Customer Reviews

From Postlude to Prelude: Music Ministry's Other Six Days

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Being a minister-musician obviously has its visible dimensions. Platform responsibilities make for familiarity with the public side of folks who serve the church through music. Is that all these folks do, however? There's more-much more-behind the scenes for these skilled, dedicated, servant leaders. This "much more" is the focus of C. Randall Bradley's "From Postlude to Prelude: Music Ministry's Other Six Days."

There are more than a few books available directed toward the goal of worship and ministry leadership for musicians. From Postlude to Prelude focuses on what happens in the between times, when one Sunday's worship services are done and the next ones begin.

Bradley is well-versed in all dimensions of the music ministry by virtue of his experience as a student, teacher, and practicing church musician. His writing is clear and succinct. He offers an excellent overview of the music ministry that is nigh unto encyclopedic.

An experienced minister of music will be familiar with the topics addressed in this book, although they would be hard-pressed to find a more well-organized and broad identification of these matters. Non music ministers would likely experience more than a few "gee, I didn't know that" moments in reading this book. It could be an invaluable resource for a music minister search committee; indeed, Bradley addresses such groups specifically at some points in the text.

The sheer number of topics included means that none of them are treated in depth. Yet Bradley's vast knowledge and experience is also reflected in the two appendixes and bibliography contained at the end of the book. These provide plenty of resources (websites, periodicals, and books) to cover any and all topics raised in "From Postlude to Prelude" in depth.

I am downplaying this book merely because it did not meet my own needs. If you have been in the business for many years, this probably won't answer your questions either. I am still looking for that book - and maybe should just write it! This is an excellent overview of the responsibilities, relationships, pitfalls,... of this unique profession. It would be great if Vestries, Consistries, and other ruling bodies read this book to realize the pressures that they put on gifted musicians who have dedicated their lives to church work.

I had to buy this book for a class and tried to get away with borrowing it from
class mates, but after reading the first chapter I thought, "wow, I need my own
copy of this book." Each chapter has very useful information on being a minister
of music while not on the platform. I am awed by the completeness of the
information and suggest it to anyone who is interested in running a ministry with
music.