It seems that churches all over the country are lamenting over the diminishing number of church musicians available for ministry.From coast to coast, churches of all denominations and all sizes are increasingly concerned by the withering pool of musicians who offer their talents, skills, gifts and musical training for service in local churches.The situation has grown so challenging that some congregations have begun utilizing pre-recorded tracks, compact discs and other means of substituting for “live” musicians - a dramatic departure from the BlackChurch musical heritage.Articles in local, regional and national newspapers have attempted to chronicle the situation from a sensationalized perspective. The New York Times published “Black Church Hungering for Musical Talent” on January 13, 2007, suggesting that the proposed musician shortage has led to musicians traveling from state to state to fill the void at major metropolitan churches able to subsidize travel, lodging and salary.
In a later writing, we will explore the numerous reasons that we have found through research for the perceived shortage of church musicians.In this writing, however, we aim to offer hope to congregations struggling with the reality of not having the music ministry personnel of choice.To that end, many of our churches have to learn how to grow a music ministry from within.Here are a few ideas for consideration:
Survey your congregation to find the hidden musicians then strategically work these musicians into the music ministry in creative appropriate ways.
Work with a highly regarded local or neighborhood church musician who might be able to provide music lessons to a few select individuals within your congregation who show promise, potential or interest.
Teach your congregation to value and encourage the fledgling musicians within the flock.Consistent encouragement will not only keep these fledgling musicians within the flock, but will aid them in progressing at an increased rate.
Support passionate, yet fledgling musicians with lessons and/ or systematic training.
Encourage healthy mentoring situations with local or area church musicians who might be able to walk aside less advanced musicians to help groom and nurture them.
Invest in your children and youth who are interested in music and perhaps even taking lessons.An investment today could yield an effective church musician in a relatively short amount of time.
Expand your evangelical outreach to local community centers, schools and venues of performance.Keep your eye out for underappreciated underutilized or unrecognized talent.
When musicians are scarce, combining choirs to maximize the time and effort of remaining musicians is a wise choice.
Redefine the mission, vision and goals of the ministry to reflect the present situation with an eye towards the desired goal.When a qualified musician becomes available, there has to be a place for him or her to fit in.
Train the church to enjoy and love music even if it is a cappella.A singing church will not rely on or be held hostage by the lack of a musician.
Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. is president and founder of the Black Church Music Ministry Project. BCMMP aims to “serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.” For additional information please visit http://www.BCMMP.org or contact us via email at info@BCMMP.org.
BCMMP Presents… Greater Boston Area Music Ministry Leadership Forum
PRAISE & WORSHIP:
Do we still value the collective, communal and congregational experience?
Join Greater Boston Area pastors, ministers, scholars, music ministry leaders, seminarians and laypersons as we examine, ponder and discuss PRAISE & WORSHIP.The forum will take place on Saturday, October 18, 2008 from 3:00 to 5:00 PM on the campus of NortheasternUniversity, at the John D. O’ Bryant African American Institute’s AmilcarCabralCenter (40 Leon St. West Village F).Admission for this event is FREE.
Hosted and convened by the Black Church Music Ministry Project (BCMMP), this event will continue a series of conversations around leadership in music ministry.According to president and founder, Minister Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies, Northeastern University), “we are launching these conversations across the country in order to inspire more focus on spiritual leadership development within our music ministries.”For this forum BCMMP has assembled a list of area notables to assist in leading the conversation.Amongst those confirmed, include: Lauren McLean-Britt (Holy Tabernacle COGIC Apostolic, Inc.), Minister Melvin Murphy (St. John’sMissionaryBaptistChurch), Laurie Williams-Pipkins (Grace Church of All Nations) and Stanley Porter (Greater Love Tabernacle Church).The conversation for this forum will focus on the question: Do we still value the collective, communal and congregational experience?This interdenominational, intergenerational panel will not only ponder the current situations of the Praise & Worship Ministries in our local churches but they will present leadership strategies and practical applications that may help area music ministry leaders more effectively utilize the ministry of music to support the vision and mission of local congregations.According to Price, who also serves on the ministerial staff of Greater Framingham Community Church (Framingham, MA) as the Minister of Music and Worship, “…it is our goal to complement the numerous hours spent on developing performance practice skills with numerous hours developing leadership skills.Music ministries across the country are facing serious challenges and BCMMP is set to take the lead in providing serious solutions with a focus on leadership.”
BCMMP aims to serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.
BCMMP Presents… Greater Boston Area Music Ministry Leadership Forum
The POWER of Church Music:
Are we still singing songs of Deliverance, Hope, Liberation and Salvation?
Join Greater Boston Area pastors, ministers, scholars, music ministry leaders, seminarians and laypersons as we examine, ponder and discuss The Power of Church Music.The forum will take place on Saturday, July 26, 2008 from 9:00 AM to NOON on the campus of NortheasternUniversity, at the John D. O’ Bryant African American Institute’s AmilcarCabralCenter (40 Leon St. West Village F).Admission for this event is FREE.
Hosted and convened by the Black Church Music Ministry Project (BCMMP), this event will continue a series of conversations around leadership in music ministry.According to president and founder, Minister Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies, Northeastern University), “we are launching these conversations across the country in order to inspire more focus on spiritual leadership development within our music ministries.”For this forum BCMMP has assembled a list of area notables to assist in leading the conversation.Amongst those confirmed, include: Jesse B. Kemp (Cornerstone Ministries, Inc.), Donnell L. Patterson (St. Paul African Methodist Episcopal Church), Myran Parker-Brass (Myrtle Baptist Church), Stanley Porter (Recording Artist, 4:12 Records), Lori Dow (Eliot Church of Roxbury), and Calvin Hicks (Thomas A. Dorsey Gospel Jubilee) to discuss whether Boston Area Music Ministries are still singing songs of deliverance, hope, liberation and salvation.The conversation by an interdenominational, intergenerational panel will not only ponder the current situation but present leadership strategies and practical applications that may help area music ministry leaders more effectively utilize the ministry of music to support the vision and mission of local congregations.According to Price, who also serves on the ministerial staff of Greater Framingham Community Church (Framingham, MA) as the Minister of Music and Worship, “…it is our goal to complement the numerous hours spent on developing performance practice skills with numerous hours developing leadership skills.Music ministries across the country are facing serious challenges and BCMMP is set to take the lead in providing serious solutions with a focus on leadership.”
BCMMP aims to serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.
BCMMP Presents… Greater Boston Area Music Ministry Leadership Forum
The PROPHETIC VOICE in CHURCH MUSIC:
Are we still connected to our rich legacy?
Framingham, MA (March 19, 2008) Join Greater Boston Area pastors, ministers, scholars, music ministry leaders, and laypersons as we examine, ponder and discuss the role of the prophetic voice in church music.The forum will take place on Saturday, April 19, 2008 from 9:00 AM to NOON on the campus of NortheasternUniversity, at the John D. O’ Bryant African American Institute’s AmilcarCabralCenter (40 Leon St. West Village F).Admission for this event is FREE.
Hosted and convened by the Black Church Music Ministry Project (BCMMP), this event will launch a series of conversations around leadership in music ministry.According to president and founder, Minister Emmett G. Price III, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor of Music and African American Studies, Northeastern University), “we are launching these conversations across the country in order to inspire more focus on spiritual leadership development within our music ministries.”For this forum BCMMP has assembled a list of area notables to assist in leading the conversation.Amongst those confirmed, include: Rev. Hubert Walters (People’s BaptistChurch), Melinda Weekes (Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church), Mona Roberts (St. John’s Baptist Church - Woburn), Alonzo Harris (Grace Church of All Nations), DJ Lady Grace (Grace Chapel) and George W. Russell, Jr. (Christian Musicians Fellowship of Boston).According to Price, who also serves on the ministerial staff of Greater Framingham Community Church (Framingham, MA) as the Minister of Music and Worship, “…it is our goal to complement the numerous hours spent on developing performance practice skills with numerous hours developing leadership skills.Music ministries across the country are facing serious challenges and BCMMP is set to take the lead in providing serious solutions with a focus on leadership.”
BCMMP aims to serve, nurture and develop spiritual leaders within music ministry.