[HANASHIR:10754] Re:The role of the volunteer choir

[Marc and Kristin Stern <stern...>]

Hi all--

I've got to say that I'm writing this still on a high from the great
Shabbat Shira service we had.  Our volunteer choir led our congregation
in a service done completely in song, and we had marvelous participation
from everyone.  As I always do, when choosing the music a couple new
songs where introduced while we mostly sang the familiar ones.  We had a
special booklet containing words to all the songs--Hebrew when
available, plus transliterations and translations.  There were also
pieces sung in English.  As we progressed through the service I noticed
that people participated at different times, depending on what they knew
and liked, but also learning what they didn't.  For the first time I
sang Julie Silver's Ma'ariv Aravim, and figured it would be a complete
solo, but by the time I'd repeated the Hebrew a couple times, I heard
several voices joining me.  I have never heard so many positive comments
about a service!

Our volunteer choir sings twice a month, and as I mentioned in an e-mail
about song books, we always include the words to the songs we are
singing on the worship sheet, and the pages where transliterations can
be found in the prayerbook.  In my years as music director, I changed
the music we use from one or two contemporary composers to a wide range
of contemporary music and reintroducing more traditional pieces.  I did
this because I was fasinated by all the variety in music that I hadn't
been aware was available.  But I found that what I enjoyed was also
enjoyed by the congregation.  We have great participation by everyone
now, the choir has doubled in size, and our congregation of 200 families
regularly has 60-75 people at services.  Not everyone likes each service
choice, but since the music varies so greatly, most of the people are
pleased most of the time.  The only music that is always the same is the
Avot, and the Sh'ma, Echad and L'cha at the Torah service.

Our choir and I have fun with the music, exploring new and rediscovering
old, and I think the congregation picks up on this.  The congregants
pick the level of participation they are comfortable with, and that's
great.  All in all, our worship is very participatory, inclusive and
warm.  Like I said, I'm still on a high from last Friday....

B'shalom v'shira,
Kristin
Music Director, Temple Beth-El, Munster, IN

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