subject: Singing In Church: Best Things To Know [print this page] Surely singing in church is the same as singing anywhere else. Your vocal skill will be very similar despite of the material you're singing. Nonetheless, there are more considerations in church that don't appear in commercial venues.
The part of church music is to support and enhance the congregation's worship experience. It is not a "performance" in a similar sense that a concert or recital would be. Your task seeing as a church musician is not to draw curiosity to yourself, but to guide the congregation's attention to God.
Church musicians have problems with with that dichotomy for as long as churches have existed. We as musicians wish to do exciting music at a high level, but worship music has to be accessible to the average semiskilled singer. Some successful musicians find it tiresome to appeal to the "lowest common denominator". But don't forget, IT'S NOT ABOUT YOU!
If you're gonna be a guest soloist in a church you are not acquainted with (such as at a wedding or funeral), speak with its music director and/or pastor. In some cases the bride or the bereaved family will ask you to sing a specific song or hymn; if so they would have cleared it with the pastor by this time. If the song you are to sing is your own selection, make sure it's approved.
You will need to know a great deal of a similar information about the church that you would need for any singing venue, plus a handful of other items. Where will you sing--in the sanctuary or the fellowship hall? If you're singing in the sanctuary, will you end up being up front, or will you sing through a choir loft in the back?
Once you have the required information you can begin your planning. You probably already know your song adequately. If not, learn it comprehensively. If you have to make singing with an accompanist you've never worked with before, organize as many joint practice sessions as possible thus you are both snug with each other.
If you will have to sing without a sound system, learn about the acoustics of the church (its music director will be able to help you with that) and how you can use the room to aid in your projection. Be sure to use the clearest diction you can. Church music is about the words more than the notes.
Most of all, be respectful of the gathering. Be tolerant and respectful of the church's beliefs, still (or perhaps especially) if you do not share them.
