September has always been one of my favorite times of year! There’s something exciting about opening fresh folders, introducing new music, and seeing choir members reconnect after a busy summer.
Over the years I’ve found that the first rehearsal matters more than we sometimes realize. Long before Christmas concerts and Easter services, we’re quietly establishing the culture and discipline of our choir. Not just musically but relationally. Spiritually. Even organizationally.
Here are a few things I’ve found helpful as a new choir season begins:
Invite Singers Back with Grace, Not Guilt
One of the quickest ways to discourage volunteers is to make them feel guilty for having a life outside of choir. Instead of leading with reminders about attendance or emphasizing how much they’re needed, invite singers back by reminding them why they loved being part of the ministry in the first place. A personal phone call, text, or handwritten note that simply says, “We’ve missed you, and we’re looking forward to singing with you again” will accomplish more than guilt ever could.
Churches sometimes have a way of unintentionally making volunteers feel like they’re valuable because of what they do. But people aren’t simply the workforce that makes ministry happen—they are the ministry.
Give Your Choir Something to Aim For
I’ve noticed that church choirs rarely have measurable goals beyond learning Sunday’s anthem. As a result, many choir members never realize there are bigger things to work toward.
Years ago, I taught elementary music. One of the greatest lessons I carried with me into church music ministry was the power of measurable goals. Weekly goals and semester goals gave every rehearsal purpose. Written on the board for the students to see each day, these goals created excitement, moments of laughter, cheering for others, and a huge sense of accomplishment when we reached them.
Honestly, these goals also made me a better teacher. When I knew exactly what we were trying to accomplish, I came into rehearsal more prepared and with a clearer plan. The kids became focused and poured themselves into each class!
Your goals will be unique to your choir, but here are a few ideas:
- Everyone brings a pencil and marks corrections the first time. Every time. No more wasted time rehearsing the same mistakes from last week.
- Spend five minutes in each rehearsal improving our reading skills.
- Average 90–93% rehearsal attendance.
- Actively work each week on facial expression, body language, and visual energy. This is a habit that is fought and won in rehearsal!
- Welcome seven new committed singers by Christmas.
Plan for Early Success
Give your choir an early win! Start with something familiar. Maybe a favorite anthem. Maybe a beloved hymn in a fresh arrangement. Let your choir leave that first rehearsal thinking, “We sounded good tonight.”
That little bit of confidence creates momentum—and momentum is a wonderful thing in September! For a volunteer choir, folders should usually contain a balance of familiar, new, easy, and difficult anthems.
Growing the Choir
One conversation I hear over and over is, “How do we get more singers?” And usually the next question is, “How do we attract younger singers?”
The truth is, there’s no single answer. Every church culture is different. Some churches use the Old Testament model and pay section leaders, often from local universities. Others are committed to an entirely volunteer model. Maybe your church could offer youth camp scholarships for faithful high school students who commit to singing throughout the semester. I love the creativity behind ideas like that.
But I keep coming back to the same conclusion: healthy choirs attract people.
Choirs that sing well attract people. Choirs that genuinely enjoy one another attract people. Choirs that are growing—musically and spiritually—attract people.
Preparing Our Choir Spiritually
One of my favorite passages about music ministry is found in 2 Chronicles 5:11—14. I smile every time I read it because it’s one of Scripture’s clearest pictures of an organized music ministry. There were singers (the choir), instrumentalists (the orchestra)—and 120 trumpeters!
One hundred twenty trumpeters. Singers. Instrumentalists. Music to prepare. Countless details to coordinate. That kind of musical unity didn’t happen by accident. Obviously, there were rehearsals!
And then something extraordinary happened.
When those musicians finally lifted their voices and instruments together in praise, declaring, “He is good; His faithful love endures forever,” the glory of the Lord filled the temple so completely that the priests couldn’t continue their ministry. Church literally stopped because God had come down among His people—during the choir anthem!
I love this passage because it reminds me that what our choirs offer to the Lord truly matters. The Wednesday night rehearsal matters. The penciled markings in well-worn folders matter. The faithful alto who’s been singing for thirty years matters. Their preparation matters. Their unity matters. Their worship matters.
And in that remarkable moment, God chose to respond to their offering in the most sacred, divine way: through His presence.
He sees every faithful offering. Every quiet act of service. Every anthem prepared with love.
As another choir season begins, there will be music to file, rehearsals to plan, and anthems to learn. Those things are important. But before any of that happens, remember who God has entrusted to you.
They aren’t simply the people who make your music ministry possible. They are your music ministry, and together you touch and move the heart of God.
