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Top
Tips
to Build
Your Choir
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Teaching Choir Builders at Choral Festival
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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Leadership Team
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 A Leadership Team can help you grow
a God-sized group.
 Without an Inner Circle Leadership
Team, you are limited by your charisma
level to build your group.
 Don’t let the selection of the Team
become a popularity contest
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Leadership Team
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 If the choice of your team comes down
to charismatic leaders who attend 50%,
or less charismatic leaders who attend
90%, choose the latter!
 The names of Leadership Team positions
are not as important as their function.
Be sure that each leader knows their
duties and executes them.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Leadership Team
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Appoint, don’t elect the President Have
the president help you choose a
nominating committee, and then select
the other leaders.
 This is your Leadership Team and a key
to growth, so choose wisely.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
President
 Arrives EARLY
 Confidante to Minister of Music
 Coordinates Connection Partner Process
with Section Leaders
 Begins rehearsal with prayer 1 minute
before rehearsal start time
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Vice President
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Arrives EARLY
 Coordinates guest assimilation process
for the overall group
 Introduces guests, using their guest
registration forms
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Devotional Coordinator
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Arrives EARLY
 Schedules 3 minute (max) devotionals
each week (Use a bell or alarm clock to
limit the length.)
 Does not do the devotionals, or will
become the spiritual leader of the group
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Librarian
 Arrives EARLY
 Coordinates distribution of music
 Prepares guest folders
11
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Section Leaders
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Arrive EARLY
 Do NOT mark the roll
 Help assimilate guests by linking guests
with the Wing Members in their section
 Coordinate the Connection Partner Plan
in their section
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Wing Members (picked weekly)
 Arrive EARLY
 Make the guest feel comfortable during
rehearsal
 Help assimilate guests into the choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Guest Shuttles
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Arrive EARLY
 Shuttle the guest through the
assimilation process
 Leadership Team can take turns or invite
other choir members to Shuttle
 Hopefully you will need more than one
shuttle
14
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Registration Host
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Arrives EARLY
 Mans the Guest Registration table (Yes,
you need a Guest Registration table!)
 Helps guests with Welcome/Registration
form
 Makes Name Tags for guests
15
© 2012 Jim Faull
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Guest Assimilation Plan
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 You cannot grow a choir without guests!
 We need a process to make guests feel
so welcome that they want to join.
 When choirs have a good plan for
welcoming guests, members tend to
invite them!
 The following Guest Assimilation plan
needs to be taught not only to your
Leadership Team, but also to the choir 18
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Guest Assimilation Plan
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Leadership shuttle greets guest at door
 Shuttles guest to the Welcome center
where guest fills out the Guest Registration
form
 Shuttles the guest to music distribution
 Shuttles the guest to the Section leader
who introduces them to the Wing member,
with whom they will sit
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Guest Assimilation Plan
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Vice President introduces guest to the
choir, and the choir says, “Welcome
_________!”
 Your choir can learn a welcome response
at a rehearsal with no guests.
 The guest has met some of your
sharpest people and feels incredibly
connected to your choir.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
4. “Great to have you tonight!
5. “Now that you have Here
your is
music,
your music!”
I’ll take you to your(Hand
section!”
them the music.)
6. “Kathy, I want you to
meet our special guest …”
Guest Assimilation Plan
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
2. “Glad you are here! May we
have some information?”
(Make a name tag for them.)
1. “Welcome
to choir!!”
3. “Let’s
get your music!”
(Lead them to(Lead
Guestthem
Registration.)
GREETERS*
to the music table.)
Shuttle (Stays with Guest from door to
Section Leader
Guest Registration (Have them sign in
and give them a completed name tag)
Membership Check-in Attendance clipboards, name tags, FINGER-SCANNING
Computer, etc.
Librarian (music distribution)
Section Leaders introduce guests to a
“wing member”
VP of Membership (introduces guests to
choir at end of rehearsal)
* On duty: 30 minutes prior to
rehearsal.
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Connection:
 to join, link, or fasten together; unite or
bind
 to establish communication between; put
in communication
24
© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Connected Members
 Have a strong sense of belonging to the
group.
 Feel compelled to stay in touch (connect)
 Only miss when absolutely necessary
 Notify the organization in advance of
absences
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Un-connected Members
 Have a mild sense of belonging to the
group
 Stay in touch when convenient
 Attend when absolutely necessary
 Seldom notify the organization in
advance of absences
26
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 You NEVER lose connected members!
 Connected members are the building
blocks of a growing choir
 Connected members attract more choir
members than un-connected ones do
 Un-connected members do not help you
grow the group
27
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Connection is 2 Pronged:
Leader’s responsibility
 Establish connection guidelines
 Immediately follow-up with absentees
Member’s responsibility
 Be there X% of the time (you decide)
 When a member must miss, connect in
advance through Connection Partner
© 2012 Jim Faull
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3
Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Members unwilling to be part of a
connection partner program should be
encouraged to find a ministry to which
they CAN commit
29
© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
How It Works
 Every member has a connection partner
 Members choose their partner - men to
men, women to women, and no family
members
 Section leaders see that each member
has a partner, and takes the odd man
out until a new member joins
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Each choir member should receive a
business card with the contact info of
their partner
 Partners notify one another when they
MUST be absent
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Paper System
 When notified in advance of an absence,
the partner marks a “C” by the
connected partner’s name
 Enter roll into WorshiPlanner, marking
the partner connected
 Emails/Texts can be sent based on
attendance after data entry
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Finger Scanning System
 When notified in advance of an absence,
the partner clicks the checkbox in
Fingertip Check-In
 Sync-ing with WorshiPlanner marks
the partner connected
 Emails/Texts can be sent based on
attendance within 1 minute of event end
33
© 2012 Jim Faull
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Connection Partners
Process
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Members connect
Roll is marked
Roll is entered
Leader connects with absentees &
attenders via email or text
 Choir is double-connected & poised to
grow!




Double - Connected
© 2012 Jim Faull
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3
Connection Roll
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
A recent phone call:
“We are a couple of weeks behind in entering
the roll, but should get it done soon.”
This organization does not understand the
reason for keeping and entering the roll! It is
not just a record keeping task. Immediate
communication based on attendance or
connection is a major key. Connection should
occur within 24 hours of the event.
35
© 2012 Jim Faull
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Connection Roll







Roll
Roll
Roll
Roll
Roll
Roll
Roll
MUST
MUST
MUST
MUST
MUST
MUST
MUST
be
be
be
be
be
be
be
kept
kept
kept
kept
kept
kept
kept
at
at
at
at
at
at
at
every
every
every
every
every
every
every
event
event
event
event
event
event
event
36
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Connection Roll
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Roll MUST be kept at every event
 Roll must be entered after EVERY event
 Communicate with each member using
email, text messages or phone calls,
based on their attendance and
connection
37
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Two Salesmen
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Two shoe salesmen were sent to Africa
to see if there was a market for their
product.
 The first salesman reported back, “This is
a terrible business opportunity, no-one
wears shoes.”
 The second salesman reported back,
“This is a fantastic business opportunity,
no-one wears shoes.”
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Two Choir Directors
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Two choir directors have to add a
temporary worship service.
 The first choir director responds, “The
choir will not grow.” He is right!
 The second choir director responds, “The
choir will grow when given a chance.”
He is right!
41
© 2012 Jim Faull
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Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
People desire to be part of something
bigger than they are - they want to be
in a God-sized choir!
 They get up early on Sundays
 They stay late on Wednesdays
 They buy outfits
 They rearrange vacation schedules
 And the list goes on . . .
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3
Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
People will follow a leader
 You are the chosen leader of your choir!
 If not, someone else would have your
position!
43
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
There are people in your church and
community who would LOVE to sing
in your choir!
 Most are just waiting for the invitation!
 Check out www.Welcome2Choir.com
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Music readers are more comfortable
in a choir than non-readers
 For many, music is a foreign language
 Consider having a class for non music
readers who are interested in choir.
 4 Sundays at noon - A sandwich, chips
and drink, plus 1½ hours of music
reading fun with Music Made Easy.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Choir is a benign dictatorship
 Thirty different opinions on how a song
should go leads to chaos!
 If you do not lead, someone else will
 Lead from a humble, but firm and
confident position
46
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Set the bar low for disappointing
results!
 Choir attendance is closely related to
your expectations
 If you do not express the importance of
high attendance, they will not attain it!
47
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Choir Truth-isms
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Choir attendance should be a
commitment, and not a decision each
week
 Every day choir members are bombarded
with stressful decisions
 Help them remove the decision of choir
attendance by leading them to make a
commitment
48
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Choir Commitment Card
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
With God’s help, I am committing to faithful
attendance to our choir for:
Spring
Summer
Fall
Count on my involvement for all rehearsals
and services* unless Providentially hindered.
Name:___________________Date:_______
*Bonus rehearsals and services listed on back of card.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
Dealing with Sunday-only
Singers
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Some choir members, who don’t understand
about the great personal and corporate
responsibilities concerning singing in God’s
choir, need some instruction about the cost of
sacrifice.
A good example of this is what happened in
2nd Samuel 24.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
2nd Samuel 24
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Long story short:
David and his people had sinned against the
Lord and He was punishing them. David
begged God to forgive him for his sin and
spare the people.
David was told to go to Araunah, purchase his
threshing floor, materials, and animals for an
altar.
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
2nd Samuel 24:19-20
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
So David went up, as the LORD had
commanded through Gad. When Araunah
looked and saw the king and his officials
coming toward him, he went out and bowed
down before the king with his face to the
ground.
52
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
2nd Samuel 24:21
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Araunah said, “Why has my lord the king
come to his servant?”
“To buy your threshing floor,” David
answered, “so I can build an altar to the
LORD, that the plague on the people may be
stopped.”
53
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
2nd Samuel 24:22-23
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Araunah said to David, “Let my lord the king
take whatever he wishes and offer it up. Here
are oxen for the burnt offering, and here are
threshing sledges and ox yokes for the wood.
Your Majesty, Araunah gives all this to the
king.” Araunah also said to him, “May the
LORD your God accept you.”
54
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
2nd Samuel 24:24
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
But the king replied to Araunah, “No, I insist
on paying you for it.
I will not sacrifice to the LORD my
God burnt offerings that cost me
nothing.”
55
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
2nd Samuel 24:24b-25
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
So David bought the threshing floor and the
oxen and paid fifty shekels of silver for them.
David built an altar to the LORD there and
sacrificed burnt offerings and fellowship
offerings. Then the LORD answered his
prayer in behalf of the land, and the plague on
Israel was stopped.
56
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Roll-Keeping
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Old-school says roll-keeping is for
keeping records.
 Record-keeping of 100% or high per
centers is still important
 New-school says roll-keeping is for
communication!
57
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Roll-Keeping
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
3 Distinct Groups Each Week
 Connected absentees – communicate
with their partner in advance
 Un-connected absentees – do not
communicate about absence
 Attenders
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Roll-Keeping
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Communication to the 3 specific groups
is a must!
 Connected absentees – “Missed you,
thanks for connecting!”
 Un-connected absentees – “Missed you,
but I’m very disappointed you did not
connect!”
 Attenders – “Thanks for a GREAT
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rehearsal!”
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Roll-Keeping
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Members should take the responsibility to
check themselves in
 Finger scanning will enhance data entry
and quick turnaround of communication
60
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Finger Scanning
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
You need:
 USB Finger Scanner & network computer
 IdentiFi finger scan software to enroll and
identify finger scans
 Fingertip Check-In software to accept the
Member ID from IdentiFi
 WorshiPlanner software to sync scans and
communicate via email or text
61
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Preparation
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Preparing the choir is YOUR job.
 Unless there is a major conflicting event,
if the choir is not ready . . . you must take
responsibility.
62
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Preparation
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 If Choir rehearsal is not the highlight of
your week, it will not be the highlight of
theirs.
 Raise your personal energy level, and
their energy level will follow suite.
 A Powerful Rehearsal does not happen
without planning
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Preparation
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Calculate approximate rehearsal time
based on song difficulty – how long will it
take over a 6 week time frame to master
this song?
 Plan backwards from major events in
order to prepare effectively
64
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Schedule
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Length




1 ½ - 2 hours (optimum!)
1 hour 15 minutes (6-8 songs)
1 hour (6 songs – minimum rehearsal)
30 minutes (choir seldom sings)
65
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Schedule
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Sharpen saws for 5 minutes (Rehearsal
Mini Lessons) to improve music reading
 Begin with familiar songs
 Move quickly to the hardest piece
 Give as much attention to the song for a
week from Sunday as to Sunday’s song
66
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Schedule
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Don’t taper off toward the end of
rehearsal – keep your energy and they
won’t get tired!
 Do take the occasional break to relax
tight muscles!
67
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Bonus Rehearsals
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 BONUS Rehearsals hurt less than
EXTRA Rehearsals
 Plan BONUS Rehearsals well in advance
and publish months ahead to inform all
members
 Expect all members to attend all BONUS
rehearsals unless providentially hindered
68
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Content
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Essentials:





Effective and efficient Music Rehearsal!
Announcements – Seat Sheets
Family Matters
Guest intros
Prayer time
69
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Bullets
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Strive for:





Clear message of the song
Pitches, Rhythm, Dynamics
Tone and Diction
Vowel uniformity
Consonant Accuracy
70
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Leadership
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 As leader, you have a right to demand
attention!
 Make the decisions necessary for
rehearsal
 Know more about the music than the
choir members. You have had at least a
6 week head start!
 Be firm and assured as leader, or sing in
71
the choir!
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Discipline
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Don’t let choir members take over the
rehearsal because they know the music
better than you
 Don’t get upset with the occasional
wisecrack from the back row if in good
taste and with good timing. This can
momentarily relax the group
72
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Discipline
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Disorderly rehearsals are doomed to fail
 Realize that the man-hours total means
that every minute of wasted time will be
some percentage of an hour based on
the total number present
 It is not presumptuous to demand the
attention of choir members
73
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Discipline
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Being too easy-going and lacking
discipline will expose leadership flaws
 Firmness, Fairness and Consistency are
keywords
 If you talk too much, your choir members
probably will too.
 It is hard to sing and talk at the same
time
74
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Discipline
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Do not compete for the attention of the
group by raising your voice. It will just
get louder.
 Sometimes, stop talking and place your
attention on the offending section
 Anticipate parts of the song that will need
additional rehearsal and rehearse them
75
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Discipline
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Good Humor can ease the tension and
soften the rebuke
 Sarcasm is out of place
 Maintain emotional equilibrium and
respect for the members
76
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Conducting
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Pretty pictures in the air do not keep
singers and instrumentalists together
 Instrumentalists need to see the beats –
so do singers!
 Become the BEST conductor you can
become
77
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Tempo
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 A fast paced rehearsal tempo will reduce
time wasting
 The fast pace will leave the members
refreshed and invigorated
78
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Stuff
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 To attract young couples, plan rehearsal
when they are not putting children to
bed.
 Keep the rehearsal interesting
 Begin on time and end on time!
 Rehearse at least 6 weeks ahead except
for sugar sticks and rehearse them for 4
weeks
79
© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Rehearsal Stuff
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Balance between too much fun and too
much work!
 Occasionally surprise the choir with
treats - instant fellowships. (M&M’s
party paks, ice cream sandwiches, etc.)
 Focus on the spiritual message of each
song
 Utilize Choir Prompters
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
More Choir Growth Tools







Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Welcome2Choir.Com
Teaching MSL
“Chair-ology”
“Mic-ology”
Music Distribution
Tracks for the Future
Worship Ministry Management Software
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© 2012 Jim Faull
Welcome
2Choir.com
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Introduce your choir to those who have not yet joined!
Click the Welcome2Choir.com logo for More . . .
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
Teaching MSL
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Encourage choir members to visit the Music Reading Video Gallery
Click on either Logo above for More . . .
www.musiclessons.jimfaull.com
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
“Chair-ology”
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Many empty chairs = failure to the
congregation
 Fewer is better
 Bringing in chairs is exciting
 Remove excess chairs in choir loft and
rehearsal room
 Always have 1 or 2 empty chairs in the
choir loft
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© 2012 Jim Faull
3
“Mic-ology”
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Who wants to sing in a choir you can’t
hear or understand?
 Good diction is our goal, but poor mic
technique will hurt the best diction
 You are the only one who can do
something about how your choir sounds.
 Listen to your choir periodically to know
what the congregation is hearing.
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3
“Mic-ology”
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Not too close, and not too far, just right
 Be careful not to place powerful singers
too close to mics.
 Over the heads of the front row, 7.5’
from the floor
 It is the proximity of the mics that pick
up consonant sounds which form the
words.
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Music Distribution
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
 Develop a system that eliminates
bottlenecks
 Choir members filing past a table of
stacks of music creates bottlenecks
 Volunteers will gladly help fill folders on
Tuesdays
 Black library boxes make GREAT
rehearsal folders
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Tracks . . .
 Tracks loud enough for the choir and director
to hear are TOO LOUD for the congregation
and cover the choir.
 Broadcast your tracks with an FM transmitter
and let the choir members bring their own
pocket-sized radios with one ear-bud.
 You can finally get near perfect mix between
track and choir!
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Worship Ministry
Management
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
The Ultimate Organizational Worship Ministry Software
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
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3
3
Top
Tips
to Build Your
Choir
Top
Tips
to Build
Your Choir
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