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September 2001 Table of Contents
Special Feature
Planning Your Solo
By Tommy Webster
Minister of Music
Ellendale Baptist Church
Bartlett, TN
Here's a quick reminder of some important matters concerning your solo. Please take time to read carefully, and let me know if you have a question. I appreciate your participation in our Music Ministry!
Who?
Always keep in mind for whom you sing. Yes, you sing for our folks who are present for worship, but ultimately you sing for our Lord. Choose music that will honor the Lord and minister to the hearts of our people. On rare occasions there will be a secular song that does both, but they are few and far between.
What?
Choosing what you will sing is an important decision. When you receive a letter asking you to sing for a specific service, you will know what the theme will be for that service. The theme comes from several considerations: the Christian calendar year, our pastor's sermon series, special emphasis days, or building blocks in the Christian life.
Where?
With the addition of our new "see-through" pulpit, you may want to sing from behind the pulpit. Feel free to sing away from the pulpit -- out to the side - on the platform. With the wireless microphones you have the freedom to move about as you sing. Some songs may even lend themselves to your walking out into the congregation!
When?
When you receive a request to sing, it is very, very important that you let me know immediately if you can sing on the date requested. Remember that it takes several weeks to work out schedule conflicts. By the way, if you have a specific song you want to sing that would fit better with another theme, please let me know, and I will reschedule you to sing on another day. As soon as you know the title of your song, let me know that, too.
How?
- Sing from memory if at all possible. Your communication is so much more effective when the congregation can see your face.
- Stand tall and make eye contact with the congregation. Your posture and body language give support to your message.
- Don't cover your mouth from view with the microphone. It is harder to understand you when the congregation cannot see your mouth. Hold the microphone at your chin.
- Dress appropriately. You need to dress in a way that does not distract from the message of your song. Remember that it is better to be "overdressed" than to appear too casual. What you wear when you sing may have to be different from what you wear when you are not "up front."
- Hold your position until after the music has stopped. This puts a "frame" around what you have done and lets the congregation think about the message of your song.
- Don't begin by making apologies. If you aren't feeling well and can't sing let me know. If you are well enough to sing - do so as unto the Lord. Many times you sound worse to yourself than you do to others, especially if your illness is sinus related.
- Don't embarrass your accompanist or sound technician. Rehearse beforehand. Be sure that your accompaniment tape is reset to the beginning of your song. Make sure the accompanist knows the tempo you want. If changes are needed during the singing of your song, use signals that are not easily seen by the congregation. Large gestures or "rolling eyes" can be quite distracting. Be sure to thank your accompanist or sound technician for their help and time.
- Don't have "dead time" exceeding 5-8 seconds. If there is a long instrumental interlude, read a scripture verse or have something appropriate to say.
- Don't sing "backup" to the "backup." You should sing the melody and text. Don't let backup singers sing the melody while you sing accompaniment. If necessary, sing with the backup singers.
I hope these answers to "Who?, What?, Where?, When? and How?" have been helpful to you as you plan your next solo. We are blessed with an abundance of talented singers in our church. I am grateful for your willingness to share your talent in our Music Ministry. Together, our goal remains to "Make His Praise Glorious!"
Press on!
Bro. Tommy
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