone missed was pretty minimal.

Make Personal Invitations

Let people know that you want them to come. Sit in a different spot in the chapel every week and compliment people on their singing and invite them to come sing with the choir.

Keep the Music Simple

Don’t try and crank out grandeur arrangements. That may very well be for another time in life – to everything there is a season, right? Provide music that is simple, yet beautiful so that people won’t feel lost if they miss a rehearsal or two because of sick kids or a busy spouse.

Be Very Cautious With Time

When people with young children come to ward choir, it is a sacrifice. There is a blessing attached sure but it is a sacrifice. Even if it gives a young mother an hour away from her kids while dad takes over, it is still a sacrifice because you know she is going to have to pick up the disaster when she gets home. Be very aware of the time you are requiring. This is probably the number one choir killer in the church. Keep control of your rehearsals. Don’t ask for opinions in regards to music. Go into the rehearsal prepared and know exactly what you want to accomplish for that week and once you have – whether you have 15 minutes left or not. Sometimes I let my choirs out early just so they understand that I know their time is valuable. If I meet my goals, I end the rehearsal. Oh, and NO choir member generated spiritual thoughts. We have plenty of other forums for that in the church.

Use the Spirit

What will keep people coming back to rehearsals more than anything is the same concept for what keeps people coming to church: the Spirit. When the Holy Ghost is felt at a rehearsal, it is your job as the choir director to publicly recognize His presence. In a moment when everything falls in place and you feel the Spirit, take that moment and bear a short testimony relating to the text or to the rehearsal. Let people know what they have felt. In this aspect lies the real key to success in ward choir.

When you rehearse with full purpose of heart and do the very best you will find success in your calling. Angels will sing with you, I have heard it happen. But, you must have faith in the process to make it happen.

EXPECTATIONS + ACTION = FAITH

Happy flapping.