Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler: Blog Jannis' PHPRss class - http://www.jannis.to/ Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:07:00 -0700 Meet my musician friend Chris Jacome! http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/meet_my_musician_friend_chris_jacome I've been working on a new song for the next album. You may know the song already, Via Dolorosa.  I wanted to put a new spin on it and make the arrangement fresh and original, so I partnered up with my musician friend Chris Burton Jacome. Chris is a flamenco guitarist, and a very good one at that. We did a jam session to decide what we wanted to do with the song, and then the following week, we did the recording of his guitar tracks. I am going to lay the vocals down later. This is going to be all in Spanish for the album, but I am also going to do an English version that will be available in MP3 only.


I asked Chris if he would allow me to interview him, so you could learn all about him and his music. He graciously accepted. So, here is the link to watch the interview at your leisure. I am no Barbara Walters, but we had a lot of fun!


http://youtu.be/eHyZlmdAR5I


Here is also a video of him being featured on Cox Cable station.


http://www.cox7.com/flamexico


The song will be finished in June, so stay tuned for the release!


 

]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/meet_my_musician_friend_chris_jacome Sun, 25 Mar 2012 15:07:00 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Releasing my new single "Break These Chains"! http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/releasing_my_new_single_break_these_chains I am so excited about this new beginning to my music ministry! I just got a new job that will allow me more time to devote to music right now. My husband and I are starting the support group at church and reaching out to our community. This is a great start to getting the ball rolling. I am relatively new to the church, so they have only heard me sing a few times. I have been trying to get to know the folks at my church and develop some great relationships. So far, I have been surrounded by supportive people in the choir and the other ministry I am involved with called Chanenai House. It is basically a food bank and a thrift store that is free of charge to the community. Brian my husband has been starting to be a substitute drummer for the band until we start a third service that is more of a blended music style. He hasn't played drums in a few years for several reasons, but he is thrilled to be playing once again for the Lord. God has been so good to me and Brian, giving us great jobs, a wonderful church, and each other to love.


I am curious as to what everyone will think of the song, since it is not my usual genre. It is the first time I will be singing Blues in public. My husband got me hooked on Ruthie Foster and Keb Mo. I have worked really hard on my songwriting this year, and hope to do more this year. I will be posting the song on IndieHeaven, iTunes, YouTube soon, so please let me know what you think of it.

]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/releasing_my_new_single_break_these_chains Mon, 27 Feb 2012 20:27:53 -0800 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Domestic Awareness Blog http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/domestic_awareness_blog Happy New Year to you all! Lots of exciting things planned for 2012 in my ministry! The first being, this blog is going to be switching to a more domestic violence awareness slant instead of a specifically a music slant. I'll be bringing news of interest to this blog and make it more interactive. The second change is that I will be preparing to do house concerts sometime in April. Stay tuned for more details, but if you would like me to do a concert in your home with 20 of your friend, give me a call. The host gets to pick the songs and gets some free gifts along with it. I am currently recording the next album to be completed in the spring, Lord willing. It is going well so far, and I'm excited to share with you this new music of mine! God bless, Diana

]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/domestic_awareness_blog Sun, 15 Jan 2012 12:15:17 -0800 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Collaborating http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/collaborating http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/collaborating Sun, 06 Nov 2011 20:52:29 -0800 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Leeland concert http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/leeland_concert
When my husband and I got married, our music collections married as well. I introduced him to some of my favorite artists, and he introduced me to Leeland. We were driving to church one night, and my husband said that I had to listen to this CD of this band Leeland. I guess they call their music style Progressive Christian. I've never heard anything like them, so I don't know who to compare them with. So, he put the CD in, and immediately it got my attention. The vocals were phenomenal. The lyrics were so profound and spoke to my heart. I have never heard anyone blend so well together since the Lennon Sisters. Brian said that the lead vocals were two brothers. I just sat there listening, amazed. I liked every song on the CD, which was rare for me. My favorite song that they sing is Villa Dolorosa. They also had this worship song that came on, called How Wonderful, and the tears started streaming down my face. God had shown up in that car! I put my hands up just praising along with them. Carried To The Table was also very moving. So, it was then I immediately became a fan. I bought all their CD's after that. They just came out with a new album, The Great Awakening. The concert was to promote the new album, and we got tickets!

The day finally came, and we drove over to the church during a Monsoon storm. It hailed! We waited in the Green Room for the Meet N Greet. All four of them soon came out and introduced themselves, and opened up the floor for questions. The leader singer and guitarist is Leeland Moorling, with his brother, Jack, on the keyboards and background vocals. Their sister, Shelly, just joined the band as the bass player. Their longtime good friend, Mike Smith, plays the drums. One of the band members left to join the military and is now fighting in the Middle East.

So we found out during Q&A that they grew up in Texas in a Christian home, with musical parents. They traveled around the country with their parents ministering to churches. It looks like the family talent stuck with all of the Moorling siblings. They travel around the country together, and their parents are only a phone call away to give them feedback and support on their music. Leeland said, "If Mom cries during a song, it gets on the album." I thought that was great!

They are all married with families. Shelly is engaged. I really liked the way they kept their relationships with God first on the road. They told a story about how they are getting comfortable praying on airplaines. They have the Bible open on their laps, with hands up in the air, and eyes closed in prayer. Jack said that it is very easy to just sleep on the plane instead of spending time in the Word, but Leeland is always setting the example for the rest of the band.

The question that I had for them was about songwriting. I asked them if they had a formula that they follow. Leeland said that some people are good at lyrics, and some are good at melodies. He happens to be good at melodies, and he records ideas on his iphone all day. He has been to Nashville and had some good instruction from musicians there as well. He added that it is always good to have someone give you feedback on your music. They said they have written some bad songs too, but Mom is very honest to let them know if it needs work. Jack says a lot of music ideas come from preachers. The pastor says some phrase that speaks to him, and he goes home and writes lyrics for it. Sometimes during prayer or bible reading, God will give them a song idea.

The last part of the meeting was focused on their charity work with Food For The Hungry. Leeland encourages everyone to take their children to another culture to see how the rest of the world lives. The band has taken many trips abroad visiting the fruit of the Food For The Hungry ministry, and serving in any way they can.

The concert was about to start, so we were ushered over to our premium seats. Third row center, baby! I have some awesome videos of them singing. I will post them as soon as I can figure out how to convert the file smaller. They sound just as good in concert as they do on the CD. Leeland was jumping around all over the stage. His joy was very contagious. He really believes what he sings, and it comes across with a lot of passion. One thing he said during the preaching time was that worship is what you do everyday of your life. It is not coming to church and singing, contrary to popular belief. Your life is your worship. Leeland said if his life doesn't line up with what he is singing on the stage, then God doesn't need him up there singing. The praise is in vain.

The new songs from The Great Awakening were not a disappointment! The song The Great Awakening was taken from an out of print poem from that time period: "One man wakes, awakens another. Second one wakes his next door brother. Three awake can rouse a town. And turn the whole place upside down. Many awake will cause such a fuss. It finally wakes all of us. One man wakes with dawn in his eyes. Surely then it multipies." There are 11 more awesome songs on the album to go with that one!

We got two T-shirts on the way home, and we just downloaded the digital album this evening. It is hard to believe, but I am a bigger fan than I was before I went to the concert. If you would like to checkout Leeland yourself, the website is leelandonline.com]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/leeland_concert Fri, 23 Sep 2011 21:09:31 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Songwriting http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/songwriting
I just started serving in the music ministry at my new church. It is hard to find a church that you fit in. Everyone is real easy going and laid back. They have put me and my husband to work serving in the music. I just put some video up of our adventures so far. Hope you are having a good week!]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/songwriting Wed, 21 Sep 2011 17:20:56 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Featured Artist: Bruce Frye- Singer, Songwriter, Evangelist http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/featured_artist_bruce_frye_singer_songwriter_evangelist
Diana: It's great to see you again, Brother Bruce. I wanted to ask you about your songwriting, if I could.

Bruce: Great to see you again too. Sure, I'd love to.

Diana: My husband and I are musicians too. I normally sing other people's songs. And you've been really great sending me your tracks so I can sing your songs too.

Bruce: You're welcome.

Diana: Well, I think your songs are so well written. Do you have a formula for writing songs? Or does it come naturally? I would like to start songwriting, and I am having a hard time getting started.

Bruce: Well, writing songs is like a tree. You start with the tree trunk,the main idea, and then you develop a song into tree branches, the details.

Diana: Your songs flow so nicely, and they don't have any stupid rhymes. haha

Bruce: Well, I don't know. I guess that part comes naturally to me.

Diana: You've been doing this for a long time, I know.

Bruce: I started playing the guitar real young, and I was always into poetry. Eventually those poems turned into songs.

Diana: Are there any resources for Christian songwriters to learn how to write good songs?

Bruce: Actually the Nashville Music Association has some recommendations on their website. Or you could take some kind of class in basic songwriting.

Diana: I've asked some of my other musician friends how they get a song, and one of them said,"I wake up in the middle of the night, and God gives me this song! And I write it down on a napkin by my bed." Well, that doesn't help me too much! haha

Bruce: I just write down some ideas that the Lord gives me throughout the day or week. I have actually written some pretty bad songs. I threw out one a little while ago. haha.

Diana: Well, that makes me feel better! I was thinking of writing a song about Facebook. I'm addicted to Facebook, brother. You're familiar with it?

Bruce: Yes, I am. That would be a good song. As Pastor Kenny Baldwin says," You need to get your face in The Book, and get your face off the Facebook."

Diana: Oh, you know Pastor Kenny? I went to college down there in Fairfax, and I know the Baldwins at Crossroads Baptist, and the Calverts at Fairfax Baptist Temple. Do you sing there often?

Bruce: Yeah, every once in a while.

Diana: Can I send you a copy of my Facebook song when I am done, and then you can let me know what you think?

Bruce: Sure, that would be great.

Diana: Thank you for talking with me tonight. It was good to see you again. I hope you come to Arizona again soon. God bless you.

Bruce: Thank you for driving here all the way from Scottsdale. God bless you, kind folks.
******************
If you want to check out Bruce's website and hear his beautiful music, here is his address:
http://www.brucefrye.com/

You'll be blessed!

If you would like to be a featured artist on my blog, drop me an email!]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/featured_artist_bruce_frye_singer_songwriter_evangelist Sat, 23 Jul 2011 23:35:27 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Answers to common vocal questions http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/answers_to_common_vocal_questions
So, speaking of singing, here are some common vocal questions:


1. When I sing, my throat hurts. How can I prevent this?

That's a good question, and an important one. The first step is to find out what your range is. You can use a piano and play the notes to see how far down you can go, and then see how high you can sing up the piano without strain. Get a pianist to help you if you need. Write your results down for future reference. Do not sing higher or lower than your natural range. That will eliminate most problems with the throat. If you want sing something that is out of your range, change the key signature to accommodate your correct range. I know everyone wants to hit those high notes, but not everyone was born with those kinds of vocal chords. Accept it. It is not worth damaging your voice.

Another major problem that causes throat pain is tension in the throat area. When you sing your throat should be relaxed at all times. Closing your throat and constricting it to get a rough sound is not going to serve you in the end. First, try yawning to get the throat relaxed. Open your mouth wide for the upper and lower extremes of your range. It does take some adjustment to avoid tensing up your throat, but keep practicing.

Never sing when you're sick! Your throat is enflamed. Rest! Make sure you are drinking enough water and getting enough sleep. Your voice is a physical instrument. Take care of it.

Also read the question below about breathing correctly. That plays an important part.

2. How can I get over stage fright?

Your question is a very common one. Every performer has some stage fright to some extent. They just learn to live with it. Most people are surprised to find out I have some stage fright, even though I have sung my whole life. How do I overcome it? Well, most of it has to do with being very well prepared. I practice a song until I can sing it in my sleep. That helps with confidence. The other thing to keep in mind is that your audience wants to hear what you have to offer! You have a gift to bless others. One thing I do is to find someone in the audience that I know is very supportive of me. Seeing a smiling, familiar face really helps if you have some nervousness. Ultimately, if God has given you a ministry, He will be able to help you through the nerves. The more you get up there and sing, the easier it will become. The nervousness won't go away completely, but it will be manageable.

3. I've been told I can't sing a tune in a bucket. Can I learn how to sing? Or is there no hope for me?

I get this question a lot. There are those that are born with natural talent, and those that have to work a lot harder at it. I believe that everyone can learn to improve their singing voice. It depends on how dedicated the person is to practicing and following instructions. You're going to have to work harder than the guy next to you to meet your goals. I have taught students that sounded like alley cats before they had training. They made some great progress. There are physical techniques to singing. If you follow them, you will improve. Now, you have to keep things in perspective. Not everyone is going to be the next Pavarotti, but he/she will be able to hold a pitch and sing a pleasant tune that people enjoy listening to. Being a professional musician is not everyone's calling, but everyone can enjoy music in their own corner of the world. By the way, I could always hold a pitch and I liked music, but I had to work very hard to get to where I am musically. I was not born this way. I would say I was a late bloomer. So, if you want to sing, get some training, work hard, and have fun!

4. I want to sing just like [insert favorite singer here]. How can I accomplish that?

First of all, I want to say that each one of us is unique. God created us to be special. I want to encourage you not to copy or imitate another singer, but to be yourself. Set your own style. The music world is full of copycats. They don't make their own impact on the world, which is a tragedy. I once watched a David Foster special on public television. There was this young girl on the show that sang a Whitney Houston song. Now she did a good job. She was technically perfect in her execution. Do you want to know what was wrong? She sounded exactly like Whitney Houston, down to every nuance and embellishment. What she did was copy another person without making the song her own, and giving the audience the blessing of her own unique gifts. Don't make the same mistake! Sure, get inspiration from others, but go higher! The best musicians in the world are successful because they are different!

5. I run out of breath and get tired by the end of the song. How do I get more air?

You are having problems with your breath control. Breathing correctly is 80% of singing. The other 20% is diction, placement, posture etc. The good news is that everyone can increase breath control. You have to master what we call diaphramatic breathing. Most singers who aren't trained, breathe high up in the chest area, and then you see the shoulders rising (What I call “toaster shoulders”). Instead, you need to direct the air down towards the belly button area. You know all that sucking in your abs stuff? Well, forget that. You want that tummy to stick out! And then you have to ration the air you took in. Resist the urge to let all the air out at once like a balloon gone crazy. Anticipate when you are going to need extra air, and times when you don’t need as much. There are exercises to increase your air capacity, but be patient. It takes time to improve. Just be consistent. Blowing up balloons is great. Swimming under water is great practice. Traditional vocal exercises like scales are helpful too.

Other things to keep in mind, stand up straight. Get plenty of exercise. Stay away from smoke. I hope you don't smoke! If you have asthma, get to the doctor for treatment.

6. I see all these young kids sing very professionally and become famous. Can my child do that too?

You’re probably talking about little Jackie, and other kids from America’s Got Talent. Your child certainly can! Don't be surprised with the recent turnout of young talent all around us. There have always been young musical geniuses out there (Michael Jackson, Mozart). I knew plenty of kids growing up that were very talented and young. Children are capable of great abilities if they are encouraged and put near positive influences. The difference now is the internet. We have YouTube and social networking. People have access to talent competitions on TV more than any time in history. So, now these little gems have opportunity to show themselves now, when in the past it was much harder to be seen.

So, if you want your little darling to sing, I have some advice for you. Do not force your kid to sing for your own agenda. It has to be the child that wants to do this. Take the child to a proper vocal teacher to make sure the child doesn't damage his/her delicate voice. Encourage your child in the right way with the proper attitude. Humbleness and graciousness are good qualities to have. Make sure they know that they are not always going to win, and not everyone is going to like their singing, but that’s ok. Emphasis should be on having fun, character, and integrity. Too many sweet little girls with great voices get corrupted along the way. I won't name any names. God has a plan for your little one. Keep that in the forefront of everything.

7. I want to increase my range, but how can I do that without damaging my voice?

Increasing your range can be done, but with a few cautions first. Keep your goals attainable. Trying to do that freakish whistle like one particular artist is not a good goal. For one, it is a whistle, and secondly, it is very rare to have that. If you can hit an A natural right now, and you want to reach a B, that is more realistic and attainable. You must first have the foundations of singing mastered before you attempt to increase range: Breathing properly, correct diction, keeping your throat open and relaxed, and good posture. Make sure you warm-up your singing muscles with some breathing exercises and scales. Singing on an AAH sound first, go up or down the scales and try to gradually go toward your goal one half step at a time. Do not force it. Stop when you feel any discomfort. With consistent practice using correct techniques, you will be able to increase your range.

8. With so many voice teachers out there, how do I pick one that is the best?

Excellent question. Yes, there are a lot of voice teachers out there. Some good and some bad. The biggest thing to consider when choosing a teacher is making sure they sing the style of music that you want to sing. That may sound obvious, but I have found out the hard way that there aren’t many teachers that sing my particular style of music. The second thing to consider is the teacher’s experience. Does your teacher sing or perform right now? It doesn’t do any good to have a teacher that doesn’t sing regularly in some fashion. Do you like his/her voice? They must be able to demonstrate the techniques to the student. Also, an important consideration is their personality. That may sound trite, but it is really important. I was afraid of my first teacher. I could do my songs and piano pieces perfectly until I got in front of my teacher, and then I was a mess. My second teacher I was more comfortable with on a person level, and so I think I did better with my lessons. Never choose a teacher that is mean, rude, pushy, negative, just because he/she is a famous or well known teacher. It’s not worth it. Last comes the price. Don’t choose on price, but don’t overpay. Lessons can range from $20-50 an hour, depending on a few factors. Don’t pay more than $50 an hour for anyone. There are teachers that like to teach and who are affordable. A degree isn’t necessary to teach, but it may increase the price of lessons, so keep that in mind.



So there you have it. I hope I answered all your questions thoroughly. Feel free to ask me more details if you need. I’m going to go sing some karaoke with my hubby!]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/answers_to_common_vocal_questions Sat, 09 Jul 2011 22:36:43 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Useful music links http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/useful_music_links http://www.indieheaven.com
A Christian Indie site

http://easysonglicensing.com/licensemusic.htm
I have used this service myself on my first album. Their prices were very fair and the service was quick. A lot easier than doing it all myself.

http://www.stagedooraccess.com/vocal/index.aspx?gclid=CNPu-P-r7pcCFQM-gwodGxONDA Stagedoor Access: This site has a songfinder, vocal exercises, audition tips, song accompaniments, and a bunch of other neat stuff. Some of the features require you join a membership.

http://www.lifewayworship.com/
This is terrific site for worship leaders. You can plan a whole service with the tools. You can get the lead sheets, tracks and the words to just about any song out there, traditional or contemporary. Each song you download is $1.99. They have a free planner, as well as a pro version that they charge you for. Sounds great if you really want to sing a song on Sunday and you don’t have the music for it.

Websites for Gigs/jobs:
http://www.gigmaven.com/about
https://www.gigsalad.com/join
http://www.gigs4all.com/login/register-form.php
http://splitgigs.com/ You can trade gigs with someone. They do your gig one night and then you do their gig. Sounds like a neat concept.

http://www.creativesoulonline.com/index.html Artist development, consulting services for Christian artists. Based in Nashville. They have a Facebook page as well.

http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2010/12/10-rules-of-gigging/?utm_source=cdb&utm_campaign=cdb_fbook&utm_medium=fbpost DIY musician is a great website for musicians. Has all kinds of advice and interesting blog topics.

http://indieconnectmagazine.com/table-contents-december-2010/ Indie Connect is a wonderful resource. Videos, articles, advice for the Indie musician. There are a lot of free stuff on here, but if you become a member, it is $100 a year. Then you get access to the really good stuff.

http://www.makingmusicmag.com/ Making Music Magazine. A general music magazine with tips and articles for all kinds of musicians.

http://www.parttimemusician.com/ Another general musician’s blog.

http://airplay.jango.com/bands/123229 If you haven’t heard of Jango Internet Radio, it’s time to check it out. I have some of my music on here. There is a monthly fee for putting your music on the radio, depending on how many plays you wants. It goes as low as $10 a month. You can pick the age group, location, and music style of the audience you want to target. Listeners can choose to be your fan when they hear your music. I’ve gotten a lot of fans since I started using them.

http://songwritinglab.com/ I’ve been using Songwriting Lab for a short time. Just beginning to write my own songs. They have exercises and tips for songwriters. You can sign up for a tip of the day too. Pretty cool.

Theatre links:
http://www.theatermirror.com/websites.htm
http://lecatr.people.wm.edu/eightwebsites.htm
http://lecatr.people.wm.edu/


www.globalmissionsproject.com
This is a site run by Camp Kirkland. He takes musicians on missions trips all over the world. He uses the music to bridge the culture and language barriers to bring the Gospel to many countries. You can use your talent as a musician and go on a trip or you can donate to send someone else. If you aren’t familiar with Camp Kirkland, he is a Christian music arranger and orchestra leader. Many church choirs and orchestras use his arrangements in music in worship services. A very talented man who loves the Lord.


Enjoy!]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/useful_music_links Sun, 29 May 2011 18:37:11 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog Ministry Or A Job? http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/ministry_or_a_job Now, the context we’re talking about is pertaining to music specifically, but it could include other categories for the purpose of this definition. Music ministry comes in many categories besides singing or playing an instrument. You have music writers, arrangers, choir leaders, orchestra leaders, music teachers, theatre owners, music engineers, radio stations, and many others. I would say first, anyone that is in the music ministry, or any ministry, would have a calling from God. God has given you gifts, abilities, desires to use for His purpose in this world. Without a calling from God, I would dare say it isn’t truly called a ministry. A job is usually based upon a need for paying the bills and feeding your family. You can choose the kind of work based on your skills and experience. What one person would call a ministry, another would call a job. There are plenty of times someone in church begged me to serve in a particular ministry because there was a need and no one was available to do it. (The nursery comes to mind.) Now I like kids, so I took it seriously and did a good job, but I don’t feel particularly “called” to the nursery ministry. We all know some people who are.

On the other side of the coin, we recently had Camp Kirkland visit our church recently. He is a church music arranger and orchestra conductor. He organized a concert for a local charity fundraiser in Phoenix. What an experience! Camp travels all over the world with a choir and orchestra performing Christian music that he has arranged. What passion and exuberance! He leads us into worship with the Creator. His is quick to give the Gospel and the honor to God between songs. Wow, he blessed our hearts. There is no doubt about the calling of God on his ministry. He would agree with me that he can’t imagine doing anything else.

What about pay? Many music ministers serve without pay, but there are those who do. It varies on a lot of factors: the size of the church, how many students you teach, or if you perform on a stage in front of a huge crowd, etc. Whether you get paid or not doesn’t really define if you are a minister or not. I know that I have experienced both. I don’t have a problem singing for free if I feel that’s what God wants me to do. But, getting paid is nice too. I was on staff at a church once. I left a solid high paying job to work at the church because I wanted to be in “fulltime ministry”. I made peanuts, but I was hoping that I was making a difference in the world for the Lord. I’ve taught voice lessons in my home for 11 years. I really enjoy it so much that I work for peanuts too. I don’t charge anywhere near what the other voice teachers in my area charge. Know why? Because when I first started teaching, my first students were not able to afford lessons at all because they were poor. I bartered with them. I had my kitchen floor waxed, the car detailed, the grass cut, and laundry folded in exchange for lessons. The ones that could pay, I made it low enough to compensate me for my time, but I sure couldn’t pay rent with it. It was more like extra spending money. Bottom line is that I didn’t want Christians in my church to go without learning music because of financial reasons. Now, God led me to do that, but not all teachers choose to work that cheap. When I’m not teaching or doing concerts, my ministry is singing in my home church as a volunteer.

What else does a ministry have? It has a purpose and direction. What are you doing with that music? Why are you doing it? What do you plan to accomplish with your music ministry? Hopefully, all you music ministers out there agree that your goal is to glorify God, be a blessing to others, and give the Good News to those that are seeking. What is your reason or purpose for going to your job? For most, it is to pay the bills, get health insurance, and have something productive to do with their time, higher status, a better lifestyle, or to have a creative outlet. Certainly, there are those that are in the “secular” workforce, and they perceive their jobs as a ministry. That is awesome if that is the case! I’m sure you are like an oasis in the desert with your testimony and witness to others. Of course, the music ministry may provide these benefits as well, the best of both worlds.

Ministry is always a challenge no matter what kind it is, and music is no exception. It is hard to please everyone with the different music genres out there in Christian music. No matter what you do, someone isn’t going to like what is going on. Some days in the ministry, the problems that are going on may make you want to quit. If it was just a job, you could walk away, and get another job that pays better or treats you better, whatever. Now if God has called you to a particular ministry, you are more apt to stick it out through the tough times because you know God has a purpose and a plan in it all. I’m not saying it’s easy. Believe me, I’ve been there. But I keep reminding myself that I am here to serve and be a blessing to others, instead of getting served. In closing, one thing I noticed is that when I’m singing for the Lord, I don’t really care what popular opinion is anymore.

So, how about you? Are you treating your ministry like a job? What has God called you to do? What are the challenges you face?]]> http://dianastimmler.com/blog.html/ministry_or_a_job Sun, 03 Apr 2011 20:34:16 -0700 Diana's Music - The Music Ministry of Diana Stimmler Winkler - Blog