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.