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Developmentally, preschoolers should be experiencing music at this age and not working on specific music for a presentation. In our preschool area, we believe that we should expose preschoolers to as many musical experiences as possible in a non-threatening environment. We are working to build a body of experiences for them that they can build on in the future. We view worship leadership at this age to possibly be threatening to them. We believe that some preschoolers would be as nervous in front of the church as their parents would be in a similar situation; however, preschoolers do not have the emotional maturity to deal with their fear in appropriate ways. Hence, young children invariably behave unconventionally in an effort to deal with their fears, i.e.., they may sing very loud or even yell, hide behind another child, wave at their parents, and pull their clothes over their face. Unfortunately, adults often think children are just trying to be cute when, in reality, they are afraid when they realize they are on display. Many seasoned ministers have had the experience of helping a young child through the horror of being laughed at in church when he/she was only acting appropriately for his/her age.

Since most preschoolers are only beginning to come to regular worship (in some churches they do not attend worship at all), they have no background in appropriate protocol. Instead of asking children who are not ready to present their gifts of music in worship, we look for ways to involve parents in the teaching process throughout the year.

Why Does the Organ Play So Loud?

We are fortunate in our church to have a fine organ and organist. Our organist attempts to utilize the many sounds of the organ to help us worship more effectively. Sometimes the organ produces very soft and introspective sounds and sometimes the sounds are loud and boisterous. Hopefully these sounds represent the many ways we approach God and God approaches us. (Sometimes they are right and the issue needs attention!)

Why Are Musicians in Our Church Paid?

Musicians spend many years and great expense to develop the skills to lead others in worship. Because our church expects high quality, we pay them. Also, musicians are in high demand and many churches are searching for qualified music leaders.

Why Do You Take Friday Off?

Many ministers take a day off during the week, often Friday, because for them Sunday is considered a workday. In many congregations, ministers work very hard on Sunday's leading numerous services, and attending various meetings or social gatherings, and they take a day off during the week to compensate for their extra Sunday duties.

How Are Soloists Chosen for Worship?

Soloist can be chosen in many different ways; however, you must choose soloists through an organized system in order to be fair and also maintain your congregation's expectations. Some churches rarely utilize vocal soloists in worship because they believe that soloists draw attention to themselves as opposed to a choir, which is representative of the entire congregation. However, most churches do have soloists sing as a regular part of worship. Consider the following:

1)Recognize that most churches have a basic standard of excellence in worship that must be maintained. While the validity of such an unwritten expectation could easily be debated, it nevertheless exists. Therefore, while a soloist may be totally acceptable in one church, he/she may not be in another church of a different size, worship style, clientele, educational level, or other demographic difference. As a minister of music, you are responsible for discerning this information about your congregation and maintaining these standards. When you are in doubt, you should consult someone else in the congregation for advice, probably the pastor.

2)Never allow a soloist to sing in worship whom you've not heard sing or who has not been thoroughly recommended to you by a trusted musician friend. Unfortunately, many music ministers have learned this lesson by allowing someone to sing because of familial or other connections, and have regretted the error. While sometimes it is necessary to have someone sing against your better judgment (musically, morally, or otherwise) you must make these decisions carefully and with wise counsel.

3)Decide whether soloists will come from the choir or whether others in the congregation are allowed to sing solos. Some ministers of music adhere to the policy that in order to sing a solo, you must be a member of the choir, while others do not. Such a policy usually assures that people are connected to the church's total ministry; however, it can exclude people who would sing in choir if their time limitations or life circumstances were different. I have generally not held to the "member of the choir" policy because I view music ministry as a congregational ministry; therefore, it should involve as many people as possible. Issues regarding soloists easily can involve soloist's egos, control, and other similar issues.

4)Utilize a soloist in a low profile setting before allowing him/her to sing in a larger venue. For example, ask the soloist to sing a line in a hymn or anthem before enlisting him/her to sing a complete solo. If your church has multiple services, ask the person to sing in a smaller and more intimate setting first. Utilize soloists for Bible study gatherings or similar small groups before enlisting them for larger gatherings. If soloists are only willing to sing in the church's largest congregational gathering, then you probably have reason to question the individual's motives for singing.

5)The person should be a respected leader in the congregation. A soloist is a proclaimer of the gospel and he/she must live a morally respectable life in order for his/her message to be accepted.

6)If difficult situations arise, seek advice. Many ministers of music get into trouble through various dealings with soloists. When you sense a potentially troublesome situation, seek the council of others.

Why Don't We Sing More __________ (insert a style) Music?

With so many different styles of worship music available to most churches, ministers of music are frequently asked this question. The most important step in answering this question is to not be defensive. Simply share with the person how music decisions are made. This answer may include theological issues, personal preferences, pastoral preferences, results of surveys, or a sense of the total congregation. Usually the best answer begins "Thank you for asking this very important question. It is certainly one of the most difficult questions for any minister of music to answer. There are many factors that influence the choice of music in our church. You will be interested to know that some people in our congregation like hymns, others like praise music, some prefer contemporary Christian, and still others prefer other styles." Continue to share the wide range of musical issues that are considered when choosing music. Usually people are amazed that you've thought through this so carefully, for they've only thought of their particular preferences. Assure the person that you will carefully consider his/her suggestions.