Max & Church Music

I get to do a lot of music in church, and over time, I think we’ve had some pretty good ideas. I’d like to share those and help other ward and stake music leaders. This blog is the beginning of that effort.

By posting about LDS music, I hope to convince you that you can have a successful music program in your LDS branch, ward, or stake, regardless of the musical talent that you have (or don’t have) in your area . . . and to show you how.

This blog is for LDS Ward and Stake musicians, like Music Chairs, Choir Directors, Choir and Congregational Accompanists, and any other music leadership and music participants. This blog is not about LDS music from a marketing perspective, selling LDS pop, etc.; there are plenty of those sites already. This is about the LDS musician doing music at church every week.

Why you should listen to me

Perhaps you shouldn’t. Or at least you shouldn’t listen blindly. But I think that I have some ideas that may be helpful to you. I’ve had some success with both small groups and large groups, using both lay and experienced singers.

I stared leading my first ward choir when I was 18 years old. Janet, the choir leader and music chair at the time, insisted that I begin expanding that talent. I started leading the choir in a hymn or two, and before my 19th birthday, she’d turned the choir over to me. It was a great experience. I found success. The hardest part was to get at ease telling people my parents’ age what to do and how to do it! They were receptive; I was very hesitant. But we made it work.

I’ve also had the pleasure of singing for some great choir directors. Mr. Fogleman at Western Alamance High School in North Carolina taught me the basics of good vocal production; Bill Carroll at UNC-G was a great choir leader and built up my own confidence as a singer; Mac Wilburg at BYU had great directing style and also built up my confidence; and with Barlow Bradford at the Utah Chamber Artists I finally found my voice, the voice with which I was finally satisfied, and Barlow had such spot-on musical interpretations. I’ve incorporated into my own singing and leading styles things that I learned from each of them, and my life is richer because of these leaders.

Some years ago, I had to stop singing with Utah Chamber Artists because I no longer was healthy and strong enough to do the rehearsal schedules. As health has improved, I’ve been able to do more music in my ward and stake. I enjoy leading stake choirs and I enjoy putting together small ensembles to do special projects.

I’ll write about some things we’ve done that worked. I’ll write about ideas I’ve had that I’ve not executed yet. I’ll write about some leadership and coordination ideas. I’ll write about music training.