One common denomination factor in the lives of most singers, whether secular or gospel, is that they all started out from churches before building a career out of music. Their foundational learning can be traced back to the church.
Similoluwa, known as Symplysimi, started out as a singer in church choir, released her first gospel album in 2008 before transitioning into the secular industry. Chidinma Ekile began her music career in church as a choir member and music director. She joined the choir at the Foursquare Gospel Church when she was 10 years old, and at age 19, she won the Project Fame West Africa season 3 where she worked in the secular space before transitioning back to the gospel music industry.
The likes of Sinach, Frank Edward, Eben Rocks, Ada Ehi, Steve Crown, Moses Bliss, and Joe Praize, fully started their music career from Christ Embassy, the church that is led by Pastor Chris Oyakhilome. Over the years, it’s been proven right that the church has a number of people that have been musically groomed – either through singing or playing of instruments, the music mind tends to be nourished because of the available resources in God’s house.
Are you thinking of how to make a career out of music? Here are few tips we’ve got for you:
1. Volunteer:
You must understand that working in God’s house is a privilege. With music, it is true that it is your talent and gift, but serving God by leading and redirecting people’s focus with the same gift should always be perceived as a rare opportunity. This mindset helps you to give your best whenever you are ministering to God’s people through songs.
What this tells you is that your relationship with God has to be an intimate and solid one. To contribute to any positive growth to an organization, you’ll have to learn about their mission, vision, the system and structures that perfectly fits well for the organization. Same it is with the church, even to the peculiarities that guide its settings must you abide by, while volunteering.
Your volunteering service requires diligence, and so will your success, hence, why you must learn the act of service. Again, it is worthy of note that your service is a voluntary one; serve with joy and diligence.
2. Develop Musical Skills:
While the church’s music director teaches, guides, and helps you with musical materials to be a good singer, you must also put your foot down by giving yourself to personal extra learning. What differentiates a great singer from a good one, is the hard work invested in personal training. You can start by listening to good music – learn different styles or genres of music, why each has such unique peculiarities, musical instruments that fits each song, background or deep knowledge of any instrument, what makes a perfect harmony and who sings what etc.
You should also incorporate the idea of learning from other people. No man is an island of knowledge, brainstorming with others will also sharpen your musical mind, which eventually makes its contribution towards your music career’s success.
Read Also: How Afro-Gospel Artists Can Gain Traction Without a Record Label
3. Embrace Collaboration:
As written earlier, be open to working with others that are also musically inclined. Networking with other musicians or singers within and outside your church helps in growing your visibility, for these are the people that will passionately speak about that unique gift, talent, or skill that you’ve got to offer.
Also, participating in music workshops and conferences will expand your knowledge and push you to meet other professionals.
4. Create Your Own Opportunity:
Be your greatest cheerleader; when you passionately speak about what you do, others will listen to what you have to offer. Be confident enough by pushing your work out there.
The technological age we’re in, is favourable to all. There are many software applications that can help with visibility. TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube have made things easier. Are you a singer and/or songwriter? Record yourself singing and add the lyrics as caption. Do you play any instrument? Put it out there. While ministering in church, ask a close friend or someone to help you record in a way that doesn’t distract or disrupt the order of service. Leverage on your social media platforms.
5. Find A Niche:
Music is wide, so you may want to streamline your focus in considering a career path when it comes to music. We have worship leaders like Dusin Oyekan, Nathaniel Bassey; church musicians like SMJ; gospel artists like Moses Bliss, Mercy Chinwo; music educators like Global Coach Rachael etc. As you serve in church choir, make sure to track your consistency and passion on what you do.
It is very important that as you grow in your music journey, and for someone who’d love to pursue a career path in the same field, you must leverage on a niche where you’ve built a higher level of expertise and authority.
These are the ways we know how you can successfully build a music career from church.
From those few tips in building a musical career, can you indicate where you are right now? Which one of them feels like a hard nut to crack? Let’s hear from you in the comment section.
