Ethical quandary
When I attend church, I try to sing the songs well. This is not just because I like to sing (though I do), but because I think it is my duty to try to sing. I have a strong voice, and that helps steady the congregation, especially if the accompaniment is weak (and there are too many timid pianists and organists out there who don’t know how to provide a lead). I’m not trying to show off, I’m trying to help the song go over. Particularly if the congregation is unsure of the melody, I’ll sing the melody line; if they’re stronger/more familiar with it, I’ll often sing tenor (or sometimes bass) after the first verse, ‘cause that’s fun for me.
At the same time, I’ve sung in a lot of choirs, and I’ve learned to take direction. Singing in a group is not about me doing what I like, but singing the song the way the director wants it sung. Sometimes the director picks a piece of music I don’t like, but it’s still my responsibility to sing it as well as I can to support the group effort. Likewise, sometimes the director wants it sung in a way I don’t agree with, but I don’t contest for control of the song: I sing it the way the director wants. So this is not about my ego.
But what am I to do when the song leader can’t keep time? Particularly when they put the music up on the screen along with the words? Am I supposed to sing the music I can see, or follow the vocal stylings of the leader? Is my role to steady the congregation by following the beat, or support the song leader by trying to figure out what he’s doing?
And what am I to do when the song leader isn’t following the melody? I mean, if the song leader said, “let’s sing it this way,” I’d do that. But what if the song leader isn’t singing the notes, not just the phrases, the way they’re given? In folk music, where there is no printed music, however the leader sings it is how we sing it, and that’s not an issue. But if we’re singing something like Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) / Praise & Worship (P&W) music - which is built on the pop song rather than the folk ballad (and we’re all trying to sing it the way they sing it on the radio), then do I follow the song leader, or do I follow the music?
I just don’t know.
At the same time, I’ve sung in a lot of choirs, and I’ve learned to take direction. Singing in a group is not about me doing what I like, but singing the song the way the director wants it sung. Sometimes the director picks a piece of music I don’t like, but it’s still my responsibility to sing it as well as I can to support the group effort. Likewise, sometimes the director wants it sung in a way I don’t agree with, but I don’t contest for control of the song: I sing it the way the director wants. So this is not about my ego.
But what am I to do when the song leader can’t keep time? Particularly when they put the music up on the screen along with the words? Am I supposed to sing the music I can see, or follow the vocal stylings of the leader? Is my role to steady the congregation by following the beat, or support the song leader by trying to figure out what he’s doing?
And what am I to do when the song leader isn’t following the melody? I mean, if the song leader said, “let’s sing it this way,” I’d do that. But what if the song leader isn’t singing the notes, not just the phrases, the way they’re given? In folk music, where there is no printed music, however the leader sings it is how we sing it, and that’s not an issue. But if we’re singing something like Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) / Praise & Worship (P&W) music - which is built on the pop song rather than the folk ballad (and we’re all trying to sing it the way they sing it on the radio), then do I follow the song leader, or do I follow the music?
I just don’t know.