No, I am not suggesting setting up a private lesson studio. (Though, it you can make an arrangement with the church, it’s not a bad idea.)
It is in your best interests as a music leader to realize:
- You should always be recruiting. If you aren’t, then you are garbage.
- You should be actively scouting for and encouraging everyone’s artistic pursuits.
- You should develop an “onboarding process” for a wide range of abilities.
What do you do if you have a classically trained pianist who has never read from a chord chart, but is interested in working with the band? Do you turn him away? You’re a fucking moron if you do. Teach him how to do it! Show him how to read a chord chart. Show him how to listen to the singers. Show him how to follow the music director. Teach him how to really do it. Don’t know how yourself? Call your pianist friend up and ask her to teach him!
If you want to develop a rich and robust arts community that can be tapped to build the worship program, you must set the foundation and plant the seeds now and nurture it. Build the relationships. And don’t expect immediate results. Push too fast and too hard and no one is going to but in because it will be clear that it is really all about you.
Do you know what happens when you are known for investing in your people? They send you more.
