Leadership Skills For Music Directors

– written by W.N Vincent

Diary of A Music Director
…Choir Circle

How can I cope in a choir where the keyboardist always plays unnecessary chord progressions whenever he manages to be on key?

When MD Jonah asked me this question, I immediately understood what he meant.

I know what it felt like being on the same team with an undisciplined instrumentalist. I have encountered many in my years as a music director. Can you relate?

So what did I say to him? I’ll share it with you right now.

First of all, there are certain skills you must posses as a Music Director or Choir leader.

Diplomacy and Empathy are some of them.

Dealing with a Choir will invariably mean coming across different character traits and preferences, and you need to be calm and collected when dealing with problems as they arise.

Also, on empathy:
Sometimes that’s not easy – difficult people can make you angry. But if you can manage to put yourself in their shoes for a moment, you may be able to understand why they’re exhibiting the behaviours that you find difficult. Perhaps that instrumentalist simply wants to please you or show you that he has really learnt something new.

With these two (2) skills, here’s how you can handle such a situation;

Tip 1. Talk to him.
There’s a whole lot an honest discussion between leader and member can do. I’ve seen it first hand.

First appreciate him of the good work he does (you can go off about how he comes early, actually makes efforts to score songs etc).

Note that, all of this appraisal won’t be useful if he can’t see your honesty.

Then tell him how you feel about this current challenge. Let him see that you are looking out for him and the team rather than just picking on him.

An honest talk will almost always work.

Tip 2. Build a pattern in your Choir.

When people join your choir what kind of pattern or system do they recognize?

Do they see a pattern of constant individualistic expression on the instrument or more of team work and harmony?

Truth is, team work is professional, and when executed expertly, it is a beauty to behold!

I often tell my instrumentalists when they begin to play a little bit ‘too much’, “Keep it down. Compliment yourselves.” Simple.

Truth is, the pattern doesn’t have to be printed on the wall, but if it’s in the team values, that is, ‘team work above individual show off’ new members will, with time, pick it up.

Tip 3. Tell him what to play.

To do this, you must actually have good knowledge of his musical instrument or have a general but solid knowledge on music fundamentals.

Honestly, no one will want you to instruct them when they feel in their hearts, that they do it better than you. Especially when you cannot really speak the language of their instrument.

Not everyone is that humble. Sometimes I tell my keyboardist, “this is the basic chord progression, vi, iii, iv, v. Now build on this progression and give me something better“. And he always gives me better.

This way, their play is more guided.

I do not agree that it inhibits creativity. Rather, it gives a backbone as other chords can be skillfully dished out, especially when they do not read music but play by ear. Help them appreciate the ‘beauty in simplicity’.

Tip 4. Bench Him!

This is at the extreme. If this particular keyboardist (instrumentalist) is not the only player on the team, and he is insistent on playing unnecessary things, even after all you have done everything listed above, keep praying for him but bench him.

While you bench him, keep him busy with assignments that are meant to help him in this area. Use this time to give others a chance.

You’re the choir leader, and ultimately, it is what you say that holds.

This is an authority I personally do not like exercising, but you’re tasked with the responsibility of building, not just sound instrumentalists, but also well behaved believers, so you have to think of the individual and the team.

Finally, No matter how ‘pissed’ you are, never approach such matters personally! Always strive to place the individual and the choir first. Because, when you take such things personally, there’s always a tendency to mess it up. Exercise self-control and correct with love else, emotions flare up! Words you didn’t intend to use are used.

Your instrumentalist may act or say things in a manner that they don’t mean, depending on their maturity level.

Be diplomatic. Be empathic.

As a musician you should know that there’s also beauty in simplicity.

You must not play too many things at the same time to show how good you are. It’s not being professional. It’s important that you know when to play what.

Was this helpful? I’d love to hear from you in the comments section.

Cheers.