How To Improve Congregational Hymn Singing

Most congregations' repertoire of hymns and songs is relatively small. This article shows the church musician how to introduce and teach new hymns and songs and thus broaden the spectrum of music in the local congregation. Members of the congregation need and appreciate assistance in singing hymns and responses. Their hymnal provides them with a collection of perhaps 600 hymns, but they probably know only forty to sixty of these. And all too frequently these are "old favorites" that have been worn threadbare through overuse through the years. Members would like to know more about how to sing these favorites with greater understanding and enjoyment. But they also can be conditioned to anticipate with pleasure the prospect of learning some new hymns. But when a brand new hymn appears in the bulletin, the organist plays a tune never heard before by this congregation. Consequently there is often a negative reaction-"Why don't we sing some familiar hymns?" Suppose it is the new hymn by …