Thoughts on Leading Carols

I first started playing piano for church services at the age of 12, and after leading worship in a variety of settings, from quite small (homechurch!) to large multi-service Sundays, from volunteer to paid positions, I’d like to think I’ve learned a few things along the way, mostly from making these mistakes time after time. While these are general thoughts that can be broadly applied to worship in general, it’s even more crucial during the Christmas season, when many individuals and families who may not be regular church-goers show up, ready to reconnect with the beloved traditions of their past. With that in mind, here are a few simple guidelines to encourage good caroling. When applicable, I have tried to incorporate these into the arrangements you will find here at The New Carolers.

1. Lead, don’t perform – collective singing is cultivated by growing confidence in your fellow singers. They want to know what to expect, so they can feel secure in their participation. There’s nothing so rewarding as hearing unified voices singing boisterously as one the glory of the season, or engaging with delicate sensitivity as words and music fuse into a moment of shared introspection. The most challenging moments are transitions from verse to verse (or rarely at a longer pause within the carol itself). Regardless of the arrangement of leading musicians and vocalists, you can guide your carolers with clear harmonic resolutions, a well timed anticipatory breath, and even body language. Nothing quenches confidence more than an unexpected repeated refrain or final line, a directionless or meandering harmonic fill between verses, or notes that are held too long.
2. Choose your key wisely – while instrumentation, a popular radio single performance, or a talented lead vocalist’s range might suggest a certain key signature, the main priority should be to stay within a vocal range that is accessible and comfortable for the general population. For groups where you anticipate people will mostly be singing the melody, this means a range of A at the low end to D one octave higher. An occasional note can certainly expand this range, but any persistent dwelling at the borders is likely to develop some distress, vocal strain, or just plain bad sounding singing. This is especially true for men who may feel (subconsciously or very consciously) that most songs aren’t made for their voices and thus just don’t participate. When singing with a group where harmony, especially standard 4-part harmony, will be utilized, then of course bass, tenor, alto and soprano ranges are appropriate. Which leads to the final point…
3. Know your group – while a multi-instrument and numerous vocalist Gaither-style experience can be fun and entertaining, it may not be appropriate for the setting you find yourself in. Advent services are quite different from Christmas day. Outdoor caroling is a far cry from congregational singing in an auditorium. Plan accordingly with the musical selection. Anticipate the direction of the service or event, and make sure to have a similar structure. If spontaneity is the plan, then embrace it! But have access to music for Carolers whenever possible. Even if the general population can’t “read music”, the untrained eye still picks up visual cues.