Training Local Singing Evangelists

Since it is often inadvisable or impossible for the conference to furnish a song leader to each worker who is holding evangelistic services, the training of such assistants in the local churches becomes of extreme importance. Although it is not always possible to find the ideal type of person to serve as a musical assistant, nevertheless there are far more individuals in our churches who could serve as song leaders than we realize.

The song leader should  be a person who will co­operate and who is willing to take orders and advice. This is of great importance, for if one does not have an assistant who will co-operate, he is headed for trouble. The song leader ought to be able to read music fairly well, and have a sense of time. He should be a person who can be de­pended upon to be at the meeting place in plenty of time to take care of the song service.

The song leader ought to be representative of the message, and should have good judgment and poise, even in difficult situations. One asset which many song leaders seem to have, even though they may have little else, is confidence. It naturally follows that one who has confidence in himself will become a better song leader than one who is retiring or timid. The worker can inestimably aid in instilling confidence in his assistant by con­stantly encouraging him and commending him.

The song leader ought to have a pleasing, as well as an aggressive, personality. If he can work well with his accompanist, with the choir, and with those who furnish special music, he will take a tremendous load off the evangelist. He should be a true leader, and not try to do all the work himself. He also ought to understand that he does not have to do all the singing, but that he is to be a director of music. In all this the evangelist can ease things for himself if he will let the song leader have the most of the responsibility for the music, provided he can handle it, of course.

The musical assistant will be more successful if he has a strong voice with a good range, although he does not have to be able to sing as high as a high tenor or as low as a bass. He can always sing a few notes higher or lower than the written notes of the song may necessitate. He does not have to sing all the time, but can rest his voice after starting the stanzas, maintaining a resolute beating of the time. He should have energy and life, and ought to be able to impart that spirit to the audience. Preferably the leader should be a young person, particularly if he is beginning to lead music for the first time.

If the song leader lacks certain of the traits one would like to see in him, he can make up for many of them if he will work hard, and honeStly and intelligently give his best to the direction of the music.

 

Everyone who has endeav­ored to lead music could undoubtedly improve in that field by a conscientious study of the factors that make for successful song leading, and by intelligently practicing those factors. In training a song leader, the evangelist must know what he wants the assistant to do and how he wants him to lead the music. In other words, the worker ought to know what to expect from a song leader. He can get an idea of what is good in the leading of music by consulting standard books on conduct­ing and also by observation.

The way to learn to lead music is to lead. One who has never tried to beat time before an audi­ence of people has no idea of the feeling of awk­wardness and failure that accompanies the first at­tempts. It is a good thing for every minister to beat time once in a while so that he may be able to sympathize with his assistant. In order to over­come that feeling of self-consciousness that ac­companies one's first efforts, the new song leader should faithfully practice beating time before attempting to lead the song service.

One who is learning to lead music ought to prac­tice beating and counting the time alone, or with his accompanist, going through the beats for simple 2/2, 3/4, and 4/4 time. After he has done this he should take a well-known hymn or song, and practice beating and counting out the time before a mirror, in order that he may have an idea of what the audience will be seeing while he leads the music. His gestures should be fairly high, and should be vigorously made with clear-cut, obvious intent, so that they will be plain to the audience. He ought to watch the songbook until he is sure of the kind of motion that he will make for the various introductions, measures, holds, and re­leases. This procedure of practicing will seem like hard work, and it will be work, but it will be worthwhile.

In order to have an idea of what sort of beat should be made for various hymns and songs, the song leader ought to procure some book that gives simple diagrams showing how to direct music. An excellent book of this type, not only for evan­gelistic group singing, but also for the amateur choir director, is The Amateur Choir Director, by Carl Hjortsvang.

If the pastor or evangelist can do so, he might conduct a class for those who want to learn to direct music. Whether this is done or not, the song leader ought to be given an opportunity to lead music in some of the regular church meet­ings before he goes into the evangelistic meetings. The young people's meeting would be an excellent place for one to begin leading music. The song leader can do more than he imagines possible if he is willing to work, and if he has been inspired with a desire to improve himself.

Many laymen in our churches have led the music for efforts, and have definitely contributed toward the success of the services.

In organizing the musical talent of the church as a help in evangelistic services or in the regu­lar church services, the minister ought to acquaint himself with the singers, the soloists, the instru­mentalists, and all who are capable of doing any­thing with music in the church, and if there are a number of them it would be well to have a record kept by his song leader as he progresses in his meetings, noting the individuals or groups who perform and the dates of the contributions. If it is possible, and undoubtedly it generally is, the minister should plan with his music leader for the special music for several meetings ahead. If there will not be many meetings, perhaps the whole outline for special music could be tentatively ar­ranged for before the services begin.

Choirs, quartets, trios, duets, and solos can be arranged for. These groups and individuals should be encouraged to prepare songs for the meetings, and should be given opportunity to sing in the regular services of the church. If the song leader is not well acquainted with the organiza­tion of the various musical groups, the minister will have to take a more active part in their or­ganization and development. If there has never been any particular musical group in the church, perhaps the easiest thing to do would be to or­ganize a mixed choir. However, if the church is large enough, it may be possible to have not only a choir but both a men's and a ladies' chorus. And if there are enough people in the church who play musical instruments, an orchestra should be organized. In the formation of these larger groups, members from near-by churches can often assist.

There is much talent in our churches which can be utilized if we only look for it and develop it. Too often singing evangelists spend too much time giving the special music themselves rather than using and developing the local talent. The use of local talent will give the members a much greater interest in the success of the meetings, and will ensure a larger attend­ance. By such a plan the people are given a defi­nite part in the meetings and are also developing what talents they have.

In organizing a group of singers, one is very likely to have difficulties with the various person­alities and voices. However, the exercise of good judgment and careful action by the director will generally iron out these difficulties. If the mem­bers of the church are anxious to see the meetings succeed, and if they feel that the success of the services depends to a large extent on them and their co-operation, they will usually respond to the desires of the leader. Since one will have all kinds of people singing or desiring to sing, and wanting to display their knowledge and ability in music, it will be necessary for the minister to work very closely with the local leader of the organizations. A firm position regarding the music and the policy of the musical groups will have to be followed.

The minister ought to know what musical num­bers are to be given and to know that they are all right, or he should be able to trust the judgment of his song leader. Many ministers could mention instances in which they had permitted someone to sing or play at some meeting with rather dire results. By way of illustration, two boys from a church school had been recommended to the sing­ing evangelist as capable instrumentalists. When they started to play their duet both of them got into difficulty, and one of them so filled up his trum­pet that it could not be blown. They both finally stopped and the older brothey said loudly, "Blow it out." Naturally such instances can be avoided if proper care is taken beforehand.

In organizing a choir, if one has a few depend­able voices in each section, he can build around them as a nucleus, and will be able to use those who may not be able to read music or parts very well, as they can follow those who are sure of them­selves. If the one who leads the choir has not had any experience with such an organization be­fore, he ought to secure a book, such as the one pre­viously suggested, and study the technique for choir directing. The choir does not need to try diffi­cult songs or anthems, but can work with simple hymns and make them very effective.

Although there may be persons in the choir who have more technical training than the director, it should be understood that the leader is the one in charge, and the evangelist should give his full support to the leader. It would be well at the very beginning of the practice periods to let it be under­stood that any criticisms or suggestions from the members of the organization should be held until a time when no confusion would result from dis­cussion of technique or procedure. A regular time for practice should be observed, but the periods should not be too long, nor should one song be practiced until it becomes monotonous. After a piece of music has been practiced, it ought to be used, even though it might not be as perfect as one might wish.

Let the choir know that their efforts are appre­ciated. The people will take more interest in the organization of musical groups than one might imagine. So often in our churches very little that is progressive is done with local talent. The development of musical organizations in the church can be a great factor in lessening church discipline and backsliding, and in holding young people in the church.

Perhaps something should be said about the place of the singing evangelist in giving the mes­sage. Moody felt himself doubly strong when Sankey was with him. So also the pastor who has adequate and appropriate musical assistance dur­ing the evangelistic services is sure of easier and greater success.