The ABCs of do-re-mi

In the coming weeks and months, as we emerge from singing carols and advent hymns, we will probably start getting back into the habit of learning new songs in our churches.

But in a church with a huge variety of musical abilities, how do we do that well? Let me suggest three ideas:

First: work with what you’ve got. Learn songs that the musicians in your church can actually play, and that don’t rely on a specific musical arrangement to make it work. For those who have no musicians in their churches, let me commend ‘I Sing Worship’ (https://www.isingworship.com/) who provide accompaniments that can be arranged on the fly, and sound great.

Second: listen, listen, listen. If you plan which songs you’re going to teach in advance, then communicate that with your musicians and your church family ahead of time.

Send them a helpful recording that they can listen to at home so that they’re not hearing it for the very first time as they’re trying to learn how to sing it. You could build a playlist on your favourite streaming service that includes all the songs you sing!

Third: teach songs well. My assumption is that the vast majority of my church family need as much help as they can when it comes to learning new songs.

Rather than hoping people will ‘get the hang of it’ as you sing it, why not break the song into sections, singing a section to them, before inviting them to sing it back? Yes, it takes more time, but people learn the song much more thoroughly and will enjoy singing it much more quickly!

Our churches represent a wonderful diversity of musical ability, united in lifting up our voices in praise of Jesus Christ. As we learn songs this coming year, let’s do everything we can to serve God’s people in the task.