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A Musician By Any Other Title

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A colleague and I were discussing the many and varied titles assigned, chosen, and used by church musicians in the churches they serve. It used to be simpler. If you directed the choir, your title was choir director. If your served in a large church and you were responsible for a number of choirs, you were the music director.

Later, when the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM) became involved in educating, training, and certifying church musicians, they used three titles:

  • Minister of Music: ordained, degreed music directors
  • Director of Music: laity, degreed music directors
  • Associate in Music: laity, non-degreed music directors

All three of the above titles had specific requirements of membership, experience, and education to meet the certification.

Today GBHEM continues to certify church musicians, but has done away with its official titles. In addition, churches and church musicians have begun to use many different titles, sometimes reflective of the work to be done, sometimes reflective of the talents and gifts of the musician.

I recently surveyed the Methodist Musicians Listserv and asked what titles are being used by church musicians who are employed or volunteer to lead music and worship in the congregation. The 109 responses are below. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of responses for that title.

Music Director (14) Church Organist and Pianist
Director of Music (12) Clergy for Worship, Music and Technology
Director of Music Ministries (7) Director of Choir and Worship Arts
Minister of Music (6) Director of Music & Liturgical Arts
Choir Director (4) Director of Music and Fine Arts Ministries
Director of Music and Organist (4) Director of Music and Media
Organist (4) Director of Music and Worship Arts
Director of Music Ministry (2) Director of Music and Worship Arts Ministries
Organist-Choirmaster (2) Director of Music Celebration Service
Pianist (2) Director of Music Ministry and Worship
Praise Band Director (2) Director of Music Resources
Worship Leader (2) Director of Sacred Arts
Adult Choir Director Director of Traditional Music Ministries
Associate Pastor Director of Worship and Music Ministries
Associate Pastor of Worship and Christian Education Director of Worship and Technology
Chancel Choir Director Director of Worship Arts
Handbell Director
Minister of Music & Worship Arts Praise Team Coordinator
Minister of Music and Resident Organist Praise Team Leader
Minister of Music and Worship "Prays" Band Director
Minister of Worship Senior Choir Members
Music Coordinator Song Leader
Music Leader Traditional Choir Director
Music Minister Worship and Music Arts Committee Member
Musician
Organist/Director of Contemporary Worship Music Worship Pastor
Organist/Director of Music Worship Team Leader
Organist/Pianist Worship Committee Worship Team Member
Pastor Youth & Children's Choir Director
Youth Handbell Director

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