Each performer in church music program has unique musical skills, interests and abilities. Some need days or weeks of rehearsal, and some can come in for an early rehearsal on a Sunday morning and learn the music on the spot.

For vocalists, the range and vocal quality vary from person to person. Equally important is the style of music in which they will make the best presentation. A classically trained vocalist will probably do well with a song from a musical, but may not be effective with rock, R&B or certain types of gospel. Tessitura is also a consideration. A selection that has an occasional high note will be less difficult than one which remains in the high range most of the time. To get a song into the best range, a keyboard with a transposition feature is often useful. If you want to do a certain song, it is best to find a vocalist who can present it well.

Two instrumentalists playing the same instrument may vary greatly in their range and technical ability. To help an instrumentalist succeed as a performer, it is good for the director to know about the instruments. For example, if a trumpet or sax is playing with a guitar, horns will prefer flat keys, and the guitar player may only know sharp keys. The solution is to capo the guitar on the first or third fret, and write a transposed chord chart. Various instruments have different ranges, clefs and transpositions, so if there are available players in the congregation or community, the music director can help them succeed by knowing, or learning, about their instruments.

Some players like to play from chord charts or lead sheets, while for others it is important that every note is written out. A versatile music director works well with “by ear” players and “by note” players. In rehearsal, members of a group will have varying levels of musical knowledge. Sometimes a brief well-placed comment, too elementary or advanced for some members, can provide important clarity to others. Arranging skills are a great asset to a music director. Writing arrangements, or ordering them from a trusted source, can insure that the music is designed for the specific skills and abilities of the musicians. When arranging for church there are copyright issues. Even if a selection is covered by an emPower Music and Arts or CCLI license, additional permission is needed to write an arrangement. Most New Thought songwriters are eager to have their music performed, and are glad to give permission. It is still important to ask.