The Good Shepherd – Pastoral Care in Choirs

What is the primary role of the choir director? Musical, or liturgical? My feeling is and my experience tells me that the primary concern of the music director must be the pastoral needs of the choir. This may seem contradictory: surely the director’s job is to bring out the very best, musically, from the choir, to give glory to God and bring beauty and nobility to the liturgy, and leave the pastoral care to someone else. In practice, it turns out that caring for the choir’s pastoral needs is the best way to ensure an excellent sound and the best music.

“I know my sheep…

A community of singers work better together and sing better when they know and trust each other. They support each other, and are more positive towards each other. How do we build Christian community in the choir? 

How well do your singers know each other? Do they know each other’s names? Allowing time for singers to chat and get to know each other at the beginning of rehearsals or providing break times  works wonders for lowering anxiety levels and freeing up focus. The sound of the choir is completely different when singers are smiling and relaxed.

Make sure there is time in every rehearsal purely for socialising

Is rehearsal time too precious? You or the choir manager could arrange social activities outside rehearsal hours. Coffee/ hot chocolate before rehearsal. Pizza after rehearsal from time to time. A movie night, or games night. A choir picnic or barbecue, with families invited.  Have an annual thank-you dinner, after Easter, or before (well before) Christmas. Arrange a weekend music camp. Give this Christian micro-community opportunities to share their lives, to eat together, to celebrate together.

Schedule social activities outside rehearsal hours too, and involve families if you can

Do you know your singers’ vocal strengths and weaknesses? Who can read music and who can’t? It helps from time to time to move singers around, to blend voices or build up weak spots in the choir,  but be careful of breaking into a partnership where singers are used to each other’s style. Personality clashes can affect a choir’s functioning even more radically than vocal clashes. 

If you move singers around to get the best sound, do it in consultation with the singers themselves. 

When a new voice joins the choir, it’s important that the choir community welcomes them properly. Some people are naturally nurturers and happily take a novice on board, but others find a new person a distraction and react negatively.

Allow time and space for the rest of the choir to get to know a new singer

Are you aware of changes in your singers’ voices? Boys’ voices can change suddenly and without notice, affecting everyone around them. As females mature or age, their voices and voice production change too. Voices in transition need careful and sensitive direction. Their owners are often sensitive to how their voices are behaving and hate to have attention drawn to them, so very careful judgement is needed.

Think about doing regular checks on your singers’ ranges, and the best way to do it…and mine know me.

How well do your singers know you? Singers work better if they know they can trust their director. If they know something about your journey, they may understand better where you’re coming from and find it easier to approach you with their ideas and concerns, instead of simmering in silence. Do   them the courtesy of explaining where you want a song to go, or why you are asking them to sing a certain way. 

Be prepared to allow the choir to really get to know you and trust you

Is your direction consistent and comprehensible? If your singers don’t get what you’re asking them to do, how can they carry out your intentions? Mutual trust between singers and director develops from mutual respect, attentive listening, and acknowledging mistakes. 

Ask for feedback from time to time, and honestly take it on board. 

My sheep listen to my voice. I know them and they follow me.