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March 28, 2006
Through it all I learn to trust in God.
February 25, 2006
Dear Marie,
I've read some of the comments and
have been experiencing some of the same things. People who have been in the church for years think that [they] own it! I came
led by God and on my arrival here I was told the church had been praying for "Minister of Music"! Well, what is the old saying,
(BE CAREFUL WHAT YOU PRAY FOR!) Well, they got just that. I stay prayed up because the enemy is busy! The church is larger
than the one I left in [ . . . ] and better organized. They only sang "Gospel when I came on board". We are doing our first
Easter Cantata! We sing hymns and anthems too. First of all, the director must have the pastor's support. The gentleman that
played before my arrival played the piano as if it was his worse enemy. I spoke with him on many occasions about attending
workshops, classes and etc. I was told the church had offered him music lessons in the past and he refused.
I stress, the choir can only be as
good as you are. If you are self taught, YOU still need training. We should strive to be the best we can be for Christ!
If another musician/director come
in to the Church we should not be jealous, envious and yes threatened, BUT LEARN from them and ask if you can assist in any
way.
Marie, this is Great! Thanks for allowing
me to vent. I read the story (from Dec '05 writer) Don't give up! Give it to God and let Him work it out!
Be Careful What You Pray For
Dear Careful,
Thank you for your comments
and extra encouragement for previous writers.
I’ll pray for you,
Marie
March
5, 2006
Dear
Marie,
I wanted Rhythm-Challenged
(see Ask Marie Archive, page 7) to know that it helps me to pat my feet while playing music to keep the beat going! The drummer is actually
the time keeper. It would be most helpful to have a drummer. Also, when the time signature is ¾, of course I can do that more
easily because the beat reminds one of a waltz!
Mamie,
Richmond, VA
Dear Mamie,
Thanks for the tip. Just a reminder—usually
the people who are most rhythm-challenged are those who have not been immersed in rhythmic activities. Those who haven't been
encouraged to move to music, those who haven't been encouraged and/or allowed to dance or listen to highly rhythmic music
have to work much harder to "get" the on-going beat.
Marie
(Continued in next column.)
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(Continued from previous column.)
March 27, 2006
Dear Marie,
I have an issue with the sopranos
in the choir being drowned out by the altos and tenors. I now have the sopranos in the middle of the two, do you
have another suggestion?
Seeking Balance,
Sanford, NC
Dear Seeking Balance,
Wow! What a wonderful problem to have. This
means that you HAVE both altos and tenors, and they're not afraid to sing out. Your positioning of the sopranos is a great
start. Now you should go to the back of your church during a rehearsal and make sure that the sopranos are REALLY being drowned
out. The sopranos' higher pitches will usually carry farther and more clearly than the lower pitches of the other parts and
they may be easier to hear than you think. If your inner parts ARE too loud when you're listening from the
back of the church, there are several things
you can do to help the balance. 1. Work with the whole choir on vocal projection skills. 2. Ask your sopranos for more energy
and volume. (Be careful with this; it can sometimes create a harsh tone.) 3. Recruit more sopranos. 4. Ask some
of the altos to sing the soprano part and some of the tenors to sing the bass part if they have the vocal
range. (This will vary according to the range of each piece of music.) 5. Tell your inner parts that they need to sing
at a lower dynamic level. Be sure to ask them to keep the intensity up so that softer doesn't mean slower or singing flat.
6. As a LAST RESORT, microphones can be used to help the balance. This only MASKS your problem, so don't use it unless none
of the other solutions have worked.
I hope you find some wonderful solutions.
I'll pray for
you.
Marie
March 28, 2006
Dear Marie
Thank you for your prompt response and prayers!!!! So, should I leave the sopranos in the middle or move them
to the outside? They are being drowned out when I stand at the back of the sanctuary. If you are facing the choir, the
sopranos are in the middle with the altos on the left and the tenors and basses to the right.
Still Seeking Balance
Sanford,
NC
Dear Balance,
I have no idea where your
sanctuary’s best acoustics are; sometimes it's from the back of the choir loft, sometimes to the side, sometimes
the front. Your ears will have to be your guide. Have you tried putting the sopranos in
front of the others? Positioning changes may not be the entire solution.
Keep experimenting until
you find something that works.
Still praying,
Marie
Go to:
& Evelyn Pursley-Kopitzke
Ask Marie, Page Six, through Dec. 18, '05.
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