There’s a moment every Sunday that feels painfully familiar.

The choir sounds unsure.
The energy dips.
The congregation doesn’t engage.

And someone whispers…

“The organist wasn’t on it today.”

But what if that’s not the real issue?

What if the real problem isn’t the organist at all?

What if it’s leadership?

The Easy Target: The Organist

In many churches, the organist becomes the lightning rod. When things feel flat, people assume:

• They didn’t “push” the choir.

• They didn’t play hard enough.

• They didn’t read the room.

• They weren’t spiritual enough.

• They missed a modulation.

• They didn’t “take it there.”

It’s convenient. The organist is audible. Visible. Immediate.

But music doesn’t collapse in the moment.
It collapses in preparation.

1️⃣ Poor Rehearsal Structure

If rehearsal is chaotic, Sunday will be predictable.

When there’s:

• No clear rehearsal agenda

• No sectional focus

• No defined musical objectives

• Endless repeating without correction

The choir never builds confidence.

A strong rehearsal should answer:

• What is the emotional arc of this song?

• Where does the dynamic build?

• Where do we breathe?

• Who leads the vamp?

• What is the cutoff cue?

If those questions aren’t addressed, the organist is left guessing.

And guessing is not leadership.

2️⃣ No Communication

A choir director and organist must function like a rhythm section in a band — connected and intentional.

When communication is weak:

• The organist doesn’t know the ending.

• The director doesn’t cue transitions clearly.

• Tempos shift mid-song.

• Keys change without warning.

• Vamps extend without agreement.

Then when it falls apart…

The organist gets blamed.

But musicians are not mind readers.

If the director has a musical vision, it must be communicated clearly before Sunday morning.

3️⃣ No Musical Vision

Flat services rarely happen because of talent.

They happen because there’s no clear direction.

Ask yourself:

• Is the service building somewhere?

• Is there contrast between songs?

• Are we over-singing everything?

• Are we starting every song at 100% intensity?

• Is there intentional space?

Without vision, everything feels loud — or everything feels lifeless.

The organist can enhance vision.
They cannot create it alone.

4️⃣ The Last-Minute Song Change Problem

Nothing destabilizes a music department faster than this sentence:

“Let’s do something different.”

Five minutes before service.

Last-minute changes communicate disorganization.
They create tension.
They reduce excellence.

And when the result feels shaky, it’s labeled as poor musicianship.

But preparation is a leadership responsibility.

Leadership Accountability

Here’s the uncomfortable truth:

The choir director sets the culture.

If:

• Rehearsals lack focus

• Communication is unclear

• Vision is absent

• Planning is inconsistent

The results will show.

And blaming the organist is avoiding the root issue.

A Healthy Music Ministry Model

When things work, you’ll notice:

✔ Rehearsals are structured
✔ The organist and director talk before and after rehearsal
✔ Transitions are discussed in advance
✔ Everyone understands the emotional goal of each song
✔ Corrections are made in rehearsal, not during service

This is leadership.

And leadership removes blame.

Final Thought

The organist is not the savior of the service.
And they are not the scapegoat either.

If you’re a choir director reading this, ask yourself:

• Have I clearly communicated my vision?

• Have I prepared my team?

• Have I structured rehearsal for success?

Because when leadership is clear…

The organist doesn’t need to be blamed.
They get to be brilliant.