Easter Monday

[ken k]

Did somebody say gig? For playing tuba in a church?

We don't really have those here.

no churches in OK?

ken k

[Todd S. Malicoate]

no churches in OK?

Plenty. More than most places, actually.

They just don't generally pay tuba players to toot in their sanctuaries.

[Jeffrey Hicks]

no churches in OK?

Plenty. More than most places, actually.

They just don't generally pay tuba players to toot in their sanctuaries.

If my church paid anyone to play in it, no matter what instrument, I would be finding a new church.....

[Bob Kolada]

All I know is that this weekend will be the first time in a long time (not long enough really...) that I will be in a church. I think I'll spend my pay on rent and beer.

[Jeffrey Hicks]

If my church paid anyone to play in it, no matter what instrument, I would be finding a new church.....

That's cool...

- When preachers hook up with churches that offer to pay them more dough to preach than their current church is paying, they usually refer to that as being "called".

- When musicians back out of a church gig they agreed to play because they are offered more dough to play at another church, they are often "called" jerks.

I just believe that the money is better spent actually helping people rather that sounding good.

[rocksanddirt]

First, let me just say that I'm not knocking any church for paying it's musicians or not. We have both types here in Amarillo, even within the Southern Baptist denomination. I've been playing in our sanctuary orchestra now for over 20 years. I have never been paid a cent for playing at my church and I don't expect to be paid ever. I also plan on playing until I either cannot hold up my horn or they make me stop. To my knowledge, none of our musicians has ever been paid. This is including the organist and pianists. To my knowledge, the only person in our music ministry to ever be paid has been the Minister of Music. Those of us who play for free do it gladly and do not expect to be paid. The good part about this is that if we bomb royally and someone complains, we can tell them they got what they paid for.

This being said, I have in fact been paid for one church performance at a local Presbyterian church. I was in a brass ensemble accompanying their choir in their performing John Rutter's "Gloria". I would have gladly played for free, but if they're offering to pay, who am I to refuse?

To me, if you're going to be a paid musician, you are held to a higher level of performance than someone who would not be. If they're gonna pay you, you'd better perform flawlessly. In this instance, being a non-paid musician has it's benefits.

I'm in much the same boat. Though i've been paid a few times for playing, both at the church I was a member of, and as a 'hired' player at other churches. Our church pays the director and an accompanist (the director is pretty much full time, the accompanist only for scheduled rehearsals and performances/services).

[Rev Rob]

Scripture supports the use of music and musicians in a church sanctuary as right and proper worship activity to engage upon:

Psalm 150:3-6 NRSV
Praise him with trumpet (tuba!) sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that breathes praise the LORD! Praise the LORD!

Psalm 98:4-6 NRSV
Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth; break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody.
With trumpets and the sound of the (tuba)horn make a joyful noise before the King, the
LORD.

Also, Holy Scripture supports musicians getting paid for their labors:

1 Corinthians 3:8 NRSV
The one who plants and the one who waters have a common purpose, and each will receive wages according to the labor of each.
1 Timothy 5:18 NRSV
for the scripture says, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain," and, "The laborer deserves to be paid."

The church I serve takes music seriously, for which I am very thankful. We do make a joyful noise unto the LORD. Even though we are a small church we are intending to install a pipe organ. We have an active choir and a wonderful organist and choir director. I have learned much about vocal music and my ability to sing at this church. If I can ever develop a brass quintet to offer music in our worship service I will. I am proud to be a part of the Lutheran Church which has highly valued music in a worship setting. I will also boast that we support our church musicians.

[Rev Rob]

No bloke - ELCA.