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Rating: 
Summary: Striking the right chord
Review: About 3½ years ago, I was suddenly placed in charge of a small choral group of nine people. This saved me a lot of time and energy. Many of my fears, were mentioned in the first chapter. The book is encouraging and insightful because it deals with problems and solutions you will have to deal with as a music minister in your church. If you're starting and don't have much experience this will be a great book to help you over the learning curve. If you've been doing choir for a while, this will encourage you with some of the best ideas concerning music ministry. I've re-read the book as a refresher and truly feel like the fire has been restarted.
Rating:
Summary: Striking the right chord
Review: About 3½ years ago, I was suddenly placed in charge of a small choral group of nine people. This saved me a lot of time and energy. Many of my fears, were mentioned in the first chapter. The book is encouraging and insightful because it deals with problems and solutions you will have to deal with as a music minister in your church. If you're starting and don't have much experience this will be a great book to help you over the learning curve. If you've been doing choir for a while, this will encourage you with some of the best ideas concerning music ministry. I've re-read the book as a refresher and truly feel like the fire has been restarted.
Rating:
Summary: Compact value for newcomer or experienced
Review: For the inexperienced church choir director, this book is a godsend. Very little instruction in how to wave your arms, but jam-packed with information on how to do the thousands of other things that choir directors have to do. To quote the book, "It's not enough just to be a good musician.... A church choir director must be a conductor, a coach, a teacher, a pastor, a dictator, a diplomat, a salesperson, a promoter, a cheerleader, a caregiver, a people person, an idea person, an organizer, a singer, and oh yes, a musician."
This little book has dozens of ideas on how to keep the energy and spirit and joy in a church choir. I used a dozen little Post-It tabs to mark places I wanted to re-read. Highly recommended.
For actual conducting technique, I recommend Choral Conducting: Focus on Communication, by Harold A. Decker and Colleen J. Kirk.
Rating:
Summary: Compact value for newcomer or experienced
Review: For the inexperienced church choir director, this book is a godsend. Very little instruction in how to wave your arms, but jam-packed with information on how to do the thousands of other things that choir directors have to do. To quote the book, "It's not enough just to be a good musician.... A church choir director must be a conductor, a coach, a teacher, a pastor, a dictator, a diplomat, a salesperson, a promoter, a cheerleader, a caregiver, a people person, an idea person, an organizer, a singer, and oh yes, a musician."
This little book has dozens of ideas on how to keep the energy and spirit and joy in a church choir. I used a dozen little Post-It tabs to mark places I wanted to re-read. Highly recommended.
For actual conducting technique, I recommend Choral Conducting: Focus on Communication, by Harold A. Decker and Colleen J. Kirk.
Rating:
Summary: Simple, sweet and innovative
Review: I found this to be the most inspiring book I found that is written specifically for a new choirmaster. It doesn't get too technical. It offers unusual suggestions for getting your choir out of its established rut. It prepares you for the emotional issues that will arise. I read "The Wednesday Night Workout" the summer before I took the reins of our choir and found it to be VERY helpful. I began the new choir season organized, innovative and armed with humor.
Rating:
Summary: The Wednesday Workout: Practical Techniques
Review: This book was received in great shape and actually sooner than I expected.
I know it will be really helpful in learning how to become a better choir director. Thank you for writing a down to earth book that is so easy to understand and with so many wonderful helps and hints. It is a great book.
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