I love this time of year. Easter is a holiday associated with so much hope – whether you celebrate from the religious or secular perspective.
Here in Wisconsin, the grass is getting greener. The sun is staying out longer. Perennials are popping up. Spring is in the air!
Last year was the first Easter in decades – well over twenty years – that I wasn’t performing anyplace, as a musician, for the special day. No Holy Week services for me, either. It feels amazing.
Working as a church musician can be extraordinarily nice. It is regular work, especially if you’re a church music director (and I was for about 15 years, at a couple different places). Each week there is a new set of music to prepare, the director often has a lot of creative control and/or flexibility, and church congregations are captive audiences… They really listen to what you’ve put together! This is particularly enjoyable if/when you’ve composed or arranged your own music.
But it can be grueling, at the same time – depending on the directorial commitment. Every Sunday… How do you keep things fresh? How do you keep your [primarily volunteer] musicians excited and engaging? At a time such as Holy Week, when in some places you might have more services to play for than there are days in the week, how do you keep your sanity?
I love being a musician, and I have loved being a church musician. But this Easter, as well as last – I have been grateful to let others take the lead, and enjoy Easter as opposed to work it. However, I have such appreciation and respect for those who do lead music at this time of year – they are working their tails off. Be sure to thank them lots.
Wishing you and yours a happy Easter season – and should you not celebrate it, then happy spring!