Attracting and retaining volunteers for your choir

Carl Dierschow led a discussion of 42 participants on Wednesday June 19th.  This was an interactive session to uncover what works for people in attracting volunteers, and retaining inspired people over the long term.

There were four discussion questions:

1. What attracted you, personally, to volunteer in a group?  What have you seen that works for bringing in people, even if it's not in a church context?
2. What experiences have you had which caused you to stay involved in a group over the long term?
3. When we look at successful organizations, what keeps volunteers involved over a long period?
4. What is the one thing that you want to take away from this discussion and implement in your parish?

We also had a short discussion near the end about a particular idea: Actually letting people know how much they're appreciated.

You can hear the recording of our questions and large-group discussion here, although the noise level is quite high because it was a restaurant environment.  There are five sections, separated by three seconds of silence.

The notes below are unfiltered and in no particular order.  You will see plenty of cases where an idea may directly contradict another, but that's quite fine.  The point is to get new ideas which may be applicable in your situation.

I will be posting further ideas and observations to the Musicasacra Forum under the topic Management of Music Programs.

Please send your ideas, observations and corrections to Carl Dierschow.

What attracted you to volunteer in a group?  What brings in people?

• I joined because my wife asked
• There was a a need for a new music minister
• Liked the music of the church (G&P)
• Monsignor started to push more traditional sacred music
• Providing simple thank-you notes (and on special occasions, gifts) to the volunteers
• Repetition – Spanish Ordinaries (marello.org site)
• Good repertory
• Personal invitation
• Ask choir members to invite others
• Local paper ads – religious section
• Not limited to Catholics
• Be selective about choir members
• Integrating better music gradually
• Supportive pastor
• Social activities to bond members
• Prayer
• Karaoke night with popular music – identify good singers and invite
• Specific call to learn the music of the Church
• Ask for volunteers for special events
• $
• Quality music
• Enjoying music
• Exchange services – accompany singles in exchange for college kids singing in choir
• Unified music staff – comfortable, fun, efficient rehearsal environment
• Special guest singers from other parishes
• Latin – wanted to learn it
• Casual approach – OK to NOT make a full commitment
• Likes the director – lots of praise, low pressure
• Masses that are reverent are attractive
• Members are welcoming and friendly
• Pastor (and Bishop) who are supportive and put $ where their mouths are
• Students in choir
• Children in the choir
• Dynamic and charismatic and accomplished director
• Well organized
• Make it known that all are welcome and you don't expect miracles
• Very beginner-friendly – be receptive to peoples' needs, everyone starts at the beginning
• Lessons in chant
• Offering the reasons behind why we need them
• Person to person
• Director available by email and phone
• When you announce that you are looking for people, tell the congregation that if the person next to you can sing, turn and tell them "you should join the choir"
• Music theory, music lessons for CHILDREN 2 times a week, start young
• Kids are fearless; involvement of the parents
• Practice time accessible for the group
• Before Mass 45+ minutes
• CDs to practice from
• If you can, don't waste the talents God has given you in music
• Set time commitment (1 season or semester)
• Can you pitch it as a family or couples' activity?
• Desire for music, religion, socializing
• Practice after Mass so folks don't have to come twice
• Socialize – it brings people closer and commits them to each other
• Beautiful music
• Professional, attractive group
• Instilled sense of purpose
• Choir loft (for shy people)
• Talented, committed music director
• Offering musical training
• Convenience of rehearsals

Why did you stay with a volunteer situation for many years?

• Seeing that I could make a difference in other peoples' lives
• I was at liturgy and I could play – there was a need – giving back to God the gifts he gave me
• Personally rewarding
• Labor of love
• Adventure – learning more music
• Creative opportunity with pressure
• Those who can, should share it
• When you can see accomplishments in something you believe in
• Given responsibilities
• Learning beyond the basics – volunteers teaching others
• Create family
• Teach children
• Sense of good accomplishment – intrinsic reward
• Obligation/loyalty
• Sense of responsibility
• Respect from others
• Variety of music
• Members who are friends and care about one another outside of the group
• Guilt that no one else will do it
• Social life, good company, friends
• Passion for the subject
• Church + Music = perfect
• Talent – using our gifts
• Growing in your talent
• Activities – interaction
• Love of the material
• Style/type of music
• If the music is already good, people will join
• A need to be filled
• Responsibility – you've been given talent, give it back to God
• Social aspect – camaraderie, making friends, fun
• Prayer group – share intentions
• Feeling important/needed
• Encouraging choir director
• Learning to be better singers
• Regularity of practice, routine
• Commitment to worship, give yourself to God
• Growing closer to God
• Responding to requests
• Relationship with the director
• Sing in harmony
• Parish talent show
• Special opportunities
• I like the people
• Part of my ministry to the church
• Peoples' salvation depends on what we do, so we have to do it
• If beautiful music brings people to God, we should do it
• Choir feels proud of their accomplishment in their improved singing and the uniqueness of the music
• Enhances my spiritual life
• Schedule breaks for folks don't burn out
• Being a valued member
• Forming friendships
• Assigned parts
• Enjoy the music

What makes for organizations which attract and keep volunteers coming back?

• It's a creative outlet for artistic endeavors
• Seasonal activities (once a year)
• Treat people well
• Concrete and valuable work to do
• Appreciated/valued members
• Because of prestige they have
• Keep the volunteer in the "highlights"
• Volunteers are getting something in return
• Camaraderie, make friends
• Fun
• Meaningful
• Social
• Choir really adds to the experience of the congregation
• For the love of God
• Feel they are needed
• Feeling of belonging as a group
• Using God-given gifts which other people don't possess
• Singing funerals – total gift – brings more meaning
• Grew up wanting to sing, then it became a vocation
• Strong leadership – Dedication, interest in the work involved
• Combination of work & fun
• Connectedness
• Sense of success
• Sense of accomplishment
• Level of material suitable – build up psyche; success; meet pastoral needs
• Teaching why this is important
• Feedback needed
• Meaning in what we do
• Public acknowledgement from pulpit – appreciation dinner – from priest
• Pastor visits rehearsal to thank us
• Several gatherings – get to know each other just as people
• Took kids on trip to sing for a special occasion (Our Lady of Guadalupe for migrant workers) – lingering memories
• It was fun
• Rewarding
• You felt needed
• Fed me spiritually
• My talents were used
• You enjoy being around the people, friendship
• Fits into my schedule
• You feel appreciated
• Outlet for my artistic expression
• Prestige
• Support
• Integrity
• Volunteers are shown appreciation
• Offer opportunities for shorter obligations
• New opportunities given, not always the same
• Organizational structure
• Function (no dysfunctionality)
• Preparedness of those in charge
• Passionate leadership
• Unification in goals and vision
• Give them valued and important work to do
• Optimist club – surround themselves in positivity doing good works
• Friendships are formed that transcend the club or group – example: 2 of our single women from choir now get together and go to movies, others get together for lunches
• A goal of some kind
• Leaders have the group's trust and inspire them
• Purpose, cause, vision
• Looking for a niche, able to fill it
• It NEEDS volunteers, your gifts
• Go out and ask for volunteers
• Comes from the pulpit
• Financial compensation

How does the choir know that you appreciate what you do?

• Word of thanks from priest
• People sing through recessional hymn

What is the one thing that you will take away from this discussion?

• As Monsignor to sing more of his part
• Start moving ONE of the weekend Masses toward more chant
• Vocal technique for singers
• Vowels – unified
• Long-term plans
• Stretch plan to about 5 months
• Ways to encourage people: (1) improve in specific praise of people in choir; (2) get pastor to come by and compliment
• Improve on warmups
• Give people heads-up on what's to be rehearsed each time
• Educate parishioners in sacred music
• Show them how special sacred music is
• Training choirs with sacred music and be more confident
• Write faster
• Look into Ward classes
• Let people know they are essential to the liturgy
• Let them know they do a good job
• Trying to keep 1-2 key singers in each point to help be able to sing repertoire
• Be more thankful of my schola, more appreciative, and vocalize it to them
• Find more things to praise choir members about, even when there's a lot of work to do
• Being more aware of what motivates choir members
• Communicate better to all members
• Don't underestimate choir, use the technical terms with them
• Bring in Liturgy of the Hours, more formal chant

For further recordings, please contact carl@dierschow.com.
Last edited 24 July 2013