TJMC-UU Music Task Force Report
This is the Music Task Force’s Report in response to the Board’s charge to identify “the long term needs of our music program utilizing data and input from the congregation as a whole, members of the TJMC-UU musical community, the UUA and other sources as needed.” The Task Force conducted four group interviews and then received responses from 170 people to an online and hard copy survey. The survey was comprised of 54 checked items and 14 open-ended questions that generated 70 pages of comments. It is evident that the congregation cares a lot about the music program since they took the time to provide a generous quantity of comments and suggestions.
This report is divided into four sections:
I. How are we doing now? - How effective and accepted is our current music program?
II. How do we make it better? - What changes or practices should we adopt to improve the music program at TJMC-UU?
III. What did we learn? - What did we learn that should be avoided or that the majority of the congregation did not want incorporated into our music program?
IV. What do we recommend? - What should the Board consider as we re-imagine our music program hereafter?
I - How are we doing now?
Based on our review of the responses to checked questions, narrative comments, analysis, anecdotal comment and personal observations - we conclude:
Music is important to the congregation and the music program is generally adding to the spiritual and worship experience expected and needed by the congregants. (97% of the respondents stated they Strongly Agree or Agree with the statement that “Music is very important to my worship experience”.)
Sunday music reflected in hymns and choir presentations meets the basic needs of our congregation, though some changes were suggested to improve the program and make it more inviting. (46% Strongly Agree or Agree while 36% marked Neutral to: “The best way to have music in a Sunday worship service is through Congregational hymns and adult choir presentations.” In response to “The current music program at TJMC-UU meets all of spiritual needs” 43% marked Strongly Agree or Agree and 36% were Neutral.)
Rev. Erik’s occasional guidance of hymn-singing was mentioned frequently as a positive, fresh feature of Sunday services - resulting in increased participation, and … ‘gusto’.
Presentation of the “back story” to musical selections is appreciated by three-quarters of the respondents while 19% feel neutral.
There is strong support for our current practice of Sunday service music and hymns reflecting the sermon theme(s) (78% either Strongly Agree or Agree).
A majority thought that the adult choir should be involved in two services a month - our current practice. (Strongly Agree + Agree = 54% and Neutral = 37%)
Having three hymns during a Sunday service is appreciated. Varying that number on occasion would be fine.
93% feel that religious, secular, traditional and contemporary music are all appropriate at Sunday services.
In addition to widespread appreciation for Scott Deveaux’s work as choir director and singular pianist, many highlighted the instrumental and vocal contributions of the other musicians within our congregation.
A number of people reported missing the occasional musical contributions of our youth.
70% support TJMC-UU continuing to sponsor both religious and secular concerts throughout the year.
In conclusion - the current Music Program is quite satisfying to most of the respondents. For some “the quality of the music at TJMC-UU is what brought me to the church in the first place.”
II - How do we make it better?
We reviewed the information and comments received to determine what changes or practices we might adopt to improve the music program at TJMC-UU. The majority of comments supports our current variety and diversity of music, seeks expansion of the choir’s music selections, supports the postlude and small group presentations, and is in favor of the addition of other instruments (including non-traditional ones).
Many want to use the talent present in our congregation to provide this variety as well as inviting outside groups (such as the Ebenezer Baptist choir and the Charlottesville Women’s Choir) to be an occasional part of the service.
Suggestions for types of music in the Sunday service include selections from other religious traditions, ragtime, jazz, world music, folk music with a message, songs from the 60s and 70s, more spirituals, and more music from the teal hymnal.
There were a number of requests for more guitar music and more music featuring Wendy Repass. Also requested were quartets and duets from inside and outside the church. The majority also wanted to hear smaller groups from the choir.
- Hymns and choir selections should continue to be interwoven with the service.
- Some people want the postlude to enhance the worship theme.
- Congregational singing in rounds was also supported by the majority.
- Regarding location of the choir, most who mentioned it wanted the choir in the balcony.
- A majority favor re-establishing a children’s choir and/or youth choir. They suggest having these choirs sing at some Sunday services or special events.
- There is support for children’s bands and music lessons. Most of the comments stated that there wasn’t enough time in the children’s schedule for rehearsals or lessons but, to alleviate that problem, the children could rehearse between services or have music and music lessons as an option or as part of the RE program.
- There were suggestions that children should be included in visits to nursing homes, retirement venues, and Martha Jefferson Hospital.
- There is support for an exchange of choirs with other faiths and with other UU churches.
- A majority wanted TJMC-UU to sponsor both religious and secular concerts during the year. Programs such as ‘Soulful Sundown’ should be re-established.
Other suggestions for activities included:
- a concert series with different types of featured music.
- social evenings focused on group singing with a guitarist; coffeehouses; and seasonal music events.
- different music on subsequent Sundays such as a choir/piano service, a folk or contemporary music service
- having a “Band Without Borders” (a la ‘doctors without borders’) as a church ministry.
III - What did we learn?
In general, survey results did not indicate strong negative responses to what TJMC-UU is doing now in its music program. Many of the responses were suggestions to “tweak around the edges”, as opposed to wholesale redesign of the program. The focus of responses was to support the current music program and be open to improvement in and expansion of that program in various ways. Nevertheless there were some indications of what TJMC-UU should avoid.
Since music is so important to 97 percent of respondents, it would be unwise to reduce the amount of, or emphasis on, music in Sunday Services.
The church should not make any hard and fast assumptions about the best type of music program to implement in worship services, but should try new and different ideas and incorporate what works for the majority. The one overriding principle is to be sure to avoid any disconnect between music and the sermon or theme of the Sunday service.
The congregation supports more choral presentations in Sunday services with several caveats:
- it views the adult choir as a valued part of the music program, but does not want to hear the full adult choir more than twice a month and on special occasions.
- the music program should be not be limited to the adult choir, but expanded to include both youth and children’s choirs, as well as use of small groups of the choir(s) at worship services.
- there is recognition that such an expanded program takes additional resources (i.e. more than a half-time Director of Music, dollars and volunteer time).
- as some respondents stated emphatically: “don’t leave the children out!” To do this, TJMC-UU needs to prioritize the needs and be able to ensure the resources are available.
Survey results about a number of miscellaneous changes to services highlighted that:
- while open to innovation in general, the majority are not in favor of dancing in services and are of mixed opinion on whether or not to remain seated for postludes.
- there is a strong sense that musical offerings ought to be integral to the service and not conceived of as “performances”.
- there is mixed opinion on whether applause after presentations should be encouraged.
- being able to see and read the words of the choir presentation is not important to a majority of respondents.
In cases of mixed opinions, TJMC-UU may want to avoid instituting those suggested changes or find ways to accommodate only that part of the congregation.
- There was no strong support for organizing adult and youth dances.
- There was also only lukewarm interest in AFD classes in music theory, music reading, etc.
The caveat to the above suggestions and comments is that, in addition to congregational support, implementation relies on a limited supply of time, talent and money.
IV. What do we recommend?
The current Music Program is quite satisfying to most of the respondents. They overwhelmingly support the current music program and are open to improvement in and expansion of that program.
1. TJMC-UU should consider ways to expand the music program, taking advantage of the many innovative ideas that have come out of the survey and Rev. Erik’s expertise in the area. Above all, we should not reduce the amount of or emphasis on the current music program or the music currently in our Sunday services.
2. The hymns, choir selections and other music selections should help expand the meaning and be interwoven with the message of the service.
3. Musical offerings ought to be integral to the service and not conceived of as “performances”.
4. We should present the “back story” to at least one musical selection at each Sunday Service.
5. Our current practice of having the Adult Choir involved in two services a month should continue.
6. We should consider incorporating secular, traditional and contemporary as well as religious music into our Sunday services.
7. We should continue to solicit and use the talent present in our congregation to provide musical variety.
8. The music program should be not be limited to the adult choir, but expanded to include both youth and children’s choirs, as well as use of small groups of the choir(s) at worship services. Let’s involve youth in innovative music-related ways in our services.
9. We recommend that TJMC-UU sponsor both religious and secular concerts during the year. Programs such as ‘Soulful Sundown’ should be re-established.
In conclusion, we found that music and our music program is a very subjective area. Consequently, we recommend that we not make any hard and fast assumptions about the best type of music program to implement, but should try new and different ideas and incorporate what works for the majority.
One overriding principle is to be sure to avoid any disconnect between music and the sermon or theme of the Sunday service.
We, the members of the TJMC-UU Music Task Force, want to thank the Board for the opportunity to delve into such an important and diverse area of our church life. We hope this report provides some insight and value to your decision process.
In faith,
Jen Caswell-Colbert
Heather Garrett
Bob Gross
Marlene Jones
Walt Megonigal
Carol Saliba
Bev Thierwechter
Erik Walker Wikstrom
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