Over many years the music in the New Apostolic Church in India was homegrown with very few English songs. Since 2003, efforts were made to improve this. Ever since, quality music reached many of the congregations and a National Choir having about 150 trained singers taken from different congregations of the country has been formed. These singers now desired to take the music to congregations that had not reached so far.
Moving Forward
With encouragement by our District Apostle Helper David Devaraj, choir leaders for each area were found who decided to meet in order to build a common strategy and working style. The first such meeting was held in Mumbai, on the 11th of March 2018.
The Needs and Strategy
The choir leaders decided to have a choir functional wherever any trained singing members are present. Efforts would be made to encourage more youth to participate in the choir, with proper segregation of singers for different purposes such as local, regional, and National level. Children are the future, and for the music work to be continued, it was decided to train children to be future members of the choir.
It is well known that without discipline, no organized group can work well. The need for discipline in the choir, along with following hierarchy and protocol in communication was also discussed. District Evangelist Abraham Mythri stressed the need to have more members knowing how to play musical instruments, as that will help a lot in improving the music and choir development in our church in India.
Reviewing the Fundamentals
Deacon Moses reviewed the instructions and training in reading music notes, and how to train members with little or no knowledge of music. A new application called Musescore was introduced which will help the choir members to quickly and effectively learn and brush up songs. The choir leaders were shown how to use this tool properly, so that they can teach the next level of users.
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The members present were encouraged to cut down their travel expenses to the maximum possible. A feedback was taken from those present about their experiences from the meeting. With renewed enthusiasm to work harder for the development of choirs and music in India, the meeting was concluded with a prayer.
Immediate Progress
The enthusiasm to take the music development program forward was evidenced by a follow-up meeting in one area. A choir leader and sister had a music meeting with members of the Sathe Nagar congregation on the 18th March, 2018. They passed on the instructions and plan received at the choir leaders meeting a week earlier. They also found some good singers in the group, and helped them understand how to use the Musescore app. Three songs were taught using the app. This was just one example of the music work being taken forward.
Similar reports are being received from other areas, and the music work in India is truly moving to the next level.
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