Abstract:
As the demand in society changes so is the demand of church music changing. Since music is one of the most integral and part of church service, there is need to improve the practice of Pentecostal church music. The purpose of this study is to identify the training needs of Pentecostal musicians in Benin City, with the view to ensure improvement in the performance of music in Pentecostal church. The aim of this study is to also ascertain area of training the Pentecostal musicians to be fit for Pentecostal church music ministry. Hundred (100) musicians including Choristers, instrumentalist and music directors were selected though sampling technique as respondent from nine Pentecostal churches. Questionnaires as the research instrument for data 'collection were distributed to the chore members, in nine the churches. Data collected were analyzed using mean, and standard deviation. The following were the findings of the study.
1. A good number of musicians in the church are to be re-trained on their performance skills in order to meet the spiritual and moral needs of the church and society through music.
2. Some respondents musicians need to enhance their level of musical literacy, improve their knowledge of rudiments of music, increase their song repertory and improve their singing and instrumentation skills.
3. Respondents seek a better and greater opportunity, to be trained in special area of church music making as music technology, recording skill notational skills, listening skill etc.
4. Technical skill such as acuity and motor coordination musicians is not important to them.
5. The researcher also discovered t hat the musician in Pentecostal churches are not being trained according to their areas of specialization.
6. Administrative skills
If all these findings are put into consideration in oraganizing the training of Pentecostal church musicians, there will be more effective music performance.