Music ministry
  • musicman923
    Posts: 239
    Hi Everyone,

    My parish is looking a holding a ministry poster board session this weekend. Each ministry will present a board, take name of people who might be interested etc. Starting in the fall, each ministry will have a weekend to meet with anyone who has shown interest to all get together and discuss music ministry.

    I'm a musical person but not extremely artistic. Does anyone have good ideas/suggestions for me? What's a good way to show/ask for recruitment on a poster board?

    This is a great way to get new choir members from a church that has been plagued with bad choir syndrome for the last 10 years!

    Looking for ideas and suggestions!

    Thanks.
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,507
    Pictures of the choir(s) are good, and maybe music such as Handel's Hallelujah Chorus or other music that people would recognize and be attracted to. I've found colorful musical notation clipart (quarter notes and whatnot) and printed them out to add color and interest.

    Maybe spread some hymnals out on the table in front of the table. I would definitely have a signup sheet.

    If you can, on a subsequent Sunday try to arrange for a two-minute recruitment drive one Sunday during the announcement time at Mass. This really tends to touch hearts. Then after the Mass hang around outside the church with a clipboard and sign people up. Make sure your contact info and another plea are in the bulletin.

    My sense is that joining the choir is a kind of cultural-religious leap for people, and gives them a new sense of religious commitment. That's all to the good, but makes people hesitant, so it doesn't hurt to ask them several different times and ways.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • matthewjmatthewj
    Posts: 2,698
    If it weren't so last-minute, I would suggest using vistaprint to have a very professional looking poster that is the envy of all the other programs. People want to be involved in programs that look very professional and polished.
  • musicman923
    Posts: 239
    yeah, I agree matthewj! I only found out about it on Sunday afternoon! Music ministry is always the last to know usually and then expected to be there at the last minute, you know!!

    While I think recruitment is vital, I also think being able to sing is important too. What is the best way to be able to make sure new interested members who potentially want to sing are not backed off or turn away by making sure they can at least match pitch?? You know, it's a slippery slope!
  • Kathy
    Posts: 5,507
    Oh, totally audition. Part of the insecurity is that they will want to be prevented from embarassing themselves. People really need a lot of support when they join.
  • canadashcanadash
    Posts: 1,501
    Be friendly. Be friendly. Be friendly. Have fun. Look people in the eye and smile. Have a snack or two (cookies, samosas, flancati) at your table to draw people there. I agree with the audition. If they can't match a pitch or sing a simple scale, tell them to take singing lessons until the fall and reaudition. (I've done this but nobody takes me up on it!) No one will enjoy having a person in the choir who cannot sing (and they won't enjoy the choir either) if they have no idea what they are doing. You won't draw the decent singers if your choir sings music poorly.

    This could be a great event for your ministry! Good luck!
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,471
    You could make a miniature pipe organ replica out of sippy straws.
    Thanked by 1Gavin
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    If a program has the ability, offer summer evening sessions in music reading skills, singing skills, and.....
    We had a high turnout of about 25+ for basic (from scratch) reading skills last summer.
    Thanked by 3Kathy jpal CHGiffen
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