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Eliot Chapel Music Policy
For Preludes, Interludes and Postludes

I. PURPOSE

The Eliot Chapel Music Committee believes that music is an integral part of Eliot's Sunday morning service. The committee has formulated this policy to assist the Music Director and the Eliot congregation as a whole in providing music which will contribute as much as possible to our Sunday morning experience.

II. CONTENT

Eliot Chapel is a free church; however, the content of music and lyrics should be appropriate to a worship service (always) and thematically congruent (whenever possible). Musicians should consult Jan Chamberlin, the Music Director, or service coordinator, when making arrangements to perform and when selecting music.

III. LENGTH

The total length of the customary two pieces of music combined should not be more than eight minutes. Generally, each piece should be three to five minutes long.

IV. PERFORMERS

A. Eliot Chapel Members/Friends
Our church community is a marvelous source of talent. We believe that in as many services as possible, Eliot musicians should provide the music. Those wishing to provide music should contact the Music Director or service coordinator who should also feel at liberty to recruit musicians.

B. Eliot Chapel Children
Generally, Sunday morning services are geared toward adults. The prelude and interlude should be similarly oriented. If a child wishes to perform, he or she should contact the Music Director or service coordinator who will arrange an audition before at least one Music Committee member. If the committee member auditioning the child does not believe that the child is ready to perform during a Sunday service, the committee member may suggest that the child work with Joan Casey, DRE, to find a time during a children's service to perform.

C. Staff
Paid staff musicians may be scheduled to perform preludes and interludes a number of agreed upon times. They may also be called upon for this purpose when needed.

D. Outside Talent
From time to time, musicians who are not members or friends of Eliot Chapel may wish to perform in a service. These people should contact the Music Director or service coordinator

V. GUIDELINES

The Music Committee has formulated a simple set of guidelines which will be made available on line, in writing, or orally to those performing music for Sunday services. These guidelines are attached and incorporated into this policy statement.

Revised March, 2005 by the Music Committee

Eliot Chapel Musician Guidelines
For Preludes and Interludes or Postludes

We at Eliot Chapel believe that music is an integral part of our worship. We thank you in advance for your participation. Please follow these simple guidelines in preparing your musical selections.

1. Length
   Your two musical pieces, combined, should last no more than a total of eight minutes.

2. Content and Mood
   The content of your music should take the congregation into consideration. Please keep in mind that this is a worship service. While we interpret that broadly, purely secular pieces that do not address the higher dimensions of life may not be appropriate. Care should be taken to select music, especially lyrics, that are as relevant as possible to the topic of the day. For a typical service, the prelude is to be the more upbeat, faster or louder of the pieces. The mood of an interlude would be slower, quieter or more reflective in conjunction with the prayer/meditation. On occasion when the pieces are a prelude and postlude, the prelude is typically a quieter introduction, and the postlude a more exuberant ending piece. Please contact Jan Chamberlin, the Music Director, when making arrangements to perform and when selecting music. Jan can be reached at (314) 963-9234 or at .

3. Notification of Selected Music
   The titles and composers of your pieces should be provided to the Music Director by the Sunday prior to the Sunday you are to perform. If you cannot reach the Music Director, please submit your information to the church office at (314) 821-0911 or e-mail at .

4. Third Piece
   If you wish to perform a third piece during the service, please check with the Music Director or service coordinator at least one week in advance to determine if there is room for it in the service. A third piece should last no more than three to four minutes in length and should be appropriate to the worship service.

Revised March, 2005 by the Music Committee