What if the Music isn't Musical?

[workinprogress8]

Our music mnistry at our church isn’t very large, but the people who are in it are very nice dedicated people. However, their singing could a little fine tuned. It’s so hard to focus in church when the singing is as loud as it could be and off-key. They also use out-of-tune guitars that really make it hard to sing-along, or even bear the music. Like I said before the people that sing in the choir are probably the nicest people I’ve ever met, but some of them just aren’t that good of singers. So how should I approach this?

Thanks

 

[pnewton]

Many people would not even recognize it when a guitar is out of tune. Do you have any musical talent that you could contribute? If it is really that bad you might be the most talented in the church.

 

[workinprogress8]

pnewton:

Many people would not even recognize it when a guitar is out of tune. Do you have any musical talent that you could contribute? If it is really that bad you might be the most talented in the church.

I don’t think so. I don’t know how to read music. I’m not that good of singer, but I could try. Thanks for the advice.

 

[Fortiterinre]

I don’t really read music either, and I served as the lead cantor of a large Midwestern seminary for two years. The secret was that we used chant and polyphony, which even a simpleton like me can do fairly well. Folk music can actually be quite complicated and often involves holding notes far longer than any amateur singer ever could. Don’t get me wrong, some chant and polyphony is exquisite and takes years to learn, but the simple stuff always sounds good and sometimes is as easy as following the bouncing ball.

 

[nancy3159]

Can your parish support paying for a professional to work with the choir/cantors? Can you help raise money dedicated to this particular cause? Have you discussed it with the pastor/members of the parish finance council?

Is going to a parish with a better trained choir an option for you?

 

[pnewton]

Fortiterinre:

Folk music can actually be quite complicated and often involves holding notes far longer than any amateur singer ever could. .

This is a good point to consider. Perhaps you can suggest to the priest that simpler music be used.

Also, lowering the music can often make it much easier to sing and sign on pitch. This is easily accomplished on a guitar. Even a relatively unskilled guitarist with a chord chart and a capo (about $25 investment) can lower the pitch. Also, the church could purchase a cheap guitar tuner and instruct guitarist to tune before Mass.

Finally, one more easy suggestion. I have found as much as possible I face the choir when playing a guitar. They hear very little coming from the sound system, but can easily hear the acoustical guitar a few feet away. This has helped our little group a lot in finding pitch.

 

[neum334]

maybe you could get rid of microphones, if your music ministrry uses it.