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Comments on Seeking advice as a chazzan in training
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Seeking advice as a chazzan in training
As I am training to become a chazzan, a prayer leader, I'm constantly beset by critiques by the community, regarding "you should've done X differently."
There's certainly many points which will vary wildly based on the physical location (ex. volume) and on the community (ex. how much singing, what types of songs). With that said, suppose that a new chazzan like me were to come to your regular minyan to daven: what would you like such a chazzan to know? What general advice would you give to such a chazzan?
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Nusach and Minhagim
This may seem trivially obvious - basically pick from Ashkenazi, Sephardi, Nusach Sephard, Chabad, and a few others. But you may find a Shul that has more than one (mine has Ashkenazi, Sephardi and Nussach Sephard, though constitutionally (and the most Minyanim) Ashkenazi). There are also other minor, but often important, differences that may not be obvious by attending an occasional service at a nominally Ashkenazi (or other Nusach) Minyan. Some examples:
- How much of the Davening (e.g., Korbanos) is said on a normal morning between Brachos and Pesukei Dezimrah?
- How many mourner's Kaddishes are said? After many years of confusion (and differences between Minyanim within the Shul), we formalized on "one after Aleynu, one after 'everything else'", but many other Shuls will say one after Shir Shel Yom, another after Barchi Nafshi on Rosh Chodesh, another after Mizmor Shir on Chanukah, etc.
- Yedid Nefesh before Kabbalas Shabbos? (We started it several years ago on the first Friday night after the time changed ("fall back") so nobody could complain that Davening would end too late. It worked and (except COVID-19 times) become a standard item year round.)
- Kiddush Friday night by Chazzan, Rabbi or Gabbai?
- Adon Olam or Yigdal on Friday night?
- Repetition, repetition, repetition! My Shul has very strict rules about no repetition of words between Baruch Sheamar and the end of Shemoneh Esrei (and also not during Mussaf Shemoneh Esrei), but in many Shuls repetition in Kedushah or other parts of Davening is totally normal. If a Chazzan adheres to the strict Halacha regarding repetition and the Shul allows repeats, he can just pick tunes with no repeating, and most people won't notice and few (if any) will care. But if the Chazzan likes to repeat and the Shul doesn't allow it, he will probably only get to repeat once - second time and he may be out of a job!
- Hallel on Seder night - standard in my Shul, but I have been told this is not a standard Ashkenazi Minhag, and was apparently a concession to some of the early key people in the Shul. But I think it is a beautiful Minhag (missed it this year).
- Tefillos for Israel, Tzahal, country (if not in Israel), etc. Where do you say them? Which ones do you say? Who says them - Chazzan, Rabbi or Gabbai?
- Av Harachamim on Shabbos Mevorchim (Iyyar and/or Sivan) during the Omer? (And then there is the joke about the Shul where the Minyan is to argue about it.)
There are many more examples, but you get the idea. My Shul has a Gabbai Handbook, but it (the handbook, not the Shul) is relatively new. I am sure that in many Shuls this is information in the Rabbi's, Gabbai's and "old timers" heads and not written down anywhere. But all important to know if you are the Chazzan.
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