Youth Choirs. . . An Unlimited Potential

By Randy Kilpatrick

Rule number 1

The main reason students come to youth choir is rarely for the music.

Rule number 2

No director can change rule #1

Don’t fight this truth—like a surfer, RIDE the wave of this truth

Given that students love being together, play off that in rehearsal.

For example: 

1. We ALWAYS have food and drinks at the end of rehearsal 

2. We always have a walk around talking time in the middle somewhere to
get them up and talking. 

3. Have some friendly competition between the sections to get more people
there, get more notes right, better attention to director, etc.

Building a tradition of excellence (and fun)

          Create a culture of great music

          Create  a unique identity

Create anticipation of opening day

Create a Super Rehearsal

Create successes small and large

          Create community like that mentioned above

          Create a spirit of “I can’t wait…”

          Create communication

          Create competition (students love games and competition)

Create a culture of great music

          Children’s choirs

          Cast vision to parents—what do parents want from youth choir?
          Mail a letter to  them—you can see my “THIS year’s letter” at the
          bottom of this outline.

          Talk to students about your ideas—listen to them, too. 
          We have a team of students who help give direction and leadership
          to the choir.

          Expect a lot, but “demand” carefully.

Create a unique identity

          Creative name (YOUTH CHOIR is OK but it can be better!)

          Shirts with a unique logo of the choir on them

          Rehearsal space—sound system/video possibility is needed these
          days, even internet connection for demonstrations

          Ministry role—how can we help each other?

          Good press—every time the choir does something wonderful make
          sure it is in the church paper and, if you live in a small town,
          the TOWN paper

Create anticipation

          Plan ahead

          Mail out creative piece/item

          Make it a “NOT to be MISSED” event

Create a Super Rehearsal—look at everything from the student’s “eye” view

          The RIGHT Director—who is best at being themselves (this may
          or may NOT be the Minister of Music)

          The RIGHT Adults—parents or not?  Enlist people who LOVE
          being around kids!

          The RIGHT accompanist—the wrong one can really SLOW you down

          The RIGHT literature

          The RIGHT pacing

          The RIGHT ministry time

          The RIGHT ending

Create successes small and large

          Early success—at church and outside

          Medium project—YouthCue Festival

          Big project—Mission trip or BIG YouthCue Festival

          Massive project—International mission

Create Community

          Personal Interviews  

Walk and Talk at a point during rehearsal

          Section Connection—have sections over to your house (or someone’s)

          What talents do you have—instrumental, theatrical, movement
          —use them with kids

          Prayer needs

          Scripture and prayer

          Food—ALWAYS food

Create “I Can’t Wait”

          Introduce new music WELL  

Rehearsal pacing that makes “I love this”

Reward for returning

          Attendance Requirements

Create Communication

          E mail

          Phone tree

          Mail out—every week, if possible

          Ministry sponsor

Create Competition and sense of Team

          Recruiting game

          Inner-rehearsal competition

          Every section pulling for every other section

Questions? Comments?  What did I fail to address so far?

Getting some more specifics:  theses things could actually have
their OWN series

The Anatomy of a Great Tour

Things to consider when traveling abroad

Fund Raising (Jobs R Us, Silent Auction, Pasta and Pianos, Golf Tournament)

Vocal placement and Changing Voice

Senior High and Junior High or combination

Officers/Leadership Team

Staff relationships—Student Minister and Thee

YouthCUE is one of the best sources out there—www.youthcue.org

This year’s letter to Parents:

Dear Tallowood Parents of High School students:

In just a few short weeks, you and your family will be settling back into
the “school routine” for the new year—whatever that means for your family. 
I am excited that things are gearing up here in the Student Music Ministry
at Tallowood, and that is the purpose of this letter.  As you know, Tallowood
has one of the finest music ministries anywhere, and I want your family
to benefit from the many offerings that are here for you.

 On Sunday, August 22, 2004, at 4:30 p.m., Sonlight (9^th through 12^th grade) begins.  For many of you, it is a “given” at your house that the students will participate
in this wonderful choir.  Thank you so much for making that choice for
your family!  Now, I want to speak, for a moment, to families who haven’t
made this decision.

As their director, I am committed to every choir member—every student—
growing socially, emotionally, musically, and spiritually through Sonlight. 
Notice that I said EVERY student.  I have a strong conviction that everyone,
in their formative years, should have a good choral experience.  There is
nothing else quite like being in a choir!  The student choirs at Tallowood
are for students who love to sing, but they are also for students who have
not yet had the opportunity to sing in a choir.  Since I believe God wants all
of us to be worshipers, we design our programs to enhance the worship
growth and maturity of every student.  Therefore, we have often had
students who perhaps contributed less to the sound of the choir than others,
but they had the opportunity to see their heart become a worshiping heart
through their choral experience here.

Like the musical score that plays during a fine film, I believe that every
student is recording his/her own life “sound track.”  What music is being
recorded in your student’s life and heart?  A recent national survey asked
students to where they turned when they had problems and questions. 
You might think that they turn to their friends, but the actual number
one response was that they turn to their music for answers.  As the
director of Sonlight, I commit to you that we will sing music that contains
biblically sound texts.  The music that we sing is the kind of music that
connects with each student and will provide God’s Word to them whenever
they need it.  While I have committed Scripture to memory over my life,
the vast majority of Scripture that I truly know by heart has been through
songs that I have sung in choirs throughout my life.  

This coming summer is a “mission choir tour” year and (Lord willing) we hope
to take the high school students to England, July 21–August 1, 2005.  We
will be performing for the Baptist World Alliance World Congress in
Birmingham, plus concerts in London, Bath Abbey, and a concert with the
Cardiff Youth Chorus in Wales.  Additionally, we will be doing mission work
in several locations throughout the tour.  Although we are still working on
the financial details, we know that this trip will cost money.  We are
asking Tallowood to budget 50% of the cost of the trip for each student
and then for each student to raise the other half of the money.  To help
make this happen, we are providing several fund raisers.

In the past, every student who has diligently worked on fund raisers has
easily made enough money for the trips, without parents spending any
money, but you need to start early.  On the very first rehearsal, we are
beginning the preparations for the first fund raiser, so I would love for
EVERY student to be there opening night on August 22 at 4:30.  I believe
that this will be a tremendous year for Tallowood high school students,
so MAKE sure your family is a part of it.  In early October, Jerome and I
will be going to England to make preparations for all the details. We will
be having an initial Parent’s Information meeting on October 17 after
evening worship.  We will let you know more details then.

If you have any questions, or would just like to talk to me, please call me. 

Sincerely,

Randy

Randy Kilpatrick is Associate Minister of Music, Tallowood Baptist Church,
Houston, Texas.

[2004 BCMC Journal Index]  

[Return to BCMC Journal Main Page]