What are artists-in-residence and how can they benefit churches and musicians? Learn from concert organist Chelsea Chen about artist residencies and visioning for concert series. Chelsea Chen has held Artist-in-Residence positions at Emmanuel Presbyterian Church in Manhattan and Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fr. Lauderdale, FL). She draws on her experiences there as well as in …
Choir rehearsals started last week (yay!) and two of our fall anthems are total earworms. You know it’s a catchy melody when your toddler keeps asking you to sing to to him! First up: “Awake, My Heart” by Jane M. Marshall One of the delights of a new job is going through the anthems your …
Church services can be incredibly distracting places, especially for leaders—you’re in the choir, you’re reading the scriptures, you’re leading prayers, you’re preaching the sermon. What does it mean for us participate with our hearts—not just our lips!—when we’re busy with mundane things like adjusting a microphone or remembering a last minute announcement?
If you’re in a majority-white American church, singing global songs like “Siyahamba” brings up questions like — “Is singing this cultural appropriation or ethnotourism?” and “What is the relationship between global song and the universal Church?”
Around the fourth of July, we church musicians like to debate whether we should program “patriot music” if the choice is up to us. But the question isn’t really about “patriotic music.” The questions is: should we base our musical choices on Scripture readings only? Or, should we also consider current events and civic concerns …
Current events influence the music I choose. Here’s why. Read More »
Recently on the Happier podcast, I heard of the distinction between working in your business and working on your business. To me, that’s the big difference between summers and the rest of the year for church musicians. In fact, I think this distinction helps us conceptualize the work we do for other church programs that …
“Working On” versus “Working In” Your Church Music Program Read More »
You’ve researched a position, done your best on your application materials and even landed an in-person interview. What can you do to make sure you stand out as the person to hire? (Assuming of course, that you still want the job after interviewing!) I asked hiring committee members these questions on my survey: “What made …
4 Things You Need to Get a Church Music Job (Plus 9 Big No-Nos) Read More »
This is the seventh post in the series How to Successfully Apply to Church Music Jobs. This series is based on my survey of over 250 church musicians and hiring committee members, conversations with my colleagues, and my experience in almost 20 years of church music ministry. Congratulations on your job offer! Now you need …
How to Negotiate Salary and Benefits for a Church Music Job (And Why You Should) Read More »
How do you design your summer in church ministry? One of my favorite thinkers, Gretchen Rubin, talks about “designing your summer.” It’s a way of intentionally making the season distinct and special. In this episode, Crawford and I talk about what we do that’s different in the summer—from the mundane “file all the choir music …
Have a Wonderful Summer! (plus, job news), on Music and the Church Ep. 23 Read More »
You’ve applied for a church music jobs and been invited to interview audition in-person. Here are the interview questions to ask for a church music job plus the most likely questions the committee will ask you, and strategies on responding to personal questions and questions about conflict.