Article Type : Review Article
Authors : Ndah SD
Keywords : Church musicians; Church management; Career; Challenges
The study sought to explore the woes or challenges
that church musicians go through in discharging of their duties as church
musicians; and also to investigate the perception of the church towards the
church musicians. The paper targeted church musicians who were sampled using
purposive sampling technique. Data was collected through interview and
participant observation. The study revealed that, lack of commitment on the
part of the choristers pose a challenge for the church musicians. Also, the
music ministry is not well recognized as an integral part of the church, in
addition, church management always see church musicians as natural gifts to the
church so they should render their services without any financial reward.
Besides, church management is not always ready to release money for procurement
of proper musical instruments. It was however recommended that, church
management should be made to understand that, music is a career for church
musicians and so they must be paid for their services accordingly. Also, the
church should rationalize the allowances and remunerations of the church
musicians from their headquarters so that, there would not be any conflict
whenever monies are to be paid to the church musicians.
Many careers exist for many people in society; and
these careers serve as a source of livelihood for those who practice in those
chosen disciplines. In Ghana, many engage in music making as a career and for
that matter a source of livelihood. There are many vocations in the music
industry in Ghana that anyone could choose from. These are music producers,
live concert performers, sound engineers as well as choral artistes. There are
also church musicians who ply their trade in the churches; either serving
organists, choir directors or sound technicians.
The sole aim of every entrepreneur is to maximize
profit. Therefore, many of the church musicians in Ghana who take up such roles
as career equally hope to make monetary gains in that regard. But narratives
seem to differ when it comes to those who choose to do their trade in churches
in Ghana. This is because majority of the people seem not to recognize or
acknowledge the fact that people could choose their career as musicians in
churches. There is perception out there that services of church musicians
should be rendered free in the Lord’s vineyard.
Since music making has become part and parcel of
Ghanaian society, people equally choose careers in such disciplines. Church
music is very vibrant in Ghanaian religious worship. But how does society perceive
those into church music? Many at times,
the church musicians are chastise as working against the church whenever they
demand for remunerations for musical services rendered in the church.
However, church music making is a vocation which
requires a special skills and training. So if anyone trains in that regard and
want to pursue his or career, shouldn’t the one be given the chance to
practice?
Ndah [1] careers that relate to music in the church
include: Director of music, church Organist / Pianist, Choirmaster / Choir
mistress and instrumentalist. Mireku [2] also share that, there are careers in
church music making. They outlined some of the disciplines as church organist,
choir directors and conductors.
The researchers therefore explained that, once they
have executed such services, they must be paid accordingly.
Church musicians are found in many communities in
Ghana; perhaps as a result of proliferation of churches in recent times.
According to the recent population census report in Ghana, about 71 % of the
population is Christians. This and many other factors could have accounted for
the reasons why musicians who perform for churches are in abundance. There have
been many empirical studies in the music in the church. For example, Aniadze
[3] studied on the role of music in the religious worship. Ndah as well wrote
on the challenges facing church choirs in Mampong municipality in the Ashanti
region of Ghana [1]. But further scientific observation showed that, a lot have
not been published on the burdens of the church musicians in some selected
communities in Ghana. So it has become so necessary for this study to be done
to highlight the woes of the church musicians in discharging their duties in
church. Also, to investigate the perception of the church and society in
general towards church musicians
Objectives of the Study
The
objectives of the study are to
Research
questions
Church music in Ghana
Many musical genres are found among Ghanaian. One of
which is sacred music also known as church music [4], church music is the type
that was bestowed on the people of Ghana by foreign missionaries when they
introduced Christianity in Africa and Ghana for that matter. They therefore
opine that, church music is any instrumental or vocal renditions that take
place during worship in honour of God. Agordoh as well shares that, church
music associates with orthodox and charismatic churches in Ghana [5]. He
identifies some of the orthodox churches as Presbyterian Church of Ghana,
Evangelical Presbyterian church, Ghana, Methodist church Ghana. The rest he
states as Seventh Day Adventist Church, Roman Catholic and Baptist church. He
lists the charismatic churches as Pentecost, Assemblies of God and Apostolic
churches. He adds that, because the musical type associates with the
missionaries, performance of church music was meant to be devoid of any theme
or elements from within the traditional setting of the people. Aniadze sides
with opines that, church music is based on biblical text and it is perform in
honour of God [3-5]. He shares further that, the intention of Church music is
to pray to God, give thanks and to show respect to God. He states that, the alternative
name for the church music is sacred music. Observing the assertions of all the
authorities above, it could therefore be concluded that church music is vocal,
instrumental or dance movements that are experienced during church service in
honour of God.
Music and Dance are everyday phenomenon which has become part and parcel of Ghanaian society including church life. Musical types such as Negro Spirituals are sung during Christian worship in Ghana to bring joy to the congregants during worship [5]. Ocran music in the church provides entertainment as well as emotional fulfillment the congregants [6]. He opines that, church music helps to bring together the youth in the church and help to keep them in the church. He cites an example that music and liturgy have been translated into the local languages for the worshipers; both literate and non-literates. Because of that, it helps to arouse their understanding of the liturgy and also understand the meaning of the text that are sung during worship. Asare [7] shares that music in Christian worship helps in the healing processes of an individual. He gives examples among the Twelve Apostles church in Ghana where music during worship is used as a healing therapy as well. He posits that, music and dance are used from diagnostic stage through to the healing stage where through the music, the Holy Spirit is invited to descend and at this point, he states that, the singing, clapping and playing of instrument increase in tempo. He continues that after the sicknesses are diagnose and treatment revealed, the lyrics of the songs change to giving thanks to God for revealing the cause and treatment of the sickness. He clarifies that, without music and dance, the Holy Spirit wouldn’t come down to manifest. Aniadze [3], music in Christian worship is very vital. They substantiate that, music serves as a medium through which prayers are offered to God. They also state that music serves as a bond that brings together the congregants for harmonious living socialization. They again posit that music and dance movements help in the invocation of the Holy Spirit. It could therefore be inferred from the assertions of the scholars above that, music making in the church is so pivotal as it helps society to pray to God, receive healing and also to entertain themselves. The studies of all the authorities for this review [3-7] have all confirm the same assertions of each other.
Challenges of Music
making in the Church in Ghana
Music making in the church in Ghana is always
confronted with certain setbacks. Kow [8], one of the challenges that hinder
music making in the church is inadequate funds for music directors to motivate
them and also to help manage musical groups in the church. They also state
recruitment, nurturing and retention of talented singers as another challenge.
They opine that, investing in skills development and training for the members
in a choir are often neglected by management of the choirs. They state further
that, for financial constraints that confront church music in Ghana in general,
75 % of choirs experience financial challenges. They posit that, music
directors always struggle to secure funds to manage the choirs. Ndah [1], some
of the challenges that confront music making in the church are: Lack of
financial motivation for music directors in the church. They state that, church
management is always not ready to invest money in music directors and music
instruments in general in the church. They add also that, issues that church
management could easily assist financially, that responsibility is rather push
to the choir members; a situation they stated scare the members for freely
contributing to the music making in the church. In suggesting a solution to the
challenge stated above, they suggested that the highest management body should
be regularize the allowances of music directors and others who render music in
the church to be well resourced financially to deliver The churches do not see
music making in the church as a priority. They always put other projects ahead
of music making [1]. He explains that, other issues such as building of pastors
residence or buying of other assets of the church is always paramount to
investing money on music directors or acquiring music instruments. Observing
the assertions of all the authorities above, it could therefore be stated that
music making in the church is often confronted with challenges with the biggest
being supporting music activities financially.
The study adopted the qualitative paradigm; and made
use of case study and descriptive approaches to gather and present data.
The study targeted church musicians from orthodox and
some charismatic churches in selected communities in Eastern and Ashanti
Regions of Ghana. The accessible population stood at Forty (40).
Purposive sampling technique was used to sample the respondents. This was due to the fact that there are secular musicians who perform outside the church and the church musicians perform in the church. It could be possible the responses of the secular musician would be different from the church musicians bearing in mind the focus of the study. The researchers therefore have to sort out only the church musicians so that realistic data could be sought for the study.
Data Collection Instruments
Data was sought through interview and participant
observation. Interview guide was used to direct the line of the interaction.
The researchers being church musicians themselves had direct contact with the
various church management hence had first- hand experience on the issues at the
Centre of the study.
Data Analysis Procedure
Data was sought manually, transcribed and conclusions
drawn using Thematic Content Analysis approach.
Discussion of data was centered on three thematic
areas thus:
The
study was conducted in selected areas in Koforidua in the Eastern region of
Ghana and also some communities in Ashanti region in Ghana.
Forty (40) respondents were interviewed. The outcome
of the interview is as follows: Some church
musicians within the Koforidua and its surrounding communities were interviewed
and varied responses were given.
The responses are discussed below: On
the roles of church musicians, some respondents stated that church musicians
conduct the choir; they play the Keyboard during church service. On the
challenges that confront the church musicians, they stated that, there is
always conflict between church elders and the musicians when monies are to be
paid to the musicians. They stated also that, the church management see church
musicians job in the church as service to God so they should not demand any
money; however, when pastors preach in the church, their services are not seen
as service to God so they should be paid.
Some respondents were captured saying: Most
people see the work of musicians as a work. That is done for God. So therefore,
there should not be any money for
that but pastors who preach for maximum of thirty minutes are paid. Another respondent said ‘’ our main challenge is that,
they see music making in the chur as one’s devotion but not a profession so
they find it difficult to pay us ‘’.
Some of the feedbacks from the Ashanti region
are herein discussed: On the roles of the church musicians, they
stated that the musicians help to recruit new members to the choir, they help
to select songs for worship, they play keyboard or conduct songs in church. For the challenges that confront them as
church musicians, they identified poor remunerations, lack of funds from church
management to purchase good musical instruments. They asserted that, church
management think music is a gifted talent which should not attract any
allowance in the church.
Some
of the respondents were heard saying: We
the musicians contribute to the spiritual and communal aspect of worship in the
church but they think we perform music for God so we should not be paid. Yet, the pastor who is also working
for God is paid. Others also shared that, the church musicians lead
congregational singing, they play musical instrument; and during worship, they
help in bringing life into the church but church management do not want to
spend money to reward the musicians because they think music making in the
church is voluntary and not a profession.
Other respondents equally stated that, church musicians see to it that,
music is well planned and executed in the church but the musicians are always
confronted with lack of resources to train the choir and also acquire good
musical instruments. They explained that, the whole congregation is happy when
music is provided in the church but church is never ready to financially
remunerate the musicians. The researchers being church musicians also noted
their participant observation experience that, all the churches they served ;
any time there is an allowance increase request, church management give many
excuses.
One
of them reported as: I have serve in an
orthodox church in Mampong and Nsuta Asante for the past ten years as church
musician. Anytime I ask for increase in allowance; management is not ready to
do so
The study sought to explore the woes of church
musicians in selected communities in Ghana and also to investigate the
perception of church and its management towards church musicians. The study
therefore revealed that, musicians try their best to bring joy in the churches
but church and management do not acquire good musical instruments for the
musicians to use to execute their duties as church musicians. It was also
brought out that, choristers are not committed towards rehearsals; and also
church management does not prioritize the needs of the choir and the musicians
as essential. Furthermore, the church feels that without the services of the
church musicians, preaching could still be done. It came out that, the music
ministry in the church is not recognize as an integral part of the church; so
investing financial and other resources into it is not a concern for the church
and its management. The study made it clear that, church and management do not
want to pay the musicians for their services in contributing to the church
growth. Illiteracy among the church choir pose as a challenge to the musicians
as any good change they want to bring into music in the church is seen as alien
by such persons who want their conservative ideas to remain with the church. The
study made it clear that, the church and management always see church musicians
as natural gifts to the church so when they render professional musical
services to the church, they should not be paid. It was clear that, the church
and its management regard the work of the musicians as free for God’s kingdom
so they should not be paid any remuneration for their service; however pastors
who also render preaching services should be paid.
It came out from data that, church and management do
not recognize the roles of the musicians in the church and therefore do not
want them be motivated financially in any way. The church musicians are looked
down upon.
The findings of the study confirmed the assertion of
Ndah and Kow [8,1] who shared some of the woes of church musicians as
inadequate funds for music production in the church, as well as lack of
financial remuneration for the church musicians.
The study brought to light that, church musicians’
role in the church is so crucial yet, they face challenges in terms of finances
to be able to train the singing groups as well as to acquire proper musical
instruments for the church. Also, they face challenge of commitment from
choristers. In addition, financial motivation due the church musicians are
always crowded with conflicts. It was so clear that, the church and its management
think that, church musicians are naturally talented and given free to the
church for that matter, any service rendered to the church is service to God;
and must not be paid for.