Re: [Worship] putting songs in singable keys

["Nina Wichman" <ninawichman@qwest.net>]

on 5/02/03 1:01 PM, Stu Heiss at stu@stuheiss.com wrote:

> 
> Another way to aproach the question is what is a good range to shoot for?
> The old adage 'from c to shining c' is too high in my wife's opinion.
> She feels that a to a is more reasonable.

I'm with your wife. I usually lower most songs as well, since I am an alto.
It has been my experience that most women cannot comfortably hit the high
notes to a lot of worship songs unless they are trained sopranos. Martin
Smith, God bless him, writes songs that are far too high. "Did You Feel the
Mountains Tremble" requires women to hit a high F#! Anyway...a to a is
perfectly reasonable. I tend to say a to c. I can't sing a c in my "chest
voice" (I can hit a b, but can't stay there very long)..but what I'm
learning to do is flip back and forth between my chest and my head voice, so
that gives me more flexibility in choosing songs. Someday I'll get some
voice lessons, Lord willing!

Some people on this board will say that a to a is too low...but our
congregation hasn't complained. In fact, the women have thanked me! :)  And
I've heard several "famous" worship leaders say publicly that we should feel
free to change the keys to songs to fit our voice; others will argue that we
need to pitch the songs for the congregation...and while that is true, we
also cannot be effective leaders if we are singing out of our range. If God
has called someone to lead who is not a soprano or tenor, they can find a
key that works for you that also serves the congregation well; it's not
impossible!

One thing that is rarely said about this is that it's really not so much the
key as it is what notes are being sung in the song...the range of notes
within a song. Some people say, "I can't sing songs in G." I think they're
missing the point. I don't have to lower every song written in G because not
every song goes up to the high d. And even if it does go to the high d, if
it just touches it once and comes back down, I might stick with it. One
breathy note doesn't kill the song! :)  I've had to learn to be more
flexible in this; some songs have large span between their lowest and
highest notes...and if I lower it too much then the men will be growling in
the basement!

Bless your wife and you as you lead your people in worship!
Nina


**************************************************
       Looking for praise and worship music resources?
                      Visit our list sponsor at:
                  http://www.worshipmusic.com

      Any questions about your subscription or the list? 
                Contact worship-help@praise.net
**************************************************