CHURCH MUSICIAN HANDBOOK WIKI
Table of Contents (there would be public-submitted articles (reviewed by "editors") for each topic)
CMH will be accepting articles to include in the repository at a later date via standard wiki methods.
Please email your interest for participating in this exciting project!
INTRODUCTION AND WELCOME
Foreword by Will Sherwood, ChM, AAGO; Emeritus Principal Organist, Mechanics Hall, Worcester MA
I have long appreciated being the beneficiary of kind and forthcoming mentors, coaches, and colleagues throughout my music career. Useful tips emerge from all sorts of experiences and discussions, casual or professional. In the "olden days" one would write a book about how to do this or that in order to pass down the wisdom of contemporaries, discoveries, and especially elders/sensei. But alas, we're in the internet age of social media and online-everything. So, why not a Repository/Guide for Church Musicians, implemented in a Wikipedia-style handbook where everyone can be international authors?!
This idea has been brewing for quite a number of years, and when the media wiki toolset emerged, the time was right. Please join us in an encyclopedia-style knowledgebase accumulation of our collective skills, strategies, and tips. This is NOT a discussion forum, but a topic-organized description of each idea/technique/concept. Musicians: attacca !
About "Wiki" Web Sites
Meaning "fast" in Hawaiian, WIKI ( /ˈwɪki/ WIK-ee) has come to represent the latest in collaborative web content authoring. Although initially a Geek-only term, Wiki sites have grown in popularity, perhaps at a slower pace than Blogs. The most famous Wiki site is Wikipedia, which is a humankind knowledgebase (i.e., everything about everything) written by anyone/everyone. In fact, the best definition and detailed history/description of wikis is described, where else, here in Wikipedia. Anything underscored is a clickable link that will take you to more information or examples of the topic being discussed.
For the Church Music Handbook, the following information about wikis is applicable:
A wiki enables documents to be written collaboratively, in a simple markup language using a web browser. A single page in a wiki website is referred to as a "wiki page", while the entire collection of pages, which are usually well interconnected by hyperlinks, is "the wiki". A wiki is essentially a database for creating, browsing, and searching through information.
A defining characteristic of wiki technology is the ease with which pages can be created and updated. Generally, there is no review before modifications are accepted. Editors (or other readers) will notice that there are changes, and thus have the opportunity to massage typos or request clarifications or delete spam or anything inappropriate.
The Church Musician Handbook Wiki uses the standard WikiMedia platform, with hosting donated by SherwoodHosting.com.
Goal of Site: Provide an WikiPedia-like Operations Manual type of Handbook for the Church Musician, covering the MANY roles of Choir Director, Organist. It is intended to be of broad-based usefulness regardless of religious affiliations, and explicitly avoids discussions of religion, or topics of commercial advertisements-- these topics/posts will be deleted.
In the true spirit of an encyclopaedia, this wiki is meant to present information organized by topic (and not by chronological order of entry (as blogs and forums do), and not by author). Each topic is intended to be self-contained (stand-alone) in terms of context - i.e., understandable if reading is begun just with that topic, and is meant to be clearly written, replete with references and links if applicable. It is assumed that the level of reader would have basic understanding of general church music, instruments, and common musical terminology. References are encouraged where possible to back-up where the author's information came from. In many cases, the author's experience and experience-based opinions are the source of the information, and can be briefly acknowledged.
Organization of Table of Contents - The contents will have a "backbone" hierarchy structure to house all the information. Note that this is not all that critical, since most of the access and browsing of the wiki will be done via searches (and search engines). Many topics could be successfully placed in more than one category-- the beauty of web sites and wikis is that topics can easily be cross-referenced (linked) without having to duplicate the content in multiple categories. The general categorization below demonstrates the scope and depth of the overall site. Each topic begins as a "stub" (an empty category) that is filled in and edited. Where no content is yet provided, short brainstorming phrases are included to describe the initial intention.
PROPOSED TABLE OF CONTENTS
BUSINESS ASPECTS
Musician Contract-Samples-Responsibilities-Scope of Job
Fundraising
Clever donation techniques ("sell" a rank, sell a pipe, sell a pew/seat)
Wishlist donations web page (and brochure handout)
Donated Instruments and scores - how to deal with
CHURCH MUSIC PROGRAMS - GENERAL
Music Program Strategy/Goals/Mission Statement
Samples
How to create
How to align with overall church organization goals
Church Year & Service planning
Lectionary or Liturgy-based
Free-form (based on minister's calendar or not)
Music Program's Web Site
Separate Site from main church site? (Pros & Cons)
How Extensive? Sample Nav menus
Published "wishlist" of wanted donations (items, funding for purchases)
Concert Series
Weddings! (the term "bride" is loosely used to refer to one of the people being married or unioned)
Presenting your repertoire to brides for their selection (example Wedding Music Advisor)
Terms of Service (i.e., contract with the bride)
Cues (processional, recessional, etc.)
Brides who are late and delay the start of the ceremony
PROGRAMS - CHOIR
Choir membership
Attracting/Marketing
Publicizing; Sources of new members; Long-term development of program to be attractive
Invitation "kits"
Auditions or not?
Dealing with problem members: behavioral, crushes/vicarious, poor voice quality, bad attendance, dysfunctional
Choir (adult) section leaders/soloists (paid)
Contracts, responsibilities/expectations (example contract)
Fees
MUSIC PROGRAM LOGISTICS
Rehearsals
Rules - on time, talking
Scheduling
Length & frequency
Warm-up prior to services/performances
"Rehearsal Tapes" (online midi, mp3; mp3 players; ChoirOla(ChoirRadio) )
Rollbook
Use of Catchphrases
Curation of Instruments
Organ upkeep, tuning, restoration
Piano
Harpischord
Handbells
How to fund?Music Library - see Music Scores
Computer & Web Application Tools for the Church Musician
Use of MIDI: organ/instruments; choir teaching/rehearsing; the absentee service musician; remote organ console; second organ console (duets); additional organ voices played from console but rendered in a synthesizer
Use of MP3s
Tools: Wedding Music Advisor; Online Rollbook; Online service repertoire calendar; Online choral library acquisitions inventory
Publishing Recordings: Videos/Web&PDA Media/CDs/DVDs (of choir, church musicians, church instruments) - for sale/fundraiser
The Making of a CD
Fundraising Using CD,DVD, online MP3 sales
Recording (audio, video) of church services
Goals/Uses/benefits
Equipment
Volunteer operators
Copyright considerations
Musician permission
Offices/ facilities
Choir rehearsal area
Director Office
Choral Library (anthem filing cabinets; oratorio shelving; orchestra/accpt scores, organ music library)
Storage
Robes
Instrument storage (percussion, handbells, etc.)
PROFESSIONAL-PERSONAL JOB TOPICS, PROFESSIONAL SKILLS
Communication
Time & Task management for the director
Goals, strategies
Tools/techniques
Know how to match your skills/energies with the tasks and time of day/week
Networking with colleagues
Continuing ed
Sabbatical
Workshops
Conventions
Teaching & consulting AS learning
Teaching & consulting as sharing & propagating good music to others and future generations
Courses
Informal networking (ex: swapping notes w.r.t. compositions, performance practice, etc.)
Organ Repertoire, Practice
Concertizing outside the church (separate concert career)
“Care and Feeding” of Volunteers
recruiting
rewarding
delegating
Psychology of Dealing with People (Staff, volunteers, paid musicians)
Boundaries
Politics
MUSIC SCORES
Compositions/Arrangements
From Improvisation to Composed Music Score - tips on making the process more human-friendly
Tips on marking keyboard scores
Tips for marking director's choral (and full) scores
Music Library
Choral
Organization
Storage
Database/Spreadsheet/Indexing/Cataloguing (& MP3 archive)
Librarian & music return logistics
Numbering music and numbering choristers
Orchestral/instrumental accpts
Organ/personal library
Purchasing music scores (resources): discount list; online delivery; "consumer reports" ratings; list of free (out of copyright) old masters PDFs and MIDIs
Free score resources: Organ Choral X-tet(2-16 singers) Solo Instrumental Handbells
EDUCATION
Training choirs
Teaching your choristers
Intern/scholar programs
Encouraging youth to pursue music studies
RESOURCES
Forums, Listservs, BBoards, Blogs, Usenet, SocialMedia Groups/Categories, etc. (ex: http://virginiachorale.blogspot.com/ )
Books
Online media (YouTube, presentations/tutorials)
Professional organizations
CMH will be accepting articles to include in the repository late 2023.
Please email your interest for participating in this exciting project!