Choir Question

[MattysRiff]

I have been lurking around this site for a little while, I enjoy reading and getting a feel for where other worshipers are at.

Our church has a large worship band, particularly vocalists, that have true hearts for leading out in worship and do a nice job. The problem I am having is keeping them all plugged in to the point that they feel fulfilled in their roles. Roughly once every six weeks we have a choir of usually twenty or so members accompany our band, this adds a nice effect on different levels. Unfortunately this requires a lot of extra organization that I don't have time for week to week.
However, I am thinking about starting to use a mini-choir of 4-6 vocalist almost every Sunday. Does anyone else have any experience with this?

[fmckinnon]

Hey,
I'm not sure what you mean by mini-choir of 4-6 vocalists? Is this in addition to your praise team vocals? How many praise team vocals to you typically use? Clarify for me ... good topic, though.

[MattysRiff]

Vocally our worship band typically consists of 2 male vocals and 1 or 2 female vocals.
However, when we use a choir we scale that back to 1 male vocal and 1 female vocal. The choir takes care of any extra harmonizing and vocal dynamics.

Basically I'm trying to find a way to aid members emotionally and spiritually.
Example: Sue, Charlene, Jane, and Pam (made up names), all have a calling to lead out in worship by lifting their voices. Pam has a EXCEPTIONAL voice that when raised, encourages the congregation to worship and reaches people. I feel, and the Bible backs me on this, that I should use Pam as much as possible/she's willing to be used.

What to do with the rest? Using a mini choir (quartet/sextet you get the drift), consisting of both female and male vocalists is an idea I've brainstormed to help nurture members on my worship team as well as add a dynamic. They would be sharing a choir microphone and give a full congregational sound.

Which takes me back to my original question, has anyone else used this approach?

[fmckinnon]

I've seen the approach used, but on a larger scale. It's one thing to have 4-5 lead vocals with mics, then a choir of 15-20 backing them up. Those in the choir realize that there is a specific team of really skilled vocalists who have the skill and style/technique to be dominant leaders with mics. I can't help but think it would be a bit awkward w/ a smaller # of people, though. I'd personally be more inclined to work with my 4-5 vocals to get them strong, and use them consistently, then build a choir to supplement that.

Anyone else?

[efrisch]

I've done teams where it was just a worship leader and then a choir (sometimes as small as 4-5 folks, but area miced), and I've done choirs of 10+ with 2-3 vocalists close miced out front, but never something where I had a nearly equal number of each. I agree with Fred that that type of situation could be awkward, especially for the folks in the choir. If I was in your situation, I'd probably be doing the same thing you're doing now.

How many vocalists do you use on a normal Sunday? Do they rotate? If not, that may be something to consider as well to keep more of your singers a little more plugged in.

[Steffie]

This wasn't what you were after, but anyway:

I'd be thinking more about a regular rotation for all your singers so they all feel involved, but perhaps give more responsibility to the more able/willing singers. For example, can they lead songs more often? Can they perhaps do some mentoring of the weaker/younger singers? Can you encourage more harmonies from your more able singers? There's ways of activating ready singers without resorting to a choir in order to prevent the rest from feeling left out.

Does this help at all?
Steffie.