Lesson 6: Basic Directing Fundamentals and Helpful Hints

            Now that you are familiar with the basic patterns of directing and how to know which one to use, we will move on to the actual act of directing itself.  There are a lot of little nuances that many song directors miss or just aren’t aware of.  However, these little things can have a great impact on the congregation that you’re leading in song.  This lesson will just be a collection of fundamentals and hints, and we will take ample time for questions and some short discussion where needed.  There will be blanks to fill in for each question, and there will be room under each question to jot down your own notes.

 

  1. One of the most important things you can do as you lead singing is SMILE!  If you don’t enjoy the songs, then your congregation isn’t as likely to either.

 

  1. Look at the people and not so much at the hymnal.  I can’t tell you how many choir directors I’ve seen keep their eyes glued to the music.  They act like they are afraid of the congregation.  You have to look at them to lead them.

 

  1. Along the same lines as #2, be sure to look around the entire auditorium.  Don’t just stare out at one place on the back wall.  Look people in the eyes as you lead.  This way, people all over the auditorium know that you are paying attention to them as well.  You can glance down at the book occasionally for the next few words if you need to, but don’t keep your eyes there.

 

  1. Some churches sing every verse of every song.  There’s not really anything wrong with this, but I’m not a big fan of it.  There are a couple of reasons for my opinion:
    1. Most songs have 4 verses, and some have 3 or 5 verses.  Depending on the tempo (speed) of the song, singing every verse could cause the song to drag.  I occasionally do sing all the verses of a song, but usually only if it’s a faster-paced hymn with only 3 verses.  I never do it on every song in the service.  Mixing it up a little for variety is a good thing.
    2. You want to be careful that the song service doesn’t take too long, or the pastor could feel rushed in his preaching in order to get the people out at a decent hour.  Check with your pastor to see how he feels about this so that you know what you’re going to do before you’re actually up there in the middle of directing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. Get the congregation in the habit of watching YOU.  Most congregations have gotten into the habit of staring at their hymn books- EVEN ON SONGS THEY’VE SUNG FOR YEARS!  They need to always be aware of what you’re doing so that you have the freedom to do a little “special something” with a song if you feel so led.  Some ways to do this:
    1. Every so often, hold a note out longer than they usually sing it.  Those who are watching you will be able to follow what you’re doing, while those who are glued to the book will keep singing for a few words or so until they realize what’s going on. J  Do this or something similar a few times and they’ll get the idea that they need to pay attention to you as well as the book.
    2. On familiar hymns, occasionally make them put their books away and sing the last chorus or the last verse and chorus by memory.  This way, they’re forced to look directly at you as you lead them. 

 

  1. Don’t be afraid to sing songs in a variety of ways.  A couple of  examples:
    1. Sing a chorus or a verse and chorus a cappella. 
    2. Have just the men or just the ladies sing on a verse.

*Be creative.  As I’ve said before- enjoy it!

 

  1. If the pianist makes a mistake or loses his/her place and drops out because of it (I have had this happen), then keep singing.  Finish that verse and chorus, and then let the pianist rejoin you on the next verse.

 

  1. Speak loud enough for people to hear when introducing a song or telling them what verse to sing.  If you are a soft-spoken person, then clue your sound man in to this fact so he can boost the microphone a bit when you’re speaking.

 

  1. There are 2 ways that you can tell the congregation what verses to sing:
    1. At the beginning of the song. (i.e. “We’ll be singing the first, second, and last verses of……………..”)
    2. As you finish each verse, then tell them what verse to go to next.

*Again, vary these methods.

 

  1. Have a copy of the order of service with you on the platform so that you know what comes next and can be ready.

 

  1. In your hymnal, mark the songs that you are going to sing ahead of time.  Also have your pianist and any instruments you have do the same thing.  This way you have your book open and ready as you walk to the podium and you don’t have to wait for the pianist and other instruments to flip to the page as you announce it.  This saves some “dead time”.