What is the Role of the Music Director in a Local Church?

INTRODUCTION

The office of a Music Director may be traced to bible history times with specific reference to the time David became king of Israel. Even though this portfolio had been around for a very long time, it was not until David became king that it gained prominence in the everyday life of God's people. A thorough study of the reforms that took place under David's leadership (1st Chronicles) will attest to the emphasis that he placed on temple worship music. These reforms brought to the fore music personalities like Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun, who became key leaders and Music Directors with varying responsibilities.

The dynamics involved in the role of Music Director become evident based on the environment of its performance. In David's time he, the king, was the chief musician while others functioned under him (1st Chronicles 25:1-8). This was so because apart from his royal responsibilities and calling, David had been raised and anointed of God for the office of the prophetic through music. By this we learn that it was not the fact that he was king that gave him right to be chief musician but rather a divine calling of God upon his life. When you look at the other kings of Israel beginning with Saul, we do not see any of them stepping into that Music Director role as David did.

This is in striking contrast to what pertains in some churches where the leader (vision bearer, Pastor, founder etc) in most cases takes up the Director's role as far as music is concerned. He would normally decide on how the choir is structured and run. He decides who joins, who sings what songs and so on. In most cases these things have frustrated the work of many genuinely called music directors. In no way does this suggest anyone can walk into a church and decide the direction or vision of the church, no. Everyone who works in any enterprise must be subject to the structure that governs the enterprise but this does not reduce the workers in an enterprise to functional robots who cannot bring their skill, knowledge and initiative to bear for the good of the vision.

It is in this spirit that we would be looking at the role of the Music Director not as one managing his own outfit outside the local church, but as one playing this role within the confines of a larger unit like the local church.

MISCONCEPTIONS

The misconception of a music director's work, job description and function differs from enterprise to enterprise and church to church. Unfortunately we tend to copy what we see as a success without trying to find out what foundation the success sits on. Systems have been reduced to fashion tags. Your peculiar music vision must be largely responsible for the system you employ. Here are some wrong concepts of music direction held by many even some who hold themselves out as music directors. It is hoped that this will begin to turn around our thinking of what the office of music director really is.

Some think the music director:

* Is appointed to teach songs like a choir master.
* Must be the most talented instrumentalist or singer or both.
* Must be the longest serving member in the enterprise or choir.
* Must be the most prayerful member in the enterprise or choir.
* Must be the most loyally serving and committed member.
* Must be the one in the choir with bible school experience.
* Must be an associate Pastor on the church Pastoral team
* Must be the most affable member with good relational skills.

While all these may be a plus for the job, the core business of music directing goes far beyond these. The question then is what is a music director's role? Is it to rehearse the band? Is it to decide who will sing what songs or to moderate meetings?

Tom Bright-Davies is a multi-talented musician. As a music educationist, he has written numerous materials in areas such as general music, voice, keyboards and production studies. You can access FREE useful resources on his blog at ABC of music.