Harmony Passion - ideas and resources for church and community musicians
  • Blog
  • About Harmony Passion
  • Contact Us

Ten Communication Tips for Church Singers | Ray Gibbs

10/8/2012

9 Comments

 
Here are ten tips for church singers in regards to communication. What is the best way to communicate the message of your music to a congregation? Here are some fabulous ideas from my teacher and mentor, Ray Gibbs.
  1. Your ministry begins when the congregation first sees you and doesn't end until the congregation doesn't see you any more.
  2. Everything you do is seen by the congregation. If what you do does not enhance the message it will detract from the message.
  3. Don't act out the message. Let the message act on you.
  4. If you have been chosen to minister in song, you are ordained of God for the purpose. Debilitating nerves mean that you don't trust God.
  5. If the congregation cannot understand the words of the message, they cannot be blessed by it.
  6. Sing the song. Don't let the song sing you.
  7. Hear and digest the words you are saying. When you hear the words, the congregation can hear the words.
  8. The congregation empathizes with your experience, not your intentions.
  9. Don't rehearse bad techniques or wrong notes.
  10. When you are singing in front of the congregation, it is too late to think about technique.

I hope that you are able to benefit from these words of wisdom about communication in church music. Please leave comments below if you have any additional thoughts.

Ray Gibbs voice lessons
Ray Gibbs received his first degree in Voice Performance at San Diego State University, and then earned a Master of Music degree in Opera Theater at Manhattan School of Music in New York City. He made his debut with the New York City Opera Company in 1968, before he was out of graduate school. He joined the Metropolitan Opera in 1970 as the youngest baritone on the roster, then three years later made his debut as a tenor in the role of Romeo (Gounod's Romeo et Juliette). He performed a number of leading roles at the Met and has sung with regional Opera Companies all over the United States as well as with many Symphony Orchestras. He served as Distinguished Professor of Voice at Memphis State University and as Artist in Residence at Pensacola Christian College. He continues his singing ministry in churches throughout America with his wife, Ann, and daughter, Christina, and continues teaching voice in his private studio. See more at his website, raygibbs.com.

9 Comments
Bethany McDonnell
10/8/2012 10:53:10 am

I definitely appreciate Mr. Gibbs and his wise words of council to the Christian singer. What a great reminder!

Reply
Rick McD link
10/8/2012 11:49:07 pm

Thanks for commenting, Bethany! I'm glad that this post was a help to you.

Reply
Shawn
10/9/2012 03:51:37 am

11. Memorize the song you're singing. Holding a CD insert in your hand tells the congregation - "I prepared, but not too much." Incumbent on Ministers of Music to schedule singers enough in advance for this to happen.

12. Don't cover songs by Southern Gospel Quartets unless you have are a Southern Gospel Quartet...unless your range is like 4 octaves...

13. Don't be picky about whether its the big Sunday morning service or the poorly attended Sunday night service. It's typically indicative of pharisaical pride.

Reply
Rick McD link
10/9/2012 09:11:32 am

Memorizing a song certainly helps with communication, Shawn. It is hard to deliver the message you have if you are glued to the paper. Thanks for your input!

Reply
Pastor Wynn link
12/3/2012 10:37:10 pm

Very good points. Forwarding this link to my choir.

Reply
Rick McD link
12/4/2012 01:23:36 am

Thanks for sharing, Pastor! These things have been a help to me and my voice students, and I hope your choir will benefit as well.

Reply
Dr. Sandra Boysen Sluberski link
8/28/2016 02:29:54 pm

Agreed on all above counts. Add these two to your list: (1) if you don't personally believe what you're singing when asked to present a solo in the church, find something in the lyrics that you can genuinely embrace, and deliver that bit of commitment to the best of your ability. Of course, if the lyrics are completely out of your belief circle, then exercise discretion and suggest an alternative solo of your choice which may be an acceptable substitute. (2) If a member of the congregation or, God forbid, that musicians shouldn't be paid for performing in churches, just remind them of King Solomon's proverb: "Thou shalt not muzzle the ox that treadeth out the corn", and then casually slip in the fact that the Book of Leviticus makes it tremendously clear that the Temple priests and musicians were paid in grain and meat and other sustainable, from the offerings brought by the congregation of Israel. That ought to shut 'em up! We musicians don't put in countless thousands of hours and many years of dedicated study to perfect our art, only to have it de-valued by clueless people who probably think that even preachers shouldn't be paid!

Reply
Mandy Y Loriot
9/11/2020 03:11:21 pm

I was glad to find this but unfortunately the URL to his website isn't working!

Reply
Rick McD
9/19/2020 06:12:01 pm

Mandy, thanks for pointing that out. I'll see if I can get an updated link. Blessings!

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Search the Blog

    Subscribe via email

    Enter your email address:

    Delivered by FeedBurner

    Find By Category

    All
    Accompaniment
    Band
    Choir
    Christmas
    Church
    Composing
    Deal
    Fun
    History
    Instrumental
    Lessons
    Music In The Bible
    Philosophy
    Practice
    Sheet Music
    Store
    Teaching
    Video
    Voice

    Archives

    January 2016
    January 2015
    May 2013
    April 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012

    Buy Classical Music at ArkivMusic.com
    Shop at Woodwind and Brasswind
    Used Gear at MusiciansFriend.com!
Bringing together ideas and resources for church and community musicians
  • Blog
  • About Harmony Passion
  • Contact Us