MY COMPLAINT!

Usually, it is the music director that sets the tempo. Our music director directs with his hands and sings. I use both to follow him. We have piano, organ and orchestra.

One time we had a guest music director. Pianist was absent so I had to play the piano instead of the organ. This man sang the hymns so slooooooooooowly. I kept trying to speed up, but he would not. Wish the church pianist had been there. She will set the tempo on those occasions and they better keep up with her.

But one really has to be alert because you never know how the director is going to change the tempo. Some change it for every stanza.

What embarrasses me is when I don't know if we have sung the last stanza or not and our music director will go directly to the next hymn without stopping.

 

Great! Now how about a rousing rendition of Onward Christian Soldiers!

 

We used the screen a few times and I got even more confused.

 

Or when you put a "big ending" on what you think is the last verse, only to find out it wasn't the last verse.

 

I was instructed as a song leader that if any mistakes were made, I was to take the blame. I can't think of a faster way to lose the congregation's respect and quench the Spirit than to glower at a piano player while chewing them out in front of the congregation, then turn back to everyone with a happy smile and say, "Now let's all sing this next verse with joy unto the Lord!" How hypocritical! Make the corrections later in private.

 

I have played piano or organ for over 20 years and I have never had a director complain. (I don't think I am perfect either) But if one complained about my playing publicly, he would get another accompanist.

 

Oh Scarlett! I think I would have said, 'You betcha!' and kept on playing. Thankfully, I don't play well enough for church.

 

I’ve got to tell you of my experience with a revival choir many years ago.

The evangelist was Bill Glass, & choir leader was Ron Patty (Sandi’s Dad).

One night he had us learning a song for that same evening, & he was taking a unique (to me anyway) to teach same.

He would sing the different parts for about 4 lines, and then have the “selected” section go over it till they had it down pat!

After all 4 sections knew that short part, he would repeat with the next 4-5 lines; all until the whole piece was completed, and everybody knew their part by heart.

He was always very, very emphatic that we should watch him for any major/minor variation from the “learned” pattern.

Well, this guy sure was confident in his ability to get his points across, and as it turns out he was absolutely justified.

That night, as we were lickety-splittin’ along singing the choir special for the service, Ron immediately gave us the “cut it & hush” signal right in the middle of a booming crescendo.

Now we had never practiced such but his “training had been so thorough, that the entire choir froze!!! There was not a single sound from the choir ‘til he led us on.

I thought he sure did have a fantastic faith, and/or great confidence in his own ability t teach to pull such a stunt.

It was probably a goodly amount of both, I would think, after getting to work under him for several days.

 

I have been a member of several churches over the years (I was in the Air Force), and have experienced many versions of SLOOOOOW and FAST singing of songs.

At one church, I was the song leader, and our pianist was quite faithful, but not a great player. We all quickly learned not to judge people on their abilities, as well as to sing "Victory in Jesus" at whatever speed the pianist was able to play. (She improved greatly over a few months!)

In my church now, we have a fine man who is in his 40s, but has only developed slowly. He plays a keyboard, and I have sung special music with him accompanying me -- or maybe the other way around! I have learned to sing with his playing. This fine Christian brother has learned to play to the glory of God, and our entire church has much better worship experiences when he plays because of that.

BTW, I do not read music, but have sung in choirs for years and lead the singing in our Children's Department. It is wonderful that the children love to sing, even if none of us know what we are doing.

Bill

 

I've read a number of interesting comments here about singing too fast and too slow. I am curious what standard you all apply to determine whether a song is too fast or too slow? Personal preference? Time signature? Do your books/sheet music/etc. have a this=that for tempo? Are you talking about songs marked adagio being sung presto, or vice versa? Or what?

My experience has been that when the average person says a song is too fast or too slow, they mean they don't like it that way or aren't use to singing it that speed. Just curious. Thanks.

 

Im a former musician that has experienced all types of music,secular and religious,taught and been taught.I believe the music in worship would be led by the spirit of God,no practice,just play,singing praises to God.I realize this could become a train wreck without practice,but if it is led by God............just a thought.

 

rl, I think it is what we are used to. How we learned to sing a certain hymn determines how fast or slow.

The hymnal usually does not tell how fast or slow the rythmn should be played or sung.

I play for the senior adults without a leader and they always tell me that I play too fast for them.

jacob, I think God expects ME to practice.

 

My church is into CCM and I find it interesting to read the lines as we sing them and see just how many of these "Praise and Worship" songs could be sung in other religions worship services including Morman and perhaps some even in Islam Services. Seems we get less and less of "covered by the blood" and "tis so sweet to trust in Jesus"

 

We've JUST gotten rid of the organist and have a smaller organ and I miss it so very much. Some of the younger people are happy because they thought the organ sounded 'old' but it's not the same to me. That's MY complaint.

 

I've been waiting for my church to get rid of the organist.

 

If my church started singing contemporary music shallow enough to be sung in the mormon church, it would be time to leave....