Ch 2: Leading Yourself
Before we get into the practicalities of what a VD does, understanding the spirit of excellence is crucial.
Why is Excellence Important?
Excellence matters to us because our God asks for it. Colossians 3 says that in whatever you do, work “heartily” as working for the Lord, not for men. The word “heartily” in Greek (ek psyches) means “from the soul,” which is so fitting for worship- when we have taken the time to cultivate worship within our hearts, the overflow into our craft can only yield our best and highest offerings.
As an example of someone who operated in excellence, Daniel 6 says, “Then this Daniel became distinguished above all the other high officials and satraps, because an excellent spirit was in him. And the king planned to set him over the whole kingdom.” As Christians serving the God Most High, we are called to a level of excellence the rest of the world should be running to catch up with. We do not apologize for or compromise our standard, but we are always ready to assist our teammates in getting there.
What is Excellence in Music?
The question then becomes, what is excellence in a vocal context? Vocal excellence is often about the details because the skill itself is found in the details. Singing consists of small techniques, practices, habits and skills layered on top of each other. Being able to distinguish details and the role they play in a vocal ensemble allows for excellence in the big picture of the worship set, service, and overall Sunday morning. As VDs, we must own the space of the granular detail.
Excellence vs. Perfectionism
There is a stark difference between the spirit of excellence and perfectionism. Perfectionism creates judgment in missing an impossible standard, while excellence is simply not settling for mediocrity or complacency. As vocalists, we should always call ourselves higher, and as Vocal Directors, we should call our teams higher as we encourage their development. Don’t let the temptation of perfectionism distract you from the pursuit of excellence.