BACKGROUND

During the summer of 2005, the Moderator and Moderator-Elect of Christ Congregational Church, John Gipson and Ruth Prindle, upon the instructions of the Executive Council, formed a Music Visioning Committee to gather information from members and friends of the congregation about their reactions to, preferences for, and dreams concerning music at CCC.   The goal was to provide guidance to the committee that would be formed in early 2006 to search for and select a new, permanent music director.  The Music Visioning Committee has been comprised of Anne Weissenborn, Chair, Terri Brush,  Jan Forbes, David Fouse, Delilah Marrow, Kathleen Murley, Richard Rolls, and Lynn White. 

Over a period of approximately five months, the Committee composed, mailed, and compiled the results of a written survey of individuals in the congregation, and of members of youth groups covering 5^th grade through senior high school.  Committee members also hosted a group discussion about music on Visioning Day, January 21, and a series of three post-Sunday service gatherings on January 15 and 29.   The written survey elicited 95 responses from adults and 25 from the youth, while the conversation group on Visioning Day numbered approximately 20 and the Sunday gatherings attracted 9, 5 and 12 individuals respectively in addition to Committee members.  The Committee met on February 5 to complete its report.

OVERALL IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC AT CCC

There can be no doubt that music is perceived as a very significant element of both worship and community-building at CCC, although perhaps somewhat more so for adults than for the youth.  In response to the written survey, 71 adults said that music is “very important” while 17 found it “important” to their experience at CCC;  the youth respondents’ respective figures were 8 and 9 out of 25 respondents.  The high quality of music is seen as a special part of the CCC experience, an important aspect of what makes it a unique church, and a reason why many persons choose to join and remain active at CCC.

Most of the adult survey respondents attend the 10:30 AM service (75), however, certain of those who attend the early Sunday service also expressed appreciation that music is becoming more a part of their experience.  Of those adults who responded to the survey, 34 have participated in the music program while 59 have not, an indication of the importance of music for those not directly involved.

A number of survey respondents, and of those who attended the conversation meetings,  stressed the importance of music for children and youth.  Of the adult respondents, 70 found this “very important.”  Music is seen as encouraging worship participation and as allowing spiritual expression beyond the classroom.                    

Many survey respondents and many of those who attended the conversation meetings were  anxious that musical activities outside worship services be continued and/or revived, in particular inter-generational musicals and children’s Bible-based musicals, trips made by the choir, and concerts or recitals held at CCC.  The latter opportunities were seen as ways to build community within the congregation, to reach out to the wider community in Silver Spring, or both. 

GENRES OF PREFERRED MUSIC

When it came to identifying the kinds of music that move one during a worship service, divisions among respondents emerged.  These divisions are not absolute, but rather seem to reflect how far persons are willing to have CCC go in broadening its offerings from a primary emphasis upon classical music.  More than half of the survey respondents seemed open to different cultural offerings.

The differences about music genres in worship expressed in the survey and especially at the conversation meetings were in part generational, with younger people, including many youth respondents and also others in their twenties and thirties, expressing a desire for more energy, more liveliness, i.e, through contemporary music, gospel, jazz, etc. The same group also indicated an appreciation for chants.  Older respondents, especially those in the Chancel Choir, are generally willing to hear and perform multi-cultural selections, in particular spirituals and gospel music; however, they do not want this effort to result in the exclusion of classical music from the selection of anthems and offertories.  And certain parents of younger children, and grandparents, stressed the importance of exposing their children to classical music through the church, given the relative lack of such experiences in the schools. 

The responses received from the youth reflect considerable interest in jazz, rap, rock music, and African or reggae.  In the words of one, “I also like lively happy stuff.”  With regard to younger children, many adults expressed concern that this age group is not being exposed sufficiently to music appropriate for their ages, including favorite old Sunday School and church camp songs.  (See further discussion below.) 

It is the suggestion of the Committee that a way of achieving diversity in music at CCC would be to encourage ever greater participation in worship by all musically talented persons in the congregation, in particular the youth and children but also any adults who would enjoy taking part.  The Chancel Choir should not be expected to bear quite so much of the responsibility for achieving musical diversity, but rather should be allowed to focus a greater percentage of its time on the classical repertoire, if desired.   Broader participation on a regular basis would also be a way of developing young talent and of involving newer members directly in the life of the church, including a good number who are currently unable to make the time commitment required of members of ongoing ensembles such as the Chancel Choir. (Again, see further discussion below.)

The hymns selected for worship services are a special category of concern.  Many individuals, particularly at the conversation meetings, expressed regret that old favorites are no longer being song, particular at holidays.  The importance of such old hymns for children was also stressed.  There is a willingness to learn new hymns; however, there is a desire for mixture of old and new in any service, not just new ones, and for assistance in learning a new hymn, perhaps through “lining” with the help of the choir.  (The effect of such a procedure upon the length of a service was recognized.)  A number of respondents also suggested that fewer verses of hymns be sung, unless all of them are needed to convey the full meaning of the hymn.

Regarding music outside worship, survey respondents and participants in the conversation meetings expressed great appreciation for the renewed concert program at CCC - for the quality of performances and the range of music being presented.  Many people also stressed the importance of inter-generational and children’s musicals and of other opportunities for members and friends to participate in ensembles.  Interest was expressed in expanding or supplementing the present string ensemble to include other instruments.  And members of the choir urged the continuation of choir tours as both musical and community-building experiences.

MUSICAL TALENT AND OPPORTUNITIES

The written survey asked what aspects of the music program were most enriching during a worship service.  In order of preference, 81 of the adult respondents selected the choirs, 74 piano music, 69 the organ, 68 the singing of hymns, 58 instrumental ensembles, 46 vocal ensembles, 24 relevant ‘secular’ songs, and 22 chants.  The youth responses were much the same proportionally.  The survey results also revealed appreciation for, and/or interest in, brass ensembles (19), bell choirs (17), children’s musicals (12), and inter-generational musicals, and some interest in jazz ensembles (8), gospel choirs, the use of guitars, and madrigals. 

As noted above, there was considerable interest expressed, particularly during the conversation meetings, in creating more opportunities for individuals not able to commit to the Chancel Choir or other ongoing groups to use their talents in worship services or in other ways.  Such tapping into congregational talent is taking place, and many people would like to see it expanded.  Again, this can be a way of encouraging a diversity of musical offerings and of building individual involvement in and commitment to CCC.  In this vein, the Committee suggests that the permanent music director conduct an audit of the musical talents of the congregation to determine who may be able and willing to share those talents, even if only occasionally.

Both parents of younger children and the youth expressed great appreciation for the times that the children’s choirs and the youth ensembles have been invited to sing with the Chancel Choir on special occasions.  They would like to see such opportunities become more frequent.  And, at the conversation meetings, parents expressed interest in providing opportunities for their children to play other than string instruments in ensembles. 

As is also noted above, many of the adults would like to see more emphasis upon music as part of the Sunday School program.  The Committee recognizes that some Sunday School teachers may not be comfortable with introducing singing in their classes.  Therefore, the Committee recommends that a part of the music director’s job be to work with the teachers by choosing songs to be learned by all of the classes and by seeing that such songs are introduced to the children in a group setting.  The person who would perform this role of introducing songs could be a staff person (probably not the music director) or an adult volunteer with experience in children’s music.  For example, the third Sunday children’s worship could be a time for learning a song that could be then sung in class each of the next three or four Sundays, with the teachers having been coached at an earlier time and urged to incorporate the song into their lesson plans.  It is also hoped that singing will continue to be an important part of the summer camp program. Introducing children to music early can help reinforce their interest in attending camp programs. 

MUSIC DIRECTOR

The most important criteria for choosing a new music director were summed up by one of the conversation participants as “Everything!”  On the other hand, there was considerable realism expressed about the need for a search committee to make choices, given the probability that no one candidate will have that “everything.” 

Two of the most strongly expressed preferences were that the music director be an excellent conductor of both choral and instrumental ensembles and an excellent keyboard person, particularly at the organ.  In the latter regard, it is hoped that the person will be willing and able to practice and perform the classical organ repertoire, but also be able to improvise.  The alternative of hiring a second person to be an organist/accompanist was discussed at conversation meetings, with the realization that the tradeoff would be to make the music director position part-time.

>From conducting and organ playing  the wish list expanded to include the following:

Wide and deep knowledge of music; skilled in and comfortable with classical repertoire such as Bach, Handel, Haydn, etc., but also skilled in other genres such as chant, gospel, folk, jazz, rap, etc.  Broad definition of “traditional.”  Good at achieving widely acceptable balance of genres.

Appreciates the importance of music in worship

Brings energy and excitement, but can also provide for quiet experiences

Knows ways to involve congregation (other than musicians) in making music during worship, .eg., having congregation sing with choir, help in learning new hymns 

Good organizer of both music and people, including the use of volunteer skills

Good communicator, e.g., keeps choir informed about plans, seeks input

Good people skills; has a personality that appeals to all ages, including youth and young children

Interested in and good at encouraging participation by talented people both inside and beyond established ensembles

Interested in promoting music program for children and youth

Interested in leading or supervising ensembles beyond choirs

Willing to lead additional musical activities such as musicals, choir tours, and music camp, and to participate in weddings and funerals

Brings both ideas and connections in musical circles needed to put together and promote exciting concert series

Committed to CCC as primary professional responsibility, although outside activities may be important and should be supported by the congregation

CONCLUSION

            Music is very important at CCC as part of our worship experiences.  Equally important, music provides ways of saying who we are and who we want to be, of welcoming persons of diverse backgrounds, and of bringing individuals and families more fully into the life of the congregation as a community.  The incorporation of diverse musical styles and of people of all ages and musical talents into worship and into other aspects of congregational life can help CCC become a more open and vibrant community, thereby both enriching our own experiences and encouraging others to join us on our shared journey.  The music director should be both open to and an advocate for this broad definition of what music means at CCC.

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