I have learned that in order to be a great choir director a person needs to be skilled at managing both people and music. Here is a list of resources that will help choir directors everywhere, no matter what their skill level.

1. American Choral Directors Association
This is a non-profit music education organization. Its purpose is to promote excellence in choral music through performance, composition, publication, research, and teaching. The organization hosts a few conferences each year and there are chapters across the country.

2. Joan’s Choir Pages
Joan Hall is a gospel choir enthusiast. She has created a page that is full of helpful resources for gospel choirs and gospel choir directors.

3. Choral Net
This is a professional networking site for the choral community. This site contains forums, resources and the latest news from the choral world.

4. How to Direct a Gospel Choir
eHow.com gives a good tutorial about what it takes to be a good choir director.

Do you know of any resources that you would like to add to the list?

Dear Community Choir Director,

First of all, I’d like to commend you on making the decision to start a ministry. Being part of a community choir can be a very special thing. You get the opportunity to travel to different places and minister to a variety of different people. Before you start or continue with your ministry, I think there are a few things you should know:

1. This is God’s ministry. It is not yours. Please treat it with extreme care and respect.

2. You should only pursue this ministry if you have a heart and passion for conveying the gospel to others. If you embark on this ministry in order to pursue fortune and fame you may have a hard time finding lasting success.

3. Your choir members are God’s children. Please treat them with care and respect also.

4. Understand your choir member’s priorities. God is first, then family, work, and their home church. Your choir comes after all of those things. If you don’t accept your place in the pecking order you may lose a number of choir members.

5. Always be yourself. Do not try to be like Kirk Franklin, Hezekiah Walker, Tye Tribbett or Ricky Dillard. Imitation will not progress your ministry.

6. Try to be creative when choosing a name for your choir. The following terms have been used extensively: new, nu, praise, of Christ, for Christ, friends, company, and singers. Challenge yourself to come up with something different.

7. It is important that you are prepared for choir rehearsals. Lack of preparation will cause you to lose choir members quickly.

8. Know the abilities and dynamics of your choir. There are some songs that some choirs just do not sound good singing.

9. Please make sure that you and your choir are active participants in the services you attend. It is not good to sit there like zombies and then try to pump up the crowd when it is your turn to minister. You’re not really impressing anyone or winning over any new fans when you behave like that. In addition, that is not a good way to honor God.

10. When you participate in concerts, please remember that you are there to minister in song. You are not there to preach and give a 30 minute sermon. Often times there are other choirs on the program.

11. In the end, the anointing of God will make all of the difference. Without the anointing, it won’t matter how good your choir sings or how good your band is.

When it gets down to it, if you acknowledge God and follow him with all of your heart, you will be blessed. I am praying that God will continue to increase your ministry.

God bless,

Cliff Holmes

Is there anything else you think should be added to this list? Please let me know.