Channing Memorial Church Year of Decision 2006-2007 Committee Information & Resources Music - Choir

To: The Transition Team
From: The Channing Choir and Janet Grant, Director of Music

The Channing Choir met and put together a list of everything we would like to see as a part of the music program at Channing. Following is the list of those wants and needs:

1. Permanent choir section where choir can sit, stand and sing. This requires opening up the space behind the organ, moving the organ out more, and putting raised choir pews behind the organ.
2. Larger percentage of budget spent on music (8 - 10%)
3. New choir robes
4. Light in Choir Room
5. Storage for music
6. Children's choir
7. Youth choir
8. Hand bell choir
9. Full time staff
10. If no full time staff at least increase to 1/2 time
11. Keyboard and computer at church
12. Separate Choir Director and Pianist
13. A musical community where we have several different groups meeting during the week like barbershop, madrigal, baroque
14. Pay outside musicians occasionally - like string quartets, jazz groups, brass groups
15. Never install carpeting in the sanctuary because of the acoustics
16. Have people join the church because of the music
17. Have an organ maintenance fund
18. Replace the current electronic organ with a real pipe organ and pipes

Then we prioritized our list.

1. What we consider to be essential for maintaining the Channing Choir and music program at its current level for the next 3 to 5 years are:
   • Larger percentage of total budget spent on music (8 - 10%)
   • Light in the Choir Room
   • Storage for music
   • Increase staff to 1/2 time
   • Never install carpet in the sanctuary
   • Organ maintenance fund
2. What would we like to have that is not essential?
   • Permanent choir section where Choir can sit, stand and sing (redo space behind organ)
   • Keyboard and computer at church
   • Separate Choir Director and pianist
   • A musical community with several different groups
   • Children's Choir
   • Youth Choir
   • Handbell Choir
   • Have people join the church because of the music
3. What are our "dreams" of new programs or expansion of current programs?
   • Full time staff
   • New choir robes
   • Pay outside musicians occasionally
   • Replace current organ with a pipe organ